Beds Better Get Filled – November 24, 2018 – But some investors are focused on developing high-end residential facilities for self-pay and commercially insured patients rather than comprehensive outpatient services for both publicly and privately insured patients. Their resort-like residential centers, often serving affluent patients who fly in from out of state, don’t necessarily offer medication-assisted treatment or a full continuum of follow-up outpatient services. Relapse rates are high. That worries addiction treatment experts, who say providers should be building systems that offer a complete array of evidence-based services for people in their own communities and that are available to…
Author: Leonard Buschel
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn – November 20, 2018 – We wanted to create something beautiful in his name,” said Cherashore of the pollinator garden that he, Reed, and a handful of helpers planted on the lot (a Pennsylvania Horticultural Society LandCare site on the 2900 block of North American Street). Cherashore and I visited the garden during last week’s snowstorm. Even in the pelting sleet, remnants of anise hyssop, cleome, yarrow, verbena, and butterfly bush still held enough color that it was easy to envision the garden’s summertime beauty. “I picture drug users tending the garden alongside neighbors,” said…
It Was Enlightening – Nov. 23, 2018 – Here are 10 things that surprised me when I temporarily quit drinking: …I didn’t touch an alcoholic drink for a month and a half — or, as I like to say, my longest period of stone-cold sobriety since I started drinking as a teenager. Full Story @ BusinessInsider.com
They Are All Guilty – November 22, 2018 – Anti-opioid activists Andrew Kolodny, MD, founder of Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing (PROP), and PROP President Jane Ballantyne, MD, sounded warnings about opioids, but offered little in the way of solutions outside of cutting off prescriptions. Many of their warnings proved to be unfounded, in particular with the opioid analgesic Zohydro. The drug was approved by the FDA amid dire warnings of a major spike in addiction and overdoses, but “there was no great surge of overdoses because of Zohydro.” … “FDA officials don’t like Kolodny. They characterize him as unreasonable…
The Art of Recovery – November 23, 2018 – Lee, who ran the Northcote Storytellers events during those drinking years, experienced a minor epiphany about four years ago after watching a documentary about Charles called Bastardy – which its subject credits with helping to turn his life around. Charles’ journey galvanized Lee – who began writing his debut play, Bottomless, while getting sober – to meet the man with such a stirring redemption story. “I thought, I have to talk about my drinking, I have to hold on to it, and to own it,” he says. Lee was lucky –…
Wrong Steps – Nov 14, 2018 – Deputies say they were looking into possible criminal activity at Experiences of Grace Ministries located n the 100 block of Tipton Drive. An investigation lead deputies to Starla Pope, also know as Starla Occhito, who operated the sobriety house. It was determined that Starla was wanted in Arkansas. She was arrested for identity theft charges based out of Arkansas. All of us at Foundations Recovery Network send our thoughts and prayers to the staff and families of The Canyon, the first responders and all residents in California who were affected. All the best,…
Jogging to a Meeting? – Nov. 14, 2018 – Researchers made this discovery after they injected mice with cocaine over four days in a chamber with a distinctive floor texture to create a connection with the environment and the drug. Then, for 30 days, they put some of the mice in cages with running wheels and some in cages without them. The mice that ran on the wheels had lower levels of brain peptides associated to myelin, which researchers think helps keeps memories in a fixed place. “Exposure to a cocaine-paired context increased several hemoglobin-derived peptides in the amygdala in…
Soon she won’t recognize you – Nov. 19, 2018 – “The old challenges of getting children to eat their greens, get to bed on time and do their homework are all still there, but there is an added layer of technology that parents have to navigate,” he added. The fact that few parents grew up with connected devices often left them struggling to cope and work out what were good rules, said Mr Shaw. Parents were also conflicted because they saw the value in their children being familiar with technology, he said. About 60% of those asked said the technology…
“Your Honor, It was the weather.” – November 14, 2018 – “It’s something that everyone has assumed for decades, but no one has scientifically demonstrated it. Why do people in Russia drink so much? Why in Wisconsin? Everybody assumes that’s because it’s cold,” said senior author Ramon Bataller, M.D., Ph.D., chief of hepatology at UPMC, professor of medicine at Pitt, and associate director of the Pittsburgh Liver Research Center. “But we couldn’t find a single paper linking climate to alcoholic intake or alcoholic cirrhosis. This is the first study that systematically demonstrates that worldwide and in America, in colder areas…
Friends Make the Man – Nov. 16, 2018 – Between August 2014 and April 2015, Bruce conspired with Kenneth “Kenny” Knight, the owner of Axcess Medical Clinic in New Orleans East, to illegally provide patients with prescriptions for painkillers. Knight, a longtime advisor to former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, also pleaded guilty in January 2017 to his role in running a “pill mill.” He is set for sentencing Feb. 21, also before U.S. District Judge Barry W. Ashe. During the time Bruce worked for Axcess, located in a suite at 9954 Lake Forest Boulevard, she wrote prescriptions for…
Good Weather Report – Nov. 16, 2018 – That feeling of solace in the Arizona air is reflected by Sierra Tucson, which had 83 percent of its residents come from out of state in 2018 and 85 percent in 2017. “We are located in the Catalina Mountains and so our views are absolutely incredible and there is a lure associated with this land and that we are built on sacred land,” says Jaime Vinck, CEO of Sierra Tucson. “When people come to the desert seeking healing, often times it is associated with depression. With addiction, there’s physical pain that goes…
Where does the time go? – Nov. 19 2018 – MODERATE Sometimes the obvious solution is also the best: Delete the apps from your phone. If everybody did, we’d reduce an incremental creep that makes it harder and harder to resist social pressure, says Ana Homayoun, author of Social Media Wellness. AGGRESSIVE Social check-ins during a few minutes of downtime can become second nature, says Homayoun. Apps like Flipd block time-sucking/time-wasting sites from your phone or computer either for a period of time you set—or for good. Full Story @ FastCompany.com
Another Heartbreaking Loss – Nov 14, 2018 – “Jeremiah was just a great example like he is somebody I needed in my life and he was also laughing and joking around and he would freestyle rap and like sing and break dance. He could just … everybody loved the dude,” he said. Jackson had been clean for more than four years and shared his heroin addiction story with Newschannel 5 in December 2017. While working at AAC, Jackson attended a separate recovery program. He was clean for more than four years but last weekend sadly died from an overdose. Cindy…
Home life in turmoil – November 19, 2018 – More than 250 residents of California’s largest sober living provider could face evictions on Monday, after a trustee who has steered the embattled company since September following bankruptcy proceedings moved to shut it down. Frank Montero, CEO of TLC Residential, which operated some 31 for-profit sober living group houses in the Bay Area, including five in San Francisco, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this year. The filing follows a years-long legal battle with the federal government, which ultimately took control of the homes this year. A trustee appointed to assume…
Opening Up – November 17, 2018 – “I spent three days in the hospital … They weren’t figuring out what the problem was, they were just keeping me on medicine. It goes into another day, four days, and I’m like, this isn’t right … this isn’t right.” The reality star said that things did not improve once she was released from the hospital. “It still doesn’t get better at home. They put me on different drugs to go home on for like, three months, three different drugs.” Prior to her health ordeal, Messer said she had been anti-drugs. “My dad…
Fox in the Hen House – NOVEMBER 19, 2018 — Dsuvia, an opioid that is five to 10 times stronger than fentanyl, won approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Nov. 2, following clinical research, advocacy and public testimony by the U’s Dr. Jacob Hutchins, among others, on behalf of the manufacturer. In an interview, Hutchins said the new painkiller is justified — even though the nation is struggling with an epidemic of opioid abuse — because it will fill a gap in hospital pain control for patients after injuries or surgeries. Research has shown Dsuvia relieves pain…
Wall Street Wins Again – Nov. 19, 2018 – Thankfully, EVZIO isn’t the only version of naloxone — which quickly reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, saving thousands of lives over the years — available. There is also a nasal spray lay people can use as well as generic versions of the drug. Still, this is the story of a company that set a debut price twice as high as outside experts recommended. Then, when the market didn’t materialize as it hoped, didn’t course-correct — instead, EVZIO hiked the price even more. ”Kaléo’s more than 600 percent price increase…
A Promise Not Met – I have been in the addiction treatment field for over 43 years. I have held virtually every position from Intake counselor to CEO. I have restructured 8 treatment centers of various sizes and licenses. I am a licensed attorney with over 25 years of health care law experience. I have witnessed the addiction treatment field settle for crumbs from the federal and state governments, from insurance companies as well as others. In spite of all of the hard work by many outstanding individuals and their agencies, once again we have settled. As has been widely…
More will be reviled – November 16, 2018 – “We are currently working with the landlord to resolve this matter,” Erica Messenger, an administrative assistant for Klean, wrote in an email. “We have no further comment at this time.” Klean is also behind on rent at the downtown office it has rented for more than three years and has been locked out, but still has furniture and other equipment inside, Fitzpatrick said. “If they get caught up, they are welcome to continue business there,” he said. “Otherwise, I’ll put the space up for lease or figure out a new use.”…
Deadliest Crime Family on Earth – Nov. 19, 2018 – The Sackler name is prominently attached to prestigious cultural and academic institutions that have accepted millions donated by the family in the US and the UK. It is now inscribed on a lawsuit alleging members of the family “actively participated in conspiracy and fraud to portray the prescription painkiller as non-addictive, even though they knew it was dangerously addictive”. Full Story @ TheGuardian.com
What Goes Up, Must… – Nov. 16, 2018 – Traders are reacting harshly to a short-seller report that was published by an author named Penn Little today. The crux of the short-seller’s argument is that Acadia is engaged in a number of questionable business practices and that its books do not look as good as they appear. What’s more, inside ownership of the company has dropped significantly in the last three years, which suggests that those who know the company best are fleeing from a sinking ship. Full Story @ Fool.com
Prescription for Change – November 9, 2018 – The 1,500 patients at Switzerland’s 22 peps centers have all tried unsuccessfully to kick their habit with drug-replacement therapy. Marco, 44, said: “Methadone didn’t work for me. The side effects were terrible, and I didn’t get any tranquilizing effect. So I was taking other drugs on top of it. I’ve been registered here for the last six months. I’ve put on weight, and cut my heroin use by 80 percent. Eventually, I want to get clean.” Chantal, 54, an addict for 30 years, said: “The treatment gives me structure. I don’t have…
Death and Life – NOVEMBER 16, 2018 – “I just dropped out of SoundCloud Uni to go to rehab, I leave in like 5 days And I couldn’t be happier with this choice I love you guys for being so supportive and can’t wait too get back clean headed ready to finish my album,” Lil Xan said. The decision for Xan to go to rehab was influenced by Mac Miller that for him “hit too close to home. “I know we struggle with the same problems and I just feel like it’s time to get better,” Xan relayed to TMZ.…
Message from Thanatos – Nov. 16, 2018 – States can influence drinking – especially dangerous binge drinking – with policies such as taxes on alcohol and restrictions on where and when it can be sold. Psychologist Benjamin Miller, chief strategy officer at the nonprofit Well Being Trust, says the larger health challenges in the South are to blame for high alcohol death rates. Southern states typically rank near the bottom in national rankings in cancer, cardiovascular disease and overall health. Oklahoma, Utah, Kansas and Tennessee rounded out the five states with the strongest alcohol control policies, the researchers reported. States…
In The News – Nov. 16, 2018 – I was once a patient in two facilities that were later purchased by Acadia Healthcare Company, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACHC), specifically Sierra Tucson (Oro Valley, AZ) in 2006 and Bayside Marin (San Rafael, CA) in 2007. I found sobriety just over a decade ago, after further treatment at the Hazelden Foundation and Prescott House. I have served in many aspects of the oft-misunderstood, exploited, but also necessary field for over seven years. Full Story @ SeekingAlpha.com
Wilco Wonder – Nov. 17, 2018 – Christopher Booker: Even after recording nearly 20 albums, winning 2 grammys, and writing a nearly 300 page memoir, trying to explain where it all comes from, remains an elusive task for singer – songwriter Jeff Tweedy. Jeff Tweedy: It’s all– it’s all mysterious still. I can’t– I can’t explain– I can’t even explain how people can whistle in tune. You know? You could read everything that I say authoritatively in the book with a, “Huh?” you know. You could put a question mark at the end of most of the sentences. Full Story…
Drug Dealers – Nov. 17, 2018 – Bondi said in a press release that CVS and Walgreens “played a role in creating the opioid crisis.” She said the companies failed to stop “suspicious orders of opioids” and “dispensed unreasonable quantities of opioids from their pharmacies.” On average, about 45 people die nationally each day because of opioid overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “We will continue to pursue those companies that played a role in creating the opioid crisis,” said Bondi, who has been mentioned as a possible replacement by President Trump for recently ousted U.S.…
Patient’s Care Comes First – Nov. 16, 2018 – The Southern California blaze has also affected hundreds of patients battling personal demons. Many have been moved from tranquil facilities to sister facilities, Airbnb rentals and hotels. The operators of many rehab centers, unable to provide proper treatment after shutting down, have transferred clients to competitors. Malibu has one of the largest concentrations of addiction treatment centers and sober living homes in the United States, with at least one per square mile, according to data from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Luxury properties in the area, part…
Student Edition – Nov. 18, 2018 – “I want to change the way people look at addiction,” Petersen said. “I hope it can reach people in a way that it opens up their hearts so they don’t see addiction so negatively.” The book is dedicated to her grandfather Larry Petersen, one of her best friends who died from an overdose and her brother who is currently in treatment for addiction. Petersen and her two older brothers were raised in Longview by their single mother. She said her brother Jyles began using drugs about 10 years ago, when she was 17…
Right or Wrong – Doesn’t Matter Now – Nov. 15, 2018 – Herbert Fingarette, a contrarian philosopher who, while plumbing the perplexities of personal responsibility, defined heavy drinking as willful behavior rather than as a potential disease, died on Nov. 2 at his home in Berkeley, Calif. He was 97. His daughter, Ann Fingarette Hasse, said the cause was heart failure. Professor Fingarette challenged the theory that alcoholism is a progressive disease that can be dealt with only by abstinence, and he concluded that treatment could include moderated drinking. Many academics and medical professionals denounced those views as heresy. But…