Author: Leonard Buschel

Make Democracy Great Again – Vote on Election Day – Tuesday, November 3, 2020. More@YouTube

LISTEN – WHY? – Oct. 26, 2020 – For more than a decade, the American Psychological Association has issued a report based on extensive surveys called “Stress in America.” This year’s report begins on a somber note: “Our 2020 survey is different.” It goes on to say that “we are facing a national mental health crisis that could yield serious health and social consequences for years to come.” Dr. Vaile Wright is senior director of healthcare innovation at the American Psychological Association and one of the report’s authors. She joins host Peter O’Dowd to discuss mental health in America. If…

Three Deathsketeers – Oct. 5, 2020 – Former Jackson Madison County School System board candidate Dr. Tameka Noel was among 49 people arrested Thursday for allegedly participating in an $18 million “pill mill” scheme. A criminal complaint alleges Noel, 36, and Dr. Caesar Mark Capistrano, 61, wrote prescriptions knowing the drugs prescribed would be used for illicit purposes. The two wrote prescriptions for several controlled substances like hydrocodone, oxycodone and codeine. Noel was allegedly assisted by clinic manager Shirley Ann Williams, 48, who used a network of recruiters to enlist patients from the community and local homeless shelters. Those recruiters…

MEDIA: Book Suggestion – Oct. 30, 2020 – “My book was up against hundreds of books from authors throughout the world and I’m truly honored to have won this award,” Waltman said. “I wrote this book as my way to recover out loud and spread a message of hope to others that are struggling with substance abuse and mental illness.” In “Quitting to Win,” she shares her proven plan of how to find and keep emotional sobriety for those suffering from anxiety, depression and addiction. Waltman aims to get it into substance abuse and addiction recovery centers throughout the…

CVS says: “NO WAY”? – Oct.26, 2020 – Antidepressants, once hailed as the definitive treatment of depression, have suffered significant blows to their reputation. Recently, a change in the UK’s NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines, followed by the acknowledgment of their long-lasting harms by the former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, has brought their risks into sharp focus. New reviews have noted that the withdrawal effects of antidepressants can last longer than a year. A recent study found that when ineffective antidepressants are augmented by antipsychotics, early death rates increase by 45%. Other…

And it isn’t other drugs – Oct. 27, 2020 – A number of clinical trials have found it highly effective in getting people addicted to stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine to stay in treatment and to stop using the drugs. But outside the research arena and the Department of Veterans Affairs, where Mr. Kelty is a patient, it is nearly impossible to find programs that offer such treatment — even as overdose deaths involving meth, in particular, have soared. There were more than 16,500 such deaths last year, according to preliminary data, more than twice as many as in 2016.…

33 years more than the Sackler family – Oct. 22, 2020 – Investigators say Hofstetter initially worked at a pill mill in Hollywood owned by three of her co-defendants. As law enforcement shut down hundreds of pill mills in South Florida, Hofstetter and her co-defendants moved their operations to Tennessee, where a large percentage of the clinics’ opioid-addicted customers lived. The conspiracy involved four separate clinics in Tennessee, evidence showed. “Hofstetter’s role in Tennessee was to run the pill mills and ensure that patient volume remained high, thus guaranteeing enormous profits for Hofstetter and her co-defendants,” the Justice Department…

Childhood CANCELLED –  Oct. 29, 2020 – Social media apps, movies, games all add up to increasing your child’s time on the screen. At times, you as well might be spending equal, or even more, time on the screen, so your child’s screen usage might not bother you much. However, it does not take time for excessive screen usage to turn into an addiction. Kids are especially vulnerable towards it and can easily fall prey to this addiction. While it may seem trivial, there are some serious consequences that it can cause to your child, physically and mentally. These signs…

Mourning never ends – Oct. 27, 2020 – While the rapper, born Jarad Higgins, was a Billboard chart topper and a global superstar, Wallace recalled that he was always just her son to her. “Juice WRLD was an icon, but Jarad was my son. I didn’t treat him like a celebrity,” she recalled. “In fact, the first time I saw him perform, it was in Chicago, I forget where, but I saw the crowd and I saw the girls and ‘Take a selfie with me.’ He was poked up and he was still living with me at the time.…

“Change takes courage.”—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Do you know the way to San Jose jail? – Oct. 26, 2020 – Police urge anyone with information about the alleged assaults to call detectives Gina Barajas or Melissa Montez at 408.277.4102. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 408.947.7867 or submit a tip online. Tipsters who lead to arrests or convictions may qualify for a cash reward. Sober living homes offer residents a drug-and-alcohol-free environment. Unlike rehabilitation centers, however, they are unlicensed by the California Department of Health and Human Services. The only oversight, typically, are local land-use laws and business…

Wrestling with demons – Oct. 20, 2020 – Paige also mentioned that her brother is celebrating 6-weeks of sobriety. She noted that he seems to have aged backward in the last 2 months. “He is 6 weeks in of being sober and I’m SO proud!!! He aged backwards in just under 2 months. Please throw some support in the comments, he deserves it ? Can’t wait for him to come visit me and ronnie for his 40th in February.” Paige and former WWE Champion Alberto Del Rio became engaged in 2016. The couple announced they had split in late-2017.…

Avoid narcotics – Oct. 19, 2020 – No Time to Self-Medicate Most individuals who were actively abusing drugs or alcohol will have turned to these potentially harmful substances as a means of self-medication, regardless of the circumstances, whatever they might be. As we know, this kind of self-medication will only make the actual symptoms and their underlying condition worse. It seems appropriate that COVID-19 gets a mention here (as it’s pretty much mentioned in every other “health” article on the planet). Active drug addicts and alcoholics are highly unlikely to be concerned about a global pandemic when their daily priority…

The Fix Is In – Oct 22, 2020 – If the goal is to reduce harm while ensuring public safety, we need to shift our perspectives to reflect the fact that drug use is not going away anytime soon. We should reform our policies so that they are based on research and designed for maximum effectiveness, not retribution. As a case study, Portugal stands out as a nation that has perhaps come closest to solving the problem. With the lowest drug-related death rate in Europe, Portugal has seen a death toll of less than 100 people each year for the…

Recovery is Real – Oct. 23, 2020 – Hunter, who was a repeat felon who stole from strangers to fund his habit, was also made homeless by his dependency on drugs and ended up living in the back of a car. But Hunter’s old gaunt appearance has now been replaced by a healthy, happy glow as he looks unrecognizable to photos of himself from the day he was admitted to rehab for the final time in February 2018 … an occasion he’s marked by proposing to his English lockdown lover, Kyra Dawson, 27, who found out only this week…

Swinging – Oct. 21, 2020 – I remember looking in the mirror in the morning, at 7 o’clock in the morning, and saying. ‘What are you doing, man? You’re killing yourself.’ And still could not stop, because for me to get through the day, I had to have drinks.” Bagwell credited his sobriety to his wife Rachel and his kids, who had numerous interventions to get him to stop drinking. “Obviously, we never overcome this disease,” Bagwell said. “People say, ‘Oh, you’re a recovered alcoholic.’ No, I’m in recovery. It’s always there. It’s always waiting. And for me, I was…

WATCH – Atlanta Braves – Oct. 21, 2020 – The 230-page book and audio documentary feature Shaw’s curated interviews with dozens of history makers, including pioneering Atlanta artists, producers, music executives, and experts who witnessed first-hand the origins and rise of Trap music. The book also explores social issues such as gentrification, drug addiction, and mass incarceration in communities that inspired Trap music. Rapper Kilo Ali recalls penning “Cocaine (American Has A Problem)” at the age of 16 in 1990 while serving time in the Fulton County Juvenile Detention Center. DJ Toomp recounts touring as the deejay for the…

CHECK PLEASE! – Oct. 20, 2020 – The hashtag was born during the first presidential debate, when the incumbent spewed a poisonous—and untrue—tirade about Hunter Biden, a recovering addict. His father, former Vice President and current presidential candidate, Joe Biden, was not rattled. Instead, he rallied to support his son, and all of us recovering from addiction, by first affirming Hunter’s recovery and then stating, “I’m proud of my son.” In the wake of that, there’s been an avalanche of support for people recovering from addiction, much of it in the form of people sharing their own #WeDoRecover stories. Into…

Everyone needs a second chance – Oct. 20, 2020 – ‘I’m struggling and I just hope I can raise the funds to end this ordeal. My love goes out to all of you and I’m sorry to have to ask for help.’ Donations have since flooded in, with the page raising £4,734 in 22 hours. In a short video message he said: ‘Thankyou so much everyone who sent something in so far. I really appreciate it. I am actually overwhelmed by the support I have received and hopefully I will get there some day.’ Mr Walker reduced viewers to…

WATCH – “Right Before Your Eyes” – Oct. 18, 2020 – A local filmmaker’s movie is now available on Amazon Prime. Lebanon County resident David Vincent Bobb directed, wrote, and produced the movie, “Right Before Your Eyes.” It’s inspired by his life story, overcoming addiction, and making amends with his son who has autism. He filmed a lot of the movie in the Midstate, including the Bethesda Mission in Harrisburg, where his recovery began. “The movie is here to inspire. That’s the biggest thing, to give hope and to inspire, especially for the guys here at the mission, and…

Please Live Longer – Oct. 23, 2020 – “The fall/winter surge will intensify in November and December, reaching a peak in January. Many states will face enormous pressure on hospital capacity and will likely have to re-impose some social distancing mandates. The best strategy to delay re-imposition of mandates and the associated economic hardship is to expand mask use.” … Yet under the assumption that states shut down when their daily death rate exceeds 8 deaths per 1 million people in the population but mask-wearing doesn’t change, the study’s model projections forecast the death toll could reach 511,373 deaths by…

Crazy For You – Oct 22, 2020 – According to Dr. Wilfred Van Gorp, a psychologist and the former president of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology, this conversation should happen “at the point you trust the person sufficiently that you wish to take the relationship to a deeper level.” Similarly, Dr. Leela R. Magavi, M.D., an adult, adolescent, and child psychiatrist and regional medical director at Community Psychiatry, says that prior to disclosing personal information—like any mental illness—you should make sure that the person you’re dating respects and values you. Sometimes this can take a month, other times it…

One bad apple? – Oct. 23, 2020 – Shelton pitches himself as a reverend and a therapist. On LinkedIn, he claims several state medical credentials. His name doesn’t show up on a search for any licenses in the state Division of Professional Registration database. He and his business partner, Stacey Smith, run a series of mostly rundown homes in the city and the county that they call “The Community Counseling and Housing Services.” They take in people with drug addictions, alcoholics, people with mental illness and even adults on the autism spectrum, collect their disability checks, charge $500 or…

Ladies who don’t lunch – Oct. 23, 2020 – When a person is addicted to a substance — whether it is a drug or alcohol — and they get clean, there is a 40-60% chance that they will relapse at least once before they can maintain sobriety. With the emotional rollercoaster we’ve come to know as COVID-19, the anxiety, fear, loneliness, and boredom coupled with isolation, and being at home stuck with family, it’s sort of the perfect storm to relapse. What if there was a virtual network that you could plug into, every single day if you needed…

MEDIA: Book Choice/FREE CD Included – Available now: Recorded conversations to tell the personal stories of AA cofounders Dr. Bob and Bill W. The book and CD reveal the cofounders’ unique contributions to the creation and development of AA, the Big Book, and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. The book explores their lives, starting with their early drinking days, while the audio recordings begin with their first speeches in the 1940s and continue through Bill W.’s last talk given at the Miami International Convention in 1970, just months before he died. AA historian and archivist Michael Fitzpatrick used his…

LISTEN – William Moyers and Susan Ford – OCT. 12, 2020 – 0:00:24 William Moyers[to Susan Ford]Here we are, it’s a beautiful day. We’re outside on the campus. What does it feel like for you knowing the history that you have here? 0:00:32 Susan FordWell I mean there’s years here, I mean I’ve spent a lot of time here. You’ve got the beautiful mountains and a blue sky and the sun— 0:00:39 William MoyersMmm. [nods] 0:00:38 Susan Ford—How can you not get well here? And then you have the geese who we share the campus with, who are here for…

Obituary – Oct. 24, 2020 – But it’s “Mr. Bojangles” that gave Walker his greatest success and paved the way for him to record ¡Viva Terlingua!. Written and recorded by Walker for his 1968 album Mr. Bojangles, the song became a Top 10 hit for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band in 1970, with artists as varied as Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Nina Simone, Neil Diamond, and Sammy Davis Jr. all recording versions. In keeping with his outsider approach to the music business, Walker launched his own record label, Tried & True Music, in the Eighties with his wife Susan,…

GIRLS gone mild – Oct. 23, 2020 – The pandemic has brought a whole new layer of anxiety, and also a whole new mode of needing to sit with myself. It’s like hitting a new level in a video game and having to battle different goblins, but it’s proved possible, and on some days even lovely. Being a writer, I am pretty accustomed to long stretches of time with just my dog and my thoughts and the clacking of computer keys, and I feel very blessed doing that with only the buzz of coffee. What’s the best thing that’s happened…

Scumbag Millionaires – Oct. 23, 2020 – Walmart has been tightening its policies on filling opioid prescriptions, according to its “opioid stewardship initiative” – not just questioning particular scripts, but refusing to fill any prescription for controlled substances from doctors about whom the company had doubts. In part to appease federal regulators, Walmart applied various restrictions on controlled substances. But soon state authorities accused the company of violating state regulations – even of committing crimes – by blocking prescriptions or even just filling smaller quantities of drugs than doctors had specified. The company also received pushback from medical groups…

All taxes go for free rehabs? – Oct. 19, 2020 – Transform’s campaign for legalising the three drugs is backed by the former president of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos. He has publicly stated that only through legalisation can the resources of mafia organisations be taken away. “I am totally in favour of legalising cocaine,” Santos said. The book proposes that a specialist regulatory agency, overseen by the government, could license production of the drugs. Only a single adult use dosage of the drugs would be available in unbranded pharma-style plain packaging with highly visible health warnings and risk information. The…