Author Archive
Posted By admin / 21st March 2012
Sharing this Daily Word Devotional today for those who have lost their loved one to overdose death. I receive contacts all the time from families whose loved ones have died. They are crushed and devastated. I know their deep sorrow and exactly how they feel, especially if their child has died of an overdose. There are many questions with no clear answers to the “why’s”. I pray this brings some comfort to them today. ~Sharon Blair
Your pains and sorrows can become the bridge to reach out and to minister to others, bringing healing to both you and them.
“Comfort, comfort my people, says your God” (Isaiah 40:1).
God of my comfort, help me to keep my grief in perspective and to use it to help others. Amen.
We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. —1 Thessalonians 4:17
There’s a much greater sense of loss when we think we’ll never again see a loved one who dies. But for those who know and love the Lord, death’s parting is only temporary. One day we will be reunited forever!
Paul assured the Thessalonians, “The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17). The words that provide comfort to the grieving heart are together and we. These words of reunion indicate that followers of Christ don’t ever have to experience permanent separation. For us, death is not a goodbye; it’s a “see you later.” —Bill Crowder
We’ll be reunited one day
With our loved ones who have died
If they know the Lord as Savior—
Then with Him we will abide. —Sper
God’s people never say goodbye for the last time.
Posted By admin / 13th March 2012
SCR 7, Involuntary Commitment
SCR 7 was brought forth by Senator Vi Simpson and was adopted as A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION urging the Commission on Mental Health and Addiction to examine the issue of involuntary commitment of persons with substance use disorders. This is what has been referred to as the Jennifer Act.
MHAI supported the study.
I would like to personally thank MHAI for their ongoing support and guidance of my 3 year advocacy work on The Jennifer Act for Indiana. Most especially, Jill Matheny, Director Indiana Addictions Issues Coalition and President Chief Executive Officer Stephen McCaffrey, JD.
I would also like to publicly thank Indiana Senator Vi Simpson for bringing forth my mission of The Jennifer Act, after my daughter, Jennifer’s premature death. Many thanks to Senator Simpson’s Policy Director LeNee Carroll and Ms. Emma Keys. I am very thankful for the Health & Provider Services Committee Chair: Senator Miller, for allowing a hearing to examine,discuss and vote on SCR 7 (the Jennifer Act). As a constituent, I was allowed the freedom and privilege to testify at the Indiana State House on SCR 7, March 6, 2012.
A special “thank you” to Wheeler Missions/Hebron Center Director, Alan Bobbett and Staff for their ongoing support and faithful prayers. Many thanks to Northside Christian Church & Pastor Glen Stidd, Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, Wheeler Missions and Clearwater First Christian Church for interceding prayers.
I am grateful to Founder of Kentucky’s Casey’s Law, Charlotte Wethington, another mother whose child died of overdose and has been a tremendous inspiration and special friend. Also a big,”thank you” to Mike Barry and PAR for keeping Kentucky informed on the progress of The Jennifer Act and their support. KY & IN are partnering states working in a unified effort to support recovery.
Jennifer’s brother (my son, Nate) has helped me keep this website up and running, so a big “thank you” to Nate, for maintaining this website and blog.
For those who are reading my website for the first time, I will briefly give you the short synopsis of The Jennifer Act. I watched, in horror, my daughter, Jennifer, struggle with a substance addiction for over 12 years, suffer and die of an accidental overdose, January 15, 2009 in Largo, Florida. I tried every means possible to intervene and establish emergency substance treatment, better known as Involuntary treatment. Chronic addiction often times is a cycle of sobriety, incarceration, detoxes and relapses. After Jennifer death and the 12 year experience, I saw a need to bring attention to Commitment Laws and seek ways to improve them in Florida, so more people do not die or slip through the cracks. I also brought that same mission of advocacy to Indiana, when I relocated here in 2009, after Jennifer’s death. For the past 3 years, I have worked diligently with Lawmakers in Indiana & Florida, on improving Commitment Laws. They have been gracious to hear my voice for those addicted and their families seeking help before their loved ones die. My only goal is to remind Lawmakers that we must provide a human response to those addicted as a public health crisis and to value human life and aid those who are suffering from their disease of chronic substance addiction. I have remained a faithful servant to God and have been blessed to have many Christian friends praying for me and my vision to help those in need and suffering. I am just a mom on a mission and a willing servant.
The Jennifer Act -SCR 7 has now been adopted in INDIANA and I continue to work with FLORIDA Senator Jack Latvala to bring forth The Jennifer Act in 2013. “Thank you” each and every person, who has helped me, prayed with me, shared my passion to save lives.
Sincerely,
Sharon Blair (Jennifer’s Mom)
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1 5:8
Posted By admin / 9th March 2012
Action List: Senate Concurrent Resolution 0007- The Jennifer Act
Adopted 3/6/2012
INDIANA COMMITTEE REPORT
MADAM PRESIDENT:
The Senate Committee on Health and Provider Services, to which was referred Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 7, has had the same under consideration and begs leave to report the same back to the Senate with the recommendation that said resolution DO PASS.(Reference is made to Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 as introduced.)
Committee Vote: 6 Yeas, 0 Nays .
Senator Patricia Miller, Chairperson
DP SC0701/DI 104 2012
—————————————————————————————————————————————————
Indiana 2012 Second Regular Session
Authors: Simpson
Date Chamber Action
01/10/2012 S Authored by Senator Simpson
01/10/2012 S First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services
03/06/2012 S Committee report: do pass, adopted
03/07/2012 S Second reading: adopted voice vote
03/07/2012 S Referred to the House
03/07/2012 S House sponsor: Rep. Welch
03/07/2012 S Cosponsor: Rep. Noe
03/09/2012 H First reading: adopted voice vote
03/09/2012 H Returned to the Senate
Posted By admin / 7th March 2012
The Jennifer Act: Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 will be voted upon 3/7/2012 in the full Senate at 1:30pm.
You can watch online at: in.gov/legislative (*copy & paste this site into your browser)
Click right hand upper corner watch the Indiana General Assembly live online. Choose Senate Chambers as the room.
Action List: Senate Concurrent Resolution 0007- INDIANA
2012 Second Regular Session
Authors: Indiana State Senator Vi Simpson
Date Chamber Action:
01/10/2012 S Authored by Senator Simpson
01/10/2012 S First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services
03/06/2012 S Committee report: do pass, adopted
Posted By admin / 29th February 2012
http://www.in.gov/legislative/reports/2012/BSCHDS.PDF (Copy/paste in your browser)
SCR 7 (The Jennifer Act) has been scheduled to be heard in the Health and Provider Services Committee on Tuesday, March 6. The meeting will be at 9am in room 431 of the State House. The Chair of the committee, Senator Miller, will be allowing public testimony. If you are unable to make it to this committee, it should be broadcast on the internet. You can watch it by going to this link, clicking on the down arrow of the selection box, then selecting room 431. http://www.in.gov/legislative/2441.htm
Contact Information: Leadership Chair: Senator Miller
Statehouse Mailing Address: 200 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46204
Statehouse Phone: 800-382-9467 or 317-232-9489
Email: Senator.Miller@iga.in.gov
Standing Committees
Appropriations
Elections
Health & Provider Services, Chair
Provider Services Subcommittee
Member, Health Committee of the National Conference of State Legislatures
Member, Midwest Legislative Conference of The Council of State Governments (CSG) Health and Human Services Committee
Legislative Assistant
Lindsey Moss 317-232-9489
Posted By admin / 21st February 2012
GENERAL BILL by FLORIDA Senator Jack Latvala
Substance Abuse Treatment Services; Citing this act as “The Jennifer Act”; revising the filing fee for involuntary admissions proceedings for substance abuse treatment; providing for the distribution of proceeds from the fee; increasing the period allowed for assessment of a person following involuntary custody or admission to a hospital or other facility; specifying requirements for initial processing of inmates by the Department of Corrections for substance abuse needs; providing that, to the fullest extent practicable, inmates be given the choice between faith-based and nonfaith-based substance abuse programs, etc.
Senate Committee References: Children, Families, and Elder Affairs (CF) , Criminal Justice (CJ) , Budget (BC)
Last Action: 02/23/2012 Now in Criminal Justice -SJ 671
Effective Date: July 1, 2012
Bill History
Date Chamber Action
01/06/2012 Senate • Filed
01/17/2012 Senate • Referred to Health Regulation; Criminal Justice; Budget -SJ 230
• Introduced -SJ 230
01/31/2012 Senate • Original reference(s)- removed: Health Regulation
• References corrected to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Criminal Justice; Budget -SJ 300
• Now in Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
02/17/2012 Senate • On Committee agenda– Children, Families, and Elder Affairs, 02/22/12, 3:30 pm, 401 Senate Office Building
02/22/2012 Senate • Favorable by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; YEAS 3 NAYS 2 -SJ 671
02/23/2012 Senate • Now in Criminal Justice -SJ 671
——————————————————————————————————————————————————–Committee Members on Criminal Justice (Contact to support The Jennifer Act)
The Committee on Criminal Justice handles issues and legislation relating to criminal penalties, sentencing, corrections, juvenile justice, law enforcement, firearms, victims, parole, criminal defense and criminal prosecution. The majority of legislation referred to the committee creates new crimes or amends existing crimes and/or their associated criminal penalties.
Major Department or Entities Oversight
Department of Corrections, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Law Enforcement, Parole Commission
Chair:
Senator Greg Evers (R)
Vice Chair:
Senator Charles S. “Charlie” Dean, Sr. (R)
Senator Michael S. “Mike” Bennett (R)
Senator Alan Hays (R)
Senator Gwen Margolis (D)
Senator Christopher L. “Chris” Smith (D)
Posted By admin / 3rd February 2012
5 Reasons Addicts Leave Treatment Early – And How to Prevent It
By David Sack, M.D.
Spot Lake RehabGetting an addict into drug rehab isn’t always an easy task. Getting them to stay there can be even harder. Here are five of the most common reasons people leave drug rehab against medical advice, along with suggestions to help the addict stay committed to their recovery.
1. “Detox is too painful.”
Research shows that the first week of drug rehab is the time when most addicts ask themselves, “What the heck am I doing here?” Withdrawal symptoms, drug cravings and an unfamiliar environment can fill the addict with anxiety at the same time they are deprived of their primary coping mechanism: drugs. Some addicts rationalize that they felt better when using drugs and give up on rehab before treatment really begins.
2. “I’m not like these people.”
This is a common assertion made after the addict attends their first 12-Step meeting or group therapy session. It is the nature of the disease for addicts to think they are different, smarter or stronger than other addicts. This belief allows them to put up emotional walls between themselves and others and to avoid doing the soul-searching work of recovery.
3. “I don’t like it here.”
If an addict wants to go back to using drugs, they must find a justification to do so, both for their own peace of mind and to appease their loved ones who desperately want them to get well. Rather than accepting responsibility for their own recovery, they may place the blame elsewhere – often on the food, accommodations, rules, treatment schedule, staff or other patients.
4. “I already know this stuff.”
In addiction recovery, there are certain themes that get repeated throughout treatment. This is because repetition is how we learn. Sometimes it isn’t until the second or third go-around that the addict truly embraces a particular recovery principle or gains new insight. In some cases, the addict may use this excuse to avoid dealing with the painful memories and feelings being explored in therapy.
5. “I can do this on my own.”
At some point during treatment, most addicts develop a type of confidence that is both healing and potentially damaging. After maintaining their sobriety for a while, they feel healthier than ever and are assured of their ability to stay clean. It is at this point that some believe they are “cured” of addiction and anxiously wish to return to their families and careers.
In many ways, drug rehab is an exercise in faith. We ask addicts to draw on coping, interpersonal and distress tolerance skills they haven’t yet developed, based on the assurance of others that recovery is possible. Change is hard for an addict, but stillness can be even harder. With the support of family and a team of professionals, addicts can stay still long enough to experience the many rewards of recovery.
David Sack, M.D., is board certified in psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, and addiction medicine. He is CEO of Elements Behavioral Health, a network of treatment centers that focus on addiction treatment, eating disorders, and dual diagnosis.
Posted By admin / 28th January 2012
January 25, 2012
JENNIFER ACT STILL WORTH FIGHTING FOR
Guest Column- Bloomington Herald Times Newspaper
I am a Bloomington resident who has worked very hard to improve Indiana laws to aid families who are in a crisis of substance addiction. I drafted The Jennifer Act [proposed bill] for Indiana and Florida after the accidental death of my precious daughter, Jennifer Reynolds, January 15, 2009. The Jennifer Act has been introduced for 3 years into the Indiana General Assembly by State Senator Vi Simpson.
In 2010, The Jennifer Act was introduced as Indiana Senate Bill 380, in 2011 it was introduced as Indiana Senate Bill 22 and in 2012, it has been introduced as Indiana [SCR 0007] Senate ConCurrent Resolution No. 007. As I found out, the legislative process is very long and often takes years, to see a bill or revision come to pass. In Florida, the Jennifer Act has been introduced for 2012 by Florida State Senator Jack Latvala as Senate Bill No. 1744 Titled ” The Jennifer Act”.
I know the Herald Times covers issues facing our local community and our state and wanted to bring your attention to a Bloomington resident who has not given up the mission and the advocacy of The Jennifer Act. Indiana Senators on the Committee on Health and Provider Services will review The Jennifer Act [SCR0007]. The Indiana State Senators who are on this Committee are: Senator Miller (Chair), Senator Mishler, Senator Becker, Senator Charbonneau, Senator Gard, Senator Grooms, Senator Leising, Senator Breaux, Senator Rogers and Senator Simpson.
The intent of SCR No.0007 is to improve commitment laws to better aid Indiana families who are in need of emergency help and intervention for those who are chronically and progressively substance addicted. Those addicted are severely impaired and often do not see a way out of the downward spiral of addiction . Addiction is a brain disease and left untreated, they face overdose death or incarceration. There is a stigma attached to families suffering with addiction. It’s ripple effects are far reaching. Addiction is a family disease, because it effects the entire family. Addicted parents lose their children due to substance addiction and incarceration. Grand parents and other relatives are left to raise the children of the addicted or else they are placed in foster homes. I include secular and faith based treatment with The Jennifer Act. I am very familiar with faith based treatment and have witnessed many lives changed, who have received faith based treatment. In conclusion, as a Christian,I feel that The Jennifer Act is a ministry that God has intended for His purpose and plan. My website has brought many people to contact me from all across the United States. They ask me for help, advice, references and many are grieving parents who have just lost their children to overdose death. They are devastated and share the most candid emails with me about their loved one who passed away. I remain hopeful that we will see The Jennifer Act manifest and families will be saved by this important intervention tool.
Posted By admin / 18th January 2012
The Jennifer Act has an ad in the upcoming issue of Tampa Bay Good Living Magazine. Here is what the ad will look like.
Posted By admin / 18th January 2012
“The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever—do not abandon the works of your hands” (Psalm 138:8).
“But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth” (Exodus 9:16).
Prayer: Lord God, Regarding Jennifer’s struggle with addiction in her life and death, I will move forward with a purpose, seeking to fulfill Your plan for my life. What do You have for me to do? Amen.
THE JENNIFER ACT[FL.Senate Bill No.1744] [IN. Senate ConCurrent No.7]
