VIDEO – WOMAN OF THE WORLD – Aug. 28, 2025 – The Bachelorette’s DeAnna Pappas is saying NO to alcohol. “It’s been the best decision that I ever could have made,” she shared while celebrating the launch of iHeartRadio’s “Famously Available” podcast. “I feel so much better. I sleep really great, which is awesome. And the other piece is I’ve become more clear on myself and more in touch with myself and also my higher power.” Although Pappas denied ever having any issues with alcohol, a custody battle with her estranged husband, Stephen Stagliano, in early June revealed that the…
Author: Leonard Buschel
ANY MANY MORE – AUG, 29, 2025 – Courtney Stodden is 31 and sober!, She rose to fame as a child bride when they tied the knot to 51-year-old actor Doug Hutchison at 16 in 2011. They came out as non-binary in 2021 and initially used they/them pronouns before updating it to she/they in 2022. The “Reality Ex-Wives” alum celebrated their 31st birthday on Instagram, dropping a video that captured them wearing a tiara before blowing out the candles on a stunning pink cake. They were in high spirits as they blew the glitter that adorned the cake at the…
“We’re all just walking each other home” – Ram Dass, b. Boston 1931 – d. Hawaii 2019
SAD TRUTHS – Aug. 17, 2025 – Sophie was hilarious and it was almost never at someone else’s expense. She had the alchemical ability to make people laugh while building them up. It’s so difficult in this world to be an enthusiast, to be excited about cool stuff, to love things openly. Her openness was a universal theme for the dozen or so people who spoke at her funeral. For most of the people who cared about Sophie, her suicide is a mystery, an unthinkable and unknowable departure from all they believed about her. Her open book turned out to…
FORGIVE NEVER FORGET – Aug. 17, 2025 – The middle-class mother had a loving husband, two adorable children and a charming home. She worked as a writer and producer for TV networks, including HGTV and National Geographic, and was known as the life of every party. ‘Fun Mary’ was her nickname but it was a disguise that hid a secret a debilitating 30-year battle with alcohol abuse. It was an addiction that threatened to unravel her idyllic suburban life. From Bacardi and Cokes in high school to cheap college kegs and wine-soaked dinner parties, Stephens described alcohol as her ‘best…
LIKES – SHARES – SEND – Aug. 22, 2025 – “I tried getting sober at 23. I didn’t get sober until I was 36,” he told High Times. “My life has been destroying it, rebuilding it, having an amazing life for like a year or two, then self-sabotaging it back to just nothing. I was tired, man. I was just tired.” Zink’s story is steeped in tragedy. He lost his wife to suicide in 2015. Two years later, his father also took his life. In the wake of these losses and his own near-suicide attempt, Zink spiraled into addiction, secrecy,…
AUDIO – REAL AMERICANS – Aug. 18, 2025 – State financial woes have sidetracked the effort to open a recovery high school for students battling addiction. But organizers say they’re not giving up. Mike and Marianne Dyer have been leading the effort to open the school since 2022. Organizers thought they had a shot to open this fall, The Dyers and their backers — including a nonprofit group called Friends of Lane County Recovery Schools — thought they still had a shot at the single grant. They asked the state in their application for $3.8 million to fund the school…
VIDEO – IT CAN START YOUNG – Aug. 19, 2025 – Just last year, nearly $7 billion was wagered on sports betting in our state. January 2025 had the highest total amount wagered of any month in history at $737 million. TIPS CONTINUE@WDBJ7
NO PINS EITHER – Aug. 22, 2025 – This everyday grooming practice “could kill you”, the medical expert warned. Squeezing pimples is a habit many perform without a second thought. While it’s typically safe, there are specific situations where it could present a deadly threat. In a clip shared on TikTok, Doctor Suraj Kukadia explained this concern. Known online as Dr Sooj, he cautioned against touching what’s called the “triangle of death”. It comes as a dermatologist shares the surprising thing you should do before getting into swimming pools. The phrase “triangle of death” describes the zone from the bridge…
SAME AS MORPHINE? – Aug. 22, 2025 – Researchers have long suspected that ultra-processed foods – such as packaged snacks, sugary beverages, and fast food – have addictive qualities. A growing body of evidence now indicates that these products can provoke behaviors traditionally associated with addiction, including bingeing, withdrawal, and cravings. Decades of neurochemical, behavioral, and clinical research suggest that ultra-processed foods act on the brain’s reward system in ways comparable to addictive substances like alcohol and drugs. While neuroimaging studies, including a recent PET scan analysis, have sometimes failed to detect a definitive “addiction signature,” experts caution that imaging…
MAMA WAS RIGHT – Aug. 21, 2025 – The researchers analyzed data from over 17 studies, comprising a total participant pool of 639,539, with 97,595 cases of colon cancer. Including 20–40 grams of cruciferous veggies has the best protective effect per gram. Colon cancer (CC) claimed 903,859 lives in 2022 alone. It stands as the world’s third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with roughly 1.9 million new diagnoses each year. Among the many factors that shape CC risk, diet is one of the most powerful and, importantly, the one we can control. A recent…
DOG GOD DOG – Aug. 1, 2025 – She says sobriety unveiled past trauma she hadn’t yet healed from, so when someone suggested a service dog to help with her PTSD, she jumped at the suggestion. “The value of a service dog is unbelievable for anyone who has any trauma. They can be a wonderful tool for many different types of disabilities,” said White. The next step was training her. A year after she got Lucy, White met Brittany Sweet from Intuitive Wolf K9 Training. “I was early in recovery from alcohol addiction, and there were days where I just…
NO PAIN, MORE SANE – Aug. 22, 2025 – Pain management providers use a combination of evidence-based treatment options that involve medications, therapy, injections, and specialized procedures to improve pain. But sometimes, these therapies are not enough to enable patients to have control over their pain.Opioid medications, like oxycodone and tramadol, can help in the short-term but the long-term use can be problematic and complicated by developing tolerance and addiction. Researchers, like Gregory Scherrer, PharmD, PhD, are determined to create a new pain medication that can offer relief to those in need—without the addictive properties. Now supported by a multi-million…
AUDIO – GREAT SHOW – Aug. 22, 2025 – Josh is at rock bottom: dropped out of college, kicked out of his halfway house, unsure how he got to the park where he just woke up and ignorant of where the deep, bleeding gash on his arm came from. In Jake Brasch’s “The Reservoir,” now in a Berkeley Repertory Theatre production, Josh (Ben Hirschhorn) has been an alcoholic for so long that he missed his grandmother Irene’s descent into Alzheimer’s disease. Seeing her now, he sees his own weakened mind reflected back at him; maybe if he helps her, he…
FEELING TOO GOOD – Aug. 22, 2025 – “I thought I’d be fine and forgot my whole pill taking schedule and got a little addicted to pain meds,” Kaitlyn wrote in an Instagram. The 40-year-old also urged fans to “trust” their doctor. “Don’t do any social media, make decisions or shop,” she wrote. “I couldn’t stop shopping and I barely remember.” And Kaitlyn has always been open about her cosmetic procedures. Previously, she shared that she underwent a brow lift and microblading since appearing on Chris Soules’ season of The Bachelor in 2015, as well as had lip fillers and…
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 105,349 views since Mar 6, 2013 – Sondheim wrote the 1994 Tony Award-winning musical with James Lapine. Broadway stars Melissa Errico, Judy Kuhn and Ryan Silverman and musical director Rob Berman performed selections from “Passion.” CONTINUE@YouTube
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 185,697 views since Jun 14, 2010 – This song is a performance song made more emotional and drives the words and meaning straight to the heart simply because its not sung perfectly but that’s exactly why this is perfect. Honest and emotive. The best of singers couldnt give it as much impact and realism as this performance by Taylor. CONTINUE@YouTube
RUNNING INTO TROUBLE – Aug. 19, 2025 – Some of the most physically fit people in the world may have a unique health risk. New research uncovers a possible link between marathon running and colorectal cancer. CONTINUE@Gizmodo
STICK WITH THE WINNERS! – Aug. 26, 2025 – Born in Alexandria, Virginia, Carrie completed high school after being in several theatrical productions and went onto the Savannah College of Art Design in Georgia. She majored in fashion design, then moved to New York City and worked for several top designers, wanting to start her own label. She moved to LA and began an environmentally friendly fashion company, then landed several parts in movies and acting and worked as a print model. When she gained sobriety, she decided to go back to school and earn a master’s degree in clinical…
LAUGHS MATTER – Aug. 21, 2025 – Holding her mic in both hands, tripping over her words a bit, Alex Stringer seems nervous when she comes onstage. It’s no wonder when the topic of her stand-up show, Happy Hour, is such a personal one, focusing on her struggles with alcoholism and a journey towards sobriety. She warms up quickly, though, finding an in through crowd work. The opposite of addiction is connection, according to Stringer, and she certainly does a thorough job of connecting with her audience. By the end of the show, we’ve heard not just Stringer’s anecdotes, but also some riotously funny…
FUN COUPLE – Aug. 23, 2025 – In a lawsuit filed on Thursday in a California civil court, Massenet accused Erik Torstensson, her partner of 14 years in life and work, of leading a “rampant” double life replete with prostitutes, alcoholism, drug use, and exorbitant spending. The news has dominated the group chats of the fashion firmament from Los Angeles, where Massenet was born and where Torstensson’s fashion line, Frame, is partly based, all the way to England, where they entertained at their lavish homes in South Kensington and Wiltshire. They met in 2009, the year before Massenet sold her…
NO BOUNDARIES – Aug. 19, 2025 – In times of war, the burden of SUDs deepens. War fuels substance use through trauma, displacement, and breakdown of services, while simultaneously weakening the health and social systems needed to respond. The result is a dangerous feedback loop: the conditions of war worsen addiction, and widespread addiction in turn undermines recovery, resilience, and security. Prolonged conflict, economic disruption, and psychological strain are driving rising substance use and addiction, with grave implications for both public health and national stability. Substance use patterns have shifted and diversified in Ukraine. Military personnel and veterans, under extreme…
FAME’S LAME? – Aug. 1, 2025 – Johnny Lever revealed his past struggles with alcohol. He spoke about the exhaustion from balancing fame with heavy drinking. Lever realized the self-destructive nature of his addiction. He quit drinking 24 years ago. Lever emphasized the importance of recognizing the limits of indulgence. He shared how faith and family helped him get clean. He made millions laugh, but behind the curtains, Johnny Lever was fighting a silent, relentless battle. In a rare and emotional revelation, the legendary comedian opened up about his struggles with alcohol at the peak of his fame. Appearing on…
VIDEO – DRUNK – Aug. 21, 2025 – Newly released video captured the moment law enforcement accused a Southwest Airlines pilot of being under the influence in eastern Georgia before arresting him earlier this year. Officers arrested David Allsop, 52, at Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, accusing him of driving while intoxicated ahead of a Chicago-bound flight from Georgia, according to Fox 32 and CBS News. Police body cam footage shows officers confronting the pilot and asking him when he last had a drink. He responded that it was the previous night. “Like 10 hours ago at least,” the pilot is…
EVERY DAY – Aug. 21, 2025 – Each year on August 31, communities around the world observe International Overdose Awareness Day, a time to honor the lives lost to overdose, support those affected, and work toward preventing future tragedies. It is a powerful reminder that behind the statistics are real people: family members, friends, and neighbors whose lives have been forever changed. In support of this important initiative, the White Plains Public Library will be hosting a Narcan Training on August 14. Narcan (naloxone) is a life-saving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The training, which…
VIDEO – ADDICTS DIE – July 30, 2025 – Two city-approved “safe” drug injection sites could be forced to close under a new executive order issued by President Trump, which rips the facilities, where addicts can use illegal drugs like meth, heroin and cocaine under supervision. Back in January 2021, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia previously ruled “it is a federal crime to open a supervised injection site or ‘consumption room’ for illegal drug use,” overruling the District Court for the Eastern District decision. Earlier this year, Malliotakis reintroduced her legislation — the Defund Heroin Injection Centers…
WEIGHT NOT – WANT NOT – Aug. 21, 2025 – “I don’t think of this as doing anything wild west. We’re using something off-label under the umbrella of addiction, whether that be food, sex, alcohol, or opioids.” — Steven Klein, staff physician at Caron Treatment Centers, At the facility outside Philadelphia, facility outside Philadelphia, every patient is on a GLP-1 receptor agonist, most commonly known for weight loss. The goal isn’t shedding pounds—it’s shedding the substance abuse addictions that brought them there in the first place. With staff physicians reporting that patients have fewer addiction cravings, it’s a paradigm shift…
TRAGIC!!! – Aug. 1, 2025 – Caldwell said her sister Meg began using nitrous oxide recreationally in college. Eventually, her years-long use grew into a costly, dangerous addiction. “She would spend $300, $400 at a smoke shop in a day,” said Caldwell. She said her sister’s nitrous addiction left her incontinent and caused temporary paralysis in her legs. “A doctor in the hospital said, ‘This is going to kill you. You’re going to die,’” said Caldwell. “Her absence is felt every day,” said Caldwell. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of deaths attributed to nitrous…
SLEEP SOLUTION – August 21, 2025 – Rolling out a yoga mat and flowing with your breath could be one of the best exercises for improving sleep in the long run. 30 randomized controlled trials have revealed that regular, high-intensity yoga is more strongly associated with improved sleep than walking, resistance training, combination exercise, or aerobic exercise. The trials included came from more than a dozen countries and involved over 2,500 participants with sleep disturbances across all age groups. When researchers at the Harbin Sport University in China crunched the numbers, they found that high-intensity yoga for less than 30…
LET THE SLIDE CONTINUE – May 2025 – Annual drug overdose deaths are projected to reach their lowest level since 2019. Almost all states across the nation saw decreases; Louisiana, Michigan, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., experienced declines of 35% or more. The data will be featured in an interactive web data visualization that will be updated Wednesday, May 14. The 2024 data presented in this visualization are provisional—they are incomplete and subject to change as more 2024 data are submitted to the National Vital Statistics System. The visualization includes: Reported and predicted (estimated)…