The decision to get vaccinated against a disease such as H1N1 is a personal one. I've noticed this reflected in the way people talk about the decision -- whether they are in the higher risk groups, whether they mind being ill etc.

Yet it is worth bearing in mind that your decision whether or not to get vaccinated may affect many more people than just you. You are also affecting everyone you could potentially pass the virus on to. And with people being contagious both before symptoms appear and after they disappear, there is a high likelihood that you will pass it on to many others without realizing it if you are not vaccinated. Lifestyles associated with drug and sex addictions also increase risk of transmission.

So if you aren't sure whether you will come into contact with a young child, someone with a neurological disorder, a pregnant woman, or anyone else at risk of becoming seriously ill as a result of H1N1, I would encourage you to think seriously about having the shot.

Need to know more before making the decision? About.com has a wealth of information on the H1N1 vaccine, including what we know about the vaccine, people at risk of complications, safety of the vaccine, common concerns about the vaccine, the relationship with pneumonia, and frequently asked questions.

For those who have multiple sexual partners, whether part of a sex addiction, or sex work, you should be aware of the increased risk of H1N1, and consider getting vaccinated.

H1N1 is spread through the saliva, typically by coughs and sneezes. However, direct mouth-to-mouth contact will spread the virus even more readily. Your partner may not even look sick, as they may be contagious both before and after symptoms are present.

You should be particularly concerned about the spread of H1N1 if you or your partners are pregnant, have a developmental disability, or have a supporessed immune system as a result of HIV/AIDS.

Others at risk of complications of H1N1 common in the addictions community are people with severe obesity and people with liver, heart lunch and kidney diseases.

Also at risk are children under 5 years old, so take special care if you live or work with young children. Others with chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, blood disorders and neurological conditions are also at risk.

Vaccinations are becoming increasingly available, so ask your family doctor or local health clinic where you can get a shot.

This old saying was never more relevant than it is to the process of overcoming an addiction.

Although it is great to start the process of quitting with the attitude that you will stick to your goals 100%, the experience of relapse is so common that it is actually sometimes recognized as part of the cycle of change, for example, in the stages of change model.

And approaches such as motivational interviewing will help you uncover your reasons for falling off the wagon, which can actually strengthen your chances of sucess in the future. For example, if it was cravings that cause you to relapse, your therapist can help you to learn strategies for dealing with cravings when they happen next time.

Unfortunately, 12 step programs are not always so understanding, so if you are finding your relapses are making it difficult to participate fully and honestly in a 12 step group, you might consider switching to motivational interviewing. Contact you local treatment center to find out where it is offered.

When people start to experience unpleasant consequences of their addictive behavior, they often wonder why they can't just quit.

Despite the popular belief that quitting involves little more than realizing you have a problem and sheer will power, quitting is such a complex process that there is actually a model, known as the stages of change model, that details the various stages that people typically go through on the road to recovery.

The stages include precontemplation -- common among people in the early stages of addiction; contemplation -- common among people who want to continue with their current behavior, but are aware of some issues; preparation -- when a decision has been made but you're aren't quite ready to make changes; and action -- when you are in the process of quitting.

Additional stages of maintenance and relapse are also sometimes included.

Not sure which stage you are in? A visit to your local addiction treatment centre will often involve an assessment of your readiness for change, as well as support that matches the stage you are in.

With the focus on the White House's shift in policy on medical marijuana, this seems a good time to provide some links to medical marijuana resources.

Dr Lynne Eldridge, About.com's guide to Lung Cance, recently wrote about the pros and cons of medical marijuana.

And Angela Morrow, R.N., About.com's guide to Dying, has put together a collection of articles on the topic of medical marijuana.

Watch this space for more on medical marijuana from the addictions perspective.

According to the New York Times, the Obama administration has reversed its policy on medical marijuana.

In contrast to the Bush administration, who allowed authorities to enforce federal drug laws in states with laws allowing the use of medical marijuana, the Justice Department softened their stance, allowing some use or sale of marijuana for medical purposes where state law allows it.

This is expected to limit the raiding of medical marijuana distributors to those who are attempting to abuse the medical marijuana laws, using them as a guise to cover up drug trafficking and dealing.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the following 13 states currently have medical marijuana laws:

• Alaska
• California
• Colarado
• Hawaii
• Maine
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Oregon
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• Washington

Vegans may be put off practicing safe sex, because many condoms contain a milk-derived protein.

But as Dr Elizabeth Boskey, About.com's Sexually Transmitted Diseases guide explains, there are several condoms available that are suitable for vegans.

This is good news, particularly for those with sex addictions, and people who are at higher risk of HIV and hepatitis transmission through sex work or injection drug use.

Condom use will help protect you and your sexual partners from both sexually transmitted diseases, and from unplanned pregnancy. This is even more important for people who have a chaotic lifestyle, or who have difficulties with accessing medical services. Unfortunately, at present, both are commonly the case for people with substance and behavioral addictions.

Are you an inspiration and role model to others with addictions?

If you or someone you admire who is going through the process of overcoming an addiction in Missouri, it may be time to get the recognition you deserve.

People in recovery from substance use problems or gambling addiction are among those eligible to be nominated as Mental Health Champions in 2010.

The selection committee will be looking for examples of how individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or persons in recovery from substance or gambling addictions have overcome their challenges and whose actions and accomplishments provide good examples of the commitment and courage it takes to make life better for yourself and others in your community.

Thank you to Missouri Department of Mental Health for recognizing that people working to overcome addictions are as worthy of recognition as any other person overcoming a personal challenge. I see this as a positive step in overcoming the stigma of addiction, and breaking negative stereotypes about people with addictions.

Please consider nominating an individual in recovery who inspires you and others.

For more information on the nomination process, visit the Department of Mental Health website. The deadline for submission of nomination forms is October 30, 2009.

According to the National Institutes of Health, a new vaccine shows promise for helping people overcome addiction to the substance.

Initial research published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, is the first successful, placebo-controlled demonstration of a vaccine against an illicit drug of abuse.

The study shows that drug users given the vaccine were significantly more successful in abstaining than those who received a placebo, as indicated by urine tests.

Like vaccines which prevent diseases, the cocaine vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies. However, instead of destroying or deactivating the disease-causing agents, cocaine antibodies attach themselves to cocaine molecules in the blood, preventing them from passing into the brain and producing the euphoric high for which cocaine is known.

The vaccine was far from 100% effective, in fact, only 38% had substantial reductions in cocaine use. But it may be part of a more complex approach to treatment for some people with addictions.

The main shortcoming I see to the vaccine approach is that it reduces the complex process of recovery from addiction to a simple pharmacological formula. And addiction involves much more than pharmacology, including social factors such as peer pressure and psychological aspects, such as rituals in drug taking.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry has shown a link between the daily eating of sweets and violence later in life.

Based on a study of 17,500 ten-year-old children in 1970, the research found that of those who went on to commit violent crimes in adulthood, nearly 70% ate candy every day, compared to 42% who did not go on to commit violent crimes.

The study took many different factors into account, including parenting style, and found that the candy-violence relationship remained when these factors were included in the analysis.

The study authors speculated that the cause of this phenomenon may be the use of candy by parents to control children's behavior. This prevents children from developing the ability to delay gratification, which has been found in other studies to be related to delinquency. Candy also contains additives which have been found to promote aggression.

This is scary news for parents. So what should you do if you think your child is addicted to food or a chocoholic? Obviously, limiting sugar will do no harm, and may do a lot of good. Saving sugary treats for special occasions, rather than allowing them to become a daily expectation may be helpful. And avoid the use of candy to control your child's behavior -- it may seem like a "quick fix" at the time, but in the long term, it may lead to greater problems.

Encouraging children to enjoy healthy alternatives, such as fruit, will have numerous short and long term health benefits, as well as psychological benefits. And parents should remember that their most powerful tool is role modelling, so hold off on eating candy in front of your kids, and let them see you munching a banana or apple as a healthy snack.

Image (c) Ryan Arestegui