HAPPY ENDING – April 13, 2022 – Coco’s owner died suddenly, leaving open alcohol containers around the home where Coco and his brother lived. Over time, the two animals drank the alcohol, becoming dependant on it, until they were rescued by the Woodside Animal Rescue Trust. According to the animal welfare organization, it is unclear how long Coco and his brother were left alone. Prior to their arrival, both dogs had been experiencing fits, which experts soon recognized as the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. However, shortly after arriving at the trust, Coco’s brother passed away. Click@JPost
Author: Leonard Buschel
VIDEO – HORRIFIC – April 13, 2023 – The increasingly combined mixture of xylazine, known on the street as “tranq,” with fentanyl has become most popular on the illicit drug market and has exacerbated the nationwide addiction crisis. New York’s special narcotics prosecutor was quick to applaud the government’s declaration. ‘A rising concern’: NY lawmaker on new skin-eating street drug ‘tranq’ In an interview with PIX11 News, she said she sees it as a positive step. “It’s concrete,” Bridget Brennan maintained, adding, “The government is stepping in and saying they’re going to take action, and that is important.” Xylazine is…
JUST A TEENAGE WASTED LAND – April 10. 2023 – Dr. Carbia, lead author of the study from the University College Cork in Ireland, said: “By focusing on young adults, at a crucial time of both brain and gut-immune development, we identified gut microbiome alterations linked to binge-drinking in young people. “The microbiome composition showed associations with social cognition and impulsivity, adding support to the growing evidence that the gut microbiome plays a key role in brain and behavior. “Changes in the gut microbiome composition and the neuroactive potential were associated with higher craving over time, constituting interesting candidates for…
HE’LL NEED MORE THAN A PUBLIC DEFENDER – April 12, 2023 – Romulo Torres, a recovering alcoholic, began receiving targeted ads for Botanic Tonics’ Feel Free Wellness Tonic in 2020. It was advertised as a beverage featuring kava and “other ancient plants” to aid productivity, focus and relaxation. However, the drink upended Torres’ life and sobriety after he purchased Feel Free at a 7-Eleven in December 2021. Within three months, Torres developed a “strong addiction” to the product, drinking 10 Feel Free Tonics a day and spending $3,000 a month on the drink, the lawsuit states. After attempting to quit…
IT’S CHEAPER AT BevMo – April 6, 2023 – The issue of alcoholism and alcohol at work pops up in all models of work, including hybrid and remote. “In the early days of the pandemic and the transition to work from home drinking during the workday may have been an increased challenge, and it does seem to be a concern for some employers,” says Stonehouse. “Since the [remote] or hybrid employees are remote, it’s harder to tell than those [who] are in office full time. The emphasis and benchmark has to be productivity metrics to gauge effectiveness and to help…
AUDIO – LIES LIES LIES – April 4, 2023 – The review found that the risks of dying prematurely increase significantly for women once they drink 25 grams of alcohol a day,which is less than two standard cocktails containing 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, two 12-ounce beers or two 5-ounce glasses of wine. The risks to men increase significantly at 45 grams of alcohol a day, or just over three drinks. The new report, which analyzed more than 100 studies of almost five million adults, was not designed to develop drinking recommendations, but to correct for methodological problems that plagued…
BUT IT’S NATURAL … INSANITY – April 10, 2023 – For six years, Trent and Jane Mayberry had a front-row seat to their daughter’s spiraling descent into psychosis — her inability to communicate, her increasingly disheveled appearance, the piercings and tattoos. She heard voices. She had friends who likely weren’t real. Her descent ended in methamphetamine use and ultimately, a deadly overdose. Both Trent and Jane are convinced that their daughter’s heavy marijuana use is to blame. “I’m 100 percent certain that it came from cannabis,” Trent told National Review of his daughter’s psychosis. “If she never used cannabis, there’s…
HOOKING THE YOUNG AND INNOCENT – April 12, 2023 – Juul’s former largest investor, Marlboro cigarette maker Altria Group Inc, is also facing claims over its alleged role in marketing Juul’s e-cigarettes, and has not settled. Altria last month announced that it had given up its investment in Juul in exchange for some of Juul’s intellectual property. As of December, its share of Juul was valued at $250 million, down from $12.8 billion in 2018. The head of the FDA’s center for tobacco products said last year that adolescent e-cigarette use in the United States remained at “concerning levels” and…
AUDIO – Demi Lovato’s Sister IS RIGHT ON – April 11, 2023 – Elizabeth Vargas is joined by “Desperate Housewives” actress Madison De La Garza to talk about marijuana use disorder and the role her famous family plays in her recovery. While starring as Juanita on “Desperate Housewives” at just six years old, she was a victim to vicious cyberbullying comments about her appearance, which caused her to develop anxiety, an eating disorder and a marijuana use disorder. She and Elizabeth discuss the role Madison’s family plays in her life and the advice her sister Demi Lovato gave her about…
TV ART INTIMIDATING LIFE – April 13, 2023 – Rue’s father passed away sometime before the events of season 1, and Rue never properly healed from his death, which heavily influences her drug use. Euphoria also showcases the chaos her addiction causes within her family and relationship with Jules. The biggest drama on Euphoria, other than Rue’s issues, centered on Maddy and Cassie’s feud over Nate Jacobs. However, Rue mostly stays out of their fighting, as she has bigger fish to fry. Rue gets herself into a lot of trouble with a drug dealer named Laurie, who lends her drugs…
DON’T USE WITH ALCOHOL – April 13, 2023 – The FDA is making several updates to prescribing information for opioid pain medications to provide guidance on safe use, according to a Drug Safety Communication … opens in a new tab or window, including a new warning that they can increase sensitivity to pain. Changes to the prescribing information and labeling for immediate-release (IR) and extended-release or long-acting (EX/LA) opioids will be made to more clearly state that overdose risk increases with higher doses for all opioids. In addition, labeling for IR opioids will state that they should not be used…
“What horrifies me most is the idea of being useless: well-educated, brilliantly promising, and fading out into an indifferent middle age.” – Sylvia Plath, 1932-1963
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON – April 3, 2023 – “As any parent will tell you, the relationship that a teenager, 20-something, has with drugs and alcohol, it’s a precarious one,” Rob said. “All you can do is lead by example and be there for when they’re ready. Because they’re never gonna do it for you, or for a job, or for a threat. Never. It’s only when they want it.” He continued, “I was super blessed that Johnny woke up one day and was like, ‘I’m ready.’ And we have that together. I feel blessed to be in a recovery…
VIDEO – OUR DESIGN FOR LIVING – April 5, 2023 – She spent her 20s working in fashion and soaking up Brooklyn’s social scene. “I was not able to turn it off, it eventually led me to be drinking at my jobs,” said Markiewicz. Markiewicz returned home to East Norwalk for treatment. “What was a turning point in my recovery is that I made recovery my job and then I got a job in recovery,” she said. Markiewicz is now the director of Cassie’s Cottage, a sober living facility in Easton, but her passion for design continues, sewing and selling…
IT CAN BE A PROCESS – April 3, 2023 – Though the statistics vary depending on the addiction, they show that between 40 and 85 percent of individuals relapse and return to using within one year of treatment. More than two-thirds of such individuals do so within weeks to months of beginning addiction treatment. It’s been shown repeatedly that the longer an individual can sustain abstinence, the greater the chances of long-term recovery. So, yes, relapse is a setback, but it’s not the end, and it could be the beginning of a brighter future. Coming out of a relapse, understanding…
VIDEO – ONE RUN AT A TIME – April 4, 2023 – “I’m in recovery myself. It’s been a couple of years plus, and it’s just been such an amazing experience. Just a sense of community I’ve never experienced,” said Boston Bulldogs member Chris Dalton. “I’d love someone to see this (interview) and realize that there is a solution. I lived quite a different life two and a half years plus ago, and it’s just been amazing.” The Bulldogs have been running together for eight years, and 17 members will be running this year’s Boston Marathon to raise money that…
APRIL SHOWERS? – April 4, 2023 – Stress is defined as physical, mental or emotional strain or tension, and long-term stress has harmful impacts on a person’s mental and physical health. It has many similar symptoms as an anxiety disorder, though stress ends when the triggering situation ends whereas anxiety disorders are more continuous regardless of circumstances. Symptoms of stress can include feelings of irritation, anger, and denial, triggering exhaustion or burnout. This can lead to problems with concentration or sleeping. Experts recommend taking breaks from social media, taking care of your body by exercising regularly, eating healthy, well-balanced meals,…
SNOOZE OR LOSE – April 4, 2023 – The Biobank study set out to see whether the poor sleep and insomnia people with asthma often report, has an impact on the risk of having asthma or not, and whether quality sleep reduce that risk. They considered healthy sleep patterns to include seven to nine hours of sleep a night, no or rare bouts of insomnia, no snoring and feeling alert during the day AKA not needing to nap. Respiratory health was tracked up to the date of receiving an asthma diagnosis, a participant’s death, or until 31 March 2017, whichever…
RUNNER’S HIGH – April 4, 2023 – There is abundant research on exercise addiction (EA), also called “exercise dependence,” in triathletes. One study of 1,285 triathletes found that 20% showed signs of EA, and that those who compete at longer distances are at greater risk. Both amateur and professional triathletes found the rate of EA to be between 20-30% overall, but 41% in the professional group. We’ve all had that moment of questioning our relationship with exercise. I should get out there. I’ve got to make up for this session. I will be anxious for the rest of the day.…
VIDEO – NOT REALLY A HEALER – April 4, 2023 – A former Baton Rouge doctor has been sentenced after evidence at trial revealed he wrote “medically unnecessary” prescriptions for large amounts of opioids, authorities said. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Randy J. Lamartiniere, 64, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Authorities said he was also sentenced to serve three years of supervised release after getting out of prison. RELATED: Baton Rouge doctor arrested, accused of prescribing drugs while under suspension Lamartiniere was convicted for distribution of controlled substances by a physician, authorities said.“This prosecution and the…
LET THEM IN – April 4, 2023 – Currently in the United States only three medications are indicated for the treatment of OUD. Buprenorphine is the only one that is routinely dispensed by community pharmacists with a prescription. “Unfortunately, only about half of all pharmacies in the United States dispense buprenorphine,” said Tyler Varisco, assistant professor of pharmaceutical health outcomes and policy and assistant director of research development in the Prescription Drug Misuse Education and Research Center at the UH College of Pharmacy. “Our prior research, and that of our collaborators, shows that pharmacists aren’t always familiar with how buprenorphine fits…
HIGHER EDUCATION NOT HIGH – April 4, 2023 – The students attend Colorado’s only recovery high school — one of 43 nationwide. These schools are designed for students who are recovering from substance use disorder and might also be dealing with related mental health disorders. The Denver school opened in 2018 as a public charter school that today enrolls more than 100 students. One of those cheering classmates was sophomore Alexis Castillo, 16, who listened supportively during that recent morning meeting. She is in recovery for alcohol and fentanyl addictions. Several of her friends attended the school when she enrolled…
AUDIO – A GANGSTER’S PARADISE IS HEAVEN? – April 6, 2023 -C oolio died due to fentanyl, his manager Jarel (Jarez) Posey confirmed to Variety. The rapper’s family said he also had traces of heroin and methamphetamines in his system. Coolio died on Sept. 28 at the age of 59. According to TMZ, the Grammy-winning rapper, producer and actor was found at a friend’s house. His cause of death was not immediately known at the time, though it was later believed that he suffered a heart attack. Coolio was best known for his 1995 hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” which he recorded…
VIDEO – ONE MILE AT A TIME – April 3, 2023 – Pamela Wampler was battling alcoholism when she discovered the Start TODAY walking group and decided to join, replacing her evening drinking time with walks with her husband. NBC’s Kristen Dahlgren shares her story. Click@Today
OPINION – April 6, 2023 – Maybe it was because Kirby was so new to the process, or maybe he was just another Republican delegate in a supermajority that leadership could choose to ignore – and did. Part of what the freshman legislator ran into was a GOP mindset that permeates the Capitol, that leans into rumor, innuendo and tall tales about needle litter and dismisses science. In 2021, the Legislature passed a law that made it dang near impossible – and certainly cost prohibitive – for any entity, including county governments, to set up or continue harm reduction programs.…
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF – April 4, 2023 – In his February State of the State address, Governor Greg Abbott made addressing the fentanyl crisis an emergency item in this year’s legislative session. Stating that Texas Department of Public Safety officers have seized enough fentanyl to “kill every man, woman, and child in the United States,” Abbott called on lawmakers to classify fentanyl deaths as poisonings, which would allow prosecutors to charge drug dealers with murder. After years of opposing fentanyl test strips—which are used to determine whether drugs contain the potent opioid, but are currently considered “drug paraphernalia” under Texas…
DRUG CULTURE IN RED STATES? – April 4, 2023 – The alleged leader of the drug trafficking organization is Jesse James Bailey. Bailey and his cohorts allegedly trafficked huge amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs into Washington state, Idaho, and Alaska. “While the dozen counts in this indictment do not detail every criminal moment in this conspiracy, it does provide one remarkable statistic: 48 firearms seized in this case even before last week’s takedown,” said U.S. Attorney Nick Brown. “On Wednesday we took another 177 guns off the street and additional kilos of fentanyl and meth. The level of…
MOVE OVER BLINKY – Jan. 23, 2023 – The 1978 animated film Watership Down comes to mind. The film follows a group of animated rabbits on a bloody journey across the English countryside, and likely still lingers in the nightmares of anyone unlucky enough to have seen it during their childhood. It was a similar schadenfreude of sending a cutesy bunny through the ringer that partially inspired Wasson’s web comic, Sober Rabbit. “I did a drawing of a rabbit hungover on the toilet throwing up. That drawing is sort of what started the comic.” Started by Wasson in 2019, Sober…
VIDEO – AND THE WORK GOT BETTER – April 2023 – Anthony Kiedis is the life of the party no matter what’s in his system and thankfully the artist has been sober now for several decades. But when that was not the case, he talked about there being a “dark energy” in the band. “When you’re following that lifestyle, instead of a magical energy, there’s a very discernible dark energy,” said the Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman. “But I didn’t realize it was dangerous.” Katy Perry In a new interview, Katy Perry has admitted to getting sober. She also has…
VIDEO – LAMAR MAKES AN ASSIST – April 3, 2023 – Lamar Odom is sharing how he turned his pain into purpose by investing in drug treatment centers … saying he couldn’t be happier to help others and save lives around the world. The former NBA star joined us Monday on “TMZ Live” to explain why he acquired 3 rehab centers in California, and it’s pretty inspiring — he says his goal is to help others battling addiction turn their lives around, as he did years ago. You’ll recall, LO overdosed at a Nevada brothel in 2015 and suffered kidney…