WITHOUT A FIFTH – March 10, 2023 – Moody’s near-death experience was recounted in FIVE FINGER’s music video for the song “The Tragic Truth” which was released in January 2022 to coincide with Ivan’s 42nd birthday. In September 2018, Moody told the WEBN radio station that he was “back and forth for a while” in his struggle to stay sober. “I’d do three months, then relapse.” He added: “Recovery, you have to be committed; it’s an honest program, and I wasn’t being honest with myself at the time. I’m very, very proud of the progress I’ve made.” Moody went on…
Author: Leonard Buschel
VIDEO – WOMEN MAKING SENSE – March 9, 2023 – Soul Transformation With Dr. Selina Matthews PhD. 52 views • Mar 9, 2023 • Soul Transformation With Dr. Selina Matthews PhD. TOPIC: CHILDHOOD TRAUMA & ITS EFFECT ON YOUR LIFE. GUEST: Dr. Johanna discusses how childhood trauma affects the trajectory of your life and provides us techniques to heal these emotional wounds. Click@YouTube
SAVE THE CHILDREN – March 13, 2023 – More than half of all reported poisonings affect children ages 5 and younger and have the highest rate of emergency department visits for unintentional drug-related poisonings. While child-resistant packaging for many medicines and hazardous products has substantially decreased the number of unintentional fatal poisonings in young children, the escalating opioid epidemic in the United States has contributed to recent child poisoning deaths. Studying fatal poisonings in young children on a broad scale in the U.S. has been challenging for researchers. Every state conducts child death reviews, which investigate how and why these…
THE SHOT GLASS DOES NOT FALL FAR FROM THE TUMBLER – March 13, 2023 – If you or someone you know is battling addiction, then it’s never too late to take control and reach out for professional rehabilitation. The road to recovery won’t be easy, but your child will feel the benefits because it will likely turn their life around. Once you’ve finished with initial rehab, you can integrate Self-Care Strategies For Addiction Treatment, which will help prevent you from slipping back into old habits. Children growing up with drug-addicted parents are ill-fated from the start because they don’t have…
ANOTHER PIPE DREAM? – March 10, 2023 – “Cheryl!” Both you and the patient are shocked by the harsh tone of your voice. There’s a pause where you both look down to the floor before you begin again, in a softer tone, “I see that in the last month, you’ve had four prescriptions filled from different emergency departments.” “Doc, I had to! I ran out early again, and I was going to.” “Cheryl, I’ve heard the excuses before. You have to go to rehab. At the rate you’re going, you’re going to die from this disease.” “But I needed the…
REALITY ON FILM – Jan. 25, 2023 – “As a director, whose own family has been affected by addiction, my intention was to create a film that felt truthful while unraveling in a unique, visually cerebral way. All the World is Sleeping is grounded in the axiom that while this is a movie, we understand that these moments are happening all around us. Hopefully it gets the audience talking.” “We are thrilled to be bringing All the World is Sleeping to theaters and homes this upcoming March,” added Gravitas’ Senior Director of Acquisitions, Danielle Gasher. “Melissa Barrera delivers an incredible…
VIDEO – AMERICAN NIGHTMARE – March 16, 2023 – Astudillo planned to get her son medical attention the next day, but by morning he was dead. “It hurts you to see your son after he’s gone and ask yourself, Why didn’t I know about this sooner to help him?” Jose, who died in January, is among the nearly one dozen students spread across three schools in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District in Texas who have overdosed on fentanyl from September to March. He is one of three who have died. The rash of overdoses has brought shock and anger…
SIMPLE SUPPLY & DEMAND – March 10, 2023 – The buyers, however, were a confidential informant who has worked with the government since 2014 and an undercover Hawthorne police officer working as part of the federal and local drug task force, authorities said. The sting operation was conducted by agents with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Hawthorne Police Department, the Fullerton Police Department, the El Monte Police Department and the California National Guard. During the meeting, which was monitored by investigators, Allan and Gaixola met with the buyers while Oroz remained in their car, a white Volkswagen Jetta, according…
BLIND AMBITION – March 8, 2023 – An order came in from a young marine in North Carolina. He wanted Oxy. Allawi went about fulfilling the order, choosing from among the bags of powders and chemicals strewn about his attic and garage. He had precursor chemicals, binding agents, and colored dyes from eBay, as well as fentanyl—a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin—from China. “Man, you can order anything off the internet,” Allawi once told a friend. It was the secret to his success. Allawi poured the ingredients into a Ninja blender, pulsed it until the contents seemed…
MORE THAN THE CARTELS? – March 15, 2023 – The lawsuit, filed in Cleveland federal court, said Rite Aid repeatedly filled prescriptions from May 2014 to June 2019 that were medically unnecessary, for off-label use or not issued in the usual course of professional practice. Rite Aid pharmacists were accused of ignoring obvious signs of misuse, including in prescriptions for “trinities,” a combination of opioids, benzodiazepine and muscle relaxants preferred by drug abusers for their increased euphoric effect. Authorities also said Rite Aid’s Government Affairs Department was aware that its pharmacists were ignoring obvious red flags and that it directed…
NOT DRUNK JUST SEASICK – March 14, 2023 – Martini Seduction: Red passionfruit nectar, fresh lime juice, and a hint of orange mix with Lyre’s White Cane instead of vodka Spicy Chipotle Pineapple Martini: Lyre’s Agave Blanco stands in for vodka to bring this spicy pineapple cocktail into its non-alcoholic form The Remedy: Orange juice, pineapple, and fresh lime juice mixed with Lyre’s White Cane and Spiced Cane instead of dark and coconut rum Hearts of Fire: Fresh thyme and raspberries reimagined with Lyre’s Dry London instead of gin Restorative Basil Drop: Lyre’s Dry London mixed with fresh basil and…
AUDIO – PASSION & COMPASSION – March 12, 2023 – If the Iran hostage evacuation had not succeeded, John Shinholser‘s life might have been a lot different. At the age of 23, Shinholser was part of a unit stationed in the Strait of Hormuz, waiting on an attack order from President Ronald Reagan. The order never came, and Shinholser never saw a firefight. But he left the Marine Corps as a veteran with at least one accolade badge of honor: Shinholser had been named “Marine of the Month,” a nod from his battalion commander for sobering up in the service.…
“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.” – George Orwell
AUDIO – SAVE LIVES NOW – March 4, 2023 – They discussed how City Hall can support overdose prevention centers, which provide supervised injection of illicit substances along with a range of other services. Two of these facilities, the nation’s first, have saved hundreds of lives since opening in late 2021. But haggling at the federal level has left their legality in question, which is also limiting the funding local governments can provide. “Currently, the city does not provide any money directly to oversight of safe injection services, and we’ve been lucky enough to find philanthropic partners to step in…
AUDIO – THE RAPPER TALKS – March 4, 2023 – NPR’s Scott Simon speaks with rapper Macklemore about the triumphs, addiction struggles and realizations that inspired his new album, “Ben.” Click@NPR
AUDIO – WHEN SOBRIETY SOUNDS SO GOOD – March 6, 2023 – After hitting rock bottom — or as he said, “living rock bottom” — Murray realized the control substances had on him and how it could eventually end his life. He credits his family for being the grounding force in his recovery and his therapist for professional support. Physical fitness also became a priority for him. And today, his music career is stronger than ever. The success of his 2022 song “Turn the World Around,” the first song he wrote while sober, proved his creativity in music making could…
VIDEO – NOT FUNNY! – March 1, 2023 – Nitrous oxide, more commonly known as “laughing gas” or “nos”, can give users a 30-second high that makes them feel dizzy and lightweight, but the gas is no laughing matter. Following reports from doctors of a spike in hospitalizations, the government is now considering stricter regulations around the use and sale of the gas. Nitrous oxide is used legitimately in hospitals, at dental surgeries and in professional kitchens, but supplying it for its psychoactive effects is illegal. Click@SkyNews
VIDEO – LEARNING THE HARD WAY – March 4 2023 – Following five years of sobriety, Sonia Kahlon founded EverBlume which provides online small group recovery meetings with supportive peers and a recovery coach facilitator. Each group is uniquely tailored based on the characteristics of its members. The goal is to provide a safe space for conversation and connection. Click@YouTube
I WAS THAT CLOSE – March 3, 2023 – He told the ‘Audacy Check-In’ podcast: “Sloane’s been to meetings with me. She asks me questions like, ‘Daddy, how’s your sober meetings going?’ We talk about it. “And I don’t want to hide that because it’s not something that I need to feel guilt or shame or secrecy around. The whole intention is to put it out into the open … I’m not a finished product. This is what I’m working on. These are my struggles.” Macklemore ultimately wants his kids to be aware of their family’s history, adding that it’s…
OFFICIAL CHARGES IN PRINT – March 3, 2023 – Michael Brier, 60, of Newton, MA, Mi Ok Bruining, 62, of Warwick, RI, and Recovery Connections Centers of America, Inc. (RCCA) are charged by criminal complaint with health care fraud. Michael Brier was also charged in the complaint with aggravated identity theft, money laundering and obstruction. It is alleged in court documents that, Brier, Bruining, and RCCA shortchanged Rhode Island and Massachusetts substance abuse disorder patients out of much needed counseling and treatment services, while defrauding Medicare, Medicaid, and other health insurers out of millions of dollars. At a press conference…
ONE GIANT TO ANOTHER – March 7, 2023 – Closs has cleaned himself up to become a motivational speaker now, sharing some valuable advice with Morant on avoiding the road he’s headed down. “Brandishing a firearm on an IG Live is the dumbest thing he could do. It’s self-sabotage. He’s lucky that he’s gotten only a 2 game suspension, I lost a whole season. He’s fortunate that it’s only 2 games. Why aren’t these guys learning from the mistakes that we made in the past.” Closs also went in-depth on Morant’s relationship with his father, Tee Morant, and his upbringing.…
BRONX BOMBER? – March 4, 2023 – “Never seen a mess quite like this!” tweeted straphanger Carolyn Crapo, 58, posting images last week of what appeared to be a botched rolling meth lab at the Woodlawn station in the Bronx. “Was Walter White trying to synthesize some [pseudoephedrine] or what?” “I’ve seen shooting up, the weed,” a hardened MTA conductor told The Post. “Cooking up is the only thing I haven’t seen.” The scene turned out to be more Breaking Sad than “Breaking Bad” though. Based on the pills’ packaging, the cornucopia of smashed Claritin, Zyrtec and Allegra pills left…
ONE SPEEDY STEP AT A TIME – March 6, 2023 – Herren is a former professional basketball player who’s been in long-term recovery from addiction since 2008. In 2011, he started the Herren Project, a national nonprofit organization that provides free resources and support for the treatment, recovery and prevention of substance use disorder. Rickard now works as the project’s director of active engagement. “I get to work with people that are willing to help others. We raise significant funding, increasing awareness of the disease of addiction, but even more importantly, increasing the awareness of the power of recovery.” Twenty-two…
OR HYPOCHONDRIA? – March 6, 2023 – Surprisingly, these can also be warning signs of depression — and if you’re not sure whether your current funk is anything to worry about, they can help clue you in that something deeper is going on. There are a few lesser-known symptoms to look out for. 6. Cavities Depression can even take a toll on your oral health. An Australian study found that depression was associated with increases in tooth decay and tooth loss, possibly because this mood disorder can make everyday tasks more difficult. “Depression often robs people of the ability…
LET’S FIND OUT – March 7, 2023 – The difficulty in treating dependence lies mainly in the fact that addictive behaviors tend to modify the structure and functioning of the brain. Reversing these modifications involves an enormous effort. The road to recovery from addictions is usually a long and winding process, in which the patient may suffer numerous relapses. Therapeutic strategies comprise highly structured programs that integrate different psychological, physiological, behavioral, pharmacological, and social aspects. According to the U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), addictions, like other chronic diseases, are not curable, although they can be successfully treated. It…
DO YOU HAVE A CRAZY APP? – March 7, 2023 – Smartphones are in pockets, purses and, for some people, under their pillows at night. Most Americans have a smartphone. About 95 percent of teenagers and people under 50 say they have one. For many people, smartphones are a convenience. But for phone addicts, they can feel like an obsession. There are apps to look at, games to play and websites to browse. One in five U.S. teens, for example, say they use YouTube “almost constantly,” and more than half say it would be difficult to stop using social media.…
AN EYE FOR A EYE – March 9, 2023 – Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes is counting on recently introduced federal legislation to help prevent narcotics from flowing into OC. In a March 6 letter he sent to the authors of legislation that would authorize the use of military force against Mexican drug cartels, Barnes said the cartels are “flooding American communities with the deadly drug fentanyl” and taking lives on “both sides of our southern border.” “It is time for the federal government to take meaningful action against these hostile drug trafficking organizations,” Barnes said in the letter to…
VIDEO – TIP YOUR SERVER – March 7, 2023 – “We have to take care of each other so that we can take care of everyone else,” Charlotte group leader and owner of Restaurant Constance chef Sam Diminich said. Members of the group take care of each other by supporting their sober journeys in an industry that can be hard to stick with it. “The restaurant industry is ridden with people who use and drink, it’s just kind of known,” server Sara Sheppard explained. For the latest breaking news, weather and traffic alerts, download the WCNC Charlotte mobile app. …
NPR AUDIO – SOBRIETY IS BUN – March 2, 2023 – JANIE DEEGAN: We have an open-door hiring policy, meaning that, you know, no matter what your life situation is right now or has been in the past, we look at the person you show up as today at the interview as the candidate, the whole candidate and the whole picture. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Deegan started Janie’s Life-Changing Baked Goods about a decade ago after emerging from a struggle with addiction and homelessness. Now she’s offering a new start to employees like Jane Hensley, who was trying to find work…
ARE YOU TALKING TO ME? – March 8, 2023 – With this introduction, I want to turn attention to Madeline Meier’s important new article, “Long-term Cannabis Users Show Lower Cognitive Reserves and Smaller Hippocampal Volume in Midlife.”[4] Meier’s article offers a critical sequel to previous descriptions of the Dunedin, NZ, cohort of over a thousand people born in 1972-1973 who have now been studied into their fifth decade. After measuring baseline cognitive abilities at age 13 (before any drug use), each was interviewed about their substance use at 18, 21, 26, 32, 38, and now 45. Thorough neurocognitive testing at…