“I have done nothing all summer but wait for myself to be myself again.” – Georgia O’Keeffe, b.1887 – d.1986
Author: Leonard Buschel
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 237,292 views since Jan 18, 2012 – I just discovered this. It is indescribably beautiful. My comfort song during this horrible time of anxiety. When people just listened and were there living in the moment…lending time respect to the band brothers and sisters who came to listen. elusively. “Flute Thing” literally one of the highlights of the psychedelic era. Love that piece! Steve Katz (guitar, but playing bass here) and Al Kooper (who had quit the band earlier in 1967, but played the festival and was stage manger) left to form Blood, Sweat and Tears.…
OLIVES MATTER – August 26, 2025 – Powerful new evidence suggests that following the Mediterranean diet, while also cutting calories and increasing physical activity, reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes. A trial in Spain found that older adults at risk of diabetes who followed that diet, reduced their caloric intake and exercised regularly were 31 percent less likely to develop the disease after six years, compared with those who just followed the Mediterranean diet. The diet emphasizes fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, olive oil and fish. The findings build on results from an earlier, related trial,…
HELPING OTHERS – August 25, 2025 – A former drug addict, whose addiction had a “traumatic” effect on his family, has said he wants to help others going through the same thing. Andrew Deane-Williams, 47, battled with alcohol and drug addiction from his early teens, but said it was the impact on his “broken family” later in life that really struck him. Now he is launching a new charity, called Broken Chains UK, to support children and young people whose parents are dealing with drug addiction. “Drug addiction is messy, it’s chaotic and it takes your soul. My kids suffered…
VIDEO – DOING DONUTS – Aug. 28, 2025 – Do you like espresso martinis and Dunkin’? If yes, then you’re in for the best of both worlds. “Kahlúa, the No. 1 coffee liqueur1, is teaming up with Dunkin’, America’s largest coffee and donuts brand, to introduce Kahlúa Dunkin’ Caramel Swirl Cream Liqueur. The press release said that the liquer combines the Caramel Swirl flavor from Dunkin’ and the rum and Arabica coffee of Kahlúa. Here’s what you need to know about this new Dunkin’ product and how you can turn getting Dunkin’ into getting “Drunkin’.” CONTINUE@USAToday
HOT PLASTIC – August 25, 2025 – Experts are warning to be wary of leaving plastic water bottles in your cars during the sweltering summer months. While it is critical to stay hydrated during the summer heat, it is best to avoid water that has been left sitting in a warm car. Once temperatures start to climb high enough, plastic particles can begin to break down, making them easier to ingest. “The crucial temperature that that starts to happen in is around 140 to 170°F, which is very normal to get to inside of a hot car in the summertime.…
NO ALANON? – Aug. 25, 2025 – (Tanya Hughes is a councillor with Families Out Loud) She said she felt blamed for his addiction and that at one point he needed intensive care, but that the charity gave her counselling and practical support. Jo said: “There’s always hope. Even when someone is in the worst possible place.” The mother said she had been trying to hold down her own job and support two teenagers on one income before seeking help. Speaking to the BBC, Jo said: “I remember feeling very alone and very lost because of the stigma associated with…
VIDEO – NICE GENES – Aug. 27, 2025 – Austin Shepard is sharing the struggles he faced before his time in the villa. “When I was 22, to get clean from opiates, I did this psychedelic stuff called Ibogaine,” the 26-year-old explained on the Aug. 26, describing his 18-hour experience with the substance as “super intense.” “In it, I lived until I was 64 years old as an addict, day in and day out,” he recalled. “Had two kids, a wife, kids got taken away. And then I came out of my trip 18 hours later, and I was like,…
ZERO to HERO – Aug. 26, 2025 – When Curtis Meyer encounters a patient battling addiction, his goal as a community peer recovery coach is to make a connection. Whether he’s in the Meritus Medical Center, at the Meritus Crisis Center, or somewhere else in the hospital, he tries to establish a relationship with that person to give them the chance to recover. “Our goal is to meet people where they’re at,” said Meyer, who has worked at Meritus since 2018. “If they’re not ready, if they don’t believe in themselves, that’s OK.” He knows firsthand about being ready to…
NO ONE IS IMMUNE – Aug. 28, 2025 – Colts owner Jim Irsay spent his final years suffering through a relapse that he and team executives hid from the public. This relapse, and his death, came as he was under the care of a “luxury” recovery doctor prescribing Irsay opioids — and, eventually, ketamine — at amounts that worried people close to him. The Post’s investigation is based on interviews with five people with direct knowledge of Irsay’s relapse, all of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation from the Colts, who are now owned…
VIDEO – WRONG CAREER – August 27, 2025 – A 39-year-old woman has been arrested and accused of child abuse and other drug-related offenses. The suspect is identified as Ashley Lutton. “It was reported that Ms. Lutton offered to sell Adderall to a 17-year-old former patient who had recently been discharged.” In a statement released on Aug. 27, Mesa Police officials identified the suspect as Ashley Lutton. Officials say at around 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 22, they responded to an informational report that involved Lutton, who was working as an employee at a juvenile inpatient drug rehabilitation facility. “It was…
VIDEO – IT’S A BUSINESS – Aug. 25, 2025 – Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44, according to the CDC. The surge in substance use has fueled an explosion of drug treatment centers nationwide. But critics say it has also opened the door to bad actors more focused on profit than patient care. NTD spoke with John Puls, master’s certified addiction professional, for analysis. CONTINUE@NTD
ONE PROBLEM OVER THE LINE – Aug. 27, 2025 – The once-ascendant, long-troubled addiction treatment provider Landmark Recovery has filed for bankruptcy for at least some of its corporate entities, according to public documents. The company’s application for bankruptcy protection marks a critical development in the company’s legal troubles, particularly with its landlords. The dispute at the heart of the bankruptcy involves one of the largest health care landlords in the nation: Sabra Health Care REIT Inc. (Nasdaq: SBRA). The first-day filing declaration, penned and signed by founder and CEO Matt Boyle, blames Sabra Health Care REIT for inappropriately assessing…
EACH ONE – TEACH ONE – Aug. 27, 2025 – Philadelphia’s Keli McLoyd of NACo’s Health Steering Committee. Engaging people with lived experience, both those who are in recovery and in active drug use and investing in evidence-based practices are the best ways for localities to build effective substance use disorder and overdose programming. Fatal overdose is just one data point, and it’s not a barometer for community health, said Keli McLoyd, director of Philadelphia’s overdose response unit. While fewer people are dying of drug overdoses, that doesn’t mean fewer people are struggling with substance use disorder, but instead that…
USERS BEWARE!!! – Aug. 28, 2025 – Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are among the most widely used pain and fever remedies, but new findings from the University of South Australia suggest they may be contributing to a global health crisis: antibiotic resistance. In a pioneering study, scientists discovered that each drug on its own can encourage bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics, and when taken together, they appear to intensify this effect. By examining how these medicines interact with the common antibiotic ciprofloxacin and Escherichia coli (E. coli) – a bacterium often responsible for gut and urinary tract infections – the…
HEROINE – Aug. 26, 2025 – With Dr. Melody Glenn’s new book—Mother of Methadone: A Doctor’s Quest, A Forgotten History, And A Modern-Day Crisis—Dr. Marie Nyswander is finally getting her flowers. “Narcotic agents” harassed and threatened Nyswander while she was researching methadone at Rockefeller University. She didn’t back down. Glenn was looking for a woman mentor and found one in Nyswander. She weaves her story of becoming a certified addiction doctor with key moments in Nyswander’s life. As an emergency department physician, she treated numerous patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and found it extremely frustrating. They never seemed to…
VIDEO – OH NO – Aug. 27, 2025 – Experts say there’s some encouraging progress when it comes to preventing overdose deaths. NBC 7 anchor Catherine Garcia explains why some believe that progress might be stopped. CONTINUE@NBCSanDiego
AUDIO – PROVOKETAIL? – Aug. 27, 2025 – Several years into her sobriety, Logan Denzer decided to try nonalcoholic beer and mocktails while others around her drank real booze. “A lot of people feel out of place” when everyone else is imbibing, said the 27-year-old from Los Angeles, who considers these beverages “an excellent solution.” Millions of Americans agree — including others recovering from addiction, people trying to cut down on their drinking and the rising number of young adults forgoing alcohol altogether. They’ve fueled a booming industry. Recent research shows that drinking less, or nothing at all, is a…
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 6,127,202 views since Jun 15, 2022 – “Running Up That Hill” written and produced by British singer Kate Bush. The song was the first single from Kate’s 1985 album Hounds of Love and released in the UK on 5 August 1985. “Running Up That Hill” entered the UK chart at number 9 and eventually peaked at number 3. The single also reached the top 30 in the United States. CONTINUE@YouTube
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 1,000,463 views since 2024 – It was written and sung by Paul McCartney and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The lyrics describe the titular “fool”, a solitary figure who is not understood by others, but is actually wise. Paul said the idea for the song was inspired by the Dutch design collective the Fool, who derived their name from the tarot card of the same name, and possibly by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The song’s segment in the Magical Mystery Tour television film was shot separately from the rest of the film and without the other…
STICK WITH THE WINNERS! – Sept. 2, 2025 – DEBBIE KASPER is one of the most versatile forces in the entertainment industry—and a darling of the press. Besides being a two-time Emmy nominated writer, an award-winning comedienne, and international humor author, she is a theatrical producer and director. Kasper is also a stand-out stand-up comic who has been blowing audiences away for over 25 years. Her essays have been featured on numerous websites, and she has contributed humorous essays to two published anthologies. Her own book of personal essays “A Poke in the Eye with a Sharp Stick—Promises my Parents…
BILLBOARD BURDEN – August 24, 2025 – I decided to get sober in March, just a few months before my 21st birthday. But not because it was trendy or because I believed I was an alcoholic. I drove across the country twice and what stood out most – besides the diverse beauty of the states – was the number of billboards advertising alcohol. The boards became increasingly controversial and religious as I headed toward middle America (mostly promoting creationism and insisting abortion is murder). But the one consistency, from New York to San Francisco, was alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant…
WATCH – A STORY OF HOPE – Aug. 30, 2025 – “I was homeless and a drug addict weighing 148 lbs. pounds 8 years ago. I’m 225 now, working out for five days a week. I just got engaged last Thursday, right over here on Larimer Square, and I’m getting ready to build a family,” he says. CONTINUE@CBS NEWS
GOD IS A MATCHMAKER – Aug. 26, 2025 – The past few years of comedian John Crist’s life have been a rollercoaster — from a stint in rehab to his recent engagement. “The best thing that’s ever happened to me in my entire life by far, I love you so much says Crist on social media. His fiancée, Lydia Fielder, is a co-anchor in Nashville. “God wrote it from the start—my first love is now my forever love,” said Fielder on Instagram. “I do, John B. Crist.” The 41-year-old comedian grew up in Atlanta, GA, as the son of a…
WALTER WHITE’S BEST FRIEND? – Aug. 27, 2025 – Grammy-winning rapper Lil Nas X is making headlines for all the wrong reasons after a shocking arrest in Studio City that left fans concerned for his health and future. The 26-year-old star, whose legal name is Montero Lamar Hill, was taken into custody after police say he was found wandering the streets in nothing but tighty-whities and cowboy boots. Lil Nas X also allegedly assaulted officers during what authorities suspect was a drug-fueled episode and possible overdose. According to the police report, Lil Nas X allegedly punched one officer “twice in…
NON-EDIBLES – Aug. 10, 2025 – As products like weed gummies proliferate, more children and teens are suffering symptoms including seizures and life-threatening breathing problems. Amy recalled hyperventilating that spring day three years ago. “I was scared to death,” she said, her voice breaking. “It was shock and panic.” As legalization and commercialization of cannabis have spread across the United States, making marijuana edibles more readily available, the number of cannabis-related incidents reported to poison control centers has sharply increased: from about 930 cases in 2009 to more than 22,000 last year, data from America’s Poison Centers shows. Of those,…
SHE HAD TO HAVE IT – Aug. 25, 2025 – As a young woman, Sarah Castleberry threw herself into pageants, putting everything she had in order to win the crown. When she became addicted to alcohol, she went all in on that as well, but that all-or-nothing attitude is also what helped her when she finally decided to quit drinking. As a little girl, Castleberry said all she ever wanted to be when she grew up was Miss Arkansas. A 2006 Southside High School graduate, Castleberry entered countless pageants before winning both Miss Batesville and Miss Independence County in 2007.…
UNSEXY FOOD – Aug. 28, 2025 – A rigorous new study found that eating ultra-processed foods caused otherwise healthy men to quickly gain body fat and led to reductions in their sex hormones. The men also seemed to have accumulated higher levels of a chemical found in plastics and food packaging. CONTINUE@WAPO
YES YOU CAN – Aug, 27, 2025 – If you’ve struggled with addiction, you’ve probably felt how deeply it affects your mind. And if you’re thinking about recovery, you may be worried how, and if, your brain can bounce back. Can you really rewire your brain from addiction? Short answer: Yes. “Your brain is resilient,” says J. Craig Allen, MD, vice president of addiction services for Hartford HealthCare and medical director of the Rushford Center, part of its Behavioral Health Network. “It has a remarkable ability to adapt and adjust, and with the right support, treatment and time, return your…
PLAY NICE – July 26, 2025 – “Elton had made a comment that he thought I needed real rehab,” Joel says in the second half of HBO’s And So It Goes, referring to Elton John’s 2011 Rolling Stone interview. “He chalked it up to, ‘Oh, he’s a drunk.’ And that really hurt me.” For someone who’d already lost a marriage to addiction and was trying to step back quietly, the public shaming from a friend wasn’t a wake-up call. It was a gut punch. The two have long since reconciled — and to be fair, Elton’s heart likely was in…