Author: Leonard Buschel

IS THE DOG FOR SALE? – July 8, 2023 – Danny Trejo has filed for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy to pay off more than $2 million he owes to the IRS. The actor and entrepreneur, 79, best known for his roles in “Machete Kills”, “Heat” and “Desperado”, filed back in February, according to ABC7. His string of successful businesses, including Trejos Tacos and Trejos Coffee and Donuts, are reportedly not a part of the bankruptcy. The root of his enormous debt to the IRS is allegedly from mistakenly claiming deductions over the years. The bankruptcy is so severe that…

VIDEO – GROWING UP GROWING SLIM –   July 6, 2023 – It also used to be that the Hulkster would chug three Miller Lites and two Tylenols before a match — and even more beer afterward. “I wasn’t aware, I wasn’t educated as far as quality of food and how much quantity I should eat,” he tells the fitness magazine. “I was just hungry all the time. The pre-match meal was probably three Miller Lites and two Tylenols. That was the pre-match meal. And then afterwards, the post-match meal was probably 12 Miller Lites. That’s how it was.” “I…

VIDEO – A STAR WAS REBORN – July 7, 2023 – Bradley Cooper played Phil in the famous ‘The Hangover’ trilogy, where the character, along with his friends gets into trouble after planning bachelor parties that involve drugs and alcohol. However, Bradley struggled with substance in real life as well. The episode shows Bear and Bradley sitting atop a cliff in the Wyoming Basin, discussing the actor’s career. Talking about ‘The Hangover’ being a turning point in his career, Bradley said, “I mean, ‘The Hangover,’ which was – that was pretty career-changing. I was 36 when that happened, so, you…

AUDIO – NIXON WAS THE CRIMINAL – July 7, 2023 – Scottish ministers want to reform drug laws to enable people with drug problems to be better supported instead of being criminalized. They want to address record drug death rates in the country, which are 15 times more likely to affect the poorest 20 percent, and are the highest in Europe. Currently the Scottish government, led by the Scottish National Party with the Scottish Greens, has no power to change the laws in this way. VICE News has contacted the UK Home Office for a response to the proposals. In…

BUZZ KILLERS? – July 6, 2023 – In a study that could have significant implications for addressing the opioid crisis, researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that manipulating specific types of brain cells inhibits the urge for the synthetic opioid fentanyl. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than two-thirds of American drug-related deaths last year involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is mixed with cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin or other illegal drugs. Fentanyl is 100 times more potent than morphine and as little as two milligrams can cause an overdose. The study, published…

VIDEO – A METHOD ACTOR –   July 7, 2023 – He was cast as Elliot, a drug user who perpetuates Rue’s relapse and finds himself in a love triangle with Rue (Zendaya) and Jules (Hunter Schafer). According to Fike, the show’s creator, Sam Levinson, tried to hire a “sober coach” to keep Fike clean in real life, but the plan failed. “I was a drug addict and coming on to a show that’s, you know, mainly about drugs, is very difficult,” Fike told Zane Lowe. “Sam [Levinson], the director and writer, got me a sober coach, somebody to be…

“Obsessions are the only things that matter.” – Patricia Highsmith, b. 1921 Texas, d. 1995 Switzerland

LOOKING FOR LOVE? – June 26, 2023 – In the surveys, the participants listed their parental status, age of first-time parenting, and whether they engaged in binge drinking (consuming four or more drinks in one sitting) in the past two weeks, or developed AUD symptoms in the past five years. The results concluded that women who turned 35 between 2018 and 2019 were nearly 60% more likely to binge drink or report AUD symptoms than women who turned 35 between 1993 and 1997. This was noted as only 39% of women in 2018-2019 had children before age 30, compared to…

THE MYTH OF NORMAL – June 26, 2023 – Last week, Bloomberg reported that, before Harry and Meghan’s $20 million Spotify deal went belly up, Harry even pitched an idea around his favorite topic: childhood trauma. He reportedly floated the idea to put the world’s most elusive, controversial or influential folks on a shrink’s couch and learn how their childhood trials shaped their adult lives. Specifically, he wanted to lift the hood on the notoriously self-reflective Donald Trump and the always emoting Mark Zuckerberg. Harry’s other choice was Vladimir Putin — a despot so vicious that the question of…

AUDIO – DO NO HARM – June 25, 2023 – Now for a story from New Hampshire with many twists and turns. Lauren Chooljian is a senior reporter and producer at New Hampshire Public Radio. And early on in the pandemic, she reported on an outbreak of COVID-19 at the largest addiction treatment network in New Hampshire. Then, not long after that story published, she got a tip about the founder of the treatment network. The tipster alleged that the founder of Granite Recovery Centers, Eric Spofford, had sexually abused female clients and employees. So Lauren Chooljian started making calls.…

VIDEO – REMEMBER THIS DAY? –   June 30, 2023 – It was not always a smooth path, however, and Jackie had to master herself before she could become a vessel of light for her children. When her children were toddlers, Jackie found herself struggling with cocaine addiction. She writes about her journey of overcoming in her autobiography, How Would I Know? and her second book True Worshippers. Jackie has been sober for over 20 years now, which is a testament to the power of healing through God’s grace and mercy. In her most recent work, Jackie candidly shares her…

VIDEO – BUT NOT IN CHILDREN –   June 19, 2023 – Ashli told the viewers in the caption of her video that her daughter watched her father battle with substance abuse, and was very upset when she found the book. She posted the video to spread awareness to parents that want to keep their children from triggering information like this, she said in another TikTok video. The book Daddy Likes Beer by Mike Lukaszewicz, is described on the Walmart website as a “rhyming text with whimsical illustrations.” The first pages of the book read, “Donkey likes a dangled carrot,…

THIS METHOD CAN WORK – June 27, 2023 – He smiled. “Think about quitting drinking as a travel adventure. It will be different and awkward and make you nervous. You’ll have to navigate new social dynamics, connect with people in new ways. It will feel uncomfortable to begin with. Foreign. But in amongst those feelings, you’ll be exploring, discovering. Looking at the horizon like you described. And at the end of each day, after each milestone, will be that familiar sense of achievement.” I left feeling motivated. Sobriety was unfamiliar territory but framed through the lens of travel, exploration…

VIDEO – STAYING IN THE RING, NO MATTER WHAT – June 25, 2023 – “Addiction affects all members of a community. Stigma is the number one obstacle we face in treating this epidemic. By breaking down the walls of stigma through community dialogue, we know that those who need help are more likely to seek it, and those who can help are more likely to offer it,” Ramsdell said. “We’re grateful and honored that Meridian sees the benefit in promoting this as a community conversation.” The community is encouraged to attend a free screening of the documentary, which will be…

LET THEM EAT LIFE – June 28, 2023 – The relative unavailability in rural areas of medication treatment is certainly a problem. A shortage, Christofferson noted, is not only an issue in itself, but also a barrier to overcoming stigma. More openings available, more success stories. More success stories, less stigma. Fewer provider options also means one bad actor — a provider who overprescribes or is otherwise negligent — perpetuates the stigma. Strict oversight is essential. Physician Stephen Loyd influenced Slone’s decision to embrace medication treatment and is now a member of Slone’s recovery court team. Loyd was practicing…

AND SO MUCH LESS – June 24, 2023 – To improve treatment effectiveness, researchers are exploring ways to identify individuals who are more likely to complete treatment successfully and avoid relapse. One avenue of research focuses on analyzing social media activities of individuals with substance use disorder, as it may provide valuable insights. However, identifying such individuals is not easy. Current mainstream methods are based on self-reports and not very good at accurately identifying and evaluating factors relevant for predicting how individuals will behave and react to treatment. This inability to capture the intricacies of daily life of each…

CAN YOU WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND THIS? – June 25, 2023 – A handful of the octopuses – the fifth generation to be born in this Spanish multinational’s concrete-and-glass office and research centre – skim through the shallow waters, some brushing up against each other while others tuck into the tank’s barren corners. A low-intensity light casts a pale glow as researchers lay the groundwork for one of the world’s most controversial endeavours: the first commercial octopus farm. “From a scientific point of view, this project is a global milestone,” says Roberto Romero Pérez, a marine biologist who oversees aquaculture…

AUDIO – IT’S COMPLICATED – June 17, 2023 – Earlier that morning, he had walked out of Umatilla County jail, past a family of bunnies snacking on the manicured lawn, crossed the parking lot and entered the parole and probation offices for a cognitive behavioral therapy class led by his parole officer. In a plastic bag under his arm, Hamilton carried a Bible and four Ashley & JaQuavis books about a drug cartel in Miami. “Stuff like that still entertains me, but it’s not something that I want to be a part of anymore,” Hamilton said. The books he carried…

VIDEO – SOBRIETY LENGTHENS LIFE – June 28, 2023 – West Virginia woman HIGH on Hope on WSAZ TV. WATCH@WSAZ

HELPING HANDS – JUNE 28, 2023 – As Moore recalls, there was little in the way of in-house rehabilitation programs for substance abuse in the state in early 2013, so she was forced to send two of her sons to Iowa for treatment. Little did she know at the time that another Delaware family was dealing with a similar situation—only with a much more dire outcome. That same year, Don and Jeanne Keister were establishing a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in memory of their son, Tyler, who died from an accidental overdose. Fueled by a mission to “educate and empower…

ONE THOUSAND AT A TIME – June 29, 2023 – While I’m relieved to be in a place of relative stability, I know that I will be working to overcome my past for the rest of my life. One of the biggest ways it affects me is that my finances are absolute shit. My credit score is terrible (in the 400s, last time I had the courage to check it), I have student loans despite never finishing college (about $18,000, I think), and I owe about $9,000 in credit-card debt. I don’t even really know where to begin with this,…

THAT’S A GOOD IDEA – June 29, 2023 – Complex problems such as opioid use need smart solutions, and another study we recently conducted provides convincing data opioid prescribing can be successfully reduced. The study involved four hospital emergency departments, 269 clinicians and 4,625 patients with low back pain. The intervention comprised of: clinician education about evidence-based management of low back pain patient education using posters and handouts to highlight the benefits and harms of opioids providing heat packs and anti-inflammatory pain medicines as alternative pain-management treatments fast-tracking referrals to outpatient clinics to avoid long waiting lists audits and…

AUDIO – CRIMINAL & WRONG – June 29, 2023 – To help with her recovery, Dass had been taking Suboxone, a medication that binds to the receptors in the brain that crave opioids, preventing withdrawal without creating a high. She was concerned that it might affect the developing fetus, but a health care provider, she says, assured her that she should continue taking it. The advice seemed counterintuitive; pregnant women are routinely urged to abstain from alcohol, tobacco, even ibuprofen. So Dass did her own research. Everyone from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to the Centers for Disease…

VIDEO – MONEY FOR SOMETHING –   June 29, 2023 – He also worked as a family physician for 45 years, most recently practicing in both Crescent Springs and Fort Wright. In October 2021, the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure issued an emergency order suspending his medical license. The board said Suethloz posed a “danger to the health, welfare and safety of his patients and the general public.” Prosecutors say some of his patients were prescribed high doses of medications in dangerous combinations without justification. WATCH@Fox19

WITHOUT HEALTH CARE – June 27, 2023 -Examining the pervasiveness of depression on state and county levels can aid local governments in efforts to “prevent, treat, and manage depression,” the CDC said. These data points can help pinpoint which areas are struggling most with depression so that government agencies can see where to offer evidence-based interventions and health resources in places with the “largest gaps or inequalities.” U.S. states ranked by percentage of adults with a depression diagnosis (lowest to highest): Hawaii: 12.7%.California: 14.1%.Florida and Illinois: 14.7%.New Jersey: 15.2%.Delaware: 15.6%.Maryland: 15.7%.Alaska: 15.9%.South Dakota: 16.1%.Nebraska and New York: 16.8%.Georgia and…

AUDIO – DEFINITELY MAYBE – June 25, 2023 – Episode Notes Semaglutide, otherwise known as Ozempic, has been making headlines as a weight loss drug – despite only having FDA approval to treat diabetes. Now, some say it doesn’t just quell cravings for food – it helps quiet cravings for alcohol, drugs, and other compulsive behaviors. For years, researchers have been studying Ozempic’s effectiveness as an addiction cure in animals. What have they found? And – does it actually work? LISTEN@Slate

THAT’S DEPRESSING – June 30, 2023 – The new research, published in PLOS One, includes a lengthy list of side effects that a majority of benzo users experienced more than a year after they stopped taking the drugs. Those long-lasting symptoms include low energy, difficulty focusing, memory loss, anxiety, insomnia, sensitivity to light and sounds, digestive problems, symptoms triggered by food and drink, muscle weakness and body pain. Alarmingly, users also struggled with severe life impacts: 54.7% reported suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts, for example. Other negative life impacts included being fired or loss of employment, marriage and relationship problems,…

VIDEO – REAL DOOM SCROLLING –   July 2, 2023 – Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Administrator Anne Milgram said Sunday that various social media companies are not complying with them to help address the ongoing fentanyl crisis. During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Milgram told moderator Chuck Todd that social media has played a vital part in the sale of fentanyl. Milgram noted how drug cartels use the various platforms to market their material to people.  WATCH@TheHill

by Michael W. Clune OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES – June 29, 2023 – Addicts are enslaved by what we want. We don’t want what we want. Language must perform contortions to convey the paradox of addiction. The Apostle Paul captured this when he wrote in Romans, “For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” Our public culture has left us no way of understanding how my desire might not be my own. To recover, I first had…

TOO MUCH…? – June 28, 2023 – Pete Davidson, 29, is said to be receiving in-patient therapy to address issues related to post-traumatic stress disorder and his prior borderline personality disorder diagnosis … he initially believed the mental breakdowns stemmed from heavy marijuana use. READ@MusicMundial