WHY NOT EVERYWHERE? – April 5, 2024 – House Bill 298, would require businesses that sell alcoholic beverages post signs warning of the cancer link. The cancer message would augment the currently required message warning that consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects. The bill has no sponsors from the Republican-dominated House majority, and there is no Senate version. The prime sponsor, Rep. Andrew Gray, D-Anchorage, said he had minimal expectations about its fate when he introduced it in January. “When we filed it, we expected to not get a hearing at all,” he said. To at…
Author: Leonard Buschel
“I would rather have questions that cannot be answered, than answers that cannot be questioned.” – Richard Feynman, b.1918 NY – d.1988 CA
IT’S CHEAP ENOUGH – April 2, 2024 – The CDC is trying, desperately, it seems, to pound a square peg into a round hole, blaming COVID-19 for a surge in alcohol use and ignoring a glaring problem with the evidence. That’s not something you generally expect from scientists. However, I would argue the CDC is no longer controlled by scientists. While dedicated scientists still work there, the CDC is now controlled by politics. Founded as the Communicable Disease Center in 1946 to control malaria, it was expanded with an epidemic intelligence service in 1951. Probably not the best name, as…
SUPERSTARS DIE TOO – Feb. 10, 2024 – Amy Winehouse was tipsy but still able to hold a conversation. Dr. Christina Romete, the soulful British pop singer’s general practitioner, had been treating Winehouse for several years amid her rollercoaster struggles with alcohol and hard drugs. Amy Winehouse had always been open about her substance use issues, to a point. “I do drink a lot,” she told the British television show “London Live” in 2006. “I think it’s symptomatic of my depression. I’m a manic depressive. I’m not an alcoholic, which sounds like an alcoholic in denial.” Addiction psychiatrist Dr.…
OR IS IT TOO LATE? – March 30, 2024 – American kids are experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis that is driven, in large part, by how much of their day is spent online. The numbers are horrifying: rates of anxiety and depression among young people have risen by 50%.Today, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for children ages 10-14 years old. Not only do a whopping 95% of teens use social media, but Pew Research Center found that a third of them report using it “almost constantly.” These platforms expose them to excessive violence, extremism, bullying and…
BIG PHARMA, BIG FOOD, BIG LIES – April 3, 2024 – Jaye Rochon struggled to lose weight for years. But she felt as if a burden had lifted when she discovered YouTube influencers advocating “health at every size” — urging her to stop dieting and start listening to her “mental hunger.”. “They made me feel like I was safe eating whatever the hell I wanted,” said Rochon, 51, a video editor. In two months, she regained 50 pounds. As her weight neared 300 pounds, she began to worry about her health. The videos that Rochon encountered are part of the…
SOUL DAMAGE – March 31, 2024 – “We’ve never seen anything like this. There’s massive evidence of harm,” Jonathan Haidt says. “It happened in many countries at the same time, at a specific point in time: the moment when teens traded their flip phones for smartphones. It’s as if you had a murder, and all eyewitnesses point to this suspect. In his latest book The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness, out now, Haidt examines the connection between this “great rewiring,” in which we’ve traded kids’ play time for phone…
BRAINS AND FINESSE – March 30, 2024 – She has been famous, and sober – and married to Tony Baines – for exactly half her life. ‘I was always told when I got to 40, I wouldn’t care about other people’s opinions,’ she says. ‘I’d think when I got to 50 I’d know true freedom. Traditionally the age when women had to retire is 60. That doesn’t fit me, either.’ Now she is 60, and I tell her she looks youthful. ‘Botox and fillers!’, she replies with a shriek, raising her chin to show the bruise. ‘Take a good look!…
OR IS IT? – March 29, 2024 – A quick search for sober motivation will send you off on a stream of brightly coloured listicles that advise making plans that don’t involve alcohol, spending time with friends who support your choices, trying new things (like mocktails!) and going for a walk to combat alcohol cravings. (photo: Author Ashe Davenport) The posts are often accompanied by a white-toothed influencer who is standing on a mountain in a bikini. The internet paints a picture of sobriety that has been smoothed around the edges, with an occasional snag of vulnerability; a woman pushing…
IT’S ALL IN THE GAME – March 31, 2024 – Gaby, who first found fame in 1992 on The Big Breakfast, revealed last year that she completely cut alcohol out of her life – and she has never looked back. It’s been over six years now since Gaby has drank alcohol, and she never sees herself hitting the booze again. However, the star, 59, has kept a rather low-profile when it comes to her personal life. Earlier this month, Gaby has in for Zoe Ball on BBC Radio 2 after the breakfast presenter revealed her break from the show.…
WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THE HOLE – April 3, 2024 – “Golf is important to me and not important to me at the same time,” Kim said. “I’ve had some very dark moments. I’ve had some very low moments. I felt very alone, even when there’s a million people around. ” When you’re 24 or 25, even 30 years old, you don’t realize the snakes that are living under your roof. But through the grace of God, I’m here. I’m able to tell my story, hopefully inspire other people. “I have an interesting relationship with golf,” Kim said. “I don’t…
WORTH DISCUSSING – March 29, 2024 – After struggling with alcoholism for two years, Aaron thought that trying out kratom as an alternative to drinking – as suggested by the ad he saw on Instagram – seemed like a good idea. “When I tried kratom, it was like it boosted my mood. It made me feel happier and it also took away some internal pain,” Aaron said. “The reason why I wanted to escape reality is because, if you are in addiction, for years on end, you hurt a lot of people, you make a lot of mistakes, you do…
CALM IN THE STORM – Feb. 10, 2024 – Children can often be the overlooked victims of the drug epidemic, with some kids losing one or both parents to drug addiction. “At full capacity, we see possibly 50 children living here on this ranch,” said Stephen Smith, executive director of Still Waters Youth Ranch of Appalachia. Smith said his work as a prosecutor led him to take a closer look at the foster care system. “As a prosecutor, I saw a lot of children who were left in the hands of grandparents, extended family, neighbors and acquaintances. In situations…
VIDEO ONLY – IT’S ABOUT TIME – March 29, 2024 – New campaign hopes to end the stigma of addiction. CONTINUE@WFMJ
DISTRACTIONS FROM ONESELF – April 1, 2024 – Getting addicted is the most logical thing for the brain to do. Sure, accomplishing a goal such as finishing an economics chapter, or going to the gym, would release a good amount of dopamine and activate the rewarding neural pathways of the brain. But why go through all that trouble when I can hop on my PlayStation … Our brain is constantly fighting a battle between pursuing short-term happiness and long-term goals. In other words, between instant and delayed gratification. The problem is if we keep accessing cheap and instant sources…
NOT PECKING – March 28, 2024 – Just as the duck’s graceful movements belie the intense effort required to propel itself forward, so do those affected by floating duck syndrome endeavor to present an image of success and accomplishment while grappling with internal stress. Underneath the calm exterior, there is anxiety, self-doubt and the relentless pursuit of achievement …Have you ever seen a duck gracefully gliding on the surface of a pond? From above, it appears as if the duck is effortlessly navigating the water, a picture of serenity and poise. However, beneath the tranquil surface lies a different reality—hidden…
I’LL HAVE ONE ‘GLAZED OVER EYES – March 30, 2024 – The company said their spiked iced coffees and ice teas — called “Dunkin’ Spiked” — are the “perfect daytime or evening drinks that you can enjoy year-round.” The spiked drinks, meant for the 21+ crowd, are available in Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin, according to the Dunkin’ Spiked website. They will also arrive in Louisiana, Virginia and Indiana this year, the…
UBER? – March 30, 2024 – Reviewing his father’s credit card statements, “I saw recurring charges from the Liquor Barn and realized he was drinking a pint of Scotch a day,” he said. Public health officials are increasingly alarmed by older Americans’ drinking. The annual number of alcohol-related deaths from 2020 through 2021 exceeded 178,000. An analysis by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism shows that people over 65 accounted for 38 percent of that total. From 1999 to 2020, the 237 percent increase in alcohol-related deaths among those over age 55 was higher than for any age…
ONE YEAR AT A TIME – April 2, 2024 – She is about to celebrate one year of sobriety. The 29-year-old reality star has been turning to a string of healthy activities in recent months and revealed that Wednesday (03.04.24) will mark the first anniversary of the day she stopped drinking alcohol. The ‘Vanderpump Rules’ star – who spent some time in a rehabilitation clinic for the sake of her mental health just before going sober – is hoping to share what she has learned about herself amid the health kick and wants to make sure that her fans…
WE’RE ALL ONE – April 2, 2024 – The rapper sat for an interview and revealed that he abused drugs for seven years. He said he started taking drugs in 2017. Takura said he ended up going to drug rehab this year. Check on your friends. Mental health is something that is real, but it seems like if you are a man, how can you feel all those things going on until it is too late so check on your loved ones.” CONTINUE@iHarare
THEY LOOK SO HAPPY…AND INSANE – March 30, 2024 – What the author is implying is that we parents need to start acting differently. Our kids’ reliance on mobile devices to pass the time starts long before high school, and it coalesces into an unshakeable habit under our watch — or, rather, while our gaze is averted and we’re looking at our phones. What Haidt doesn’t say is that parents can’t change their kids’ relationships with their phones and tablets without also addressing their own. Criticizing parents is very treacherous for any public figure, so it’s understandable that Haidt…
TELEVISION MATTERS – April 2, 2024 – “What you can expect is watching what happens when a sober George tries to maintain his sobriety, what that does to the family dynamic, what that means to his daughter’s relationship with him, how that trickles down to all of us,” said Selenis Leyva, who plays George’s ex-wife, Rosie. Stand-up comedian and actor George Lopez stars in “Lopez vs. Lopez” with his real-life daughter, Mayan. They play fictionalized characters of themselves, with a cast that includes Leyva, Matt Shively (Mayan’s live-in boyfriend) and Al Madrigal (George’s employee Oscar). Season one also featured Cheech…
GRILLED CHEESE THERAPY? – April 2, 2024 – After four months on a ketogenic diet, 79 percent of participants showed a “clinically meaningful improvement” in psychiatric symptoms. Researchers theorize that the diet may improve psychiatric symptoms by correcting metabolic issues. “The working theory is that we’re providing energy to the brain that circumvents these metabolic deficits,” said Shebani Sethi, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford Medicine and the lead author of the study. Sethi said researchers know a ketogenic diet can benefit the brain but how much the diet may help schizophrenia or bipolar,…
SELL SELL SELL LIE – April 2, 2024 – The U.S. government has repeatedly fought against advertising restrictions on these products around the globe. These drinks, targeted to young kids, may promise unproven benefits like “improved brain development” or “improved immune function.” If you’re a parent, you might have noticed toddler “milk” while browsing the formula aisle. The powdered drink, aimed at children between 1 and 3, often pledges benefits like “improved brain development” or “improved immune function.” But you may not know that these products are largely unregulated and make claims that are not supported by science, according…
SOBRIETY BECOMES HER – Happening Tomorrow April 10, 2024 – In a series of deeply personal Washington Post columns, Anne Lamott has explored aging from the miracles that age makes easier to see to the “superpower” of powerlessness. On Tuesday, April 10 at 10:30 a.m. ET, Anne joins Sally Quinn to talk about her ongoing exploration of getting older in her new book “Somehow: Thoughts on Love.” REGISTER NOW CONTINUE@WashingtonPost
AUDIO – ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE – April 7, 2024 – We’ve told you about so many people who’ve died in these facilities for lack of proper, or really any, medical care. Please, please, not more heartbreak! How about treating addiction as the life-threatening medical condition it is, and spending our billions on what we know works best? In 2022, after the mandate took effect and despite new laws and crackdowns, there were 11,002 overdose deaths, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the California Department of Public Health. Yes, fentanyl happened. But we’re clearly doing…
FILMS MATTER – Feb. 10, 2024 – At the Sundance Film Festival I watched depressing flick after depressing flick about dealers, addicts, good trips, bad trips, pills, pot, meth, coke, Rohypnol, injectable steroids and more like I was perusing a Tijuana pharmacy. Drugs rained down in comedies, dramas, horror and biopics. If there had been a kids’ film about a crackhead talking duck, nobody would have blinked an eye. By the end of the week, I had overdosed on the stuff. This critic jetted home to New York in critical condition. Before my bleary eyes, the Sundance Film Festival had…
LIVING IN THE PAST – April 2, 2024 – Steve-O said on a recent episode of his “Wild Ride!” podcast that he had to turn down a request to appear on Bill Maher‘s podcast because the stoner refused not to smoke pot during the interview. “Jackass” alum Steve-O is 16 years sober. Maher is often seen smoking pot during his “Club Random” podcast. “I’m a clean and sober guy. It’s very important that I maintain my sobriety, it’s approaching 16 years,” Steve-O said on his own podcast. “I am about to be sweet 16. Really, there’s nothing I value more…
TRUE LOVE – March 30, 2024 – Thirteen years ago, a poor fisherman in a small village was retrieving his net from a lake when he heard a noise behind him and turned to find a majestic being standing on the bow of his rowboat. So began an unlikely tale of man and bird that has captivated people as the passing years — and a deft social media campaign by a local nature photographer — have spread the pair’s story as a modern-day fable of cross-species friendship. Gleaming white feathers covered its head, neck and chest, yielding to black…
AUDIO – EXTREME IS EXTREME! – March 31, 2024 – The four-episode series focuses on retreats held by the Goenka network, teaching a popular meditation technique called Vipassana. Participants follow a strict schedule, waking before dawn and meditating silently for 10 days, 10 hours per day. They eat just two vegan meals each day. Meditation and mindfulness have many known health benefits, including helping to process trauma and manage anxiety, improve eating habits, and ease chronic pain. While many participants say Goenka retreats changed their lives for the better, The Retreat tells the stories of individuals whose mental health deteriorated…