Not An Outsider – May 11, 2019 – He credited self honesty, humility, motivation and a strong relationship with a Higher Power for his success. Lowe certainly hopes others can find strength and hope in his story. He has now been sober for far longer than he struggled with alcohol abuse. The Golden Globe-winning actor committed to sobriety on May 10, 1990 and in 2014, Lowe told Oprah Winfrey that he loved going to rehab. “I didn’t love the fact that I had to go and it was unbelievably painful but I like the science. I couldn’t have gotten sober…
Author: Leonard Buschel
“Sacked” – May 9, 2019 – “The Sacklers made their money pushing OxyContin. Pushing it even as study after study demonstrated its addictive potential,” Ms. Warren wrote. “Even as hundreds of thousands of Americans died. And how did the Sackler family react? They tried to increase their profits by opening a network of for-profit recovery centers to treat the very same health crisis they were fueling.” Ms. Warren’s plan calls for $100 billion in federal funding over 10 years to combat the epidemic, including changes to Medicaid and expanded access to medication-assisted treatment. Ms. Warren received $4,500 from members of…
Joe Namath Intercepts Himself – May 8, 2019 – Namath writes in All the Way: My Life in Four Quarters, his first autobiography in 50 years. The notoriously private 1970s-era icon covers a wide range of personal and professional experiences in the book, according to ESPN — from football-induced brain trauma and his Super Bowl III victory to his path to sobriety after years of alcohol abuse. “The drinking was what would kick my butt for a long time,” Namath writes, according to ESPN. “I believe any of us can be brought to our knees whether from physical or emotional…
“Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” —Carl Gustav Jung
What’s The Point? – May 1, 2019 – After a massive rise in heroin use in the 1990s affected all social classes and quickly became a major public health crisis, Portugal made a bold move: It would no longer criminalize people who possessed what they considered a 10-day supply of drugs. Drug dealers are still sent to jail, but anyone caught with a small amount is fined between 25 and 150 euros, and issued a summons to appear in front of a commission. That group includes a lawyer, psychiatrist, and social worker, to help the person who uses drugs access…
Remarkable Interview – APR. 30, 2019 – He was so good at inspiring confidence in you,” daughter Erin Lee Carr says. “He had an ability to spot talent in a way that I’ve seen sort of unrivaled — whether it be Ta-Nehisi Coates or Lena Dunham or his colleague A.O. Scott at the Times.” But David Carr’s role as a mentor to his daughter was complicated by his addiction to alcohol and crack cocaine. His 2008 memoir, The Night of the Gun, describes how, earlier in his life, he put Erin and her twin sister Meagan into foster care before…
Refresh Refresh Refresh – May 02, 2019 – Do you get upset when people don’t answer your call? Do you get nervous from frequent or constant checking email? Do you get anxiety when someone doesn’t immediately reply to your text? Do you negatively compare yourself to others while surfing social media? Do you look through contacts/pictures and remember bad experiences? Do you actively dread receiving a text/email/call from difficult people? Do you have smartphone envy? If you had the latest/greatest phone your life would be better? Have you embarrassed yourself or lost a relationship with drunk dialing/texting? Do you torment…
Brain Chemistry Catastrophe – May 1, 2019 – Video games are now officially considered a “public health concern” and video gaming for adolescents can become just like a drug addiction. Full Story @ WTRF.com
Good Night Forever? – April 29, 2019 – The new black box warning—the strictest label used by the FDA to denote potentially life-threatening side effects—will apply to three drugs commonly used for insomnia and sold under various brand names. They are eszopiclone (Lunesta), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien, among other names). In addition to the warning, people will also be told to stop or avoid using these drugs if they’ve ever experienced these symptoms. “We recognize that millions of Americans suffer from insomnia and rely on these drugs to help them sleep better at night. While these incidents are rare,…
Hard to slow down – May 1, 2019 – “At first, with meth, I remember thinking, ‘What’s the big deal?’ “ says Amelia, who asked that we not reveal her last name to protect her family’s privacy. “But when you look at how crazy things got, everything was so out of control. Clearly, it is a big deal.” While public health officials have focused on the opioid epidemic in recent years, another epidemic has been brewing quietly, but vigorously, behind the scenes. Methamphetamine use is surging in parts of the U.S., particularly the West, leaving first responders and addiction treatment…
Firing Line – May 2, 2019 – U.S. health officials say cocaine overdose deaths have been rising. Drug overdose deaths involving cocaine began rising around 2012, and jumped 34 percent from 2016 to 2017, according to a report by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released on Thursday. The increase at least partly reflects trends in deaths from heroin, fentanyl and other opioid drugs. Many overdose deaths involve someone who took several different drugs, and researchers found that nearly three-quarters of the deaths involving cocaine in 2017 also involved opioids. However, the study found cocaine deaths were up even when…
Keep Coming Back – May 02, 2019 – De Lesseps, 53, pled guilty to felony charges of battery, trespassing and disorderly intoxication after she was arrested that Christmas Eve in 2017. She avoided jail time in August when she agreed to a plea deal that placed her on a one-year probation and required her to perform 50 hours of community service, attend two AA meetings per week, not possess or consume alcohol or illegal drugs, and attend a Victim Impact Class organized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving … but the Florida Department of Corrections documents obtained by PEOPLE allege that…
Comeback Kid – May 1, 2019 – His goals were lofty: Not only was he going to pick up his BMX bike and train for the Olympics, but he was going to start a nonprofit organization to help young people. While staying sober, Hoffman went on to achieve considerable success, ranking second in the Master Pro class at the 2016 UCI BMX World Championships in Colombia, according to his website. Additionally, he served as one of BMX Pro Brooke Crain’s coaches during the Rio Olympics in 2016. He also founded The Freewheel Project, an action sports nonprofit. Hoffman travels throughout…
‘Hate the dis-ease – not the alcoholic’ – May 2, 2019 – Do you: Search for hidden alcohol? Pour alcohol down the sink? Cancel plans because the drinker is unable to participate? Worry about how much someone drinks? Tell lies to cover up for someone else’s drinking? Blame the drinker’s behaviour on his or her companions? Isolate yourself from other people? Secretly try to smell the drinker’s breath? Are holidays and gatherings spoiled because of drinking? Have you been hurt or embarrassed by a drinker’s behaviour? Full Story @ All4Women.co.za
Prawn Curry Hurry – May 2, 2019 – For years, scientists have found trace amounts of illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals and pesticides in drinking water around the world. A newer area of study is looking at how these chemicals impact wildlife living in these ecosystems. “Pharmaceuticals and personal care products and pesticides and these types of illicit drugs have been detected in surface waters all over the world, because when we use them, our waste isn’t always treated properly, and so they come out in rivers and streams,” Emma Rosi, an aquatic ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies who…
The Money is Dope! – May 1, 2019 – Consider Which Niche Is Best For You!!! There are so many different addictions these days and there is no way your center will have the capacity to offer treatments for all of them. So, it’s best to choose a couple and focus on these as your niche. For instance, you might want to concentrate on treating patients for drug and alcohol addiction. Alternatively, you could prefer to offer treatments for some newer addictions, such as to the internet and digital devices as this niche is seeing a huge increase in demand.…
Science May One Day Do So… – May 1, 2019 – Fentanyl is now found in the bloodstreams of 90 percent of people that die of drug overdoses. The synthetic opioid is far more powerful than even heroin, and every bit as addictive … It isn’t clear how many fentanyl users go looking for it or prefer it as compared to those who end up using it unintentionally, but its addictive profile means that once someone has had the drug, they may continue to chase it, or more and higher doses of other opioids. Like addiction to heroin or prescription opidoids,…
Helpful Advice – April 29, 2019 – But, is it possible to get no insurance drug rehab? The answer to this question is a resounding yes. Money should not hinder you or your loved one from getting treatment for drug addiction. There are many ways to receive treatment for addiction without savings in your bank or health insurance. How Addiction Treatment is Important for the Addicts Since it’s a chronic disease, addiction is characterized by uncontrollable or impulsive drug use and seeking tendencies despite the knowledge of its harmful effects and the changes it causes into the brain. These effects…
And 8 hours later… – April 26, 2019 – Psychedelic therapy holds a great deal of promise for treating some very serious mental health conditions and may one day offer new hope to vulnerable people with limited treatment options. Dr Robin Carhart-Harris … Psychedelics are set to have a major impact on neuroscience and psychiatry in the coming years. It’s such a privilege to be at the forefront of one of the most exciting areas in medical science. I am immensely grateful to the donors who have made all of this possible.” Dr Carhart-Harris adds: “It may take a few…
Turning the Tables – MAY 1, 2019 – DJ Fresh still vividly remembers where he was the moment he knew his health was in trouble. “I was sitting in traffic on the Hammersmith flyover, driving home from the airport after a weekend of gigs,” he says. “I woke up on the bridge — I’d just passed out at the wheel. When I came round, my first thought was relief that I hadn’t driven over the side. Then there were sirens, and the police turned up. Luckily, somehow, and I don’t remember how, I’d broken my clutch. I didn’t think it…
Stick with the Winners! – My name is Damien and I’m the founder of Pocket Rehab. I struggled with addiction for a long time and that continued when I came out of treatment. This was not only due to the stigma and shame associated with addiction, but also due to lack of support systems in place upon exiting treatment. There were times when I needed someone to talk with and share things that only people in recovery would understand. Now that I’ve been in recovery since August 10, 2012, I want to help as many people as possible receive the support…
Iced Tea? – May 2, 2019 – You could be forgiven for mistaking the profile pics on popular dating apps for contributions to an alcohol advocacy campaign. Here is a 20-something blonde whose hair echoes the golden hues of her California chard — in her profile, she makes clear that if it’s not from Napa, she’s not drinking it. Here is a scruffy middle-aged jock celebrating an ultimate Frisbee league win with a pint of the quirkily named local microbrew — though he clarifies that his favorite beer is still Bud Light. And here is a 34-year-old single mom clearly…
American Parenting? – April 11, 2019 – The numbers are very alarming,” pediatric emergency room physician Brett Burstein from McGill University told CNN. “We are seeing an acceleration of this issue, and I worry that we have not yet seen the peak.” Using data collected by the Centres for Disease Control and Infection (CDC), the authors analyzed over 30,000 visits to the emergency department for children ages five to 18. In 2007, at the very beginning of the study, the authors tallied about 580,000 visits for suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts. By 2015, that number had skyrocketed to 1.12 million.…
I Am Sober Spartacus – MAY 03, 2019 – Unfortunately, drug and alcohol disorders, along with other mental health disorders such as depression, are among the most stigmatized of all maladies. Many people view substance use disorders through a lens of stigma, which often becomes internalized, and thus many people suffering from this disease have crippled self-esteem. As a result, people afflicted with addiction and alcoholism generally tend to suffer in the shadows, to keep their suffering secret, and to refrain from asking for help, often until it is too late to right the course of their broken lives. They…
Big Pharma says, “WE WIN” – May 4, 2019 – Jail officials told her lawyer they were going to interrupt that treatment during her sentence, according to this week’s ruling, forcing her to undergo withdrawal in jail. They argued the drug is contraband in the jail and could hinder rehabilitation and become a source of trafficking. Smith and the ACLU of Maine challenged that position in court, arguing that withholding treatment would violate the Americans with Disabilities Act and the 8th Amendment of the constitution. Susan Friedman of the Legal Action Council in New York has worked on the intersection…
Med School for This? – MAY 1, 2019 – Celestine was not arrested during the raid, but did surrender his license to distribute controlled substances. He made nearly $14 million from the “pill mill operation” between 2008 and 2018, the DEA said in a news release after the raid. The DEA began investigating Celestine in late 2013 after receiving information that the doctor had been “structuring” his cash deposits to avoid federal reporting requirements. Celestine was later arrested on April 30, 2018 on charges of distribution of controlled substances. He pushed back against the charges in May 2018, claiming agents…
Tragic Story – May 2, 2019 – O’Malley said an investigation by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death. An investigation by the Maine Attorney General’s Office, Maine State Police and the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency continues. O’Malley said Meserve’s death “is a very personal matter for the Meserve family” and, “I hope it’s a reminder that the opioid epidemic touches the lives of many in the community, regardless of their wealth, race, religion or profession.” He said the Lewiston Police Department maintains an employee assistance program and a peer support team. He said his…
Problems Uncovered – May 6, 2019 – The symposium dealt with such topics as the dangers of vaping and marijuana use, the opioid crisis, myths about eating disorders and the power of peer support. Dr. Norman Blumenthal, a clinical psychologist and trauma specialist, noted that the typical Jewish education neglects to teach students emotional vulnerability. “We’ve promoted exceptional people who faced difficulty without problems,” he said. “We also need them to know we are all human and that it’s OK to be sad and have emotional setbacks.” Blumenthal praised Bergen County for its work in eradicating the stigma surrounding mental…
SAD, TRUE, WHAT CAN YOU DO? – APR. 29 2019 – Researchers at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital analyzed monthly rates of suicides among individuals ages 10 to 64 between Jan. 1, 2013, and Dec. 31, 2017. They said April 2017, the month after the Season One premiere of “13 Reasons Why,” had the highest suicide rate among ages 10 to 17, increasing by 28.9%. The study, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, also found that there were about 195 more youth suicides than expected in the nine months following the March 31,…
The CEO Speaks – April 30, 2019 – But after another study connecting an uptick in teen suicide rates to the show made headlines this week, the streaming service has taken a slightly less ruthless attitude. “We’ve just seen this study and are looking into the research, which conflicts with last week’s study from the University of Pennsylvania,” a Netflix spokesperson told Gizmodo in an email on Tuesday. “This is a critically important topic and we have worked hard to ensure that we handle this sensitive issue responsibly.” The spokesperson linked to an article detailing a study published in the…