VIDEO – FROM BAD TO WORSE – March 31, 2023 – “There’s a good chance if you are using a pill that you bought on the street and did not buy from a regular pharmacy that this might have xylazine in the pill,” Oz said. “It is nasty, nasty stuff.” Xylazine has not been approved for human use, so its effects on humans are poorly understood. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are working to crack down on the ‘zombie drug.” On Tuesday, they introduced a bill in the House and Senate classifying xylazine as a controlled substance in hopes of helping…
Author: Leonard Buschel
AND WE REMEMBERED IT – March 28, 2023 – She and spouse John, 24, a second lieutenant in the Army, toasted their marriage — held in a church in their hometown — with Martinelli’s apple cider. Their 150 guests sipped cider, lemonade, iced tea and sparkling water. The couple drink on occasion, but they worried about guest safety — Bohatch’s grandmother was killed by a drunk driver — if alcohol was on offer. “I’ve gone to weddings where people starting fighting or getting sick because they’d had too much to drink,” she said. “And if anyone were to do that…
VIDEO – MIRACLE OF SOBRIETY – March 29, 2023 – The confession prompted Drew Barrymore to get candid about her own struggles with alcohol. Lynskey, who also got emotional, noted that her husband “worked so hard.” The emotional story caught Barrymore, 48, by surprise and prompted her to open up about her own struggles with alcohol. “I haven’t had a drink in almost four years,” the “50 First Dates” star said, noting that alcohol was her “poison.” Ritter’s story struck a chord with Barrymore, who says she often feels the same way when it comes to dating. “The narrative that…
VIDEO – IT DOESN’T AWAYS TAKE TWO – March 23, 2023 – An estimated 3-6% of the population struggle with sexual compulsivity. Click@USAToday
VIDEO – BETTER WITH AGE, LIKE A FINE… – March 24, 2023 – I couldn’t sing, I couldn’t work, I couldn’t do anything. I had troubles with my vocal cords, which were caused by, I’m sure, the bulimia, but probably also by the drinking. And I really lost a year: If you look at my history, you’ll see that in ‘77, about 40 or 50 shows were canceled during that year … That’s a career-killer. And not only that, but I couldn’t even sign a contract [for future shows], because I couldn’t sing. So, I then ran into what we…
VIDEO – DUE TO DRUG LAWS? – March 28, 2023 – She’s seen Oregon’s largest city go from a kooky progressive place with great restaurants and reliable public transportation to a ‘post-apocalyptic’ hellscape where despite a high tax rate, city services always fall short. ‘Our Portland neighborhoods suffer from shootings, toxic waste, profoundly ill drug addicts, fires, a severe lack of police protection and response, virtually no access to drug treatment by those who seek it, and the closure of businesses that can no longer survive rampant shoplifting,’ she said. Earlier this month, Walmart announced that they were pulling up…
DENIAL CAN KILL – March 30, 2023 – As he watched Nirvana’s meteoric rise in the early ‘90s, Steven Tyler says he recognised the “pain” in Kurt Cobain’s eyes and later discovered that Nirvana’s frontman was using heroin. In a bid to try to help the younger musician avoid pitfalls of which he had personal experience, Aeromith’s frontman went as far as contacting Nirvana’s management in 1992 to enquire about getting Cobain’s phone number to set up a heart-to-heart chat with the vocalist/guitarist. In Everybody Loves Our Town(opens in new tab), the definitive oral history of grunge, Gold Mountain Entertainment’s…
VIDEO – ONE CHAPTER AT A TIME – March 30, 2023 – “Quit Lit” is a new way women are finding support, with a new genre of self-help books helping to turn the page. VIDEO Click@ABCNews
JUST LIKE ASPIRIN – March 29, 2023 – Advocates believe it’s important to get naloxone to the people who are most likely to be around overdoses, including people who use drugs and their relatives. The decision “represents a decisive, practical and humane approach to help people and flatten the curve of overdose deaths,” said Chuck Ingoglia. Even before the FDA’s action, pharmacies could sell naloxone without a prescription because officials in every state have allowed it. But not every pharmacy carries it. And buyers have to pay for the medication — either with an insurance co-pay or for the full…
TIME FOR THE SERENITY PRAYER? – March 22, 2023 – These Alcoholics Anonymous meetings help citizens of the community get and stay sober. Addiction is a huge problem in society and in our community. The Town of Lady Lake lets Alcoholics Anonymous use this building at a nominal rate to help its citizens with addiction problems. These meetings have saved countless lives,” said the Villager, who Villages-News.com has agreed not to name due to the anonymous nature of the organization. “Other communities in the area (and around the globe) support Alcoholics Anonymous groups. The Town of Leesburg for example leases…
“An artist is a sort of emotional or spiritual historian. His role is to make you realize the doom and glory of knowing who you are and what you are.” – James Baldwin, Aug. 2, 1924–Dec. 1, 1987
VIDEO – WISHING HER THE BEST – March 21, 2023 – Bella Hadid marks a new chapter in her sobriety journey as she celebrates 5 months sober from alcohol. Take a look! VIDEO Click@YouTube
ANOTHER HOME RUN – March 14, 2023 – Though Darryl was extremely successful in his career, his personal life was plagued with addictions, abuse, divorces, cancer, jail time, and other issues. Darryl finally found true redemption and restoration in Jesus Christ. Today, Darryl’s purpose and passion is serving the Lord Jesus Christ by traveling the country, speaking a message of hope and restoration through the power of the gospel. He is the author of numerous books, including the New York Times bestseller, Straw: Finding My Way (with John Strausbaugh), Don’t Give Up on Me: Shining Light on Addiction with Darryl…
AUDIO – DARRYL’S #1 FAN – March 16, 2023 – …with requests to deliver her powerful messages of how to experience lasting change, re-inventing yourself, experiencing God in the most difficult of times, overcoming your past, and becoming the very best “you” that God created you to be, and much, much more! Tracy now holds a Doctorate Degree in Theology, with a focused study in Cultural Restoration and Leadership. She holds her Masters Degree in Business Administration and Management, with a Bachelors in Ministry Leadership. Dr. Strawberry is the Author of several publications including, Clean Sober & Saved, a Christ-Centered…
THE TENDER BAR – March 19, 2023 – The Batman actor, Ben Affleck has been struggling with addiction for quite a long time which is also reported to be a major reason behind the frequent fights between him and his wife, Jennifer Lopez. This also led to the controversy about their recent appearance at the Grammy Awards 2023 where fans noticed that he seemed sad accompanying his wife while the actress was bossing him around. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he shared his thoughts on the incident claiming it was rather “a husband-and-wife thing.” He further went…
WAS JESUS IN RECOVERY TOO? – March 18, 2023 – During a question-and-answer session with Miller, Welch revealed that the maturing members of his band have all had epiphanies, although not all are Christian. All are married or bonded to significant others, he said, adding that his bandmates have children. “Everyone’s old now. There’s no groupies ever backstage. My biggest temptation is apple pie and chocolate cake in the catering room,” he said. Welch, who went on hiatus from Korn in 2005 and turned to Christianity, said God told him to go back to the band in 2013 with the…
HIGHER POWERED – March 18, 2023 – At the heart of both our spirituality and our science lies this eternal yearning to know the world as it really is — a yearning with an infinite vector, pointing always just past the horizon of our knowledge, anchored always in the most elemental nature of the human animal: our curiosity, our restlessness, our hunger for truth and transcendence. And yet the reflex of selfing, which stands so often between us and elemental truth, between us and transcendence, is hard-wired in our physiology — our entire experience of reality is lensed through our…
PASSOVER APRIL 5th FULL MOON – 2023 – In an act of heartfelt encouragement for my infertility, people often like to point out the connection between my story and Chana’s in the book of Samuel. They encourage me that just as Chana was barren and she prayed for a child, so, too, should I pray, and I will be blessed with a child. As flattered as I am that they would think to compare my prayers to Chana, I smile as they say it. Not for the reason anyone may think. I relate to a different part of the story.…
VIDEO – HIDING NO MORE HIDING – March 19, 2023 – MSNBC’s Alicia Menendez sits down with author and podcast host Laura Cathcart Robbins to discuss Robbins’ new memoir “Stash: My Life in Hiding,” which details Robbins’ struggle with addiction, and her journey to recovery. Robbins explores why recovery was so challenging for her – as a Black woman, she says, there just wasn’t any sobriety literature out there that catered to her. That’s something she hopes to change with her book, she tells American Voices… Click@MSNBC
DOWN TO THE WIRE – March 18, 2023 – Andre Royo, a scene stealer in seminal TV series like “The Wire” and “Empire” and the recently Oscar-nominated film “To Leslie,” is tackling his most challenging role to date in Audible Theater’s revival of “Drinking in America,” which opens at Minetta Lane Theater on Sunday. The 54-year-old Bronx native yearned to return to his roots in New York City theater but had no idea how hard his first headlining Off-Broadway role would hit home. Written in 1986 by Eric Bogosian, the one-man play centers on 12 inebriated men under the influence…
VIDEO – IT’S A MONSTER – March 18, 2023 – Brandon Bergman, a psychologist and associate director of the Recovery Research Institute at Mass General Hospital, speaks about new studies that link a recent rise in mortality rates for children to a sharp increase in drug overdoses. Click@YouTube
VIDEO – STIGMATIZING OURSELVES? – March 16, 2023 – Duke Rumley is the executive director of Sober A.F. Entertainment. “A.F. can stand for a lot of things. Sober A.F. can stand for sober and fun, it can stand for sober alcohol-free or we try to make it edgy,” Rumley said. Rumley has been in sobriety for 33 years. He said a sober support group of Dead Heads helped him realize he could still enjoy shows sober. “That helped me figure out that being sober could be tolerable. If I could, you know, still be able to go out see Grateful…
PINNING ADDICTION TO THE MAT (actual mat) – March 12, 2023 – “You did it, babe! @RealBillyGunn Another year, that now makes [12] years SOBER!” Gunn’s wife Paula Sopp tweeted, sharing a photo of the two. “To say I’m proud is an understatement!! Daily triggers around you all the time but you maintain and do the right thing. It’s not easy but you’ve done it! I love you.” “Thanks love of my life,” Gunn responded. As Gunn celebrates this important milestone, he continues to be a focal figure in the tag team division of All Elite Wrestling, caught in the…
VIDEO – EVERYONE SHOULD WRITE A BOOK – March 15 – Raised in Las Cruces, NM Author/Pastor Anthony Torres shares his struggles with former addiction in a new book endorsed by Korn band member “Letters to my people.” Click@YouTube
CALIFORNIA DREAMING – March 19, 2023 – Newsom made the proposal during one of his final “state of the state” tour of cities across California at Alvarado Hospital, adjacent to San Diego State University, with several state and local officials. The governor said “we have to address and come to grips” with providing permanent housing for the homeless, mental health treatment and drug addiction. Newsom proposed a statewide initiative that would go before voters in November 2024 to “modernize how California treats mental illness, substance use disorder and homelessness.” Part of the initiative would be paid for with general obligation…
THE WHITE CHIP, NEVER AGAIN – March 14, 2023 – Since getting sober on Oct. 12, 2011, Daniels has not only been up front about the perils he encountered as an artist with substance use disorder—especially a highly successful one—whose alcohol use was escalating but who felt that drinking was a prerequisite of being a creative person, and a necessary aid in charming donors and award bestowers. He has also made it part of his theatre making, not only with The White Chip, which had a successful run Off-Broadway in 2019, but with his new job at Florida Studio Theatre…
AUDIO – SHE’S GOTTA NOT HAVE IT – Feb. 21, 2023 – On February 21, 2023, Nickel launches her first book, She Recovers Every Day, a daily meditation book intended to support women in recovery. In addition to writing and overseeing SRF, Nickel works independently as a health policy researcher and consultant focusing primarily on how best to support women who experience substance use disorders, mental health issues and intimate partner violence – the three issues that prompted her to start her own personal recovery journey in 1987. She is also trained as a professional recovery coach. “I am passionate…
IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE – March 20, 2021 – Actor Tuc Watkins has a message for anyone struggling to control their alcohol intake. The actor, 56, quit drinking four and a half years ago. In an Instagram posting, he shared a photo of himself four years before quitting, and four years after. Despite the eight-year age difference, most would agree he looks better in the more recent shot. Click@Queerty
VIDEO – QUITTING PAYS OFF – March 21, 2023 – The singer is currently preparing for the release of a four-part documentary series about his life and his rise to fame called The Sum of It All. Ahead of its release, the “Shape of You” vocalist offered some deeper insight into some of his personal obstacles, including his use of drugs and alcohol. He explained that his drug use began at the age of 24 after being with friends who were using substances. “I remember just being at a festival and being like, ‘Well, if all of my friends do…
SUPER SOBER TALENT – March 19, 2023 – The movie tells the true story of reporter Loretta McLaughlin (played by Keira Knightley), who was the first person to connect the series of murders. It also delves into whether DeSalvo, who was killed in prison in 1973 at age 42. The movie tells the true story of reporter Loretta McLaughlin (played by Keira Knightley), who was the first person to connect the series of murders. It also delves into whether DeSalvo, who was killed in prison in 1973 at age 42, was actually responsible for all 13 murders. Dastmalchian says he…