LOOK WITHIN SOCIETY – Aug. 30, 2023 – Mississippi enacted a bill in March mandating a media campaign aimed at youth. California lawmakers are also considering requiring the state health department to make an overdose reversal drug available in schools. The bill cites 224 teens that died in California in 2021. Since Congress passed landmark opioid-fighting legislation in 2018, the number of fatal overdoses has shot up by 64 percent, from about 67,000 to nearly 110,000 last year. At least 1,800 teens died between July 2019 and December 2021 from taking fentanyl, a 182 percent increase compared to the…
Author: Leonard Buschel
SOBRIETY BECOMES HIM – Sept. 16, 2023 – In Hollywood, Robert Downey Jr. quickly made a name for himself, becoming part of the “Brat Pack,” a group of young, talented actors. His early career was marked by success, but his addiction issues began to affect his work. While filming “Less Than Zero” in 1987, he played a character struggling with addiction, a role that mirrored his real-life struggles. Despite his personal challenges, Downey continued to deliver exceptional performances, earning an Academy Award nomination for “Chaplin.” However, his addiction to heroin and cocaine escalated, leading to a downward spiral. READ@WikiofNerds
TROUBLE IN PARADISE – Sept. 13, 2023 – Recovering Hope is one of only five providers in the state that offer family-based residential treatment, allowing women to enter the program while pregnant or to bring one of their children younger than 5 with them for the duration of their stay. Men can receive outpatient treatment but aren’t permitted in the residential program. It’s the only such residential program located in a rural Minnesota county and is licensed for 108 beds. It has a waitlist that can span from two to six weeks, depending on whether a woman plans to…
“If you feel pain, you’re alive. If you feel other people’s pain, you’re a human being.” – Leo Tolstoy
NOT FUNNY – Sept. 10, 2023 – The woman says it happened in 2008 when she was working in the same building as the BBC in Los Angeles. The encounter left her stunned, she says. Minutes later, he was recorded laughing with his co-presenter who said Brand”showed his willy to a lady”. READ@BBC
AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL – Sept. 10, 2023 – Are the videos, seen by millions of TikTok and YouTube users, a horrifying form of exploitation and voyeurism? Or are they the cutting edge of a new form of citizen journalism shedding light on failed public policies? The videos, depicting individuals addicted to xylazine and living in an epicenter of the nation’s opioid crisis, are sparking conversation on an undercovered issue. Yet some warn that the images, often taken without consent, dehumanize and exploit those who are suffering for social media clout. As xylazine — which the federal government now considers…
HAVE A QUARTER? SAVE A LIFE – Sept. 10, 2023 – Approximately 300 naloxone nasal sprays, designed to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose involving substances like fentanyl, heroin and prescription painkillers, will be available free to anyone any time of the day, any day of the week. The vending machine sits outside the Johnson Health Center, which was nearly destroyed in the Flood of 2023. The medical team there now provides its services to those in recovery and the larger community at Jenna’s House. The health center and Jenna’s Promise paid for the machine through a grant…
LIFE SAVERS – Sept. 1, 2023 – The announcement is believed by advocates to be a milestone that will make it easier to save lives in the US as the ongoing opioid epidemic claimed more than 100,000 American lives in 2021, ABC News reported. While the majority of these deaths resulted from opioid use or overdose, particularly synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, Emergent BioSolutions revealed that approximately one life was lost to an opioid overdose every seven minutes in the US last year. Narcan, which is currently available in 4ml doses, is sprayed directly into the nostrils of someone…
WHO’S IN CHARGE? – Sept. 9, 2023 -While heroin trafficking has slowed, the UNODC said in a statement, meth trafficking “has intensified since the ban”. Meth seizures in and around Afghanistan jumped 12-fold in the five years through 2021. Between 2019 and 2022, nearby countries such as Iran and Pakistan also reported increased seizures. Countries as far away as France and Australia have reported seizing methamphetamine that likely originated in Afghanistan it said. The UNODC said much of the meth from Afghanistan was made with pre-cursor ingredients such as those found in some cold and flu medication. Afghanistan is home…
THE MYTH OF NORMAL – Sept. 8, 2023 – Around 671,000 parents are believed to have an addiction or mental health issue, and around 900,000 children under the age of 18 are thought to be growing up in an affected family. This means, estimates Trimbos, that 27.9% of children living at home have at least one parent with these issues – almost double the level of previous estimates. Poject leader and researcher Anouk de Gee said that the numbers are probably an underestimate. “We are concerned,” she said. “It is important that these children and also their parents get the…
ONE MORE DEAD IN OHIO – Sept. 6, 2023 – Landmark Recovery CEO Matt Boyle told BHB in an email that the organization will have a “full evidentiary hearing” before the administrative court in the coming months. “Most regulatory issues do not play out in court, because that often takes years,” Boyle said. “It is also certainly possible that we resolve the issue in some manner before the court schedule. In the meantime, we are focused on our other 11 facilities.” He also said the patient at the Willard location, Praxis of the Firelands by Landmark Recovery, was pronounced dead…
AUDIO – ALL CAUGHT ON TAPE – SEPT. 10, 2023 – Courtland’s wife says he locked himself in the bathroom while she was out of the house with their kids … but she broke down the door to find him unresponsive. The dispatcher tells Courtland’s wife to try getting him off the toilet, and lay him flat on his back on the floor, but he’s too heavy for her to move and she resorts to trying CPR. As Courtland’s wife desperately tries to revive him, she screams for him to wake up … and tells the dispatcher she’s unsure what…
VIDEO – REALITY AND NEAR DEATH? – Sept. 7, 2023 – “Before [Ryan] went to rehab, [Bentley] was very concerned and very worried,” Maci told her friends about the former couple’s 15-year-old son’s reaction to his dad’s ongoing substance abuse problems. “He kept saying, ‘I don’t want him to have to deal with this alone. I’m worried about him.’ And then once he was in Texas [in rehab], like the rest of us, it’s like a breath of fresh air. We don’t have to worry for a little bit.” However, Ryan’s decision to leave treatment — which Maci surmised…
AUDIO – FILMS MATTER – Sept. 10, 2023 – The film follows the journey of eight women from the ages of 19 to 69 years who come from different backgrounds and cultures. It’s produced by Tami Jacobs and Anél Sherren, an addictions counsellor, who also features in the film. Speaking to Sara-Jayne Makwala-King, Jacobs who’s still in recovery, spoke about her personal struggles in seeking help and how this film is being used as a platform to encourage women to step forward. During her own experience, she found that there were fewer women in treatment than men. She attributes this…
MAN SMART, WOMAN SMARTER – Sept. 6, 2023 – The settlement funds began flowing in 2022 and will continue incrementally until 2038, with these companies collectively paying over $50 billion in nationwide settlements. On Tuesday, District 2 Supervisor John Howard, who is House of Hope’s chairman, recused himself from the vote but explained that the funds are a stepping stone to completing the facility. “It’s well-needed,” he said. “The courts are excited; probation is excited, and the existing home for men has a good track record. Hopefully, within a year to a year and a half, we can proceed…
TRY IT – Sept. 9, 2023 – Again, there are many ways to understand the meaning and implications of each step[i], and I am not speaking on behalf of A.A. What follows is only one perspective on step five filtered through my experience as an addiction psychiatrist. My goal is to offer thoughts on the psychological depth contained in the Twelve Step approach to recovery from addiction The searching and fearless moral inventory of one’s character, so personal and private during the fourth step, becomes the outline for step five. The fifth step’s goal is to reduce alcoholics’ shame and…
VIDEO – GREAT ACCENT – Sept. 9, 2023 – Step into the riveting and uncharted territory of Lisa Gregory’s life as she takes the mic on our podcast, baring her soul in a tale that will leave you utterly spellbound. Prepare to embark on an emotional rollercoaster as Lisa unravels her journey through the treacherous waters of addiction with a sobriety date etched in history, the day her world shifted forever, on the poignant 14th of February, 2022. Hailing from the vibrant city of Brisbane, Australia, Lisa’s story is a mosaic of courage, resilience, and redemption. For 28 long…
TRIP INTO RECOVERY – Sept. 8, 2023 – The inaugural retreat is scheduled for this month, marking a significant milestone in the provision of legal psilocybin services at Moksha Journeys and Omnia Group Ashland. Openings are available for individuals and small groups in the upcoming programs starting in October. The journey begins with a complimentary consultation with a facilitator to better understand your requirements and the program specifics. “We are excited to begin to explore the benefits of psilocybin as a part of addiction recovery. Clinical studies conducted to date are confirming that pairing psilocybin with recovery programs could…
VIDEO – THE DIRTIEST DOZEN – Sept 9, 2023 – Potential signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose include: Loss of consciousness. Markedly constricted or pinpoint pupils. Breathing difficulties (slowed, labored, and/or irregular breathing). Respiratory arrest (completely stopped breathing). Choking, gurgling, or snoring sounds. Blue or purple lips or fingertips. Being unresponsive to loud noises, shaking, or painful stimuli. For more information on overdose recognition and substance abuse help please see the below links: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/overdose https://www.cdc.gov/rxawareness/prevent/index.html https://www.dauphincounty.gov/government/human-services/drug-alcohol-services WATCH@Fox43
YOU ARE A PASSIONATE PERSON – Sept. 11, 2023 – Traits of So-Called Addictive Personality Even though addictive personality isn’t a formal diagnosis—and there are no set symptoms or signs—several traits are typically associated with it. These include: Impulsivity: Studies have found that people with behavioral addictions and substance use disorders score high in impulsivity. This is a tendency to act without thinking ahead and an inability to limit or suppress your thoughts or behaviors. Lower conscientiousness: Like the flip side to impulsivity, conscientiousness is the ability to control your behavior and be cautious. This trait is diminished…
ASK CVS, WALGREENS and Duane Reade – Sept. 12, 2023 – The Washington Post sifted through 760 million transactions from 2006 through 2019 that are detailed in the DEA’s database and specifically focused on oxycodone and hydrocodone pills, which account for three-quarters of all opioid dosages shipped to pharmacies during that time. The Post is making this data available at the county and state levels to help the public understand the impact of years of prescription pill shipments on their communities. A county-level analysis shows where the most oxycodone and hydrocodone pills were distributed across the country over that…
LITTLE BY LITTLE – Sept. 13, 2023 – “The only thing they think they can do with pain is give you more painkillers,” she tells me. She says the drugs have had a significant impact on her life and how she lives it. “It changes so much, it fogs your brain up so you don’t think properly and the memory loss. “I couldn’t remember anything.” Helen says she realised there was an issue when she found her painkilling fentanyl patch, which was supposed to be changed every three days, was not having the same impact and she realised she was…
READING IS HEALTHY – Sept. 10, 2023 – Warning: This article discusses alcoholism and addiction in a way that could be distressing to some readers. When I’m seeking answers, or looking for words of wisdom: I turned to books. Thankfully, there is a range of sobriety literature – affectionately nicknamed “quit lit.” At Refinery29 Australia, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team, but we may earn commission or other compensation from the links on this page. When I first got sober,…
ABSTINENCE IS NOT AN OPTION – Sept. 11, 2023 – Critics of this research suggest that you can’t get addicted to something that’s essential to life. What’s more, while science has pinpointed nicotine in cigarettes and ethanol in wine or beer as the substances responsible for keeping people hooked, no such clear-cut equivalent exists for food. “It’s very difficult to prove that there are these nutrients in food that directly cause addiction,” says Johannes Hebebrand, a psychiatrist at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany. Yet Ashley Gearhardt, a clinical psychologist at the University of Michigan, argues that highly processed foods…
DID HE? – Sept. 16, 2023 – Brand issued a video statement on Friday denying the allegations. “Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” he said. Brand added that he has always been open about his years of sexual promiscuity, and said all of the relationships he had “were absolutely always consensual.” According to an accompanying report about the investigation process published by The Times, the Sunday Times launched its inquiries into Brand’s conduct in 2019, after the news organization “was made aware of allegations against Russell Brand relating…
VIDEO – AMENDS MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH – Sept. 17, 2023 – Here, Sky News look at the life and career of Brand who has often been at the centre of controversy. Brand was born in Grays, Essex, in 1975. His parents separated when he was six months old, after which he was raised by his mother When he was eight, his mother was diagnosed with cancer, and he went to live with relatives while she was treated. At the age of 14, he began suffering from bulimia, while at 16 he fell out with his mother’s new partner…
HE MUST BE GIGANTIC – Sept. 12, 2023 – With his 30th birthday coming up in November, Davidson told the audience he believes you “can’t do drugs in your 30s” because “it’s not cute anymore” and “you’re just a drug addict” when you do drugs at that age. When John took the stage after Pete, he called himself “a former amateur drug trafficker” during his set. If you didn’t know, he began a 60-day stint in rehab in December 2020 after relapsing on his sobriety. Jon ended the show with his own set, joking that the audience just took…
PUPPY SAVED! – Sept. 10, 2023 – The incident began with a “consensual” encounter between the couple and police on Wednesday outside a Walmart, department spokesman Kyle Oldoerp said. After officers discovered fentanyl in their car, the two were arrested, he said. He said it wasn’t immediately clear how the dog would have been exposed to the drug, which is up to 50 times more powerful than heroin. A dose as small as 2 milligrams can be fatal to a human, though dogs are less sensitive to the drug, according to the Times. READ@BigRapidNews
PRAYER AND MEDITATION – Sept. 8, 2023 – Faith, irrespective of whether it’s tied to a specific religious doctrine or a more general belief in a higher power, often embodies hope. In times of difficulty, faith can provide a sense of purpose and meaning that guides individuals through their darkest moments. When people confront mental health issues or addiction, faith offers a steadfast source of hope. Many individuals turn to prayer, meditation, or religious rituals as coping mechanisms during times of distress. These practices offer emotional relief and solace when dealing with conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or addiction.…
NOTHING TO SNEEZE AT – Sept 12, 2023 – Phenylephrine, first permitted for use in 1938, didn’t go through the rigorous clinical trials that regulators require today for medications, and more recent studies found the ingredient to be ineffective at relieving congestion. The latest research prompted pharmacists and physicians to call for ending the sales of the drugs. “I do not believe that the evidence that was presented supports in any way the efficacy of this product remaining on the market,” said Diane Ginsburg, a panel member and associate dean for Healthcare Partnerships at the University of Texas at Austin…