Morgen Irwin

March 13, 2014 by Joseph Stuart

Sex-offender. Sexual abuse. Molestation. These are words that evoke intense emotional responses. On any given day, it is unusual if not impossible to read the newspaper, or watch the local news, without seeing or hearing about yet another horrific and heart breaking situation of the sexual abuse of children. According to the Oneida County Child Advocacy Center (C.A.C.), which investigates reports of child sexual abuse, in 2013 there were 602 reported cases of sexual abuse in Oneida County, which involved 775 total suspects, 642 primary child victims and 428 secondary child victims.

The public’s response is understandably one of outrage, anger, fear and concern for the safety of children and our community. Terms such as pedophile, sexual predator, child molester, rapist and sociopath are indiscriminately used. Beliefs such as once a sex offender always a sex offender, there is no cure for sex offenders, and sex offenders have the highest recidivism rate of all offenders are commonly held. This has resulted in well intentioned attempts to keep our children and community safe, including tougher penalties, registration and community notification, residency restrictions, curfews, computer and internet prohibitions electronic monitoring and civil confinement.

What is the truth about who these people are, and why they do such harmful and damaging things? Can they change, and if so what are the factors that can help and/or hinder their success in doing so? Is treatment effective? What can families and communities do to help keep their children safe from sex offenders, and sexual abuse? Perhaps most importantly, how can the concept of recovery be applied to people who have committed sexual abuse against children?

The truth is that sex offenders are an extremely diverse group of people with greatly varying characteristics, motivations, underlying issues, contributing factors, treatment needs and risks to re-abuse. Sex offenders can and do recover and go on to lead pro-social lives and to be productive, contributing members of their communities, when provided with the means to do so. Research in the field indicates that the majority of sex offenders do not re-abuse after they are detected and that their recidivism rates can be significantly reduced through a combination of evidence based risk assessment and treatment, community supervision and accountability and a positive, pro-social support system. In fact, communities have much to gain in terms of public safety and the protection of children by implementing policies and making available resources that help facilitate and sustain the recovery of people who have committed sexual abuse.

The Professional Training Coalition of Oneida County, in partnership with Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc., will be providing a one day training that addresses these issues and more, entitled “Responding to the Challenges of Sexual Offenders in our Communities: A Recovery Based Approach,” on Friday, March 21, 2014 from 9:00A.M. – 4:00P.M. (Registration at 8:30P.M.), at the Radisson Hotel-Utica Centre in Utica New York 13502. Cost is $30.00 per person; pre-registration required. The presenters will be Bonnie Zweifel, LMSW, Clinical Counselor for CFLR, Inc., and myself, Clinical Services Director for CFLR, Inc.. For more information or to register for this training, please contact Samantha Madderom, Prevention Specialist for CFLR, Inc., at (315) 733 – 1709.

May 2014 by Samantha Madderom

Oneida County has been seeing an increase in the rate of suicides from previous years. In 2013, there were 35 completed suicides; 30 male and 5 female. Thus far in 2014, there have been 10 completed suicides; 9 male and 1 female. As a community what can we do to try and lower these statistics?
Suicide is not a word that is spoken about often. There is a stigma attached to the word that forces individuals to not want to talk about it. It’s almost as though individuals feel that talking about it is going to cause an individual to complete suicide, and that is not the case.
If there is someone you know that may be contemplating suicide, talk to them let them know you are there. Don’t be afraid to talk about suicide with an individual you feel is at risk for suicidal behavior. Sometimes all you need to do is let the individual know there is help out there and there is hope. If someone displays these signs, it may mean someone is at risk for suicide. Risk is greater if a behavior is new or has increased and if it seems related to a painful event, loss or change.
•Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself;
•Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or buying a gun;
•Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live;
•Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain;
•Talking about being a burden to others;
•Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs;
•Acting anxious, agitated or behaving recklessly;
•Sleeping too little or too much;
•Withdrawn or feeling isolated;
•Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge;
•Displaying extreme mood swings.

Additional Warning Signs of Suicide
•Preoccupation with death;
•Suddenly happier, calmer;
•Loss of interest in things one cares about;
•Visiting or calling people to say goodbye;
•Making arrangements and setting one’s affairs in order;
•Giving things away, such as prized possessions.

If you are someone you know is contemplating suicide reach out, speak up, someone is always there. In an emergency, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If you would like more information on local resources throughout Oneida County or would like to join the Oneida County Suicide Prevention Coalition, please contact Samantha Madderom, Oneida County Suicide Prevention Coalition Coordinator, at (315) 733–1709.

Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. (CFLR, Inc.) is now three years old and has defined its niche as an agency providing leadership and resources to improve the community’s understanding and awareness of mental health, substance use and behavioral issues & transforming the lives of those who need it most, for the better. Focusing on EMOTIONAL HEALTH as it is essential for overall health; PREVENTION works when awareness and training programs are delivered effectively; TREATMENT is successful when coordinated appropriately; and RECOVERY: people recover from mental health, substance use and behavioral issues when provided with a focus on the four pillars of recovery; Home, Health, Community and Purpose. CFLR, Inc. is all about a high quality, self-directed, satisfying life for individuals and families in our community. With the intent to grow in size and quality while ensuring that CFLR, Inc. continues to bring unique value to Oneida and Herkimer Counties, the Board of Directors are committed to the development of a strategic plan to serve as a framework for CFLR, Inc.’s decision-making as it strengthens its capacity for growth and increased mission impact.

To view the full Strategic Plan, CLICK HERE

February 2014 – Recently CVS Pharmacy joined the ranks of the over 2,000 pharmacies in New York State that have agreed to not sell tobacco products in their stores. This is a good time to reflect and help more people to understand why this concept makes perfect and complete sense as a strategy to reduce social acceptability of smoking.

Tobacco is the only consumer product that, when used as intended, kills at least one half of its long term users – including nearly 25,400 New Yorkers each year. In 2008, the tobacco industry spent approximately 90% of their 10.5 billion dollar marketing budget on point-of-sale advertising because studies show that marketing at the point-of-sale influences smoking initiation among youth and stimulates purchasing among smokers trying to quit. Research tells us that reducing the availability of tobacco products helps people to quit smoking. Pharmacies are considered licensed health care facilities with missions driven by providing health products and services – because of this, the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies makes tobacco use seem more acceptable to children because this is where they go to get the medicine which helps them feel better. Would a doctor ever prescribe tobacco to a patient? No. Why is it not a conflict of interest for pharmacies, which provide health care, to also profit from harmful tobacco products known to cause cancer, heart and pulmonary disease? The Pharmacist Society of the State of New York (PSSNY) – the largest pharmacy association in the state representing nearly 2,700 pharmacists – demonstrated their support of these concepts by passing a resolution supporting putting an end to the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies back in 2009.

So thank you, CVS, Wegmans, Kmart, Target and all the other independent pharmacies and stores that have put the health of their consumers first; who are not afraid to stand tall in their commitment of doing so. For more information on tobacco free initiatives, visit www.tobaccofreenys.org

May 2014 – Medical marijuana may be legal in New York State soon; it has already been approved in 21 states for numerous conditions. As the community’s leading agency dedicated to prevention and advocacy surrounding substance use, mental health and behavioral issues, the thought that our community might undo decades of work regarding the perception of risk by making medical marijuana legal is more than disconcerting. There are several issues and concerns surrounding not only the medicinal benefits of use, but also the harmful effects of smoking marijuana. Noted concerns include the increase in psychotic disorders, declined IQ, respiratory problems, contamination, and a host of dispensing issues. (JAMA, May 20, 2014) Critical to the safety of the public is FDA approval of any medical marijuana. With FDA approval are certain safeguards that are inherent in the process, including: labeling, dosage, strength of ingredients, expiration dates, production quality standards, and warning of harmful interactions.

Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, CADCA, reports that “residents of states with medical marijuana have marijuana abuse/dependence rates almost twice as high as states without such laws. Increased use rates lead to higher addiction rates. Marijuana addiction affects about 1 in 9 people who start using the drug; if one starts using marijuana in their teens, the addiction rates jump to 1 in 6 users. More than 2/3 of treatment admissions involving those under the age of 18 cite marijuana as their primary substance of abuse, more than three times the rate for alcohol and more than twice that of all other drugs combined.”

Research has shown that through the legalization of marijuana, it makes its use more normalized and is perceived to be less harmful, thus increasing usage; this is most “problematic given that many of the negative effects of marijuana are most pronounced in adolescents.” (JAMA, May 20, 2014)

What should you do? Stay informed – Read proposed legislation at http://www.cadca.org/policy-advocacy; talk to your elected officials and tell them how you feel; and get involved in local prevention efforts by contacting Center for Family Life and Recovery, Inc. at 315.733.1709 or visit their website at www.whenthereshelpthereshope.com.