Chris Pow/al.comConstruction has been halted on a replacement for Bryce Hospital in Tuscaloosa while the Alabama Department of Mental Health reconsiders its restructuring plan.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- A plan to close most of the state's mental hospitals is being reconsidered and construction has been put on hold on a new hospital in Tuscaloosa, officials announced Wednesday. 

Gov. Robert Bentley and Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Zelia Baugh said at an ADMH board meeting in Montgomery that they're putting the brakes on a plan first announced almost a month ago. That plan would have closed Greil Memorial Psychiatric Hos­pital in Montgmery, North Alabama Regional Hospital in Decatur and Searcy Hospital in Mount Vernon by Sept. 30 and eliminated almost 950 employee positions.


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Did you see Melissa Turnage's article in the Birmingham News?

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- The Freedom Source is a relatively new nonprofit organization in Birmingham that provides hope and help to individuals and families trying to find solutions for drug and alcohol addiction.

The organization was born out of the frustrating search by one family to find drug and alcohol addiction service providers in the Birmingham metro area, according to its website. The Freedom Source became a reality in 2008 and to date has served more than 1,500 clients.

Sandor Cheka of Chelsea is the executive director. Cheka is a Samford University graduate and an ordained Baptist minister. In May 2010, he was invited to go to Washington, D.C., as part of a delegation from Birmingham to attend a conference put on by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration. Birmingham was one of 12 cities with people invited to participate in the conference. The focus of the gathering  was to learn how community partnerships could be developed to help people be successful in recovering from alcohol or drug abuse.

 

 

 

 

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Man charged in connection with Brighton case, known as "Green Giant"

Did you see this article in the Birmingham News?

The charge stems from an FBI investigation begun in May 2008 into a group's illegal sale of drugs including Oxycontin, cocaine, marijuana, Xanax, and heroin from a house on McDonald Street in Brighton.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama --Another man has been charged in connection with "Green Giant," the federal, state and local law enforcement operation aimed at shutting down an illegal drive-through drug operation in Brighton.

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Participate in National Prescription Take-Back Day April 28^th 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 pm.

The Shelby County Drug Enfo.rcement Task Force, the Pelham Police Department, the Shelby County Drug Free Coalition and the Drug Enforcement Administration are sponsoring the event to allow citizens the opportunity to properly dispose of unneeded, unused, expired or unwanted prescription or over-the counter medications. The drop-off is free and anonymous - no questions asked.

Bring your medications for disposal on Saturday, April 28^th, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., to any of the following locations in Shelby County:

• Greystone YMCA (5414 Highway 280, Birmingham)
• Alabaster Target (250 South Colonial Drive, Alabaster)
• Winn-Dixie (2653 Valleydale Road, Birmingham)
• Pelham Police Department (32 Philip Davis Street, Pelham)

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Over the past few months, we have seen numerous news reports and articles surrounding new trends in harmful drugs including bath salts and 'fake weed.'  As these new drug trends become more publicized, so do the arrests and harmful damage that these substances cause. 

Hospital officials at UAB recently treated a 25-year-old Alabama resident for the use of illegal bath salts.  These bath salts cause health problems such as an increased heart rate, high blood pressure, psychosis, extreme paranoia, and violent urges.  In addition to bath salts, 'fake weed' has been a prevalent problem in our area as well.  Last week, four arrests were made in Shelby County due to the possession of the substance.  Four search warrants were issued at gas stations in Montevallo and Alabaster, all leading to arrests due to unlawful possession of chemical compounds and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

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"State bans sale of drinks that team alcohol, caffiene..." 

headlines in an article published in the Birmingham News, February 24th.


There has been lots of "hoopla" in the news about drinks that include alcohol and caffeine.  Until now, it has been easy for our youth or anyone to walk into a convenience store and buy Four Loko or any other energy drink containing alcohol and caffeine.  When the effects of the caffeine wear off, the effects of the alcohol remain.  These drinks are sometimes called "knockout in a can."  How appropriately named!


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"The University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future study (MTF) - the largest survey on teen drug abuse tracking over 46,000 8^th, 10^th and 12^th graders- found a huge falloff in teen's recalled exposure to drug abuse prevention messages over the past seven years. The new data from the MTF study has been released at a time when teens themselves report finding the drug prevention messages to be effective"

The above statement came from a recent article published by the Partnership at Drugfree.org.  The survey shows that from 2003 to today, teen exposure to drug prevention messages has declined dramatically.

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In a recent editorial in The Birmingham News,  Sheriff Mike Hale was commended because he has come to the table with a plan to continue funding for TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities), a program that benefits many.  "Its work not only keeps some offenders out of the normal criminal justice system and out of jail, it helps keep offenders out of trouble by testing and sending them to treatment.  An evaluation of the program several years ago showed it reduced new arrests of those out on bond by 30 percent."

Oh, I read another editorial which states that "a person in the TASC program costs the county about $5.50 a day - someone in jail costs more than $50, so it's a 10 times savings on funding." 

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Did you see this recent article in The Birmingham News? (View the article)  

In an upscale neighborhood, a woman was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of violating the Alabama open house party law after a judge ruled that she held a party at her residence in which minors had beer and alcohol.  

The “open house” was attended by 44 minors, some as young as age 15.  Over half were holding beer cans.  Beer cans were on the air hockey table, and in the trash cans around the basement.  Also, hard liquor was present.

A Hoover Municipal Court Judge ordered her to pay a $250 fine plus $191 in court costs.

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