LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS – Jan. 22, 2024 – “Timothy Leary and the Baby Boomers did not usher in the first psychedelic era,” Benjamin Breen writes in a new book. “They ended it.” One evening in September of 1957, viewers across America could turn on their television sets and tune in to a CBS broadcast during which a young woman dropped acid. She sat next to a man in a suit: Sidney Cohen, the researcher who had given her the LSD. The woman wore lipstick and nail polish, and her eyes were shining. “I wish I could…
Author: Leonard Buschel
SHOULD HAVE BEEN GUMMIES – Jan. 24, 2024 – White House pharmacists reportedly distributed uppers and downers like candy to Trump administration officials during his time in office. The document was released on Jan. 8, found that “all phases of the White House Medical Unit’s pharmacy operations had severe and systemic problems due to the unit’s reliance on ineffective internal controls. While Trump lived under the White House roof, the pharmacy reportedly kept messy, handwritten records, spent lavishly on brand-name medications, and failed to comply with a slew of federal law and Department of Defense regulations governing the handling,…
AUDIO – LIKE FATHER LIKE SON LIKE SON – Jan. 24, 2024 – Indio Downey is an alternative-rock/grunge-punk-lover’s dream. He blends flavors of Nirvana and early Green Day with his own unique, vulnerable sound to create 90s grunge for the 2020s. His debut EP, Cigarettes in Bed, takes listeners on a journey through Downey’s self-destructive struggle with substance abuse. The EP opens with the title track “Cigarettes in Bed,” painting a picture of two people languishing in their anti-social feelings together. When you’re next to me / The weight of the world doesn’t feel so heavy / And the…
LIFE ON THE ICE – Jan. 25, 2024 – As is the case with many alcoholics, Braun’s slide into addiction was gradual. First a beer in the evening, then two or three — at some point another at dinner during the week and then in the morning too. But at some point, he’d had enough. Braun would suffer from withdrawal, he’d get chest pains when the intervals between drinks became too long. “I didn’t want to have to hide, I wanted to go through therapy without the fear of someone recognizing me,” Braun says. “One of the reasons I…
“We only have one life, and it is very precious, and there’s a lot we can do, and there’s a lot we should do.” – Selena Gomez
AND ADULTS – Jan. 15, 2024 – The study’s authors suspect that the youths have turned to milk tea as a coping mechanism or a means to regulate emotions. They believe addiction to the sugary drink could be just as damaging as addiction to social media or drugs. A recent study from China has revealed significant links between milk tea consumption, addiction and mental health issues among youths. Key findings: The study, which was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders last November, found that consumption of milk tea might lead to symptoms of addiction such as craving or dependency,…
VIDEO – IMAGINE THAT – Jan. 17, 2024 – The drug, known as “kush,” causes users to walk around like zombies. Kush—unlike the drug of the same name in the U.S.—is a mixture of several substances, including cannabis, fentanyl, tramadol, and the formaldehyde. Some have claimed that the drug contains ground-up human bones, though experts think this is likely only a rumor. “Kush in Africa is a drug that contains a mixture of chemicals including tramadol (a synthetic opiate), cannabis, fentanyl and sometimes formaldehyde. It has become popular as it is affordable and widely available, both factors that drive drug…
JUST DON’T DRINK – Jan. 16, 2024 – From The Joker to Patrick Bateman, psychopaths have featured in many famous blockbuster hits throughout the years. Now, scientists have revealed an easy way to identify a psychopath in the real world – and it’s all down to their hands. A study has found that people who have a longer ring finger than index finger are more likely to have psychopathic tendencies. Researchers from the Centre de Recherche Charles-Le Moyne in Quebec say the findings suggest that psychopathy may be ‘biologically rooted’. Writing in their study, the researchers said: ‘While individuals…
AUDIO – IRONIC AND IDIOTIC – Jan. 17, 2024 – As we left the second floor gallery, I looked up at the entrance. Regal silver letters announced it was the Arthur M. Sackler Museum. My stomach churned as I realized the irony before me: An exhibit about the opium trade was located directly above a museum donated by Arthur M. Sackler. I am a drug addict, albeit a sober one for just over five years. Like many, my experience with addiction brought devastation, despair and destruction, culminating in the loss of my job, my home, my family and almost…
NO ONE IS IMMUNE – Jan. 17, 2024 – He said he’s been to rehab “at least 15 times” and once overdosed while attempting to detox when he mixed multiple drugs. “The doctor goes, ‘Um, Jim, you’re one lucky man because I had signed virtually the death certificate,” Irsay told Kramer during an episode of “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.” Colts owner Jim Irsay was found unresponsive, gasping for air and cold during a suspected overdose this past December, according to TMZ. Cops labeled the incident as an “overdose” and “overdose/poisoning,” per the report. Police were called to Irsay’s…
WE HAVE TO TRY SOMETHING – Jan. 17, 2024 – Current addiction treatment involves talk therapy, medication, and outside support. Additional strategies can help people who are struggling to overcome their addiction. Sleep, nutrition, mindfulness, exercise, and more can make a big difference in addiction recovery. The current gold standard of addiction treatment often includes three key components: (1) receiving psychotherapy, otherwise known as “talk therapy”; (2) taking medications such as buprenorphine for opioid use disorder or acamprosate for alcohol use disorder; and (3) receiving support in the form of meetings (NA, SMART, AA, etc.), mentors, sober houses, and so…
DON’T HOLD YOUR BREATH – Jan. 17, 2024 – “Accordingly, we found no measurable effect of coherent breathing over and above a well-designed breathwork placebo at improving mental health and wellbeing. This is not to say coherent breathing in general does not help people … “We wanted to compare daily coherent breathing to a placebo for ~1 month to see if there were any differences on subjective mental health and wellbeing outcomes. We also wanted to create a placebo with equal credibility and expectancy of benefit, and blind participants to their allocated intervention (masking/concealment) both of which were paced…
GRIEF INTO ACTION – Jan. 17, 2024 – Pastor Dorcas Rigathi has explained her passionate fight against drug and substance abuse stems from the pain of losing her brothers. Speaking at the University on Wednesday, January 17, 2024, Pastor Dorcas who runs rehabilitation programs and has been feted for her efforts … She said the deceased had promising endeavours since one was an engineer while the other worked as a medical doctor in South Africa. “Don’t think I do all these things (fighting against drugs and alcoholism) without background or something that has happened to my family. We have…
WAR IS HELL – Jan. 17, 2024 – Ukraine is working with a founder of the Yippie movement to provide ibogaine to soldiers on and off the battlefield. This is possibly the first study to report evidence for a single treatment with a drug that can improve chronic disability … THE UKRAINIAN MILITARY is experimenting with ibogaine, a psychedelic drug banned in the U.S. but often used to treat opioid use disorder elsewhere, to treat traumatic brain injury and promote battle readiness. To do so, it is partnering with a founder of the Yippie movement, Irvin Dana Beal, a longtime…
VIDEO ONLY – IT WORKS IF YOU WORK IT – Jan. 16, 2024 – The Salvation Army is working to combat San Francisco’s drug addiction problem with a recovery program. We spoke with one man who turned his life around and found sobriety after hitting his rock bottom. WATCH@YouTube
SWAN SONG – Jan. 19, 2024 – We can appreciate the irony here, this is being written by someone sitting at a desk with a computer and you’re probably reading it on your phone. Chiropractor Steven Knauf warned that ‘Tech Neck’ could cause headaches and a feeling of tingling or numbness in your hands along with pain in your neck, shoulders and upper back. READ@LADBible
I THINK THEREFORE I USE – Jan. 18, 2024 – The researchers focused on the brain’s reward system, a critical factor in the development of addiction. They discovered that prolonged cocaine use can lead to changes in the brain’s structure and function, making it more difficult for individuals to quit using the drug. This research provides valuable insights into the neurological mechanisms of addiction, giving us a better understanding of why some memories and behaviors are so difficult to shake off. This research is not just academically interesting – it could also have significant implications for treating addiction. One…
BEFORE AND EVER AFTER – Jan. 19, 2024 – A WOMAN whose battle with psoriasis, obesity, and alcohol left her looking like a grandma has revealed how she turned back the clock. At her heaviest, Christie Martin, 58, weighed 202 pounds, but her weight loss was not the only challenge the jewelry store owner faced. “I have battled weight and psoriasis for most of my life, but my health took a significant turn after my partner died, leaving me a single parent,” Christie said. “I was dating a surfer and skater named Baby Paul Cullen and got pregnant during a…
BOOKS CAN HEAL – Jan. 17, 2024 – HB Publications today announced the release of The Old Testament 12 Step Workbook: A 90 Day Program of Bible-Based Addiction Recovery. Written by Boruch Binyamin, this life-changing 90-day program enables recovering alcoholics and addicts an opportunity to work through the Twelve Steps based on the eternal wisdom of the Old Testament. The workbook is intended to help people from religious backgrounds gain an understanding of 12 step work based on the Bible. “I wrote this workbook based on my own experience of getting sober,” explained Binyamin. “I wanted to integrate my…
8 YEARS! NOT 8 BALLS – Jan. 19, 2024 – Brad Arnold celebrated the eighth anniversary of his getting sober on January 19. The 45-year-old musician posted a photo of his AA sobriety medallion, which has the words “To thine own self be true” and “unity, service and recovery” engraved around the roman numeral for 8. He wrote: “January 19 is a special day for me every year. It marks the start of a new year of a new life, a life without a bottle in my hand. I feel like a different person than I did eight years…
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 2023 – This past October, Kermit the Frog and Choir! Choir! Choir! helped us to celebrate the new David Geffen Hall with a special sing-along performance of “Rainbow Connection.” Look closely, you may spot yourself in the crowd singing along! “Rainbow Connection” is written by Paul Williams + Kenneth Ascher. WATCH@YouTube
BAD IDEA? – Jan. 16, 2023 – He struggled for years with substance abuse. He later had a string of headline-making arrests, and was incarcerated for four years. Now six years sober, Hicks is proud to say his addiction to alcohol and Xanax — as well as his illegal behavior — is in the past. “I feel good about myself, I do. I do feel good because I know how far I’ve come and I know what it was — and stuff like this, you never get over,” Hicks, now 31, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I think the people I let…
VIDEO – PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STOP – Jan. 16, 2023 – “I’m sober for a long time, long time — almost 25 years. And the best thing I learned last year in recovery was people aren’t pleased when you stop people-pleasing … It was as if the greatest sage arrived on me.” “So I’m trying to own it. Isn’t that what life is supposed to be? We grow up, we learn, we do all these things. Now we have to own it. We have to own who we are, be who we are, and be in full acceptance of…
TOO SAD – Jan. 21, 2024 – Jose “Luis” Vasquez, a California musician who found fame with the post-punk project the Soft Moon, and John “Juan” Mendez, a popular Los Angeles DJ who performed as Silent Servant, were among three people found dead last week at a downtown Los Angeles loft in a suspected fentanyl overdose, authorities said Sunday. Vasquez, 44, performed globally and at last year’s Cruel World alternative music festival in Pasadena. His death was lamented in a post on Soft Moon’s Facebook page, which called it a “huge loss” and said “our hearts are broken.” Simone…
SAD NEWS INDEED – Jan. 20, 2024 – Rick Harrison memorialized his son in a brief Instagram post after his death was reported on Friday. Harrison shared a photo of his son, Adam. KLAS obtained a statement from the Harrison family saying that they were “extremely saddened by the death of Adam.” A press representative confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that his death was from an overdose. Rick Harrison has starred in the reality series “Pawn Stars” since 2009. He and his father Richard, who died in 2018, opened the World Famous Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las…
FEELING NO PAIN – Jan. 19, 2024 – A new memoir from his widow Crystal Harris, 37, whom he married in 2012, has revealed that many of Hefner’s family members were concerned about him years earlier. Hef became hooked on painkillers and opiates when he was struggling with back pain – he used to seek out doctors who would aid his addiction. In further detail, she then explained that Hefner’s constant use of erectile dysfunction medication eventually resulted in his hearing being ‘shot’. Similar drugs have been linked to hearing loss in men in the past. She also recounted…
WRESTLED WITH HIS DEMONS – Jan. 17, 2024 – “My sobriety, that’s my legacy,” said Rhodes. “And I understand it’s OK to have bad days. There will be better ones. Life has been an incredible teacher. I’ve learned a lot, and I plan on being clean and sober for the rest of my life. “I wasn’t seeing clearly back in the day, and I paid for it heavily. Sometimes, I’m still trying to prove myself, even when I don’t need to. I came out the other side. The devil is still sitting here, right on my shoulder. All’s I need…
LIKE THE WIND – Jan. 19, 2024 – Alcohol addiction and depression stalked Allie Bailey daily. Running was part of the many steps to a better life, recounted in her memoir There is No Wall. This no-holds-barred extract is about the extraordinary challenge of taking part in the Wild Horse 200 mile race. Published 11 April 2023Age: 42Months sober: 21Years running: 15Listen to: ‘The Whole of the Moon’ – The Waterboys‘ Allie. What are you doing? Come on. You have trained so hard for this. You have put so much time, effort and money into this. This is your life.…
THIS COULD HELP! – Jan. 18, 2024 – The inability to access medication-assisted treatment is one of the main barriers that prevents people from trying it, Ilg said. At the same time, she explained, people who have a nonfatal overdose are 13 times more likely to die, compared to the general population. “It is literally taking first responders, connecting them into a system and a pathway towards recovery,” Gonzalez said. “But we’ve got a lot of people hurting, and the solutions are going to have to be comprehensive.” Local health officials say they’re not sure yet how many people…
GOODBYE HANGOVER BRICK ROAD – Jan. 15, 2024 – I wasn’t having a panic attack. I was simply having a conversation with the man who inspired me to turn my life around: Elton John. We were at his annual Aids Foundation Oscars party in Hollywood, and I finally had the chance to thank him in person for helping me in my journey to sobriety after years addicted to alcohol. We spoke about recovery, and I told him that the way he overcame his own problems had provided me with the blueprint that would save my life. He may have…