YOUTHS ARE MAKING A MOCKERY OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS

Jerrod Menz NEWS RELEASE
(800) 757-9867
Jerrod@abttc.com


YOUTHS ARE MAKING A MOCKERY OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS

One California drug rehab center is seeing increasing numbers of youths in their 20s who have obtained medical marijuana cards after telling their doctors they were suffering from back pain and other ailments

MURRIETA, Calif., March 31, 2009 – Thirteen states have legalized the medical use of marijuana with a doctor’s approval, a development that has led to the rapid growth of cannabis dispensaries from coast to coast.

But one prominent drug treatment center in Southern California is finding that the recipients of medical marijuana cards are not just elderly people with terminal illnesses, but young people in their 20s who are faking back pain and other ailments in an effort to legally obtain the drug.

“Young people are finding they can easily trick doctors into giving them medical marijuana cards by claiming they are suffering from back pain and other ailments whose existence is difficult to prove,” said Jerrod Menz, president of A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center Inc., a Murrieta, Calif.-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation center.

“We recently had one client in his 20s who told us he obtained a medical marijuana card by telling his doctor he was suffering from foot pain. He laughed and said his doctor gave him the prescription after a five-minute examination,” Menz said.

Menz said several young people have voluntarily surrendered or destroyed their medical marijuana cards after receiving treatment at his clinic. But he said doctors need to use more care in their examinations of young people who come into their offices with complaints of persistent pain to better prevent people from abusing the intent of medical marijuana laws.

Thirteen states have legalized the medical use of marijuana, including Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington. Additional states are considering laws that would legalize marijuana for medical treatment.

Based in Murrieta, Calif., A Better Tomorrow is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), placing it in the top 5 percent of drug and alcohol treatment centers in California. For more information about A Better Tomorrow, please contact Jerrod Menz at (800) 757-9867. Additional information is available on the clinic's website at http://www.abttc.com/

If you need help or know of someone who does, please contact A Better Tomorrow today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/

Jerrod Menz Appointed by CALNET to Serve on Board Of Directors

A BETTER TOMORROW TREATMENT CENTER’S PRESIDENT IS APPOINTED TO CALNET’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS


MURRIETA, Calif., March 24, 2009 – Jerrod Menz, president and co-founder of A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center Inc., has been appointed by CALNET to serve on the statewide organization’s board of directors.

CALNET is a statewide not-for-profit provider services network founded in 1983 to help bring together high quality behavioral treatment providers with insurers and managed care organizations.

Menz also serves on the advisory board of The Addiction Hotline, a Riverside, Calif.-based 24-hour addiction hotline service, as well as the board of advisory for Outreach Services, a Los Banos, Calif.-based addiction resource and referral center.

Based in Murrieta, A Better Tomorrow has the highest level of accreditation that can be obtained by a drug or alcohol treatment center. The clinic is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), placing it in the top 5 percent of drug and alcohol treatment clinics in California. For more information about A Better Tomorrow, please contact Jerrod Menz at (800) 757-9867. Additional information is available on the clinic’s website at http://www.abttc.com/.

All American Girl to “Heroin Junkie” to Recovery to Inspiration

Jerrod Menz NEWS RELEASE
(800) 757-9867
jerrod@abttc.com


ALL AMERICAN GIRL WHO BECAME A “HEROIN JUNKIE” SHARES HER
HER STORY OF RECOVERY TO INSPIRE OTHER ADDICTS TO GET HELP

Jennifer Hood, 23, who completed her treatment at A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center Inc. in Murrieta, Calif., shared a happy ending to her addiction story last week on “The Steve Wilkos Show”

MURRIETA, Calif., March 24, 2009 – Jennifer Hood’s nightmare with drugs started at age 18, when her boyfriend introduced her to OxyContin, a prescription painkiller known for its addictive qualities.

She quickly got hooked, and by the time she was 20, she started taking heroin and her life spiraled out of control. In fact, by the time the Virginia native landed on the syndicated Steve Wilkos Show last November, she was homeless and prostituting herself.
“I was an all-American girl who turned into a homeless, heroin junkie,” Hood, 23, recalled. “I was my father’s nightmare. I built walls around myself to keep everyone who loved me at a distance.”

But after Hood shared her story with a national television audience, The Steve Wilkos Show referred her to A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center in Murrieta, Calif., which provided her with three months of residential treatment, interrupting her cycle of drug dependence and giving her the tools to rebuild her life.

“A Better Tomorrow changed my life completely,” Hood said. “I went from having low self esteem to feeling better about myself and realizing that there is another life out there for me if I want to pursue it. I now have real friends who want to see me do well and I’ve repaired my relationships with my family.”

Hood said she will spend several months in a sober living facility and plans to return to complete her studies in college and pursue a career as a counselor. “I didn’t (share my story last week) for the air time,” Hood said. “I did it to help inspire other addicts to get help so that their life doesn’t become what mine used to be.”

Based in Murrieta, Calif., A Better Tomorrow regularly treats addicts that have appeared on The Steve Wilkos Show. The clinic is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), placing it in the top 5 percent of drug and alcohol treatment centers in California. For more information about A Better Tomorrow, please contact Jerrod Menz at (800) 757-9867. Additional information is available on the clinic's website at http://www.abttc.com/.

ABT TREATMENT CENTER OFFERS 50 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON ITS INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES

Jerrod Menz NEWS RELEASE
(800) 757-9867


A BETTER TOMORROW TREATMENT CENTER OFFERS 50 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON ITS INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT SERVICES

“We are seeing more people who need addiction treatment and counseling as a result of the worsening economy.”

‒ Jerrod Menz, President, A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center Inc.

MURRIETA, Calif., Feb. 23, 2009 ― A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center Inc. is offering a 50 percent discount on its intensive outpatient treatment services to accommodate individuals who are developing drug or alcohol addiction problems as a result of job losses and economic stress.

“We are seeing more people who need addiction treatment and counseling as a result of the worsening economy,” said Jerrod Menz, A Better Tomorrow’s president, adding, “By reducing our outpatient treatment fees, we can get more of these people into treatment and perform a community service during these difficult economic times.”

Unlike A Better Tomorrow’s standard 28-day inpatient treatment program, which includes 36 hours a week of counseling and group activities, the outpatient program provides three hours of treatment three days a week. Sessions are available in the evening, although morning and mid-day sessions are also available upon request.
Menz said A Better Tomorrow is providing outpatient treatment services for three hours, three days a week for $2,990 per month, which is half its standard rate for outpatient treatment.

“Outpatient treatment is ideal for people who want to stop their addictive behavior before it takes over their lives,” Menz said. “It also gives people the ability to quietly deal with their addiction issues in a responsible way without having to take time off of work.”

Most major health insurance providers, including Cigna, Magellan, PHCS, MHN and Value Options, cover A Better Tomorrow’s intensive outpatient treatment services, although out of network agreements can also be negotiated. “If we find that an individual requires more intensive treatment than what we normally provide on an outpatient basis, we will contact their insurance provider to see what other treatment options they will cover,” Menz said.

Based in Murrieta, Calif., A Better Tomorrow has the highest level of accreditation that can be obtained by a drug or alcohol treatment center. The clinic is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), placing it in the top 5 percent of drug and alcohol treatment clinics in California. For more information about A Better Tomorrow, please contact Jerrod Menz at (800) 757-9867. Additional information is available on the clinic’s website at http://www.abttc.com/.

FREE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES TO MILITARY VETERANS

Jerrod Menz NEWS RELEASE
(800) 757-9867


SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA DRUG REHAB CENTER OFFERS FREE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT SERVICES TO MILITARY VETERANS WHO HAVE RECENTLY RETURNED FROM ACTIVE DUTY

A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center Inc. is also offering a 50 percent discount to veterans seeking residential treatment

MURRIETA, Calif., Feb. 20, 2009 ― A Southern California drug and alcohol rehab center is offering free outpatient treatment services to military veterans who have returned from active duty during the past five years.

A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center Inc. is also offering veterans a 50
percent discount on its 28-day, residential treatment programs.

“We continue to see news reports about veterans returning from active duty overseas who are suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. And given the strong correlation between PTSD and drug or alcohol addiction, we think our services would be of significant value to veterans who need help,” said Jerrod Menz, A Better Tomorrow’s president.

A Better Tomorrow will provide free outpatient treatment services three days a week for up to five veterans at a time with a maximum of one month of treatment services per veteran, Menz said.

Veterans who have recently returned from active duty and need residential treatment will be eligible for a 50 percent discount on A Better Tomorrow’s residential programs, which normally cost just over $13,000 per month, Menz said. The discounts will be offered to veterans on an ongoing basis as space permits.

Based in Murrieta, Calif., A Better Tomorrow has the highest level of accreditation that can be obtained by a drug or alcohol treatment center. The clinic is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), placing it in the top 5 percent of drug and alcohol treatment clinics in California. For more information about A Better Tomorrow, please contact Jerrod Menz at (800) 757-9867. Additional information is available on the clinic’s website at http://www.abttc.com/.

BILINGUAL THERAPISTS ~ A Better Tomorrow

Jeff Crider: (760) 469-5905 NEWS RELEASE
jeffreycrider@cox.net

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REHABILITATION CLINIC IS HIRING BILINGUAL THERAPISTS TO BETTER SERVE THE HISPANIC COMMUNITIES OF MEXICO AND THE UNITED STATES

MURRIETA, Calif., Dec. 5, 2008 – A Better Tomorrow, a fast growing Southern California-based rehabilitation center, is seeking bilingual therapists to better serve the Hispanic communities of Mexico and the United States.

“Every week we get calls from Hispanic people seeking help for their addictions,” said Sylvia Reynolds, a bilingual therapist from A Better Tomorrow with nearly two decades of experience in counseling.

“And these calls are not just from people in the United States,” Reynolds said. “We are also receiving calls from people from all over Mexico, including the Federal District, because of the relative shortage of high quality addiction treatment facilities in Mexico. That’s why we’re looking for more bilingual therapists to help us better serve the Hispanic communities from both countries.”

A Better Tomorrow is attracting Spanish speaking clientes from Mexico and the United States through its website, www.adicciondedrogas.com, and through a Google advertising program based on specific keyword searches, said Jerrod Menz, A Better Tomorrow’s president and director of business development.

Josie Gann, a bilingual program manager and cofounder of A Better Tomorrow, said addition is an illness without borders and that A Better Tomorrow is doing everything possible to help its clients from Mexico who are looking for medical and psychological solutions to control their addictions.

A Better Tomorrow provides residential and outpatient treatment programs for individuals suffering from alcohol and gambling addictions as well as addictions to illegal and prescription drugs. Residential programs are typically provided in 30-, 60- and 90-day increments with the length of stay reflecting the severity of the addiction and the level of treatment needed to efficiently reintegrate the patient back into society.

For more information on A Better Tomorrow, call (558) 525-6936 from Mexico. Reporters who would like to schedule interviews with directors or therapists from A Better Tomorrow can do so by calling Jeff Crider in California at (760) 469-5905 or by emailing him at jeffreycrider@cox.net

News Release ~ Dec 4, 2008

Jim Fent NEWS RELEASE
(800) 757-9867


NOVEMBER, DECEMBER AND JANUARY ARE BUSIEST TIMES OF YEAR
FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL REHABILITATION CENTERS

“In the four years we’ve been open, we always pick up right at Thanksgiving,” said Jim Fent, executive vice president of
A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center in Murrieta, California


MURRIETA, Calif., Dec. 4, 2008 – Counselors at A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center in Southern California don’t need a calendar to know when the holidays have arrived. They can tell by looking at their caseload of new clients seeking treatment for drug and alcohol abuse.

“November, December and January is when we have the most new clients coming in,” said Jim Fent, A Better Tomorrow’s executive vice president, adding that the surge in new patients usually starts right at Thanksgiving.

“In the four years we’ve been open, we always pick up right at Thanksgiving,” Fent said.

A Better Tomorrow, in fact, had three new clients sign up for treatment on Monday, all three of which were “stressed out” about seeing family members on Thanksgiving.
“Emotions run high during the holiday season,” Fent explained. “People use more alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism, and that sets the stage for a crisis.”
Fent said family gatherings are usually the biggest stressors for drug and alcohol addicts because mental health problems often have their roots in difficult family relationships.

The good thing, however, is that the stress that drug and alcohol addicts experience during the holidays often prompts them to seek treatment for their addictions. In many cases, the erratic behavior that drug and alcohol addicts display at family get togethers also prompts families to seek professional interventions to force their loved ones into treatment if they are unwilling to get the help they need on their own.

Drug and alcohol addicts often deny that they have a problem, even when their addictions are tearing apart their families or leading them down a path toward unemployment or financial ruin. That’s why a professional interventionist is often needed to convince the addict to seek professional counseling and treatment, Fent said.

A Better Tomorrow provides professional intervention services as well as inpatient and outpatient treatment programs for alcohol abuse as well as addiction to illegal and prescription drugs.

Based in Murrieta, Calif., A Better Tomorrow has the highest level of certification of any drug or alcohol treatment center in southwest Riverside County. The clinic is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), placing it in the top 5 percent of drug and alcohol treatment clinics in California. For more information about A Better Tomorrow, please contact Jim Fent at (800) 757-9867. Additional information is available on the clinic’s website at http://www.abttc.com/.