MEDIA: Television – June 8, 2019 – For Levinson, who has been open about his own addiction, part of that safe environment included being sensitive to the portrayal of Rue’s (Zendaya) addiction in the series. But, he admitted he wouldn’t shy away from the harsh reality in favor of such sensitivity. “I think any time you put anything on screen, you run the risk of glamorizing it just by the nature of it being on screen,” Levinson said. “I don’t want [to be triggering], but we also have to be authentic about it … I think people can tell if…
Author: Leonard Buschel
He Walks in Golden Slippers – June 7, 2018 – Dr John’s real name was Malcolm John Rebennack, the same as his father. Rebennack Sr ran an appliance shop in the East End of New Orleans, fixing radios and televisions and selling records. “Mac” grew up listening to his father’s hoard of 78s by blues artists such as Big Bill Broonzy and Memphis Minnie, jazz by Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis and King Oliver, and country music from Hank Williams and Roy Rogers. His mother, Dorothy (nee Cronin), who had been a fashion model and made her own clothes and hats,…
‘Cause it kills too? – June 4, 2019 – Industry has been quick to object, with trade body the Food and Drink Federation arguing that branding is a “fundamental commercial freedom” and “critical to competition”. The same sort of arguments were put forward by the tobacco industry, but successive governments have still increasingly shown an appetite to get tough. Interestingly, the government has not ruled the idea of plain packaging for sugar products entirely. Instead, the Department of Health and Social Care is saying it is waiting to hear what England’s chief medical officer, Prof Dame Sally Davies, has to…
It’s Elusive – June 8, 2019 – “We need to go upstream a bit more.” According to World Health Organization, about one in eight people or 970 million individuals suffered from some sort of mental disorder in 2017, and the numbers seeking treatment are soaring. “There is no epidemic of mental illness sweeping the world, but there is much more talk about it and more people are being treated. “There are things we can do, but we don’t know enough about them and they fall outside the health system,” says Whiteford. “It’s not blood pressure, cholesterol and stopping smoking. The…
The New Heroes – April 2019 – Too often, teens are lazily thought of as apathetic and self-centred. But a new generation of young activists has proved that many teenagers are, in fact, deeply concerned with social, political and environmental issues – and they’re fully prepared to do something about them. Chief among them is 16-year-old environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who has urged British politicians to “listen to the scientists” regarding climate change, while speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Here are five inspirational people who’ve had a massive impact on the world in their teen years. Full Story…
One in a Billion? – June 6, 2019 – Montegut, who has served in his post since 1988, believes the case is the first recorded of its kind. While deaths involving marijuana have been recorded in the past, the coroner said he was unaware of any instances where THC was the sole drug that had contributed to a death. “It looked like it was all THC because her autopsy showed no physical disease or afflictions that were the cause of death. There was nothing else identified in the toxicology—no other drugs, no alcohol,” Montegut said. “There was nothing else.”…
“he checked himself in…” – June 1, 2019 – We thought they were going to care for him and they didn’t,” Teddy’s mother, Anne Russell, said through tears. “I think there’s good people trying to help other people, but my son wasn’t helped at all. He died in their hands and it’s just awful.” According to a state death investigative report provided to ABC7 by the family’s attorney, Teddy checked into Mountain Vista Farm at 3 p.m. on June 16th, 2018. Full Story @ ABC7News.com
Abscess Hollywood – June 6, 2019 – Fatal Addiction: Hollywood’s Secret Epidemic, which premiered on Wednesday night, is built around a perceived tension at the core of the entertainment industry: widespread celebrity addiction, juxtaposed with the lavish party lifestyle that’s often glamorized in Hollywood productions. The special lists “offenders” like Ted and Superbad in the same ominous tone it uses to read out celebrity overdoses, insisting that these films beat “drugs make you cool” messaging straight into the soft, developing brains of our nation’s youth. This overdone argument could also be seen as hypocritical, coming from a sensationalizing special that…
“Modern man can’t see God because he doesn’t look low enough.” –Carl Jung
Sober in the Stratosphere – May 30, 2019 – This AA meeting is where the film kicks off, where it ends, and how it’s anchored, returned to again and again as Egerton brings us onto the fast-paced merry-go-round-ride that is our John’s life. And by telling the story in such a way, going from pivotal life moment and then back to AA room, director Dexter Fletcher gives us an insight into how childhood and early life trauma can lead to addiction, and how one of the first steps toward recovery is to love and accept your younger self. Hearing from…
Tragedy Upon Tragedy – May 30, 2019 – Now 23 and finally sober, Semler is slated to spend two decades in prison for sharing what turned out to be a fatal dose of heroin with her friend. In what has become an increasingly common — and controversial — way of responding to the opioid epidemic, prosecutors charged her with distribution of heroin resulting in death, a federal statute that carries a mandatory 20-year minimum sentence and was initially intended to crack down on drug dealers. On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Gene E.K. Pratter sentenced her to 21 years in…
Live and Let Die – June 5, 2019 – A lawyer for Husel has said he didn’t intend to kill patients. Messages seeking comment were left for that attorney. Mount Carmel Health System found Husel ordered potentially fatal drug doses for 29 patients over several years, including five who may have been given that pain medication when there still was a chance to improve their conditions with treatment. The hospital system said six more patients got doses that were excessive but likely didn’t cause their deaths. Many of the deceased patients were seriously ill. Any potential motive remains unclear. Police…
Adding Insult to Injury – May 31, 2019 – When it comes to reprehensible celebrity mental health coverage, the media has more than earned its reputation. From sensationalized write-ups of rehab trips and “breakdowns” to derisive headlines and invasive tactics, there’s a long history of tabloid malfeasance. Worse, articles that poke fun at people who are seemingly in crisis, reinforcing pre-existing stigmas in the process, can have serious consequences. Some celebrities who have suffered under paparazzi surveillance and insensitive coverage have since spoken out about their experiences. A 2018 Paper magazine profile of Amanda Bynes referenced the “countless headlines over…
Over-Sentenced – May 30, 2019 – Emma’s story is not rare in Pennsylvania. In an effort to deter drug use, prosecutors are charging people who provide a drug that causes an overdose with homicide — often called “drug-induced homicide” or “drug delivery resulting in death.” Pennsylvania district attorneys use this charge more than prosecutors in any state. Three out of the top five counties that use these charges most often are in Pennsylvania. Lancaster tops the list with 66 charges in 2018 — a shocking number considering the estimated 107 overdose deaths in the county that year. The logic that…
There Are No Dumb Questions – May 27, 2019 – She hosts a weekly “Live Q/A Session” session on Instagram every Saturday and Sunday where she invites people online to ask questions, both publicly and anonymously, about everything from anxiety, trauma, self-love and more. Her platform for good caught the attention of “Queen Bey” in February 2019, when she praised Clemons as a woman “who exemplifies Black excellence” in her “We Good” series for Black History Month.”To have my image there [on her website] was so beyond surprise and excitement,” Clemons said. Her work on social media also has…
Beyonce Was Right – May 28, 2019 – Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics, said unmarried and childless women are also likely to outlive their married child-rearing counterparts and are healthier than them. Speaking at the Hay festival on Saturday, Mr Dolan said the latest data demonstrated that long-established, traditional symbols of success did not necessarily correlate with happiness levels. The best-selling author, who carries out original research into the measurement of happiness and its causes and consequences, noted men in comparison benefited from marriage as they “calm down”. He said: “You…
The Vanilla is Killer – May 28, 2019 – “As a result of this perception, a lot of kids pick up e-cigarette smoking,” Wu said. “There’s so many kids who are smoking e-cigarettes. And these kids are going to become adults. And these adults can become elderly patients that I as a cardiologist will take care of later on.” The US Food and Drug Administration announced in November that vaping had increased nearly 80% among high schoolers and 50% among middle schoolers since the year before. Experts also worry that the devices could put kids’ developing brains at risk, get…
Contamination! – May 16, 2019 – The Dark Side Of Generic Prescription Drugs – Journalist Katherine Eban says most of the generic medicine being sold in the U.S. is manufactured overseas — sometimes under questionable quality control standards. She talks about instances of fabricated data, sabotaged inspections, and drugs released onto the market before they’re ready. Eban’s new book is ‘Bottle of Lies.’ Full AUDIO Story @ NPR.org
MEDIA: New Book Quest – MAY 28, 2019 – In her memoir, Exalted Quest: You Have But One Quest to Live, Exalt It, Kindred provides a step-by-step account of how she learned to see the crises of her past as beautiful, perfect, and divine occurrences which ultimately brought her into a place of compassion, fearlessness, and unconditional love. “Suddenly, all the traumatic events of my past made sense,” said author Kindred Light. “I saw them for their lessons and higher purpose and was able to finally move through life with peace and love.” Exalted Quest shows readers that life isn’t…
Giggles Not Delivered – May 29, 2019 – In a statement to The Verge, Google described the changes as less sweeping than that language suggests. “These apps simply need to move the shopping cart flow outside of the app itself to be compliant with this new policy,” said a spokesperson. “We’ve been in contact with many of the developers and are working with them to answer any technical questions and help them implement the changes without customer disruption.” Apple’s App Store already bans “facilitating the sale of marijuana, tobacco, or controlled substances” or “encourag[ing] consumption of tobacco products, illegal drugs,…
Learning From The Young – June 2, 2019 – Keeley Lennon wants others to know that they are not alone when it comes to dealing with friends and loved ones who suffer from addiction. Lennon, 17, a senior at Hampton Bays High School, regularly speaks to her classmates about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse by using examples from her own life. Lennon’s father, a former high school art teacher and lifeguard, died last year after struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. Living through that experience spurred her to become more active in the Hampton Bays community, helping educate…
Many Ways Can Work… – May 28, 2019 – On May 26th, I celebrated ten years of sobriety. People have found my story noteworthy because I got sober without rehab and stayed sober without AA. I don’t understand my story to be a unique miracle; in my travels in the last ten years, I’ve encountered a lot of folks with similar experiences. But I struggled in early sobriety with no roadmap for recovery. Much of what “everybody knows” to be true about alcoholism, getting sober, and recovery simply did not apply to me. Here’s what I learned as I…
Sharing His Story – May 31, 2019 – When Eric Dorsa was a teenager, an eating disorder derailed his plans for college. Dorsa recently spoke with his friend Ana Agarrat in the StoryCorps booth at the Chicago Cultural Center. He said his disorder was rooted in a shame that began in childhood and became especially difficult as high school was ending. He said that his eating disorder was never about food. “The behaviors of the eating disorder are the symptom,” he said. “They’re like, ‘Hey! Something is going on.’ For me, it was a way of trying to protect…
Stick with the Winners! – Robyn L. Goldberg, RDN, CEDRD, INC. Private Practice. Robyn began her career at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles as the in-patient dietitian in the Department of Cardiology. Over the last twenty two years she has developed her own private practice in Beverly Hills, CA, where she specializes in medical conditions, disordered eating, eating disorders, Health at Every Size, pre-pregnancy nutrition, preventative nutrition and people in recovery. Robyn promotes opportunity to excel in personal health and fitness maintenance through a lecture series in association with several medical groups. She serves as a Nutrition Consultant for…
MDMA 4 PTSD – May 29, 2019 – An international study involving researchers from UBC Okanagan has shown that MDMA, also known as ecstasy, may be a valuable tool for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Published recently in Psychopharmacology, the study demonstrated substantial improvements in individuals who had not responded to prior treatments, explains UBCO Associate Professor of psychology Zach Walsh. This is also, he adds, the most comprehensive evaluation of the safety and effectiveness of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. The response of participants to MDMA-assisted psychotherapy was compared to those who received small doses or non-drug psychotherapy. “These findings…
“Swale” Song – June 1, 2019 – As Gustafson explained in conversation with NPR’s Scott Simon, though, Madelyn’s funeral wasn’t the first time she played the song for someone she knew — nor does she expect it to be the last. Gustafson says she wrote the song about 15 years ago for a friend who was suffering from a heroin addiction and whose whereabouts were often unclear. “I wanted to send him a message of hope: that there was always a way to come back home and to become recovered from his addiction” she says. This sentiment of inviting-home…
Joining Forces – May 31, 2019 – Founded in 2005, IOP Consulting has specialized in billing and industry strategy, in-network contract negotiation and has served as a “go to” resource for owners and operators in the behavioral health space. Founder Scott Gilbert has owned, operated and sold multiple facilities. He has opened facilities for owners and investors across the US and Europe. Scott Gilbert is revered by many to be an expert in behavioral healthcare. Full Story @ PRNewswire.com
Who Isn’t? – June 1, 2019 – Addiction is a disease. Consider heart disease for a minute. Heart disease affects patients that are genetically predisposed but not all predisposed persons go on to develop heart disease. It is also associated with a poor lifestyle, bad choices, lack of exercise and smoking. The same is true for other non-communicable diseases such as adult onset diabetes and hypertension. If your doctor told you that you had any of these, you would not consider yourself a bad person, but rather you would express concern as to how to improve your odds. This…
Drive-Thru Enlightenment – June 2, 2019 – A few years ago my wife told me an amusing story about something that happened on the way to her yoga class. As she drove there, she was tailgated aggressively by a driver in a fancy sports car. When she was able to get over to let him pass, he zipped dangerously close as he sped around her car and quickly changed lanes to pass the car ahead of him. When my wife arrived at the studio, she was surprised to see the same car in the parking lot, and the man setting…
BBQ, Pool Parties and Karaoke – June 4, 2019 – Johann Hari, said in his Ted Talk in 2015 that “the opposite of addiction is connection” and the business of WCSAD is about overcoming addiction. Ours is not an industry solely concerned with ROI, revenue generation and “the bottom line”. We come to share ideas, solutions, and our deepest secrets with each other. As ex-addicts and alcoholics ourselves, we know the value of fellowship and collaboration and remember the loneliness of isolation while in our dis-ease. I came to West Coast for more than just to get sponsors for the NYC and…