IT’S A LIE – Oct. 26, 2022 – I hadn’t been doing great before that moment. My career had imploded; my dad was paying my rent at the sober house. My first marriage was over. Oh, and my mom was dying. But I’d put my head down and pushed through; I did my chores and went to meetings, talked to my sponsor, and had somehow made it through those brutal early days of not drinking without picking up a drink. Then, driving down the Texas State Highway Loop One, boom. I heard that voice and I agreed. “I’m a piece…
Author: Leonard Buschel
GENTLY – Oct. 2022 – This capacity for inward reflection, as remarkable as it is, causes an unending amount of grief, anxiety, and sadness. It’s really too bad that the adaptive story in our long tale of natural selection couldn’t have made us more blissfully aware, rather than the other way around. But evolution doesn’t care about our feelings. It cares about the survival of our genes. And self-focused anxiety is a damn good motivator to keep a species alive. Sorry for the melancholy start. It’s not all doom and gloom. We — and by “we” I mean our…
WHEN THE CURE IS WORSE THAN THE ILLNESS – Oct. 23, 2022 – The lawsuits, filed last month in state court against Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center and Redlands Community Hospital and several of their physicians, allege doctors engaged in fraud by prescribing each of the men remdesivir without their knowledge or consent. Doctors also allegedly failed to explain that the drug is ineffective in treating COVID-19, is toxic to kidneys and can cause death, the complaints say. “In COVID-19 healthcare circles across the country, remdesivir has carried the nickname ‘Run, death is near,’ ” said the civil complaint, which…
PAIN IS A PAIN – Oct. 2022 – “We are interested in the use of this and related molecules to manage chronic pain in the clinic. Obviously, the interest is in using the compounds by themselves, given that they do not produce the sedation characteristic of dexmedetomidine, which is a great drug, but one that is largely limited to ICU situations where sedation is an advantage. Of particular interest is the possibility of combining the new ligands with low doses of opioids, producing at least additive, if not synergistic, analgesic effects without the adverse side effects typically associated with…
ONE STEP AT A TIME – Oct. 27, 2022 – Researchers add that easy activities such as washing the car or doing laundry, which have counted as exercise in earlier research, are not enough to stave off heart problems. However, going on brisk walks for 75 minutes a week or one run for the same amount of time is enough to keep the condition at bay. When people did more exercise overall, but the amount of moderate-to-vigorous exercise they did remained the same, there was little improvement in heart health. When activity levels doubled, there was no significant boost to…
EVERYBODY’S ALL-AMERICAN – Oct. 27, 2022 – Goodman first met his future wife in New Orleans while filming the 1988 film Everybody’s All-American. The actor attended a Halloween party, where he quickly fell for Anna. “I went to this Halloween party, and she walked up to me and said, ‘Hi.’ I couldn’t figure out why anyone that pretty was talking to me,” Goodman told Elle. However, the two didn’t start dating right away: Goodman told Seth Meyers that his future wife “thought he was a zombie,” but he “stalked her long distance” after that and the two started dating. more@Newsner
YOU AND YOUR THERAPIST – Oct. 27, 2022 – One study found that the greatest risk factor for depression was traumatic events in early childhood. Trauma in early childhood causes high levels of stress, which can affect the developing brain. Chronic stress from a young age may increase the risk of depression in adolescence and adulthood. Likewise, trauma is a risk factor for postpartum depression. This form of depression occurs following childbirth and affects up to 19%Trusted Source of people who give birth. Individuals who believe they may be experiencing depression should speak with a healthcare professional for further guidance…
WHAT DO BABIES KNOW? – Oct. 28, 2022 – According to a class action lawsuit, Abbott falsely advertises its Similac products as able to make more servings of formula than is accurate. Even when following the provided instructions, the products allegedly fail to make the number of servings advertised on labels. Consumers say they wouldn’t have purchased the items or paid as much for the products if they knew they wouldn’t get the promised number of formula servings. Plaintiffs in the baby formula class action lawsuit sought financial compensation for the injuries caused by the alleged false advertising. Abbott…
ART LIGHTS THE WAY – Oct. 27, 2022 – In The Creative High, the evolution of the stories of the nine artists begins with the rawest examples, teetering on the edge of relapse, and ends with the most experienced souls thriving in well-earned bases of creative wholeness. The film, a thought-provoking documentary by director Adriana Marchione, producer Dianne Griffin and editor Kirk Goldberg opens the door to the lives of artists in various stages of recovery. When asked about the making of the documentary, Marchione revealed her journey: “I learned so much from engaging with the artists and hearing their…
APPLE’S EVIL GENIUS PLACEMENT – Oct. 27, 2022 – The issue got attention on Twitter early Wednesday when an ad for “Jackpot World” appeared as a suggested app below RecoverMe, an app designed to help users recover from a gambling addiction. A separate user found a horse betting app being advertised on the same page. Other Twitter users caught gambling and sports betting apps suggested below children’s games. Many app developers took to Twitter this week saying they don’t want gambling ads appearing near their apps, regardless of their content. more@NYPost
SCHOOL OF ROCK INDEED – Oct. 26, 2022 – For Black, family issues and school problems were at the forefront of his teenage years. Black told The Guardian he was just 10 years old when his parents decided to divorce. He shared, “There’s something about a divorce that even if your parents still love you, the fact that they can’t live with each other makes you feel there’s something wrong with you.” It was four years after the divorce, Black revealed he was heavily involved in cocaine. more@NickiSwift
PREGNANT WITH POSSIBILITIES – Oct. 25, 2022 – I came from an upper-middle-class family. I excelled in school as a popular, straight-A student. I was a cheerleader, an equestrian, and a volleyball player. To the people around me, I did not fit the description of a drug addict. At 8 years old, I tried an opioid for the first time. It was an expired Darvocet in my grandmother’s cabinet. The bottle had an illustration of a woozy person and the disclaimer “may cause drowsiness.” That’s exactly what I wanted to feel. At the time, I didn’t know that I was…
THEY KILLED FOR MONEY – Oct. 27, 2022 – McKinsey previously agreed to pay more than $600 million to settle opioid claims brought by all U.S. states and territories, and had argued that those settlements should shield it from local governments’ and school districts’ lawsuits. It has not admitted wrongdoing. The firm still faces claims by health insurance plans, Native American tribes and families of children exposed to opioids in the womb, which can cause withdrawal symptoms at birth and long-term health and developmental problems. Cases have been filed in multiple states, but are consolidated before U.S. District Judge…
THERE ARE ANSWERS! – Oct. 28, 2022 – While stigma often stands as a barrier to entry for people with SUD, Macy pointed out, its opposite—acts of compassion and kindness—serve as an entryway. “Change happens when people get out of bureaucratic silos and get together,” she said. Community programs that “meet people with SUD where they are” provide a way of countering isolation along with other benefits. Through the process of connecting, people who go to a needle exchange, she noted, are five times more likely to go to treatment. Macy gave examples of people bringing about change in their…
WE LOST A GIANT – Oct. 24, 2022 – “We were Baptist. There was no alcohol in our family. We were teetotalers,” he said in January 2021. “I remember that, all of a sudden, I wasn’t that awkward kid who didn’t know what to do with his arms, who was afraid the ax was going to fall at any time. It hit me: I was adorable, I was precious. And I stayed precious and adorable for the next 33 years.” Despite his successful career, Jordan struggled with substance abuse. He said alcohol gave him confidence and self-acceptance through his 30s.…
I GUESS HE DIDN’T HAVE A DOLLAR BILL – Oct. 23, 2022 – Matthew Perry says in a recent interview with The New York Times that he spent a literal fortune to get sober. The Friends alum, 53, noted the estimated seven-figure sum he’s shelled out on his path to sobriety in the Sunday interview while promoting the upcoming release of his memoir Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing. “I’ve probably spent $9 million or something trying to get sober,” Perry said. The actor also revealed that he recently celebrated 18 months of sobriety, which would indicate he…
FAMILIES CAN HEAL – Oct. 26, 2022 – “She’s dealing with trying to understand the pain that she is in but at the same time mother enough to tell me, ‘Do not do this ever. I’m suffering from something I don’t even understand but I know one thing, I don’t ever want you to trade places with me,’” she continued. Banfield Norris then asked Hill when she recognized that something was wrong within her family, noting that throughout her own 20-year battle with heroin addiction, daughter Pinkett Smith knew something wasn’t right at a young age. The sports journalist admitted…
VIDEO – A HERO ONCE MORE – Oct. 24, 2022 – NBA player Vin Baker was at the top of his game when he lost everything to addiction. Karen Swensen sits down with the athlete to talk about how he found his way back through sobriety and humility. more@Today
VIDEO – BORN TO BE BLUE – Oct. 27, 2022 – They merged that information with mortality data spanning from 1999 to 2019, and found liberal policies were associated with lower deaths among people aged 25 to 64, according to the study published Wednesday in PLOS ONE. The analysis revealed changing state policies to fully liberal could have saved more than 171,000 lives in 2019, while changing them to fully conservative may have cost over 217,000 lives. “As an academic who does scientific research, I studiously avoided talking about politics in my professional work. … But the data are pointing…
SNL Spoofs AA – Oct. 29, 2022 – An AA meeting takes an unexpected turn.: more@SNL
FILMS ARE GENIUS – Oct. 26, 2022 – Movies that detail addiction date as far back as D.W. Griffith’s 1912 Coca-Cola-inspired flick “For His Son,” a silent film about a doctor creating an addictive soft drink containing cocaine (via Century Film Project). Over the next century, films like “The Man With the Golden Arm” and “The Panic in Needle Park” told honest stories about how addiction can change people, while also highlighting the hurdles of recovery. Some portrayals of drug and alcohol addiction get sensationalized, while others are done humanely and with a captivating sense of urgency, as they…
HIGHER POWERS – Oct. 28, 2022 – Truth is hard because it is real, but it does not mean that it is not also loving and compassionate. Truth is what you make of it. Harriet Rossetto explains, “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, but connection. When you become part of a community of authentic, transparent people, you overcome addiction and celebrate connection.” Moreover, another revelation must be revealed right now (I do love a little alliteration). Leonard Buschel, the founder of Writers in Treatment and the Reel Recovery Film Festival, was a counselor at Beit T’Shuvah when I…
“I couldn’t possibly have played someone with feelings towards a woman unless I had those feelings myself.” – Cate Blanchett
A MOTHER’S LOVE CONQUER’S ALL – Oct. 22, 2022 – Since the day of my release from Santa Ana jail my head said, “Go alone and get it done quickly.” But that’s not how recovery from trauma, addiction, and chronic pain is possible. Nadia sharing her story Wednesday at the REEL Recovery Film Festival for FREE TIX https://www.eventbrite.com/e/409044020677 Years of hard work brought prestigious titles, awards, and accolades. Then I ended up in the arms of the most powerful man in the State of California. But none of that erased the fact that I was struggling deep inside. I was…
TO THINE OWN SELF BE SCREWED – Oct. 18, 2022 – Upon leaving rehab and becoming “completely sober for the first time in ages,” Felton said he “had an overwhelming sense of clarity and anger,” screamed and burst into tears, all while being “muddy, wet, disheveled and broken.” That night, he encountered three men — an elderly gas station cashier, an Uber driver and a Barney’s bouncer — whom he refers to “as my three kings,” because they each showed him an act of kindness on his odyssey to the bar and his overall journey toward sobriety. “I’d spent the…
A FRIEND IN WEED IS A FRIEND INDEED – Oct. 22, 2022 -The actor – who played Chandler in the hit sitcom – detailed how his drug and alcohol addiction left him with a 2% chance of survival. During his interview, Matthew spoke about his decades-long battle to rid himself of the disease of addiction. He revealed that he had had 14 surgeries on his stomach and had to use a colostomy bag for nine months. He confessed: “The doctors told my family that I had a two percent chance to live. “I was put on a thing called…
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – March 8, 2004 – I believed in Mahatma Gandhi when nonviolence was his faithI believed in Martin Luther when he said “I have a dream”I believed in Winston Churchill when he said “we stand together”I believed in Muhammad Ali when he said “it’s not my war” more@YouTube
MIRACLES DO HAPPEN – Oct. 17, 2022 – Today I celebrate 2 years without alcohol… the first time I shared was day 73 and people were like whaaat lol?!!” he wrote. “I’m so grateful and happy, who knew sober birthdays were celebrated in such a major way. Even my kids woke me up with cake.” Reflecting on the journey, Eklund continued, “In the last two years a lot has changed, important stuff and given me the most positive, bright outlook ahead. Fatherhood, work, travel, friends, and being present, it’s all come together. I’m still a work in progress but today…
BIG PHARMA MISTAKE – Oct. 19, 2022 – “It’s a good wake-up call for us to continue checking what other potential drug combinations happen in overdoses” and to monitor more closely, said Dr. Silvia Martins, professor of epidemiology and director of the Substance Use Epidemiology Unit at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, who is unaffiliated with the study. Naloxone can typically reverse the effects of an opioid overdose, including opioid-induced respiratory depression, but it has no effect on antihistamines. “Because antihistamines do not respond to naloxone, co-involved opioid and antihistamine overdoses might require naloxone administration plus other immediate…
VIDEO – A STAR FOR STELLA, STELLA, STELLA – Oct. 19, 2022 – She said she was a binge drinker, drinking two to three times a week and many times she would not stop drinking until she passed out. “I was at my lowest point. I couldn’t go any lower. I lost custody of my daughter I was going through a divorce, I questioned my worthiness,” she said. Baez now fills her days with parenting, writing, speaking to recovery groups, and working out in a Cross Fit gym. She started volunteering at Omaha’s Bethlehem House, a home for pregnant,…