VIDEO – DRAMA ON COMMAND – Sept. 24, 2025 – The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City’s Mary Cosby shared new details on how her husband, Robert Cosby Sr., has played a key role in their son’s sobriety journey. The subject arose during Season 6, Episode 2’s RV camping trip when Whitney Rose asked Mary how Robert Cosby Jr. was doing after completing a 30-day rehab program. “Um, he’s doing as well as he can be doing,” Mary responded. “He’s taking it day by day. He’s trying. He has highs and lows. Some days he’s good, some days he’s not,…
Author: Leonard Buschel
“Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers.” – Marshall McLuhan, b. 1911–d. 1980
JOY RECLAIMED – September 18, 2025 – At 21, Corey O’Brien checked into rehab for what was supposed to be a 28-day stay. He didn’t leave for nearly two years. But after coming out the other side — O’Brien’s been sober for over a decade — there’s very little that fazes him. “There’s no one that can really affect how I feel about myself,” he says. In the years since he left rehab, O’Brien, now 34, has completely reinvented himself: He has a following of 2 million across Instagram and TikTok for his comedic videos, and he’s actively putting on…
WHO’S NEXT? – Sept. 13, 2025 – The Los Angeles Department of Health is warning the public to not use a powerful synthetic drug sold at gas stations after three otherwise healthy people died recently from the drug. The individuals died from fatal overdoses of 7-Hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a synthetic kratom compound… Dr. Gary Tsai, the director of substance abuse prevention and control at the Los Angeles Department of Public Health, said these are the first known deaths linked to 7-OH in the county. He told SFGATE that the department is warning the public, because people using 7-OH products do not…
COMEBACK TIME – Sept. 16, 2024 – Nitazenes—a class of highly potent synthetic opioids—are rapidly emerging as a major contributor to the overdose crisis. Originally developed in the 1950s but never approved for clinical use, these substances are over 20 times more potent than fentanyl and hundreds to thousands of times more potent than morphine. They can come in liquid, pills or powder form, and have been found in substances sold via social media and on the illicit drug market since 2019. Created as a potential pain reliever but never approved for medical use in humans or studied in a…
FLUSH WITH FALSE HOPE – Sept. 15, 2025 – Gambling addictions can push people into debt and fuel mental health crises. Studies show people with such addictions are at higher risk for depression and suicide. Psychologists once labeled excessive gambling as compulsive, but now recognize it as an addiction since repeated exposure builds tolerance and demands more play to feel the same excitement. Casino game designers have exploited a brain quirk first identified by psychologist B.F. Skinner, who studied animals confined in boxes with levers for food. He discovered animals pressed levers more when food arrived randomly. That same desire…
AUDIO – BOOK REVIEW – Sept. 4, 2025 – Rodríguez, a former Green Beret soldier and medic with 10 deployments under his belt and plenty of scars to show for it, including PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, vision issues, and what he’s called a “chemical dependency,” though, per his Instagram, Rodríguez is now sober. His war record—complemented by his friendship with former President George W. Bush, who bonded with Rodríguez while oil-painting his portrait—makes him a seemingly perfect steward for his generation’s war memorial. But there’s another part of his biography that makes Rodríguez an exemplar: He, like so many others,…
BOOK REVIEW – Sept. 16, 2025 – The Rehab Playbook helps both individuals struggling with addiction and the community of people—family, friends, therapists, and physicians—who care about them by providing a deeper understanding of the treatment process as well as how to find the right program. We are amid a mental health crisis—addiction, overdoses, depression, suicide attempts, and deaths are all on the rise. The explosion of virtual therapy platforms indicates that more people are reaching out for help. This is fantastic; however, according to the American Association of Addiction Medicine, only one out of every ten people who have…
MEDS MATTER – Sept. 11, 2025 – For older adults, minor falls can pose major threats, as their risk of death after a fall has tripled in the U.S. over the last 30 years. Some experts believe that certain medications — a category called fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) — could be to blame. Dr. Thomas A. Farley, a Washington, D.C.–based public health expert, writes in the medical publication JAMA that lifestyle changes alone can’t explain the spike. “There is plenty of reason to believe that the surge in fall deaths may be tied to the soaring use of certain prescription…
VIDEO – MAKES SENSE – Sept. 15, 2025 – With potential federal funding cuts on the horizon, the upcoming New York legislative session will be a tough one as the state looks to address funding issues and more. Rob Kent, president of Kent Strategic Advisors, has served on both the state and federal levels as counsel in drug control groups, and joined Capital Tonight on Monday to discuss improvements to treatment access in the state without raising costs. CONTINUE@SpectrumNews
DANGEROUS TRENDS – September 18, 2025 – Fewer Americans say they drink alcohol now than they have done for decades, but for those that do, the habit appears to have become dramatically deadlier over time, with the alcohol-related death rate in the U.S. almost doubling in the last twenty years. Researchers at UCLA found that the rate of alcohol-related death increased between 1999 and 2024, with an especially sharp uptick during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. And while such deaths have declined since that peak, they remain markedly high. “These findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted policies to…
VIDEO – SOBER TAILGATE – September 16, 2025 – While some may think alcohol is just part of watching sports, local organizations are working to change the narrative. In celebration of National Recovery Month, The Phoenix and Marquette Recovery are hosting Milwaukee’s “Largest Sober Tailgate” before Tuesday’s Brewers game against the Angels. The event will include free food, non-alcoholic beverages, resource tables and games for the first 500 attendees. “This event brings together more than a dozen Wisconsin organizations from Milwaukee to Green Bay to enjoy baseball and celebrate recovery,” Byron Thompson, Senior Volunteer Manager with The Phoenix said. CONTINUE@TMJ4
VIDEO – TO THINE OWN SELF BE SOBER – Sept. 19, 2025 – September is National Recovery Month. It acknowledges the health care providers and those in recovery for the ongoing efforts to tackle challenges with addiction. We spoke with Beth Churchill, who is practicing sobriety. She’s said she’s been completely sober now for three months, and she’s already chosen to be an advocate to help others on their own path to recovery.”Substance abuse disorder was part of my life from a young age,” said Churchill, “And that was really impactful. I spent a lot of years doing my best…
VIDEO – LIVE ND LEARN – Sept. 15, 2025 – Sara Bown has been alcohol free for six years. She talks about how social norms and easy access to alcohol play a role in alcohol abuse. CONTINUE@CBC
WHO DO YOU KILL? – Sept. 17, 2025 – Wyatt Wheeler was looking for an alternative to alcohol when he found kratom. The 27-year-old was attending the rigorous Neely School of Business at Texas Christian University, and “he found this kratom alternative to try to take the edge off during a party,” his mom, Patti Wheeler, tells PEOPLE exclusively. “We just had no way of knowing that it was as addictive as it was.” At the time, she hadn’t been concerned about him or his behavior. “I had seen these herbal vitamins in his bathroom,” says. “I said, ‘What is…
GREAT APP – Sept. 15, 2025 – Founded in 2017 by John M., Sober Speak is a recovery-focused podcast featuring conversations with individuals working through the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. Ranked among the top 1% of podcasts worldwide, it has surpassed 3 million downloads and built a community spanning every country. Sober Speak draws 5,000–15,000 listeners per episode and attracts about 20,000 monthly website visitors. In addition to podcast episodes, the platform provides free step worksheets and community connections. John M. is expanding the website’s “Find A Rehab” directory to connect listeners with vetted treatment centers nationwide. “The podcast…
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 674,752,436 views – Music video by Lady Gaga performing Always Remember Us This Way (From A Star Is Born Soundtrack). CONTINUE@YouTube
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 53,737,449 views – Live At Royal Variety Performance. CONTINUE@YouTube
BOOK RECOMMENDATION – Sept. 2025 – We are experiencing an epidemic of epic proportions, as the stress of life seems to ever increase. Alcoholics Anonymous, and the dozens of other programs that address other problems using the twelve-step model, has succeeded in helping millions of people to find worthwhile, sober, and satisfying lives. Regrettably, even more people fail to succeed in the programs, or even fail to try the programs, often because of the requirement of reliance on a higher power. Doctor Gordon has addressed this problem with this book in which he presents the reader with a variety of…
STICK WITH THE WINNERS! – Sept. 23, 2025 – Jenner Anderson is from the Bay Area and went to school at University of California, Santa Cruz, majoring in Sociology. She has a passion for entertainment, and moved to Los Angeles to pursue this dream. She has worked on the campaigns for Joker: Folie a Deux, Minecraft, Blue Beetle, and The Iron Claw as an Associate Producer. She is the middle sibling of two sisters, and has a wonderful family. Her two cats, Tigger and Thumper, began as foster cats until she ultimately decided to adopt them. She enjoys cooking, playing…
QUITTING TIME – September 18, 2025 – “I’m a person who doesn’t say very much,” Björn Borg says with a wry smile. Borg, the greatest tennis player of his day, has spent 42 years saying nothing since he announced his retirement at the age of 26. When he broke that news in 1983, it was one of the biggest shocks in the history of sport. Not simply because he was at his peak, but also because he was the rock star tennis player – beautiful, mysterious and followed by a flock of teenybopper fans. Borg was actually only 25 when…
WHO WOULDN’T? – Sept. 13, 2025 – Charlie Sheen’s new documentary on Netflix has not only pulled back the curtain on his struggles with addiction but has also left a lasting impact on his daughter, Sami Sheen. As per Hola, the 21-year-old took to social media this week to reveal that she had only just learned the real reason behind her father’s sobriety journey, and it left her in tears. Sami shared a clip on TikTok of herself gazing at the camera, visibly emotional. “I didn’t know,” she wrote over the video, “I was the reason he got sober.” She…
AUDIO – MUSIC HEALS – Sept. 8, 2025 – Singer-songwriter Billy Strings says his guitar has been his best friend for as long as he can remember. “I slept with my guitar when I was 4 or 5 years old,” he says. “I’d put it right under the blankets with me. I used to kiss it good night.” Though he never took formal lessons, Strings learned to play the guitar by hanging around with his dad and listening to him play Doc Watson. “My dad played his music all around the house growing up. And by the time I could…
OVERLY HORNY – Sept. 12, 2025 – A film accountant pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he embezzled nearly $2 million from production companies that hired him, using the funds for Las Vegas trips and hookups with pornographic film actresses and a woman he met through a “sugar daddy” website. Joshua M., 46, of Woodland Hills is charged in Los Angeles federal court with six counts of wire fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. At his arraignment, a tentative trial date of Nov. 4 was set. If convicted, Mandel would face up to 20 years behind bars on each…
HILLBILLY HEROIN – Sept. 18, 2025 – Grace was given a free sample of CBD American Shaman’s Advanced Alkaloids tablets after purchasing an order of CBD gummies — a promotion the company continues to this day. She liked the way the product made her feel and bought more. She quickly went from one or two tablets a day to 10 a day in the span of a month. … “It made me incredibly depressed and heightened my anxiety. I was simultaneously on edge and completely checked out.” Grace’s wake-up call arrived in March, when she spent $200 in a day…
READING MATTERS – Sept. 18, 2025 – Tiffany Love, a military veteran and solo world traveler, has released her debut memoir, “Successful Runaway,” a raw, inspiring account of personal transformation, resilience, and adventure. The book details Tiffany’s courageous decision to leave behind a life of hardship, societal expectations, and toxic environments in pursuit of freedom and self-discovery. From growing up as a runaway to serving in the military and enduring tragic personal loss, including the death of her father, Tiffany’s life has been marked by both struggles and triumphs. Choosing sobriety and reclaiming her life, she embarked on a global…
RDJ and Company – Sept. 14, 2025 – It used to be that when non-famouses said they had gone sober, they’d court intrusive questions at best and mistrust or ostracization at worst. If they hadn’t had a melodramatic tragedy happen to them that involved either a public nervous breakdown or a fully shaved head, then people thought their sobriety was a symptom of antisocial disorder or clinical insanity. By the way, you might assume that I’m talking about, like, the 19th century Wild West, but I’m actually talking about, like, 2019. Of course, successful actors are somewhat removed from the…
FRIENDS – Sept. 17, 2025 – In a new interview, Sheen revealed that he believed Perry was not sober while promoting his 2022 memoir, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing.” The “Two and a Half Men” star said he could hear signs of struggle in Perry’s voice even as the “Friends” actor spoke publicly about recovery. CONTINUE@Blast
BAND OF AA BROTHERS & SISTERS – Sept. 2025 – (Photo: Shania Twain) One thing country music is known for? Drinkin’ songs. For some, there’s nothing like tipping back a cold one to a tune about tipping back a cold one. Despite the genre’s ability to craft the perfect “crack a cold one” track, there are several stars who have chosen to abstain from the bottle completely: They’ve gone sober! A select few have never touched the stuff, while others have had to initiate a nasty breakup in order to live a better life. Actually, that’s most of the artists…
VIDEO – NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH – Sept. 15, 2025 – Maurice Benard (Sonny Corinthos) and Gregory Zarian who recurred as Julian, a friend of Kate Howard’s (Megan Ward) on General Hospital, talked about fear. Plus, Gregory opened up on the State of Mind podcast about being an alcoholic. Read on to find out how he copes with that.Ahead of the podcast, Maurice told his ABC fans that he enjoyed chatting with Gregory because they talked about their dads. Additionally, they share a common background in acting. Notably, the two men both shared time in front of the cameras on…