Community Meetings, Events & Miscellaneous Items

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• PATCHING THINGS UP
  
  A Ritalin patch -- dubbed "Daytrana" -- is now available. It comes with guidelines, among them: 1) the patch should be removed after nine hours; and 2) it should be kept away from sources of heat -- baths, heating pads, electric blankets -- as these can raise the rate at which the drug is absorbed through the skin.
  
  Adult dosages have yet to be calibrated, but Daytrana is available in four doses: the equivalents of 10, 15, 20, and 30 milligrams. For prescribing information:
  
  www.daytrana.com/pdf/pdf1.pdf

•     WOMEN AT WORK
  
  A group for women with ADD and career issues has been meeting in Chelsea;
  E Mail: addcareerhelp@aol.com.

•  A support group for spouses and significant others living with adults with ADD is currently being formed. Called ADDothers, the group is loosely modeled on the 12-step program Alanon. ADDothers offers participants a chance to share experiences, challenges, and successes with the goal of solving common problems. Those interested are encouraged to write ADDothers@aol.com,

Miscellaneous Postings

• NJ RESOURCES
  
  By request, I'm compiling a list of doctors, therapists, coaches, etc., west of the Hudson. As that's not a topic I know much about, suggestions would be welcome. Please contact Paul at MAADDSG@aol.com.

• LOST AND FOUND
  
  A participants writes: "Here is a link for unclaimed funds in the possession of the New York State Comptroller. All you do is put in your name and address (or addresses) to see if you have forgotten a refund, an old bank account, an insurance settlement, or something similar. I have a feeling that some folks with ADD might have left a few ends loose on the details end."
  
  The URL: www.osc.state.ny.us/cgi-bin/db2www/ouffrm.d2w/input

• WHERE ARE MY KEYS???
  
  On an all-too-familiar subject, a participant offers the following tips:
  
  "I used to have problems with losing keys. I would search for hours. This would often cause me great delays and frustration when I least needed it. What I did was make several copies of my keys and put them on nails or hooks around my room. Also, I've left copies with trusted friends.
  
  "Once I lost my keys while I was rollerblading. What I do now is attach my keys to a string and I tie it or loop it to or around my belt. This way Its impossible to lose while exercising."
  
  And, on another topic: "I use MS Outlook. Most PCs have it. It has a calendar feature to remind me of coming events or appointments. Also, I have three different calendars. On each one I write down my appointments at least an hour before the actual time."

• CONFIDENTIALITY
  
  Some who attend our meetings are trying to maintain a low ADD profile. For this reason, should you encounter an attendee outside of a meeting, some discretion might come in handy.
  
  Consider the following: "I was on a date with someone new a few weeks ago and one of the group members kept approaching me and talking with me about the group and other things, and it made my date and me uncomfortable because at that point I didn't want to tell her about my ADD. Sometimes folks with mental conditions don't pick up on social cues so well, so we should caution folks to be extra careful. We should respect each other's privacy in public and only bring up the group if it seems OK."

• "A NEW UNDERSTANDING OF ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER"
  
  A number of us have trekked to Connecticut to consult with Yale psychologist and diagnostician
  Thomas E. Brown. Dr. Brown now has a website: http://www.drthomasebrown.com/index.html

• E-NEWSLETTER
  
  Recently, the NYU adult-ADD clinic launched its own publication. Some issues are available online:
  
  www.med.nyu.edu/psych/psychiatrist/adultadhdnewsletter.html
  
  
  The editors state: "Published bimonthly, the NYU School of Medicine Adult ADHD Newsletter focuses on the clinician, providing the most up-to-date information on diagnosing and treating adult ADHD."

• DUAL-DIAGNOSIS GROUP
  
  NAMI-NYC Metro -- the New York City branch of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill -- runs a support group for individuals with both a psychiatric issue and a problem with substance abuse.
  
  The group meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month, from 6 pm to 8 pm, at the
  NAMI-NYC office. That's at 505 8th Avenue, Suite 1103 -- the cross street is 35th. Anyone interested should feel free to attend. For information, call 212-684-3264.

• PARENT TO PARENT
  
  A second NAMI-NYC effort -- the Parent Matching Program -- may also be of interest.
  
  The Program's mission is "to match parents with another parent who has had more experience with the issue; a parent who has 'been there'; a Support Parent. Matches are based on diagnosis, similarity of issues or significant events going on in the life of the child. The age of the child and the neighborhood where the family lives are also considered in the match. The Support Parent will share his or her story, listen and offer information and support while respecting confidentiality and individual differences. The most important goal of the Support Parent is to help the parent realize that she or he is not alone."
  
  For information, contact NAMI-NYC's services coordinator, Mary Lee Gupta, at
  212-684-3365 x204; or volunteer@naminyc.org.