Not Guilty – May 15, 2020 – Recovery Court, a 12 month program, provides an alternative to incarceration for eligible non-violent offenders, both adults and juveniles, who are deemed substance dependent. In order to keep tabs on the participants while courts have been closed during COVID-19 , Judge Cook and other members of the team started having Recovery Court outdoors last month. “This is our 4th Recovery Court drive through for adults and juveniles and it has worked out fabulously. We started the drive through so we could stay in touch with our recovery court participants. Its important for them…
Author: Leonard Buschel
Addictive TV – May 15, 2020 – A murder that reverberates through the idyllic vacation spot. James Badge Dale (“Rescue Me”) co-stars as local cop Det. Ray Abruzzo, who has ties to the victim, fentanyl addict Sherryl (Masha King). “I was attracted to Jackie because of the journey that she takes from being a mess in the beginning and struggling through her recovery, trying to stay sober in the midst of this tornado that she finds herself in,” says Raymund, who’s also appeared in “The Good Wife.” “She comes across this body on the beach and she just becomes completely determined…
No Willpower For you! – MAY 13, 2020 – In episode five, we are debunking the myth “Addiction can be cured if you have enough willpower.” Our host, Tim Light, welcomes guests Michelle Chapoose, the Tribal and Rural Opioid Initiative Tribal Liaison Coordinator from the Tribal Opioid Resource Center in Roosevelt, Utah, Dr. Patrick Green, from Bonneville Family Practice in Tooele, Utah, and Adam Baxter from the Tooele County Chapter of Young People in Recovery, to discuss the science of addiction, barriers and opportunities along the journey of recovery. @UPR
The Truth Shall Set You Free – May 12, 2020 – The impact of the coronavirus is being felt in nearly every aspect of daily life, but it’s not the only health crisis people are facing. “Addiction can kill you as well,” said Aaron Weiner, director of addiction services at Naperville-based Linden Oaks Behavioral Health. “And addiction can grow if it’s not treated.” Weiner says Linden Oaks is “providing a necessary service” during the pandemic, and while there is concern over COVID-19, “it’s not like all the other problems cease to exist.” Addiction services at the facility are now being…
Not In Vein – May 15, 2020 – After years of dealing with her son’s devastating secret, Marlyse says she’s now determined to bring awareness to the opioid epidemic. “His death is not going to be in vain,” she says of her blue-eyed son, who would have turned 17 on April 9. “He’s going to help a lot of people down the road.” “He really, really enjoyed the acting,” his mom says. “I know there’s a stigma of child stars, but he was not a star. He was up and coming.” But eventually so much auditioning became “way too stressful,”…
Stick with the Winners! Cara Sandweiss, an internationally certified Drug and Alcohol Counselor (CADC-II), is the Clinical Program Manager for CRI-Help, Inc., the legendary drug and alcohol treatment center located in North Hollywood, California. Cara spearheaded the creation of CRI-Help’s dynamic team of group facilitators, integrating approaches to treatment, including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention, and 12-Step Facilitation. A Los Angeles native, Cara first came to CRI-Help as a client, beginning her recovery from heroin addiction at CRI-Help in 2014. She celebrated six years clean on April 11, 2020. Q. If you are in recovery, what was your DOC…
A few Quarantinis, an eight-ball and 6 Balloons please… – May 13, 2020 – Other than alcohol, opioids and marijuana, the survey showed drugs being used by the coronavirus-weary public include benzodiazepines such as anti-anxiety medication Xanax, Adderall and other prescription stimulants, and cocaine. Not suprisingly, the increase in alcohol consumption was 67 percent in states hardest hit by the coronavirus, including New York and New Jersey. Results from The Recovery Village survey showed that nearly 30 percent of respondents from these affected areas said their drinking had increased “significantly” over the past month. @FoxNews
New Meaning to Room Service – May 8, 2020 – Dr. Grant Colfax, San Francisco’s public health director, said the harm-reduction approach is widespread and based on decades of sound public health policy. “Our focus needs to be on supporting them,” he said of the people who are isolating or under quarantine. For people experiencing alcohol withdrawal, the Department of Public Health calculates the minimum amount needed and delivers them with meals. The department also facilitates delivery of medication for people trying to kick heroin. The department does not help procure recreational marijuana. @MercuryNews
Way Off Label – May 15, 2020 – Scientist Michel Bernier, Ph.D., explained: When we first went down this path, we did not know what to expect, but once we started to see data showing dramatic weight loss and leaner body mass in the mice, we turned to each other and couldn’t quite believe our eyes. The study found that the benefits likely resulted from the drug directly, not from behavioral changes caused by the medication. The mice were not made to exercise as part of the study nor did the scientist notice any increased activity from them during the…
Meet Your Inner Life – MAY 12, 2020 – With her basic expenses covered by unemployment insurance — and no happy hours or social obligations costing her money — Thai has been following her instincts every day; doing Zoom workout classes, going on long walks with her dog, attempting complex recipes, and taking up gardening. Other practices, like meditation and writing in a gratitude journal, have replaced a routine she previously characterized as “always go-go-go.” “They say it takes 21 days to create a habit, right? And we’re on day 40-something,” she says at the end of April. “I’ve created…
A Perfect Spiral – May 7, 2020 – “We all need help,” Namath told FOX Business’ Stuart Varney. “You’re not in this alone. What you’re going through, please share it with someone. Get some help.” Namath struggled with alcoholism throughout his career, which is highlighted in his autobiography “All the Way: My Life in Four Quarters.” In an excerpt from the book, Namath reveals, “I’d probably be dead by now if I hadn’t stopped drinking.” … “You think you’re tied into something, you’re addicted to something,” he said. “Think bigger. Think more outside of just you. People love you ……
From 0 to 5150 – May 15, 2020 – The chief executive of one mental health trust said: “We are definitely seeing ‘people not known to services’ who are acutely unwell. They are mainly young men aged 18-25 who require admission. Misuse of alcohol and drugs is a factor – people who normally smoke a bit of weed smoking more than usual in their rooms. People not working is also an issue. “One woman rang us recently and said her partner was walking around their house like a zombie because he wasn’t working and couldn’t provide for the family and…
Counselors at Risk – May 16, 2020 – To address the ballooning problem, therapists who specialize in treating trauma are offering free sessions to medical workers and emergency responders nationwide. New York City has joined with the Defense Department to train 1,000 counselors to address the combat-like stress. Rutgers Health/RWJ Barnabas Health, a New Jersey system, just adopted a “Check You, Check Two” initiative, urging staff to attend to their own needs and touch base with two colleagues daily. @NYTimes
Safer at Home – May 12, 2020 – …rendering the in-person visit and potential coronavirus exposure unnecessary. In New York City, some clinics have even delivered methadone supplies by courier — a 180-degree shift away from the federal government’s longstanding and heavy-handed regulation of methadone, an opioid that’s used to treat both addiction and pain. “We’re seeing changes in the last six weeks that, in some cases, we’ve been advocating for a really long time, and in others, that we didn’t even really think were possible,” said Samantha Arsenault, the vice president of national treatment quality initiatives for Shatterproof, an…
Double Winner May 14, 2020 – Danler’s is a reflective redemption story told from experience. She’ll join Anna Wiener, author of “The Uncanny Valley,” for a virtual discussion of the book via Green Apple Books’ Instagram Live at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 20. “Stray” book discussion: 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 20. Free. Hosted on Green Apple Books’ Instagram Live: www.instagram.com/greenapplebooks @Datebook
Heroine NOT Heroin – May 8, 2020 – It’s a difficult time to be an addict. Researchers tend to see spikes in substance use during emergencies like COVID-19. On top of the general stress of social distancing, the shuttering of support meetings and health-care centres increase the possibility of relapse. This situation is complicated by the disruption of the drug market due to border closings; as supply goes down, erratic usage and overdoses rise. People start taking substances they’re unfamiliar with. Vancouver, the centre of the opioid crisis in Canada, saw a spike in overdose-related deaths during the month of…
Body Language and Focus – May 4, 2020 – These Zoom intimacies are often endearing, and at times I welcome the strange, unexpected ways this period of enforced isolation brings about new kinds of closeness with others. I like knowing that this student drinks tea from a big ceramic mug, while that one seems to be good with houseplants. But I’m also aware that these glimpses into my students’ homes violate the implicit contract of the classroom, where students have some measure of control over what parts of their lives outside of school come into view. @NYTimes
“If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?” —Wm Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice
On a High Note – May 11, 2020 – Rob Lowe has marked his 30th anniversary of sobriety. The US star, 56, told people struggling with addiction that “there is hope”. Former West Wing actor Lowe wrote on Instagram: “30 years ago today, I found a sober life of true happiness and fulfillment. I am filled with gratitude on this anniversary. “From a treatment centre in Arizona to a bomb shelter in Israel, I have come to know many extraordinary people, and the fellowship of recovery has changed my life and given me gifts beyond my selfish imaginings. “If you,…
How It Works – May 10, 2020 – “Since we were on the forefront of telehealth, we have been able to keep our clients engaged in treatment,” she said. “In fact, we are conducting more telehealth sessions through the COVID-19 because they can have sessions from their home or by phone.” Eddy said she believes the relaxation of telehealth requirements by Medicaid has been “extremely beneficial” to the center’s clients, and she noted that the center has seen an increase in psychologists interested in working with the facility because it offers telehealth. “They want to protect themselves from the COVID…
OUTrageous OUTstanding – April 27, 2020 – Jordan’s distinct personality has filled a wide coronavirus need. His (usually) twice-daily videos put a hilarious relatable spin on just how awful being forced to shelter-in-place is for most people. “Well, s—. What are y’all doing?” he asks in one of his most popular videos with a Southern drawl that sounds like a mint julep poured on a veranda. “This is awful. It’s still March. How many days are in March?” @NBCNews
Women Who Rise – May 4, 2020 – Women Who Rise is a collection of 30 stories of women who have risen from situations that inspire the soul’s journey. In this special edition cover we dive deeper into the story of best selling co-author Jeanie Griffin. Ms. Griffin says her life resembled a Wack-A-Mole game. Just when she wrestled one area under control another situation popped up! She openly admits her self-reliance and self-sufficiency almost killed her. Don’t let that happen to you! Ms. Griffin’s program FRESH OUTTA PLANS: An Invitation to Freedom is for people who want a more…
No more debasement – May 7, 2020 – “Me and Judd released this video to kind of try and get it out there that the movie’s coming out,” Davidson said, referring to his upcoming collaboration with Apatow, The King of Staten Island. “So [in the video] I mentioned that I wasn’t doing drugs, that I was trying not to.” “And then, literally three hours later, a lady rang my doorbell with a full bag of weed and gave it to my mom and said, ‘I heard your son needs this,’” Davidson continued. “So if you see this, please do not…
Bad Choices? – May 3, 2020 – Growing up in rural Colorado, Michael was interested in cooking from an early age, often helping his father in the kitchen. He says it was a way to express himself outside the classroom, where he struggled due to his attention deficit disorder. He dropped out of high school and went to work in a kitchen. In 1999, Michael spent two years training to be a chef in London. It was during this period he became fully aware of a chef with a fearsome temper called Gordon Ramsay, who was building a name as…
Better Luck Next Time – May 1, 2020 – A Boonton man was sentenced to five years of drug court probation Friday for stealing $2,000 from a Wells Fargo bank in town. Under the sentence, Andrew Merceruio, 37, must pay back the money he swiped from the bank’s Wootton Street branch in November 2019 and also undergo mandatory drug addiction treatment. He faces a six-year state prison term if he violates the terms of probation, according to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. @DailyRecord
Healing Addiction with Grace – MAY 05, 2020 – Clare’s background comes from overcoming her own addiction, which, in her case, was an obsessive food disorder with Bulimia. Through her 40-year journey, Clare found that her addictive behavior was a symptom of suffering. Her actual struggle was with suffering humiliation and the trauma that resulted. Once she was able to identify these root-cause experiences, she was able to address her trauma and integrate it into a healthier lifestyle. Clare now works with clients one-on-one who are addicted to suffering and guides them to healing. Many books are designed to help…
Same as it ever was … (sans meetings) – May 6, 2020 – I quit drinking on July 14, 2019, without a plan. I just woke up that day with another brutal hangover, after another night of blotchy memories, and decided I couldn’t do it anymore. “Someone at the party told me some really good gossip about [a Big Name Actor], but when I woke up the next morning I couldn’t remember any of it.” That’s the line I use when sobriety comes up and I want to lighten the mood. I don’t talk about how small my life had…
Liquid Comfort – April 29, 2020 – “If you believe alcohol will make you feel relaxed, then as soon as you open that bottle of wine or put that drink to your lips, you’ll probably start to feel relaxed.” “If you’re consuming quite a few drinks to reduce stress and you do this all the time, what happens is that you start to alter your brain chemistry,” he says. “The brain’s normal non-alcohol state begins to change, and in some cases it may become a more anxious one.” This new anxiety baseline can fuel further drinking, and so there’s…
Seek and ye shall find – May 5, 2020 – He was taken aback by what he found. Every single mental disorder predisposed the patient to every other mental disorder — no matter how distinct the symptoms1. “We knew that comorbidity was important, but we didn’t expect to find associations for all pairs,” says Plana-Ripoll, who is based at Aarhus University in Denmark. The study tackles a fundamental question that has bothered researchers for more than a century. What are the roots of mental illness? In the hope of finding an answer, scientists have piled up an enormous amount of…
Float like a butterfly, sting like a virus – MAY 6, 2020 – Those meetings have been a staple in Leonard’s life, but as you can imagine, they have hit a bit of a roadblock recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has put gatherings of all sizes on pause for the indefinite future. As such, these meetings have had to move to Zoom. In an appearance on Vice’s Seat at the Table with Anand Giridharadas, Leonard spoke about the struggles he has had during quarantine, going as far as to say that he fears without being able to have…