Who’s Next? – Nov. 2, 2018 – A spokesman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America said the organization shares the “FDA’s commitment to reducing the risk of addiction and combating the opioid crisis while also ensuring new treatments reach patients in need.” The drug approved Friday is a 30-microgram pill form of sufentanil, a powerful, 34-year-old opioid commonly used after surgery and in emergency rooms. Each pill, placed under the tongue for quick absorption, would have the same impact as five milligrams of intravenous morphine. Each would come in a plastic applicator that looks like a syringe. Full…
Author: Leonard Buschel
Not Hard To Tell – November 5, 2018 – “It starts slowly. You get aroused. And then you just watch and simultaneously you switch on your equipment. All your senses are stimulated, watching something so exciting. Your mind goes elsewhere. You know it’s not going to stop until you press the button. You know you’re in control of it, of every aspect of your pleasure, and it gives you orgasms you just can’t have with another human being – and certainly not a man.”The whole process of masturbating and coming will take you a maximum of five to 10 minutes…
Did he have flying dreams? – Nov. 1, 2018 – American Airlines says the Piedmont Airlines employee was working American Flight 363 on Saturday when the Boeing 737 left Kansas City International Airport with the handler in a heated and pressurized cargo hold. Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi says he was found when the flight landed about an hour later at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. The spokesman says the handler told police he was intoxicated and had fallen asleep. Full Story @ USNews.com
There will be heroes – Oct. 30, 2018 – Now as a national advocate and author, Hampton focuses on telling stories, both his and others. His website, books and social media accounts are filled with accounts of individuals hurt by an opioid addiction in some way. Hampton explained that he emphasizes stories over facts because stories lead to more empathy. He stressed that people need to see and understand that it could be their neighbor, parent, child, employer or employee that is struggling with an addiction. When people become more empathetic and compassionate, Hampton said, more funding and change is…
Help is in your mind’s eye – Nov 1, 2018 – More than 72,000 people died from a drug overdose last year alone. That’s 200 a day. One person every eight minutes. And the vast majority of those overdoses were opioids. One-hundred-and-fifteen people die from an opioid overdose every day in the U.S. But addiction and overuse were not even on Felicia Kleinpeter’s radar when she was prescribed painkillers after a car accident. “They made me feel very euphoric. I used to joke that they were my double cappuccinos,” said Kleinpeter. But that quickly turned into a very heavy dependence.…
Right Down Our Alley – Nov. 1, 2018 – The new facility will include dedicated recreational activity areas for patients, including a yoga room, indoor basketball and volleyball courts, and a large gym. It won’t, however, include a bowling alley. The decline of Baker Lanes started long before demolition equipment started tearing into the walls of the rundown bowling alley over the summer. It had sat dormant since 2011 and was condemned by the township two years ago. It opened in 1958 and at one time was so popular, customers had to park across busy Cuthbert Boulevard in the N.J.…
What an Education – October 22, 2018 – One of the first things colleges have started to do is to beef up awareness and prevention programs. As part of freshman orientation, students routinely now get a quick primer on the dangers of opioids, how to recognize an overdose, and how to save someone from dying with a dose of Narcan, the drug known generically as Naloxone. In recent years, many schools have started making Narcan available through health services, and campus police. Now, a small but growing number of schools are beginning to distribute the drug more broadly. At Bridgewater…
Brain Controller – Oct. 27, 2018 – As the gaming phenomenon grows, the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a new disease – gaming disorder. The WHO defines the disorder as “a pattern of gaming behaviour with increasing priority given to gaming over other activities … and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.” So what does gaming disorder really mean and how can it be treated? “What happens when we are immersed in a video game, is that the brain starts to activate the sort of exciting reward system, neurological pathways that are associated with…
Buyer Be Weary – Oct 26, 2018 – Melatonin is a sleeping supplement that’s getting more and more popular. Many people even give it to their kids. An El Dorado doctor says she’s seeing people take two or three times more than the recommended dose. “More people are looking for solutions to help them sleep. People are increasingly looking for more natural remedies, again, because this is a supplement that’s something people view as natural and safe even though taking it in large doses it’s not,” said Aubrey Ralston. It’s tough to overdose on the supplement, but too much can…
Bringing Color to Sobriety – Oct. 26, 2018 – Her tattoos tell a story with Lady Liberty holding the opium poppy, symbolizing her freedom from addiction. There’s a clock indicating lost time. And now, tattoos like this are propelling her with her online store, ‘Momzilla’s Unique Boutique’. “I mean I can’t even distinguish what’s harder. Being an entrepreneur and being a single mom, or just being a single mom. And them only having me. You see, I’ve got to realize at the end of the day. They’re depending on me.” That love for her daughters and passion for art is…
Live Theater – Oct. 25, 2018 – The sisters are not helped by the immature behaviour of their mother, Beatrice. Kathryn Fennell plays her just right grasping her insecurity and, later portraying utter frustration. The ending has different outcomes for different characters, but I won’t spill the beans. This gem of a play, directed by Mark Edgar-Clarkson making his directional debut at the Garrick, seems tailor-made for the cast. Full Story @ MessengerNewspapers.co.uk
Breathe Deeply – Oct. 26, 2018 – Growing up in Venice Beach, it wasn’t uncommon for kids to try alcohol at a young age. Most of DuPrez’s friends started drinking in elementary school, and in third grade, he found himself filling his lunch thermos with Lancers wine—he was addicted. For the next 17 years, alcohol would consume his life. Unlike a lot of his friends, DuPrez was a functioning alcoholic. Though not necessarily sober, he managed to graduate high school, and moved to Flagstaff to pursue a degree in Spanish with a minor in Latin American Studies at Northern Arizona…
Everything? – Oct. 28, 2018 – Spoilers to follow, but here is the crux of the story through the eyes of an addiction professional: Bradley Cooper’s character, Jackson Maine, had a severe substance use disorder, addicted to both alcohol and opioids. He had early initiation of alcohol before age 12, early childhood trauma, and a history of substance use disorder in his family, as well as untreated mental illness. His illness progressed throughout adulthood, leading to a very public overdose, followed by three months of luxury treatment, not science-based care with the doctors he needed. He was discharged far too…
Occupational Hazard – 10.27.18 – Adult actresses Olivia Nova and Olivia Lua, both in their early twenties, passed away less than two weeks apart in January. Lua was seeking treatment at a rehab facility when she died; Nova’s body was discovered in her own home, and according to a coroner’s statement obtained by RadarOnline, alcohol abuse was fingered as the cause of death, along with “recent cocaine use.” Adult actress Yuri Beltran, 31, passed away last December, about a week after 23-year-old August Ames committed suicide, and not long before Shyla Stylez passed away in her sleep from a suspected…
Careless or Co-Opted? – Oct 26, 2018 – Nolan was a featured speaker at Friday’s unveiling of the county’s annual update on drug-related death trends. She spoke tearfully about her son Jerry’s 2008 overdose death. Nolan also told parents that it’s very hard to detect the early signs of prescription drug abuse. She counseled them to prepare for a long, difficult and sometimes unsuccessful effort to help a loved-one beat their addiction. “And if you think recovery is as simple as a30-day rehab, it is not,” Nolan said. “My husband and I sent Jerry to rehab four times in a…
Syringe Round Up – October 27, 2018 – It’s unclear where the ceiling lies, but it’s clear the Tri-Cities was overdue, said Blue Mountain officials. And it’s clear that there’s an even larger audience for the service. Most of the exchangers served in Pasco are homeless. The numbers suggest the Tri-Cities needs to expand, which is why the health district is on the prowl for funds to open a second location. “We are very interested in bringing it to Benton County,” said Dr. Amy Person, the Mid-Columbia’s public health officer. Before April, Tri-Citians had no place to safely exchange dirty…
Love is the Answer – October 26, 2018 -Some of my youngest memories involve my dad and his alcoholism. On one hand, I recall joyous trips to Disneyland and him allowing a 12-year-old me to steer our car up the street to our house, my short legs not yet able to reach the pedals. On the other hand, I vividly remember his drunken arguments with my mom and him retreating into the garage, where he would smoke and drink alone. To call my relationship with him volatile, especially once my parents divorced, is a gross understatement… Full Story @ PopSugar.com
Refresher Course – October 15, 2018 – The term addiction does not only refer to dependence on substances such as heroin or cocaine. A person who cannot stop taking a particular drug or chemical has a substance dependence. Some addictions also involve an inability to stop partaking in activities, such as gambling, eating, or working. In these circumstances, a person has a behavioral addiction. Addiction is a chronic disease that can also result from taking medications. The overuse of prescribed opioid painkillers, for example, causes 115 deaths every day in the United States. When a person experiences addiction, they cannot…
Politics Gets Stoned – Oct. 26, 2018 – On Saturday, Utah Sen. Jim Dabakis shared a video of himself sampling an edible gummy bear outside a dispensary in Las Vegas, where medical cannabis is legal. “I wanted to have at least one Utah state senator that actually has tried cannabis before we had this big debate,” he said in a follow-up video he posted to Facebook on Monday. Dabakis went on to conclude that he believes people should “mellow out” about marijuana, and that those opposed to legalizing it are those who have never tried it. Full Story @ SLTrib.com
Science Knows – October 26, 2018 – One minute you’re enjoying a nice buzz, the next your brain stops recording events that are taking place. The result can mean having vague or no memory of a time period ranging anywhere from a few minutes up to several hours. Scary—isn’t it? Unfortunately, alcohol-induced blackouts aren’t a rarity, either. A 2015 survey of English teenagers who drank showed 30 percent of 15-year-olds and 75 percent of 19-year-olds suffered alcohol-induced blackouts. In medical terms this memory loss is a form of temporary anterograde amnesia, a condition where the ability to form new memories…
Protecting Our Young … and Old – October 28, 2018 – When he was police chief of Stanwood, Wash., population 7,000, Ty Trenary thought rural communities like his were immune from the opioid crisis. Then, one day, a mother walked through his door and said, “Chief, you have a heroin problem in your community.” … “And I remember thinking, ‘Well that’s not possible,’ “ Trenary recalls. “This is Stanwood and heroin is in big cities with homeless populations. It’s not in rural America.” But heroin addiction and abuse are not just a big city problem, as Trenary had thought. While…
Not the occupation? – Oct 27, 2018 – Soldiers were asked how frequently they had consumed energy drinks such as Red Bull, Rockstar, or Monster over the past month, and were quizzed on mental health variables such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, and alcohol abuse. The authors found that more than 75 percent of respondents consumed energy drinks, and 16 percent reported “high use,” defined as two or more cans per day. … Anything else? Despite the popularity of energy drinks — which the study says is an annual $21 billion industry in the U.S. — experts have long warned against…
‘Scourge’ of Drug Addiction to End – October 24, 2018 – With the nation reeling from an epidemic of drug overdose deaths, President Trump signed legislation Wednesday that is aimed at helping people overcome addiction and preventing addictions before they start. “Together we are going to end the scourge of drug addiction in America,” Trump said at a White House event celebrating the signing. “We are going to end it or we are going to at least make an extremely big dent in this terrible, terrible problem.” The opioid legislation was a rarity for this Congress, getting overwhelming bipartisan support…
Welcome to Friendly House – Oct. 27, 2018 – While Moore didn’t go into detail about her demons, she said, “It gave me a chance to redirect the course of my life before I destroyed everything. Clearly they saw more in my than I saw in myself and I’m so grateful because without that opportunity, without their belief in me, I wouldn’t be standing her today.” Full Story @ Variety.com
Misguided – Oct. 24, 2018 – So what’s the problem? First, the choice to center withdrawal for shock value is misguided. The video opens with the young woman, Rebekkah, writhing and moaning. Stark text (accompanied by the sound of a heart pounding) announces “Opioid Withdrawal Day 01,” followed by a list of symptoms. “This drug addiction has taken everything and everyone I’ve ever loved away from me,” she says. “Everything.” … “I’m the most camera-shy person in the world,” says Rebekkah, “but if making my detox public is gonna help somebody, even literally just one person, I’m all for it.”…
For the Love of Cinema & Recovery – OCT 24, 2018 – An addiction specialist and counselor who has been sober for 24 years, Buschel — who co-founded the festival with his longtime friend Robert Downey Sr. — also co-founded Writers In Treatment, which offers free referrals for individuals suffering from alcoholism or addiction, and which also presents the festival. He is also the editor and publisher of the weekly Addiction Recovery eBulletin and produces the annual Experience, Strength and Hope Awards in Los Angeles, honoring public figures in recovery who have written books about their careers and their former…
The Battle Continues – Oct. 16, 2018 – One of the best studies backing this is a 2014 review of the research by Peter Reuter at the University of Maryland and Harold Pollack at the University of Chicago. They found that while simply prohibiting drugs to some extent does raise their prices, there’s no good evidence that tougher punishments or harsher supply elimination efforts do a better job of driving down access to drugs and substance misuse than lighter penalties. So increasing the severity of the punishment doesn’t do much, if anything, to slow the flow of drugs. This might…
What’s Love Got to Do?… – OCTOBER 11, 2018 – Well, it may be more satisfying, but it’s not healthier. You want a good love story? How about Jackson Maine gets sober, and when he worries that he’s a drain on Ally’s career he calls his fucking sponsor instead of hanging himself in the garage. A STAR IS BORN treats alcoholism like LA BOHEME treated tuberculosis. Too bad, so sad, nothing to be done except die young and leave beautiful corpse. Yes, I know it’s silly to ask for mental health in a romantic melodrama. I Would Die 4 U…
Hoping to Help – OCTOBER 20TH, 2018 – “It’s like I’m superhuman when I’m drunk,” he said. “I can say and do anything I want. So I started drinking to get drunk.” He soon discovered that he needed alcohol to enjoy himself. Then he drank whenever he needed a confidence boost at parties. Surprisingly, booze also helped him perform better at work—or so he imagined. “I began drinking before going to meetings,” he recalled, “and everyday after work. I seemed to do everything better after a few drinks.” He says young consumers of booze drink for the same reasons. “Especially…
A House is Not a Home? – Oct. 19, 2018 – Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates, shown earlier this year, hopes to team up with the Orange County DA to crack down on unruly sober living homes. He says the city won’t target homes that aren’t breaking the law, but instead will sue owners who offer addiction treatment without proper licenses. Full Story @ Topix.com