HELL GETS HOTTER – Aug. 29, 2023 – Nitazenes are a synthetic opioid, like fentanyl, although the two drugs are not structurally related. In the small study published Tuesday in the journal JAMA Network Open most of the patients who overdosed on nitazenes received two or more doses of the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone, whereas most patients who overdosed on fentanyl received only a single dose of naloxone. “Clinicians should be aware of these opioids in the drug supply so they are adequately prepared to care for these patients and anticipate needing to use multiple doses of naloxone,”…
Author: Leonard Buschel
KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR – Aug. 28, 2023 – Sitting beside him is his stunning supermodel wife, Susan Holmes McKagan, who first met Duff in 1996 after they were set up on a blind date by a friend. The glamorous couple, who married in 1999 and have two daughters in their 20s, are clearly besotted with each other during their interview with the Sunday World. Now hosting a weekend show together on Ireland’s Radio Nova station, they tell how the Covid lockdown years reaffirmed the strength of their relationship. “We realised we are ideal for each other,” Duff says.…
VIDEO – MODERN LEPROSY? – Aug. 28, 2023 – “There was a change in his behavior when he started using xylazine — he started going cuckoo,” his heartbroken mother, Merri Eddy, recently told The Post. “I didn’t know what it was, but I knew it was something different than the fentanyl … It was very frustrating, because I couldn’t help him.” Heartbroken relatives aren’t the only ones at a loss. Medical professionals have also been struggling to respond to the nefarious tranquilizer as it snakes its way into the wider drug supply, complicating nearly every aspect of treatment and recovery.…
VIDEO – IT AIN’T GOOD – July 29, 2023 – Beyond the relief and euphoria that cannabis can offer, there’s pushback to the legalization trend: experts say there’s increasing evidence of long-term harms. Cannabis is used by Americans across the country to treat all manner of health conditions, with the science backing up these health claims. But beyond the relief and euphoria that cannabis can offer, there’s pushback to the legalization trend: experts say there’s increasing evidence of long-term harms. VITALS host Sheena Williams debunks five surprising health-related myths about cannabis use with the help of cannabis specialist Dr.…
“Sometimes the bravest and most important thing you can do is just show up.” – Brené Brown
VIDEO – SHE’SOBER – Aug. 23, 2023 – “I drank more than I’ve ever drank in my life,” she says of the fateful night in this week’s issue of PEOPLE. “I remember a hangover that lasted for a couple weeks. I was so depressed, I didn’t think I was going to make it out of that.” But make it out she did. Wade quit drinking that day and hasn’t looked back, though she admits it hasn’t always been easy. The “Wilder Days” singer says she looked to Russell Brand’s book Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions for guidance, and became…
EVERYONE NEEDS A GIGGLE – Aug. 19, 2023 – The numbers of older Americans trying pot increased further to 35% in 2021, the researchers noted, because the survey methodology changed during the pandemic. In the slightly younger 60-64 demographic, more than half reported cannabis use. “For seniors, experimenting with marijuana for the first time is driven” by several factors, Dr. Elie G. Aoun, addiction and forensic psychiatrist at Columbia University in New York City, told Fox News Digital. These include “a combination of physical ailments, the increased cultural acceptance of marijuana and the marketing efforts aimed at promoting marijuana…
THEY LIED JUST TO MAKE BILLION$? – Aug. 17, 2023 – A few months later, WHO declared aspartame, a key ingredient in Diet Coke, to be a “possible carcinogen”, then quickly issued a third report that seemed to contradict its previous findings – people could continue consuming the product at levels determined to be safe decades ago, before new science cited by WHO raised health concerns. That contradiction stems from beverage industry corruption of the review process by consultants tied to an alleged Coca-Cola front group, the public health advocacy group US Right-To-Know said in a recent report. It uncovered…
WEIGHTING ON BIG PHARMA – Aug. 23, 2023 – Since the FDA approved once-weekly semaglutide injection in 2021 for chronic weight management for adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, a multibillion-dollar market for anti-obesity medications has followed. Injectable semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy, Novo Nordisk) and its counterpart semaglutide 1 mg (Ozempic), approved to treat type 2 diabetes, are associated with weight loss of as much as 15% to 20% for some patients. The GLP-1 receptor agonists now dominate headlines — and celebrity weight loss speculation — in the mainstream press. READ@Healio
VIDEO – SAVE OUR COUNTRY – Aug. 21, 2023 – ALBUQUERQUE, NM— It’s in our communities, it’s found wherever we go, and it’s something Bernalillo County officials say needs to be discussed as often as possible: the dangers of fentanyl. “I think it’s most important that our communities understand that they’re not alone,” District 3 Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa said. “The more that we keep this important conversation happening, the more lives we can save,” Barboa said. She said she’s aware of the impact fentanyl has in New Mexico. According to the San Francisco Chronicle — the five counties…
AUDIO – IT’S ALL RELATIVE – Aug. 19, 2023 – According to the CDC, more than 140,000 Americans are dying each year from alcohol-related causes, and the rate of deaths has been rising for years, especially during the pandemic. The idea: For occasional drinkers, alcohol causes the brain to release more dopamine, a chemical that makes you feel good. Chronic alcohol use, however, causes the brain to produce, and process, less dopamine, and this persistent dopamine deficit has been linked to alcohol relapse. There is currently no way to reverse the changes in the brain brought about by AUD, but…
NOW GET WAFFLED AT BREAKFAST – August 20, 2023 – This Eggo beverage isn’t for the kiddos, but parents are welcome to indulge. “Between the juggle of constantly changing schedules, household errands, family outings or busy workdays, it can often feel impossible for parents to find moments they can savor for themselves,” said Joe Beauprez, Kellogg’s senior director of marketing for frozen foods, in the release. “Eggo Brunch in a Jar makes it easy for parents to kick back when they’re not caring for their little ones,” Beauprez said. The alcoholic brunchtime drink isn’t the first collaboration between Eggo…
ONE NEEDLE AT A TIME? – Aug. 17, 2023 – In Chinese medical theory, the human body is considered a network of complex and interconnected processes, which are governed by the complements of yin and yang. These opposites are not considered material entities or forces, but rather concepts that describe how things function in relation to one another. When yin and yang are balanced, a state of health and well-being is achieved, but when unbalanced, illness prevails. [4] Qi is another important concept in Chinese medicine. It is sometimes described as vital energy, although an adequate translation into English…
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN – Aug. 19, 2023 – But Hyatt did not experience relief; instead, her mental health worsened. Three months later, she described being in “some sort of psychotic break” and feeling as if her brain was going to explode. Later that autumn she took her own life. At the subsequent inquest, the coroner’s report linked her worsening symptoms to the hallucinogens she had consumed. Such tragedies represent the darker side of the psychedelics renaissance. These cases are often forgotten amid the feverish anticipation surrounding the therapeutic potential of these drugs, combined with exhaustive media coverage, the rapid rise…
DON’T IGNORE THE SIGNS – Aug. 20, 2023 – Life is full of ups and downs, but when your mood swings become more like an unpredictable roller coaster, it might be time to pause and reflect. While hormonal changes can certainly influence mood, persistent and extreme shifts in emotions could indicate underlying mental health issues. Feelings of intense sadness, irritability, and sudden bursts of anger might be more than just a passing phase. You can address these concerns. Start by keeping a mood journal to track your emotional patterns. If you notice consistent mood swings that interfere with your…
CALIFORNIA DREAMING – Aug. 17, 2023 – Part of the nonprofit’s the Way Out program, a fundraising initiative and treatment apparatus with the goal of expanding drug treatment access in San Francisco, the planned treatment program in SoMa is geared toward providing job assistance and eventually transitioning clients into independent living. The charity is lobbying the city to help fund the programs and others that it believes can help people recover from addiction. Darren Norton, a divisional commander with the Salvation Army, said the Harrison Street project is in its very early stages. “We’re exploring things with the city…
HAVEN’T WE ALL – Aug. 21, 2023 – “Nothing was good enough in ‘09. We would win a game by 14 points and I’d be so angry at our team because I thought we should’ve beat them by 30 points,” Urban Meyer said. “We’re undefeated and the entire time I’m in anguish about not being perfect, and it permeated down to our players.” Meyer noted he was “in a really bad place for a long time.” “I started to lose weight, and I became addicted to Ambien. I couldn’t sleep, so I’d take an Ambien and then that was…
AMERICANS NEED HELP – Aug. 22, 2021 – Hollywood execs took notice of these trends and began to invest in America’s newest pain points, with Emmy-winning TV series like Breaking Bad and Hulu’s Dopesick reinforcing the disingenuous trope of the opioid crisis as a white crisis. Yet, while America has finally digested the idea that “hard” drug users can be white, the real, not-so-new face of addiction is a Black one. But it’s not the Black drug users you’ve seen on The Wire, or likely anywhere else on screen. The new face is rural Black people. Ones who work…
OVER THE COUNTER – AT THE ER – Aug. 24, 2023 – It’s called kratom (pronounced kră-tum), a product that is derived from a tree in Southeast Asia that, when ingested, can produce anything from a burst of energy to a type of short-term ecstasy. Kratom takes on many forms, from pills to powders to brown-ish liquid inside tiny plastic bottles, all of which can usually be found inside large glass containers at gas stations across the country. It’s largely legal, except in a few states, yet not FDA-approved, which is why it’s sold predominantly at convenience stores as well…
BORDERLINE – Aug. 24, 2023 – Teenage drug users play games and sports to improve social and behavioural skills. The Puyo centre has 42 beds with separate wings to treat boys and men. Some of the teenagers, many from Indigenous communities, have been placed there by court order. Many joined gangs to escape violent families and found that cocaine, marijuana and pills were easy to come by. A 2016 study of high schools students found 12% had used illegal drugs in the previous 12 months… READ@TheGuardian
IT’S ALL IN YOUR HEAD – Aug. 24, 2023 – “One of the biggest challenges for patients with addiction is preventing relapse,” Ma said. “We know they need medication, community involvement, psychological support and other resources to help, but for many people who go back to take a drug, it just feels like an automatic behavior. If we can understand whether addiction behavior is subconscious or conscious behavior, we can find better ways to treat and prevent addiction and relapse.” The supplementary motor cortex is typically known for directing how the body moves, so Ma said the finding that…
SPIRITUAL GANGSTER – Aug. 24, 2023 – Fans rushed to the comment section to congratulate him for making it this far, with one penning: ‘Wow! Congratulations’ Another said: ‘Just started my sober journey, Danny. Congratulations to you on yours, brother, and thank you for being yet another inspirational person and reason for me to keep my resolve, a day at a time.’ During the 1960s, Danny spent more than a decade going in and out of prison for armed robberies and drug-related offences. The Machete actor – who grew up in a troubled home in Pacoima, California – was…
IT’S BETTER NOW – Aug. 24, 2023 – It’s been four years since Lily Allen got sober, and the British singer-songwriter is opening up about what contributed to her substance use. In a new interview with The New York Times, the “Smile” performer spoke about her years of drug and alcohol use, explaining how it went hand in hand with her relationship to fame and success. “It’s not a very nice feeling,” Allen, 38, told the outlet of getting followed by UK paparazzi to the point where she sought legal protection in 2009. “Especially when you’re in your early…
GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER – Aug. 25, 2023 – In the early 2000s, fatal overdoses from prescription drugs, particularly opioids, skyrocketed, with popular painkillers like OxyContin at the center of the problem, according to the Food and Drug Administration. This epidemic soon became known as the opioid crisis, and it subsequently became apparent that pharmaceutical companies were aggressively marketing the drugs and lying about their addictive qualities and harmful effects, according to the conclusions of multiple government agencies and courts. In March, the Department of Justice accused Rite Aid and other pharmacies of playing a role in the crisis…
WALL STREET RULES – Aug. 24, 2023 – At one point, nine out of every 10 opioid prescriptions in the United States were manufactured by McKinsey’s clients. The report by the Wall Street Journal found that within those vulnerable target populations was the VA. “(McKinsey) advised opioid companies including Purdue Pharma LP and Endo International PLC on how to increase sales to the VA through both new and existing channels,” the documents state. “Meanwhile, McKinsey earned at least $117 million consulting for the VA, primarily on matters related to health-care services for veterans.” READ@SacBee
CRIME FAMILY – Aug. 22, 2023 – That negative publicity stepped up this month with the new, fictionalized Netflix film “Painless,” starring Matthew Broderick as Richard Sackler. And a blow was dealt by a Supreme Court ruling temporarily blocking Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy deal, which shields Purdue Pharma from future opioid claims. “The court case and Netflix film have brought up negative feelings all over again,” said the attendee. “Being in the news has not been good for them socially.” That included in South Florida, where Richard Sackler and other family members have retreated. In Palm Beach and nearby Boca Raton,…
ALWAYS IS WHEN 400,000 DIE – Aug. 21, 2023 – much to them [and] the medical schools that meant so much to them,” Berg said. “The name now is becoming synonymous with evil greed, and a bunch of other things, and we wanted to touch upon that in the ending.” o pretend that opioid addiction ends happily is not very truthful. For anyone that knows, it rarely ends well. It might not end in death, but it generally ends in a lot of pain, and a lot of amends being cast, and a lot of regret. Glen’s fate, I think,…
VILLAINY FOR REAL – Aug. 18, 2023 – From the outset, the hook of Dead Ringers was reimagining David Cronenberg’s sinister 1990 film by gender-flipping the twin gynecologist characters, played by Jeremy Irons in the original and by Rachel Weisz in the Prime Video series. Weisz is of course outstanding in the dual role, blending intimidating brilliance with infantile codependence, playing two women on a collision course with the realization that they can’t live with or without each other. There’s another standout performance in the series, though: Jennifer Ehle as Rebecca Parker, the billionaire investor who puts both her money…
CAPITALISM REIGNS – Aug. 23, 2023 – Mallinckrodt failed to make a $200 million payment to the opioid trust due in June, prompting the company to launch a negotiation with its stakeholders. The agreement and bankruptcy will “enable Mallinckrodt to better align our balance sheet with our current business plan,” said Siggi Olafsson, the company’s president and chief executive officer. Mallinckrodt said that its current level of creditor support should allow the company to complete its second bankruptcy by the end of 2023. The Ireland-based company is one of the largest manufacturers of opioids. It also makes generic and…
BUT YOU BOUGHT IT FOR THEM – Aug. 16, 2023 – China wants to limit screen time to 40 minutes for children aged under eight, while the U.S. state of Utah has imposed a digital curfew for minors and parental consent to use social media. France has targeted manufacturers, requiring them to install a parental control system that can be activated when their device is turned on. The EU has its own sweeping plans. It’s taking bold steps with its Digital Services Act (DSA) that, from the end of this month, will force the biggest online platforms — TikTok, Facebook,…