function &getDatabase()
    {
        static $database_instances;
        if (!isset($database_instances )) {
            $database_instances = '';
        }

        //only create a new database instance if it has not been created before
       if (!isset($database_instances )) {
            $database_instances = createDatabase();
            return $database_instances;
        } else {
            return $database_instances;
        }
    }

    function &createDatabase()
    {

        //get the debug configuration setting
        $conf =& JFactory::getConfig();
        $debug = $conf->getValue('config.debug');

        //make sure the database model is loaded
        jimport('joomla.database.database');
        jimport('joomla.database.table' );

        //get config values
        $conf =& JFactory::getConfig();


        //prepare the data for creating a database connection
        //change to however you are getting your phpBB params
        $host = $params->get('database_host');
        $user = $params->get('database_user');
        $password = $params->get('database_password');
        $database = $params->get('database_name');
        $prefix = $params->get('database_prefix');
        $driver = $params->get('database_type');
        $debug = $conf->getValue('config.debug');

	//added extra code to prevent error when $driver is incorrect
	if ($driver != 'mysql' && $driver != 'mysqli') {
            //invalid driver
            JError::raiseWarning(0, JText::_('INVALID_DRIVER'));
            $result = false;
            return $result;
	}

        //create an options variable that contains all database connection variables
        $options = array('driver' => $driver, 'host' => $host, 'user' => $user, 'password' => $password, 'database' => $database, 'prefix' => $prefix );

        //create the actual connection
        $phpbb_database =& JDatabase::getInstance($options );
        if (!method_exists($jfusion_database,'Execute')){
            JError::raiseWarning(0, JText::_('NO_DATABASE'));
            $result = false;
            return $result;
        } else {
	        //add support for UTF8
    	    $phpbb_database->Execute('SET names \'utf8\'');
    	    //support debugging
		$phpbb_database->debug($debug);
	        return $phpbb_database;
        }
    }