VIDEO – THANKSGIVING EVERY DAY – Nov. 16, 2022 – He had everything – a college education, a loving wife, and a daughter. He even owned his own business. But he didn’t have control of his alcohol. “I just drank my whole life away,” Sitloh shared. His family finally had enough and Sitloh ended up living on the street. His rock bottom came in a Bradenton homeless shelter where he says he was treated like no one should ever be. That was the moment he decided to turn his life around to help others. CLICK FOR MORE
Author: Leonard Buschel
PLEASE BE TRUE – Nov. 14, 2022 – The breakthrough discovery could have major implications for the nation’s opioid epidemic by becoming a relapse prevention agent for people trying to quit using opioids. While research reveals Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is treatable, an estimated 80% of those dependent on the drug suffer a relapse. The findings, published in the journal Pharmaceutics, could not be timelier or more in demand: Over 150 people die every day from overdoses of synthetic opioids including fentanyl, which is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Consumption of about 2 milligrams…
AS IF YOU DIDN’T KNOW – Nov. 15, 2022 – I’ve seen people transform their lives. It’s what keeps me going. It’s amazing the changes that people can make should they allow themselves to follow suggestions, overcome fears, risk new things and trust the process. I’ve seen people who were feeling suicidal and hopeless who, today, have a family and are helping other people. It’s amazing. But there are a lot of people that end up not getting that recovery—they might struggle to engage, or relapse. The biggest challenge of my job is feeling powerless, and not being able to…
VIDEO – ANIMALS ARE DEALING DRUGS – Nov. 15, 2022 – After two years of sobriety, Allie Gramlich began using drugs again in April. This time around, Philadelphia’s street opioid supply was infiltrated with tranq or tranq dope, a mixture of fentanyl mixed and the animal tranquilizer xylazine. The high was non-existent, she said, replaced by hours of unconsciousness followed by intense withdrawal—and when she wanted to come off it only a couple months later, the detox was even worse. “It was honestly the most traumatizing experience I’ve ever had in my life.” When Gramlich, 28, had previously detoxed…
WHAT A LIFE! – Nov. 17, 2022 – Although he quickly became known for his work dancing and choreographing for pop music superstars, Karaty broadened his reach with powerful dancing and cutting-edge choreography in commercials and events for iPod, Best Buy, Mattel, Dance Central 2, Miller, Xbox Kinect, IKEA, and many more. In 2005, So You Think You Can Dance debuted in the US with Dan as a judge. After three successful seasons, he took the format to Europe where he became the Simon Cowell of the Netherlands and Belgium leading judging panels for numerous talent shows. Dan, with his…
IT IS SO SIMPLE – Nov. 7, 2022 – At the urging of his cardiologist, JC joined San Francisco General’s Heart Plus, a 12-week outpatient program that combines cardiovascular follow-up care with drug rehabilitation support. Stimulant drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines, are known to cause and exacerbate cardiovascular problems, so the program’s goal is to improve patients’ health by addressing the two issues together. “Stimulant use disorders complicate at least 15 percent of heart failure hospitalizations,” said Soraya Azari, MD, a UCSF associate clinical professor who cofounded Heart Plus. “At San Francisco General, we found methamphetamine use was an…
A BIG SOUL – Nov. 18, 2022 – It was during this call that Norman realized that something was terribly wrong with his daughter. “They said, ‘Mr. Norman, Alyssa overdosed last night.’ So my response was, `Where is she? I want to come see my daughter,’” he said. But he’d never get the chance to see her alive again— 26-year-old Alyssa Victoria-Rose Norman was gone. Her father said that this year has been extremely hard for his entire family, but he’s been finding ways to deal with the grief one year later. One of the hardest things for him…
A STATE OF GRACE – Nov. 17, 2022 – The center is operated by Gaudenzia Inc., one of the region’s largest nonprofit providers of treatment for substance use disorders. The program is funded by $3.2 million in federal grants through the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health (DSAMH). Previously, Delaware was one of only two states without a treatment center for pregnant and mothering addicts. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long, a nurse and chair of the Delaware Behavioral Health Consortium, is a longtime advocate of accessible treatment for substance abusers. Previously, women had to travel out of state for…
ONCE YOU’RE THERE, STAY THERE – Nov. 16, 2022 – “It’s kind of the making of an alcoholic. It’s kind of a rock ’n’ roll memoir. It’s certainly a journalism memoir,” said McLeese, a University of Iowa associate professor and former journalist, of his book “Slippery Steps: Rolling and Tumbling Toward Sobriety.” “It starts out in the ‘50s, which had this ‘Mad Men’ type celebration of drinking as part of what’s considered part of the suburban good life. Then it goes into my generational attraction toward drinking, toward drugs — that had to do with rock ’n’ roll and…
HE CAME BACK – Nov. 16, 2022 – Eddie Hall is a former strongman, weightlifter, actor, and media personality. Apart from winning the title of World’s strongest man in 2017, Hall has also won several national titles such as UK’s Strongest Man, Britain’s Strongest man, etc. While the world has seen his success, one after the other, not many were aware of his dark past. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been Eddie’s idol for as long as he could remember. From a very young age, Eddie dreamed of becoming an Olympian. Eddie learned to swim and started competing in various competitions.…
DON’T GO HOME – Nov. 17, 2022 – The holiday season can exacerbate stress, anxiety, and depression, particularly when returning home. Unfortunately, many of these emotional triggers often cause people to turn to drugs or alcohol as a means of coping. Research has suggested that LGTBQ individuals are three times more likely to experience these mental health conditions. Avoiding the temptation to drink in excess takes work, but it is not impossible. Whether you are in recovery or not, there are practical ways to manage sobriety and stress over the holidays. Make sure basic needs are met during the holidays.…
IT’S SO HARD – Nov. 18, 2022 – The goal should not be to plan or control every aspect of the holidays or get through them without slip-ups. Rather, the goal should be entering the holiday season with a plan to help you avoid triggers, forgive and grow from slip-ups and embrace flexibility when things don’t go as expected. To help avoid relapse while navigating the holiday season, consider these tips from the experts at Alsana, a national eating recovery community that serves adult clients of all genders through in-person and virtual programs: 1. Know your relapse triggers. Triggers are…
LIKE NOT USING CONDOMS? – Nov. 14, 2022 – “With nearly 25 percent of the population in the US taking acetaminophen each week, reduced risk perceptions and increased risk-taking could have important effects on society.” The findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that acetaminophen’s effects on pain reduction also extend to various psychological processes, lowering people’s receptivity to hurt feelings, experiencing reduced empathy, and even blunting cognitive functions. In a similar way, the research suggests people’s affective ability to perceive and evaluate risks can be impaired when they take acetaminophen. While the effects might be slight,…
COULD HAVE FOOLED ME – Nov. 15, 2022 – It charts the fortunes of largely fictional Hollywood actors and producers trying to navigate the transition from silent movies to “talkies” — as well as a lifestyle of cocaine-fueled, no-holds-barred parties and wild on-set misbehavior, all depicted in graphic detail. Asked at a post-screening discussion if “Babylon” had made her nostalgic for the movie industry´s so-called “Golden Age,” Robbie noted that “there´s way less drugs now” in Hollywood. “Sadly true!” joked Pitt. The movie from Chazelle, who won a youngest-ever best director Oscar for “La La Land” and was also nominated…
ONE TACO STAND AT A TIME – Nov. 14, 2022 – “We are thrilled to honor the one and only Danny Trejo, who bravely poured his heart out in his memoir,” said Leonard Lee Buschel, co-founder of Writers In Treatment. “The past few years have been a challenge for those in need of sobriety. By lending his encouraging and influential voice to the fight, Mr. Trejo has inspired countless people to seek help as they begin their journey to recovery.” The event is set to take place on Dec. 7 at the Skirball Cultural Center with a specific dress code:…
VIDEO – HE WAS A BIG MAN – Nov. 14, 2022 – In the show, A-listers surprise friends and mentors with a home makeover. Jordan gifted his dear friends of 40 years, Rosemary Alexander, 81, and Newell Alexander, 87, with a modern Southwestern ranch renovation. “They’ve just always been there for me,” Jordan says of Rosemary and Newell in the episode. “I had some struggles with alcohol, a little drug use. I’m 25 years clean and sober, but they were instrumental in that too because they never judged me. “I really found out the secret to happiness is to…
HOW MUCH DID THEY MAKE? – Nov. 15, 2022 – The deals are the product of negotiations with a group of state attorneys general, but they are not final. The CVS and Walgreens deals would have to be accepted first by a critical mass of state and local governments before they are completed. Walmart’s plan would have to be approved by 43 states. The formal process has not yet begun. The national pharmacies join some of the biggest drugmakers and drug distributors in settling complex lawsuits over their alleged roles in an opioid overdose epidemic that has been linked…
LIKE GOING AWAY TO WAR – Nov. 18, 2022 – Before I went to prison, I was a doting father in spite of my bitter divorce. I’d spend weekends with my boy, D., going to Philadelphia Eagles games and the Happy Tymes Family Fun Center in Warrington, Pennsylvania. We’d practice soccer in my backyard using a net I’d put up. I’d make him dribble around cones, taking shots while I stood in the goal. “Stick to the basics, son! Don’t show off until you’re good,” I’d call out. Then I’d purposely miss the ball, diving like Beckham himself had just…
THE PLAY’S THE THING – Nov. 15, 2022 – For those who like their withdrawal hallucinations and group therapy theatrically inclined, there’s “People, Places & Things” at Studio Theatre, now until December 11. The show, written by Duncan Macmillan and helmed by Studio artistic director David Muse, is mostly a relatively straightforward story of substance abuse and potential improvement (you know all the beats already: rock bottom, messy intake, resistance, aggression, a breakthrough or relapse or two, ambiguous ending). But that “theatrically inclined” is meant doubly: The added wrinkle here is that our main character, the addict in question, is…
ONE OF THE PROMISES? – Nov. 13, 2022 – He objected, citing the religious aspects of AA’s 12-step program, which has its origins in a Christian group, per the group’s FAQ page. United rejected his suggestion of using the Buddhism-based peer-support group Refuge Recovery as an alternative, the commission said. The decision violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion, per the commission, which sued the airline on the man’s behalf in 2020, The Associated Press reported at the time. To resolve the lawsuit, United will pay the pilot $305,000…
“I think that the minute that you have a backup plan, you’ve admitted that you’re not going to succeed.” – Elizabeth Holmes
LOS ANGELES FUNDRAISER – Nov. 16, 2022 – For 71 years, Friendly House has been on the frontlines of saving women’s lives by championing the empowerment and recovery of women, especially those from historically excluded communities. The non-profit program provides culturally responsive, attainable treatment to women regardless of their resources. Friendly House, the first residential alcohol and substance abuse recovery program in the country created by women for women, will hold its 32nd annual awards luncheon on Saturday, November 19 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. The event honors entertainment attorney and activist Dina LaPolt with the Visionary…
CHICAGO IS COLD – Nov. 4, 2022 – Moreno, 50, is trying to reclaim the job he lost to Ald. Daniel LaSpata after a self-destructive string of scandals that derailed his once-bright future. Those headlines included flashing his aldermanic star to intimidate a woman during a parking dispute and being charged with insurance fraud and obstruction of justice for falsely reporting his 2017 Audi had been stolen from his Wicker Park garage when, in fact, he had loaned it to a girlfriend. The tailspin continued after his political demise, when Moreno was charged with drunk and reckless driving after crashing…
VIDEO – SERVICE WITH A SMILE – Oct. 31, 2022 – “I hope my honesty and openness today can be helpful to anyone struggling with this issue, or to anyone watching someone struggle through it,” the post reads. Christensen ends the post with an optimistic tone, looking forward to what’s next and reiterating that “Today is a good day.” Hundreds of people voiced their support in the comments of the post, including many fellow chefs and North Carolina locals. Christensen owns Poole’s Diner and Poole’side Pies among other restaurants in Raleigh. She won the James Beard Award for Outstanding…
VIDEO – ROBBING DEATH – Nov. 4, 2022 – Authorities administered three doses of Naloxone, also known as Narcan, which is an opioid overdose treatment, to both teens while administering CPR. Within minutes, the teens began breathing again. They were transported to a local hospital and later released to their parents. “If not for the swift, decisive action of these deputies, both young men would have become lives claimed by the opioid pandemic,” said L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva. “Fentanyl is a pharmaceutical drug created to help patients with pain management,” explained deputies. “It is approximately 100 times more…
AND AWAY WE GO – Nov. 2022 – What’s travel without a little turbulence, right? Tourism’s big return following the easing of Covid restrictions has been bumpier than we all hoped, thanks to understaffed airports, high gas prices, and other global woes. But while the skies still haven’t entirely cleared, it’s not impossible to find silver linings. For one thing, borders have reopened pretty much everywhere. For another, the strong U.S. dollar means American vacationers will find more affordable prices in Europe, Japan, Mexico, India, and beyond. Despite all the lingering uncertainty, consumer surveys as well as those interminable TSA…
AUDIO – RHYMES WITH HELL – Nov. 6, 2022 – In the past 10 years, where governments at the local, state, and federal levels have acted in concert, there appears to be a disproportionate focus on legal prescription opioids, which in many ways are easier to control than illegal opiates. But, it’s important to properly distinguish between the role of illicit and prescription opioids in the current opioid crisis. Contrary to public perception, the problem of misuse, abuse, and diversion of prescription opioids has been much less of a factor in recent years than illicit opioids. A picture of a…
HE’D RATHER BE DEAD THAN DRUNK? – Nov. 4, 2022 – When asked about whether or not it was easier or harder now to stay sober, Shaddix said: “[It’s] way easier. It’s not an option for me anymore. Not to sound macabre or dark, but I’d rather put a gun in my mouth than put a drink in my mouth. Cause I know the drink is a slow way to a miserable, lonely, isolated death. It’s not for me. “I’ve got way too much great stuff in my life to live for,” he continued. “There’s so much in this world…
WHO CAN YOU TRUST? – Nov. 6, 2022 – Paley’s ouster comes a few months after HuffPost revealed that Paley had worked with Purdue Pharma, the notorious OxyContin maker, while he was employed by the global consulting firm McKinsey & Company. Around the time of HuffPost’s revelations, Trevor Project staff had been criticizing Paley’s vision for the organization, saying his focus on growth was compromising the quality of counseling that the organization offers to LGBTQ youth in crisis. “Many members of our staff have raised concerns about workplace well-being, professional development, prioritization performance metrics, and resourcing compensation — particularly…
AUDIO/VIDEO – OH SHIT, HE WAS MY SPONSEE – Nov. 7, 2022 – A shopkeeper who owns a liquor store in the district has been particularly affected by the monkey’s actions. The shopkeeper told NDTV that the monkey bites if humans attempt to chase it away. Other shopkeepers in the area told the news outlet that they have reported the situation to the authorities, but so far nothing has been done. District officers along with the Forest Department told NDTV that they are on the lookout for the monkey. CLICK FOR MORE