META VERDICT – March 25, 2026 – Meta misled users about the safety of its social apps when it comes to children being targeted by online predators. A day later, a jury in L.A. ruled against Meta and Google’s YouTube in a personal injury trial determining that their negligence was a “substantial factor” in causing mental health-related harms to a plaintiffs. A Los Angeles jury delivered a rare verdict against Silicon Valley giants Wednesday — the second finding in two days — boosting hopes of safety advocates that courts will deliver a long-sought reckoning over social media’s harms to children. The jury found Meta, the…
Author: Leonard Buschel
BETTER GET MORE BEDS – Mar. 24, 2026 – At age six, Sarah Hill was handed her first iPad by her parents, which she used to play games like Angry Birds and Minecraft whenever she was bored. By age 21, the Alabama native had fallen so deep into virtual reality experiences and playing video games that she’d stopped seeing friends, showering, and brushing her teeth. At college, she spent so much time holed up in her room compulsively accessing a chatbot site, Character AI, on her phone that she failed classes. “I remember the night I told my parents I’d…
KEEP COMING BACK – Mar. 27, 2026 – Woods seems to be focused on his playing career and his injury rehab, but addiction is unrelenting. It’s time for Woods to address his biggest challenge. Every single person in Woods’s life should approach every single interaction with him with the understanding that he is an addict. It is the best thing they can do for him. It’s what he needs. It’s what his children deserve. It’s what everybody else who shares a road with him deserves, too. In 2009, after Woods’s then-wife Elin Nordegren discovered evidence of infidelity, he fled and…
“Remember that just because you hit bottom doesn’t mean you have to stay there.” – Robert Downey, Jr.
A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS – Mar. 18, 2026 – In her Variety cover story, Miley Cyrus said she contacted Chappell Roan after Roan spoke about the toll of rapid stardom and predatory fan behavior. Cyrus expressed a desire to show artists ways to live a balanced life alongside their careers. This gesture highlights her awareness of the personal challenges that can come with sudden success. Cyrus said she quit drinking in 2020 and stopped smoking marijuana in 2017. She credited therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) with helping her manage stress, work through anxiety, and overcome…
NO MORE WALLS – Mar. 18, 2026 – It started in 1998, with a pain in Ken Rideout’s ankle. A podiatrist gave him a prescription for seven Percocet, a drug containing the opioid oxycodone. Rideout was a high-flying commodity trader in New York, outwardly successful but racked with impostor syndrome. The Percocet dulled his foot pain – and also his anxiety. Rideout was used to alcohol and cocaine, but this was different. He felt happy, confident and optimistic. He returned to the podiatrist for more pills. Then more. Soon he was altering the prescriptions manually, changing a seven into a…
JOHN TUCKER IS SOBER – March 17, 2026 – Almost two decades after entering rehab, the John Tucker Must Die star shared insight into the struggle with drugs and alcohol that led to him seeking treatment in 2007. “I’ve had my struggles with drugs and alcohol,” Jesse, 47, said on the March 17 episode of a podcast. “Definitely a lot of pressure, a lot of scrutiny just kind of wanted to escape all of that. At a certain point it becomes not about the emotional underpinning of addiction,” he continued. “It’s just addiction. You know? Like if alcohol is…
WHILE MY SITAR GENTLY WEEPS – Mar. 19, 2026 – Musician Rishab Rikhiram Sharma is making headlines for his commitment to sobriety. Speaking on a podcast, the 27-year-old renowned sitar player revealed that he has not consumed alcohol for three years, choosing instead a lifestyle rooted in discipline, spirituality, and wellness. “I haven’t had alcohol in three years. I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle,” he shared on Prakhar Sharma’s podcast. Rishab even recalled refusing to perform at an event where alcohol was being served, saying, “I am performing Shiv Kalash, can’t have people around with a glass of whisky.” While…
BOOK RECOMENDATION – Mar. 12, 2026 – READ A SAMPLE – Reviews: ‘The most honest account of addiction I have read. This is an invaluable book’. – Tony Adams. ‘I’ve known the Secret Drug Addict for many years and there is no one better to write about addiction. A must read’. – Neville Southall. Growing up in a fractious and dysfunctional family, life wasn’t easy for the Secret Drug Addict. By the time he was 29, his chronic and intensive drug abuse threatened end not only his career, but also his life. After finally entering rehabilitation and various therapy programmes,…
STAYING IN LOVE – Mar. 20, 2026 – Upon the rarest of occasions (okay maybe weekly), my wife gets a little tweaked at me. I don’t know what I did, my head is buried in a book or the computer, I’m an innocent by-sitter. But I listen to her complaint du jour and give her a chance to share (read: vent) her feelings. Why do I (and the rest of us in happy marriages) put up with it? 1. Emotional support. She is my cheerleader as well as my shoulder to cry on when I don’t win the big game.…
HIGH TIMEs – Mar. 17, 2026 – The funding represents a big step forward in the state’s efforts to integrate psychedelic-assisted therapies into its broader behavioral health infrastructure. And the formal allocation of state funds to pay for psychedelic treatments for patients on low incomes is seen as a world first. State Senator Jeff Steinborn (D) was one of the legislative champions of the 2025 legalization of psilocybin for medical purposes. He emphasized that the state’s financial support is what will ultimately dictate the efficacy and fairness of the entire enterprise. “I’m excited that New Mexico has taken the next…
ONE FOR THE ROAD … To NOWHERE – Mar. 2026 – Think that nightcap is helping you relax? Think again. While alcohol might make you drowsy, it actually disrupts your sleep cycles, leaving you groggy, irritable, and exhausted the next day, according to the National Council on Aging. As you age, deep sleep becomes harder to come by, and alcohol only makes it worse. Poor sleep affects everything—your memory, mood, and even your immune system. If you wake up feeling drained no matter how long you sleep, that evening drink might be the real culprit. Read More
AUDIO – ON THE OTHER HAND – Mar. 19, 2026 – Minnesota lawmakers are advancing a bill that would allow the consumption and display of alcoholic beverages in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. The bill, SF4256, authored by Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Champlin, would create an exemption to existing law to allow “basically happy hour for grandpa and grandma,” he said. Hoffman said that while he appreciates the state’s liquor laws and regulations, “sometimes government goes a little bit too far.” Read More
STIGMA or SAFETY? – Mar. 16, 2026 – WPB Investors, LLC, filed an application with the Wayne Zoning Board to convert a property it owns into an inpatient drug rehabilitation facility. WPB Investors called the board’s rejection “arbitrary, capricious, unreasonable,” and “improper.” As hearings on the application commenced in fall 2025, WPB Investors supplied the Board with testimony from experts, including civil engineers, planners, and operators, which provided evidence as to how the site would operate efficiently, the suit says. Part of WPB’s application was a conditional use variance, which would allow the zone to be used for inpatient care…
VIDEO – TRUE GRIT – Mar. 18, 2026 – Paula Jolly founded Amanda’s House to honor her daughter and is helping other women find help with their addiction. For Jolly, healing did not come in silence; it came in action. After losing her daughter to addiction in 2020, Jolly set out to help others. “During this time that she was going through her struggles, we saw that there weren’t enough sober living [options] in Green Bay for women, and none for women with their kids,” Jolly said. What Jolly saw during her own daughter’s fight, she saw in other places.…
WTF – Mar. 19, 2026 – Those remains had been stolen from the on-site morgue at Harvard Medical School … Retention of evidence is standard practice by investigative and prosecuting agencies while cases remain in an adversarial posture – both pre-trial and on appeal, she said. Pauley described as a “critical middleman” in a national scheme to funnel stolen body parts to “oddity collectors,” wants back seized items he says are unrelated to the criminal case. Pauley, 43, of Honesdale, is serving a six-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to charges of interstate transportation of stolen goods and a corresponding…
VIDEO – STAYING IN LOVE – 361,121 views Since Sep 2, 2014 – I always wished there was more video of Elaine’s amazing recording, so I synched it up with D.A. Pennebaker’s film of one of her earlier takes. Enjoy! WATCH
STICK WITH THE WINNERS! – March 24, 2026 – Clyde Kusatsu is an American actor who has appeared in over 300 films and television productions since his debut in 1973 and has had three series. He is the Secretary of the SAG-AFTRA FOUNDATION after previously serving as the first elected President of the SAG-AFTRA LA Local, and was four times elected the National VP LA from 2013-2021 until succeeded by Michelle Hurd. He currently appears in A MAN ON THE INSIDE on Netflix. Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety…
AMERICAN HERO – Mar. 2026 – VISION, VOICE, VICTORY: The Joycelyn Elders Story is a documentary film that tells the extraordinary story of the life and work of Dr. Joycelyn Elders, who became the first African American woman Surgeon General of the United States. The film follows Dr. Elders’ incredible journey, as TIME Magazine’s “1994 Woman of the Year” and “One of the 100 Most Influential Women of the 20th Century.” Now is a crucial moment for audiences to connect with Dr. Elders’ story. Our country has become more divisive and too many Americans mistakenly believe that segregation and bigotry…
AIN’T MEDICINE – Mar. 16, 2026 – Researchers concluded there was “very little evidence for its efficacy” in treating anxiety, anorexia nervosa, psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder or opioid use disorder. “There were no significant effects on outcomes associated with anxiety, anorexia nervosa, psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid use disorders.”There was too little evidence as to whether cannabinoids helped to tackle attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and tobacco use disorder, and none at all for whether it was an effective treatment for depression. “Given the scarcity of evidence, the routine use of cannabinoids for…
THAT LITTLE PAPER UMBRELLA WORKS – Mar. 19, 2026 – The Fox Weather meteorologist tells PEOPLE quitting alcohol reshaped his consistency, marriage and the way he connects with millions of followers. After a night out that forced him to confront his relationship with alcohol, Kosir says the real challenge began the next morning. “The very next day I woke up, like I had so many times before, the room was spinning and I was trying to recount what happened the day before.” In the hours that followed, he found himself scrolling through texts and piecing together conversations with friends and…
AUDIO – HELP, I NEED SOMEBODY – Mar. 18, 2026 – “We were in some major city in New Zealand, and I’d been out in the morning, got p**ed and got beaten up in the town centre and came back by police. “I was at the airport, so I had cuts and bruises all over me. I was drinking in the bar, and Jack came and sat next to me. “He basically said, ‘I see what you’re doing, and I know you’ve got a problem, Matt.’” Even when Matt insisted “everything’s okay,” Jack offered him a spot in a Los…
WHILE IN A HOSPITAL? – Mar. 20, 2026 – “I went through seven years of my life, wasted on opioids — still trying to figure out what was wrong with me, but I didn’t know,” he said. “It was just needing to numb… It was the only thing that made me feel normal.” No one knew about his addiction — not even his wife. He knew he needed help … but was afraid to get off the drugs because of the withdrawal symptoms. Still, he sat his wife down and told her the truth, and from there he was able…
VIDEO – ON THE CORNER STORE – Mar. 14, 2026 – A Utah woman says her brother was killed using a product readily available in Utah gas stations and convenience stores. Since his death, the Utah Legislature had passed a law to restrict the supplement called kratom. Kratom-based products are marketed as energy supplements and often labeled as a safer, more natural alternative to pain management medications. Soon, the products will be removed from Utah shelves. Autumn Knight spoke to KSL about the death of her brother, Aaron Smiley. “Aaron was just an amazing soul,” Knight said. “He gave. He…
VIDEO – NEVER ENDS – Mar. 18, 2026 – RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – The City of Reno has been allocating funds through the One Nevada Opioid Recoveries Special Revenue Fund to help fund addiction recovery programs in Reno. This doesn’t just mean addiction or recovery programs though, it also includes programs like mental health services, or even domestic violence resources. City of Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve says that sometimes, domestic violence, mental health struggles and other situations go hand in hand with addiction. “The Domestic Violence Resource Center, you know, they are the front door to women experiencing domestic violence.…
JUST MORE FUN – Mar. 18, 2026 – Psychedelic-assisted therapy may be no more effective than traditional antidepressants when patients know what drugs they are actually taking, according to a first-of-its kind analysis that compared how well each type of drug worked for major depression. Psychedelic-assisted therapy has resisted placebo-controlled testing methods — the gold standard in clinical trial design. Due to their powerful subjective effects, nearly everyone in the trial knows whether they received a psychedelic or the placebo even if they are not told. But in trials of antidepressants, participants may not figure out whether they have received…
INSTANT COFFEE, NOT GRATIFICATION – Mar. 18, 2026 – “Essentially, we want it right now. This has turned the pursuit into a dopamine addiction; a hunt for instant gratification that provides a bit of short-term pleasure but doesn’t actually satisfy or fulfil us. That isn’t true happiness. Ironically, the more obsessively we chase it, the unhappier we become.” Can the constant search for happiness actually bring us the opposite? “Absolutely. It is counterproductive because we aren’t going to find happiness outside of ourselves. Instead, it’s the result of deep personal work – looking after our bodies, our minds, our spirits…
CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS? – Mar. 12, 2026 – A staggering number of Americans are skipping meals to pay healthcare costs as prices rise under Trump, From June to August 2025, 28 million people skipped a meal to pay for healthcare in the last 12 months. Americans with health insurance, 9% said they had skipped a meal. Among Americans without insurance, that number jumped to 27%. Hungry for More
They Can All Spell STOLICHNAYA – Mar. 19, 2026 – There’s one goal for the night: get blackout drunk and maybe get lucky enough to experience a dance floor make. “As all freshmen at Penn do, we’re going fratting and we’re gonna go wander around until we find a party, and we’re gonna take shots of bottom–shelf vodka,” Ally says as they describe their New Student Orientation experience. As the first day of class begins, many freshmen march to their 10:15s regretting the seven shots of Crown Russe they took last night. Out of the 100 people sitting in the…
“The glory of art is that it cannot only survive change, it can lead it.” – Robert Redford, b. Aug. 18, 1936 – d. Sept. 16, 2025