Rehab was on this Lawyer's Bucket List

What would you do if you had just a year to live? Many entertain this question for “fun” allowing them to evaluate what is most important to them. For those that have this unfortunate reality, they truly realize what their values are.

John Eggers was faced with this question last year when he was given 12-15 months to live after being diagnosed a brain tumor. The Irvine, CA attorney reportedly began creating a bucket list that including things like skydiving, meeting Joe Biden etc. and soon realized the most important thing he wanted was to be sober when he passed away.

Eggers started taking Oxycodone for a back injury. Soon this grew into an addiction as he began using it to medicate anxiety and depression: “I was in an extremely dark place. A place you could never imagine being.”

He decided to check himself into an addiction rehab last month to become drug free. “I realize my life span is very short and that’s okay. That’s acceptable to me. What’s not acceptable to me is wasting more of the time I have left on opiates, on drugs” he said.
 Considering drugs could end his life before cancer, he is dedicated to staying sober and wants to give back by helping and giving hope to other addicts who are battling cancer.

Here at Harmony Foundation's Colorado addiction rehab many have had a similar experience to Eggers. They start out taking a controlled substance for a medical problem and then begin using it for other things that it is not medically indicated for - like using opiates for depression. We know the propensity for this happening is high and among all walks of life from young adults to lawyers like Eggers. His story is an inspiration to all those who know what a gift sobriety can be and to those who want the gift of sobriety no matter what their life situation is.

Former Denver Fire Chief Blames Shopping Addiction

"It's painful to see how much my addictions have affected my life." 

At first glance, one might assume this statement came from a smoker, drinker or drug addict suffering from physical, financial or social consequences of their addiction. In fact, David MacBean, a former fire chief said this in regard to his shopping addiction.

MacBean was the former Inter-Canyon Fire Protection District Chief of the foothills area west of Denver and is facing hefty sentencing for embezzling over $600,000 to fuel his shopping addiction.

He reportedly used the tax dollars to purchase personal luxury items like guitars, ammunition, photography equipment, ammunition, and guitars among other things all on the agency credit card. According to MacBean, "It was easy, and I was able to get away with it.” He then explained that getting away with it was just part of a larger host of issues he was dealing with such as depression and addictive tendencies; "I started to believe that if I could surround myself with stuff, that I could be happy," he said.

MacBean faces up to 27 years in prison at his sentencing next week after pleading guilty for stealing from the Fire Protection District for over three years. "There is nothing I can say that would justify the decisions I have made. For me, it's important for people to understand I feel terrible about this. And, most importantly, what I'm doing about it." He is apparently seeking intensive therapy to deal with his behaviors.

Addiction can be very far reaching - and take shape in ways other than substance abuse, such as through compulsivity in spending, eating or in relationships. A common tool used in addiction recovery programs is to have those in early recovery reflect on how how addictions have directly impacted their lives- it sounds like MacBean has done just that.

Foods that Enhance Recovery

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In active addiction, the alcoholic or drug abuser often reacts to a feeling by using their drug of choice. They may have used alcohol to lower inhibitions, opiates as an escape, benzodiazepines when anxious or amphetamines to wake up.

In active recovery, one of the first challenges an addict faces is that they start to feel feelings - and they are unable to cope with these feelings the way they used to by muting them with a substance. Soon they learn valuable tools that help them get through moods and emotions, many of which are learned in therapy or through a 12 step program.

One tool of recovery that is often overlooked is one’s diet and how it can assist and enhance their recovery by impacting their mood and overall balance. Here are six ways the sustenance of food can help aid problem feelings:

1. Problem: Brain Fog     Solution: Water
In recovery, we often hear people say, “the fog has lifted” referring to getting clean and sober. Depending on the extent of one’s drug abuse, this may take awhile. One way to speed things up is to stay hydrated. The recommended amount of water can be calculated by taking your weight, dividing it in half and drinking that number in ounces every day.

2. Problem: Bad Mood      Solution: Coconut
Coconut contains potassium, which is essential for supporting feel good chemicals like endorphins. They also are packed with fiber and protein, which helps you, stay “regular,” energetic and full for longer. Just a handful of coconut shavings on cereal or a cup of coconut milk or water may do the trick. 

3. Problem: Stress     Solution: Dark Chocolate
Dark pure chocolate (not milk chocolate) assists the brain in releasing endorphins - the great mood enhancers. Endorphins also attack cortisol, the stress hormone in the body by slowing it down and eradicating the stress it creates. However, with any food item, moderation is key…especially with sweets that can elevate your blood sugar.

4. Problem: Hopelessness     Solution: Kale
If you are feeling like the future is grim, the antioxidants and carotenoids in kale may transform you into an optimist. A study looking at extremely optimistic people revealed that they had high levels of antioxidants and carotenoids in their blood. If kale is too bitter for you, most dark leafy greens will do. The phytonutrients they contain may just restore hope.

5. Problem: Sadness/Depression      Solution: Salmon
The omega-3s in salmon do for the brain what an oil change does for a car - allowing it to perform optimally. Regular consumption of omega-3s help balance the brain's communication. That is why scientists are looking at Omega 3s as a cure for clinical depression.

6. Problem: Anxiousness      Solution: Green Tea
If you are angry or anxious, the theanine in green tea is a natural soother. Although often caffeinated, green tea simultaneously provides a calming effect while helping you focus. Achieving calmness while being efficient seems ideal for the anxiety ridden or those with too much on their plate.

If you are confused, anxious, depressed or hopeless, try one of the above. Want the cumulative effect? The sum total of all these would actually make an excellent meal…in fact here is a recipe for coconut salmon and kale.

The Marijuana Debate at 5 Months Post Legalization

Yesterday the New York Times featured an article about the marijuana legalization debate. It covered the arguments on both sides five months after the start of recreational marijuana sales in Colorado. 

Although five months isn’t enough time to see real data, proponents and opponents have discerned some conclusions over whether legalization is helping or harming the state (and surrounding states). The main arguments surfacing - many based off of recent events - are as follows:

Opponents of Legalization

• Hospitals are treating more adults and children after they’ve ingested potent doses of marijuana 
• A Denver man killed his wife after consuming Karma Kandy, a potent marijuana candy 
• A Congolese exchange student starting acting erratically and jumped to his death off of a hotel balcony after eating a marijuana cookie. The Medical Examiner’s Office said marijuana was a “significant” contribution to the accident. 
• The number of stoned drivers coming from CO seems to be on the rise in neighboring states 
• Purchased Marijuana from CO is moving across state lines 
• More kids are using marijuana or accidentally ingesting products that seem kid friendly - i.e. gummy bears, cookies etc. 
• There has been rise in home explosions across the state from people using flammable butane to make hashish oil according to police and fire officials 

Proponents of Legalization 

• Hundreds of thousands of customers have purchased and used marijuana products without negative incidents 
• The marijuana industry has generated over $12 million in taxes and fees to date 
• Violent crimes and overall crime in Denver are down so far this year despite marijuana retailers being in “bad” neighborhoods 

Most of these incidents and anecdotes have limited hard data associated with them. Also, as the article pointed out, because health statistics can take awhile to be published, the impact of marijuana on child or teen drug use, arrests or car accidents may not be known for years.

One notable fact is that Justice Department officials warned that they would intervene in states where marijuana was becoming legalized if it proved to be contributing to violence, trafficking across state lines or directly impacting children. The big question is how many acts of violence, trafficking or incidents involving children will it take for them to intervene? It is also questionable if any real interventions will lag along with gathering and publishing hard data on these events.

For a more in depth look at how legalization has impacted Colorado, please read the article, Colorado's Landmark Marijuana Experiment: A Journey Into the System Reveals Dangers and Opportunities. This two part article was written by Marvin Ventrell, JD Director of Community and Alumni Relations at Harmony Foundation. He will be speaking on these topics at the National Conference on Addiction Disorders in St. Louis in August.