VIDEO – COFFEE AND ADDICTS, WHAT A FIT – April 22, 2022 – “We felt like we could have a business that would really help people coming out of incarceration and recovering from addition,” Paula Holtz said. Fresh Start also hires employees from the general public to help operate the shop and currently has one employee that is in recovery. Holtz said it is common for those in recovery to miss several days of work for other obligations. “We want them to succeed, so we give lots of chances and lots of opportunities to redo,” she said. “One thing…
Author: Leonard Buschel
NO ONE GOES TO PRISON – April 20, 2022 – San Francisco sued Endo, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Allergan Plc, drug distributor Anda Inc, pharmacy Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc in 2018. The companies created a “public nuisance” by flooding the city with prescription opioids and failing to prevent the drugs from being diverted for illegal use, according to the lawsuit. The companies have denied the allegations, and a trial against the remaining defendants is scheduled to kick off on April 25 in California federal court. When it was filed, the lawsuit also targeted Purdue Pharma LP, Johnson &…
STOPS YOUR HEART IN SAN FRANCISCO – April 23, 2022 – This neighborhood and the adjoining South of Market (SoMa) district have become ground zero in an opioid overdose crisis that is killing thousands of California residents, including many experiencing homelessness. In the past two years, more than 1,300 people have died of overdoses in San Francisco, a rise driven by the emergence of fentanyl, a super-potent synthetic opioid that’s 50 times stronger than heroin. Nearly half of those deaths have occurred in these two hard-hit neighborhoods alone. lide Foundation, the parent organization of San Francisco’s Glide Memorial Church, has…
NOT FOR LONG – April 16, 2022 – “My drinking had become a bigger problem than I even realised, and how I have used it to help numb a range of deeper psychological issues that I’ve been living with since childhood. Some of these issues you know, and a lot cut much deeper. Alcohol is not medicine. I should never have treated it like it was. I feel like a complete f**k-up and I’m sorry,” began the note, which was transcribed from a phone call with Johns in rehab.“I take full responsibility for my actions on the evening of…
VIDEO (at your own risk) – PUTTING AWAY THE GANGA – April 22, 2022 – “I used to b happy when I was high,” Nicki wrote in part. “Now I’m happy when I’m sober. No judgment to anyone. Be gentle with yourself.” She continued, remarking on how her past lifestyle choices still linger in this new chapter of her life, partly due to genetic factors that are out of her control. “My eyes naturally look like that and ppl always think I’m high when I’m not wearing makeup,” Nicki said. “Plus my eyes are naturally gray & I was…
UP BUT NOT HIGH – April 20, 2022 – In an April 20 Instagram post, Sean shared a series of photos of him with his girlfriend, “Teen Mom” star Jade Cline, and their daughter, Kloie, alongside a lengthy caption. “Being away from my family for 4 months (120 days), was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But it also gave me my life back, it gave my daughter her father back, and it gave [Jade] her man back,” he wrote in the caption. “Recovery is a journey that you can NOT travel alone,” he continued. “Asking someone for…
BINARY STARS – April 18, 2022 – Kidman was the inspiration for his song “Thank You” from his 2009 album Defying Gravity. The song, which Urban wrote with Rick Nowels, includes the lyrics, “I thank you for my heart, I thank you for my life/ And I thank God for grace and mercy / And that you became my wife.” He noted that his family was one of the reasons he knew he had to make a change. “But I had to find a different way to be in the world,” he added. “I’m glad it didn’t change anything about…
FOR THE BETTER – April 19, 2022 – For three years, Liam and I hooked up in parks, parties, cars and alleys. For us, this was an act of defiance against anyone ― nuclear family members, acquaintances, strangers ― who told us to tone down our queerness. We had sex in three different bathrooms the day we got married in San Francisco City Hall, and I drank so much tequila, the bars turned to fluorescent red pulp. By day, Liam and I worked together and produced marketing content; by night, we took shots. On the weekends, we sat by a…
ITS RAINING CATS AND DOGS – April 18, 2022 – The resulting spike in pet health concerns has been straining a corner of the medical world that doesn’t get as much attention as doctors and nurses: veterinarians. The overwork and staffing shortages of the pandemic have affected veterinarians as much as other doctors and nurses, and dealing with the constant moral dilemmas and emotional output was driving many to burn out even before 2020. The mean salary for vets is about $110,000 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about half that of physicians catering to people.…
NO, GO TO ALANON – April 15, 2022 – DEAR HESITATING: I will assume that your son is aware of your concerns about his fiancée’s drinking. Do not boycott this wedding. If you do, you will create a wedge between you and your daughter-in-law that could last for decades. Plaster on a smile and attend so you can wish them all the best in person. Then cross your fingers that your wish comes true. more@BerkshireEagle
A FORCE FOR CHANGE – April 4, 2022 – In 2020, NAATP engaged a DEI Advisory Committee to discuss the impact of systemic racism and other forms of discrimination on addiction treatment and recovery. This Committee now consists of 26 behavioral health leaders, researchers, and clinicians from organizations across the country, many of whom have been addressing DEI in the field for decades. This Committee identified a need to invite addiction and recovery professionals into this work collaboratively, encouraging them to assess their readiness and capacity for driving change in addiction healthcare equity, inclusion, and belonging among their staff, clientele, and communities. In consultation…
VIDEO – WHAT HORRORS – April 19. 2022 – The suspect? The house manager, Kevin Rice, who police said killed Pulling and tried to steal his bank card. “I don’t think he belonged here, I really don’t,” Chelchasity said. Now Chelchasity and Rocco have filed a civil lawsuit against Rice and Real Life. “There is no one overseeing the behavior of the participants, and the house managers and the case managers, and there needs to be more oversight of all aspects of the program,” Noel Brooks, an attorney at Brooks and Baez who is representing the siblings, said. The suit…
NON-ALCOHOLIC PERFORMERS – April 21, 2022 – While we’ve all had one too many cocktails or whatever it may be at that Thursday evening happy hour, many, including some of our favorite celebrities, have chosen to abstain from the act of drinking alcohol all together. Although it can be hard to imagine a glamorous Hollywood party scene without sipping on glasses of champagne, these stars have proven you can still party and enjoy yourself, while embracing the sober life. more@Cosmopolitan
VIDEO – CHANGE IS FREE OF CHARGE – April 22, 2022 – Approximately a year after announcing his sobriety, Steve-O, whose real name is Stephen Gilchrist Glover, teamed up with Lacey Schwimmer to compete on the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars. However, just a week after competing, he could not continue his participation after falling on his mic pack during rehearsal, causing pinched nerve and back spams that held him back in the second week. He was eliminated after the sixth week, but it was definitely a year to remember! Prior to 2008, Steve was mostly intoxicated…
HOW DO WE COPE? – April 18, 2022 – Eliana Leve, director of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s New York services, agreed: “Addictive behaviors are often linked to emotional and social deficits. The isolation and uncertainty during the pandemic exacerbated those deficits by taking away opportunities to experience social connectedness and personal growth.” While not everyone is addiction-prone — “Based on individual predispositions and availability, some people tend to be more vulnerable to certain types of addictions than others,” said Seo — individuals who are have struggled especially the past two years. In addition to robbing them of social…
AUDIO – SOBERING CONVERSATION – April 20, 2022 – “I didn’t want not one more family member to be in the dark and living with the terror that they would lose their family member,” Porter said. Be Part of the Conversation provides forums for open dialogue and opportunities to reduce the stigma of drug addiction, mental health, and trauma. “We get as sick as our family members,” said Porter. “We have people who have given their children Narcan and brought them back and done it multiple times — that is traumatizing.” more@WHYY
“The stage can be defined as a place where Shakespeare murdered Hamlet and a great many Hamlets murdered Shakespeare.” —Robert Morse (May 18, 1931–April 21, 2022)
IS EL CHAPO A STOCKHOLDER? – April 8, 2022 – West Virginia previously reached a $26 million settlement with Endo International Plc, which had also been a defendant in the ongoing trial. The Mountain state is suffering worse than any other from America’s drug epidemic, which kills more than 100,000 people every 12 months, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Most recent CDC data, released earlier this month that includes a 12 month period from November 2020 to 2021, found that 1,519 West Virginia residents died of a drug overdose during that period. At 84.9…
VIDEO – SHARE ’TIL IT HURTS – April 13, 2022 – “These kids are struggling,” Ryan said. “Depression, thinking of suicide, we need more resources but we need to talk about it. People need HOPE. People need purpose and connection and it ain’t just someone to believe in them. I believe in you, you believe in me, we do this together.” Attendants said this event was an important to address since many Tri-State areas are lacking in resources. Letha Michelle Dennison, an attendant, shared her journey with her peers in a panel discussion. “I was what everybody considered to be…
VIDEO – PROGRESS IN THE SOUTH – April 14, 2022 – Virginia has been plagued by addiction since the late 1990s when Purdue Pharma introduced Oxycontin. Since then, the regulations surrounding the accessibility of Oxycontin have strengthened. However, thousands of Virginians were left addicted and in need of a fix. Meet three people who are fighting addiction in their own way. more@VPM
AUDIO – DANCE LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING – April 13, 2022 – Your friend says to you, “Let’s get drunk and have some fun.” Or maybe they say, “We got so drunk last night—wasn’t that fun?” Depending on the person making these statements and their specific background and relationship to alcohol, such sentiments may be totally benign. But even so, they reinforce the idea that drinking is a prerequisite to having fun as an adult. To put that misnomer to bed, the most recent episode of the The Well+Good Podcast focuses on why it’s totally possible to have…
IF YOU LOVE TV – April 13, 2022 – Cassie’s new side job as a CIA asset is a perfect lead-in to a twisty new mystery, but unlike last season, which had very clear stakes – Cassie woke up next to a dead body in a foreign country and had to solve her one-night-stand’s murder — this season’s mystery is unfortunately far more confusing. When following a mark in Berlin goes wrong, weird things start happening, primarily someone pretending to be Cassie — stealing her luggage, checking out of her room for her — and this person may very well…
THE HAPPIEST COUNTRY ON EARTH – April 12, 2022 – The U.S. task force recommended screening for anxiety regardless of whether a clinician has been looped into any signs or symptoms. “It’s critical to be able to intervene before a life is disrupted,” said Martha Kubik, a member of the task force who is also a professor in the School of Nursing at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. Childhood anxiety disorders have been linked to an increased risk for later depression, anxiety, behavior problems and substance abuse, according to a report from the Child Mind Institute, a nonprofit…
LEGALIZE THEM ALL? – April 14, 2022 – A bill moves through Colorado’s legislature to tighten penalties on the possession and distribution of fentanyl, experts note the complexities and hardships of addiction. Coreen Brade, the Colorado program assistant for the nonprofit Young People in Recovery, said that often, drug users self-medicate to deal with traumas within their lives. She said it can be a root cause of addiction. “We don’t self-medicate for enjoyment, so to speak. We self-medicate to escape,” she said. With drug use comes shame, she said, and that creates a cycle. It starts with using drugs, experiencing…
VIDEO – FROM PRISON TO PASSION – April 15, 2022 – “I am loved, I am healed, and free from all addiction,” could be heard in the New Birth Christian Ministries Church in Tennille. This graduation signifies that these incarcerated men completed a six-month program centered on recovery, rehabilitation, and reeducation for people addicted to drugs or alcohol. It included classes and counseling. Pastor Patrick Wilson is the program’s coordinator. “Rather than arresting these men who have this illness and not providing rehabilitation, recovery, or reeducation– they’re just going to serve their time in jail and they’re going to commit…
COME ON GET APPY – April 13, 2022 – These apps claim to help with issues as varied as addiction, sleeplessness, anxiety and schizophrenia, often by using tools like games, therapy chatbots or mood-tracking diaries. But most are unregulated. Although some are considered useful and safe, others may have shaky (or nonexistent) privacy policies and a lack of high-quality research demonstrating that the apps live up to their marketing claims. Stephen Schueller, the executive director of One Mind PsyberGuide, a nonprofit project that reviews mental health apps, said the lack of regulation has created a “Wild West,” that was…
ECT LITE? – April 13, 2022 – With nearly 8% of American adults (nearly 20 million people) living with depression, data suggests that medication and talk therapy are only effective in treating around two-thirds of depressive patients, underscoring a concerning gap of people left without relief. In clinical terms, this group of people who are unable to find sufficient benefit through medication is deemed “treatment-resistant”, leaving them feeling without answers or help. However, an alternative type of FDA-cleared treatment is on the rise. Transcranial magnetic stimulation, or “TMS”, is a non-invasive method of brain stimulation that relies on electromagnetic…
LEARNING MATTERS – April 14, 2022 – Dr. Tina Woods leads the Council’s Community and Behavioral Health Services team. She says the goal is to remove barriers for people seeking information or care. “Half the battle with behavioral health is being able to choose the right words to describe how you feel, to describe what you need,” she said. “Culture Heals Addiction is a platform that will allow people, with resources all in one place, to learn about something that they might be struggling with.” She says the Culture Heals tool addresses issues that underlie addiction, like generational or childhood…
ADDICTED TO CASH – April 15, 2022 – She would then subject the patients, many of whom were in their teens or early 20s and were still on their parents’ insurance plans, to random drug testing — sometimes as often as three times a week — for which she would submit insurance claims. The frequency of the testing, which could cost as much as $5,000 each time, was considered unnecessary and the results were often not even looked at by treatment professionals, prosecutors said. Sometimes the testing was never even conducted, according to court papers. In all, Beetle…
AUDIO – AA EVOLUTION – Dec. 23, 2021 – All guests reference the 10th tradition of AA (which states: Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy), a tool often used by AA members to prevent others from sharing about topics in meetings considered to be “outside issues”. Shayla and her guests, L*, S* and K* discuss which “outside issues’’ are most often silenced, and how the COVID-19 pandemic became an asset as virtual POC recovery meetings popped up all over the world. In these meetings, members are welcome…