CARE & KINDNESS – Nov. 8, 2024 – We discussed how women escaping domestic violence often turn to alcohol or drugs to cope with their immense psychological trauma. However, most women’s shelters in Australia can’t accept residents using substances due to a lack of clinical support … This leaves women with an impossible choice: remain in an unsafe environment or face homelessness without adequate support. Stigma was another key theme throughout the day. All women struggling with addiction, and particularly mothers and expectant mothers, face intense stigma and fear, often worried about losing custody of their children and feeling ashamed…
Author: Leonard Buschel
WHAT DOES SHE KNOW? – Nov. 7, 2024 – As the first woman and Hispanic Director of the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Drug Abuse Dr. Volkow has dedicated her career to investigating how drugs affect the human brain and how these disruptions contribute to the behavioral/emotional changes in addiction… In a Genomic Press Interview, published in Brain Medicine on November 7, 2024, Dr. Volkow discusses the urgent challenges facing addiction medicine today. With U.S. drug overdose fatalities reaching 107,543 deaths in 2023, NIDA’s research focuses on critical interventions and novel prevention and treatment approaches. “I was struck…
WITH A SMILE – Nov. 8, 2024 – He said: “I’ve gone from drug addict to mental health advocate in a year – I hope that shows others what’s possible. Throughout my experience, I’ve found it really helps to talk to other people. “Going to meetings has helped turn my life around but that’s a big step and maybe people aren’t at that stage. But I think in today’s environment, everyone needs to talk but it’s not normal. We hope events like this can normalise it. Guys, especially, feel far more comfortable just joking around – and you need that,…
NEVER NEGLECTING THE GYM? – Nov. 8, 2024 – And I prayed for the serenity to accept the things I cannot change: the political climate of the world. The courage to change what I can: to show up in my life and be the best person I can be—the best friend, father, and husband. To be kind, patient, and loving (including with myself).Ari Welkom, known on stage as Avatari, is an LA-based alt-rock singer and actor. A Harvard graduate, married father of two, and former college athlete, he practices martial arts and champions anti-bullying, equal rights, and unity on his journey of…
WHAT IT WAS LIKE – Nov. 8, 2024 – Sara Elizabeth Nash allegedly grabbed his neck and began choking him. He pushed her away and she fell into the corner of a wall. After several questions, Nash admitted to drinking and even retrieved a bottle of Bacardi Superior for troopers. Nash allegedly drank from the bottle before police took it from her. She claimed that she was an alcoholic and she could do whatever she wanted in her house. Initially, troopers were going to let Nash go with her parents, but that changed when she faked sleeping in her bed…
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – Released on: Jan. 2, 1966. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (US Version) · Eric Burdon and The Animals. CONTINUE@YouTube
STICK WITH THE WINNERS! – John West has built an impressive career over the past 20 years in mental health and addiction treatment. As an international interventionist, crisis manager, and sober companion, he has supported a wide range of clients, including high-profile individuals like celebrities, executives, and politicians. John co-founded, The Guest House Ocala, a premier center for trauma and addiction recovery, and serves as Chairman of the Board at High Watch Recovery Center, the world’s first 12-Step treatment center. His work, inspired by his own journey, has been instrumental in guiding individuals and families through complex recovery and healing…
VIDEO – FEELINGS – Nov. 3, 3034 – Jessica Simpson isn’t afraid to turn her sobriety journey into a public affair. In fact, the “Sweetest Sin” singer marked a personal milestone on Nov. 1, writing on Instagram, “7yrs ago today I walked myself into the light of being alcohol free.” She accompanied the post with a black-and-white photo of herself by an airplane window overlooking the clouds. Simpson began her sobriety journey in 2017, after spending Halloween drinking and struggling to get her and husband Eric Johnson’s daughter Maxwell, 12, and son Ace, 11, into their costumes for a school…
ONE DAY AT A TIME – Nov. 1, 2024 – In the Blood tells of how alcohol wound its tentacular grip around and into and through a family. It’s written by Hamilton and her daughter, the journalist Arabella Byrne: two individual stories, told in alternate chapters, of how alcohol gripped each of them, and how they eventually broke free of it, ending up in Alcoholics Anonymous just nine months apart. But it’s also a single memoir, for their stories overlap to build a cohesive story. Not long after she got sober, in her early fifties, the novelist Julia Hamilton learned…
VIDEO – WITH A SONG IN HIS HEART – Nov. 8, 2024 – “Physically, I was sick. Spiritually, I was sick. I was basically alone. All the things that I cared about, most of them were gone,” he said. “And so, when you’re in that spot, you just think, what are your options?” In desperation, with nowhere left to turn, he finally asked for help. He started going to AA meetings, and a Recovery in Christ fellowship group. “I decided to go into rehab again and I was, I was ready and God was ready for me,” he said. Only…
WE NEED NEW GODDESSES – Nov. 9, 2024 – “Jamison doesn’t show you steps, she uses them to show you a woman dancing,” Ms. Jowitt wrote. “This ability to maintain a human dimension and to project superhuman power and radiance is perhaps one of her most impressive skills.” “Jamison doesn’t show you steps, she uses them to show you a woman dancing,” Ms. Jowitt wrote. “This ability to maintain a human dimension and to project superhuman power and radiance is perhaps one of her most impressive skills.” “The prototype of countless carven and sculptured goddesses” was how Olga Maynard described…
VIDEO – WAY TOO YOUNG – Nov. 7, 2024 – The prosecutor’s statement said that during the investigation, “illicit conduct was discovered from which three people were charged with the crimes of abandonment of a person followed by death, supply and facilitation of narcotics.” Payne, a former member of One Direction, fell from the balcony of a Buenos Aires hotel on Oct. 16. Someone who was with Payne daily while he was in Buenos Aires is charged with abandoning a person following death, prosecutor Andrés Madrea’s statement said. A hotel employee is accused of supplying Payne with cocaine twice while…
RIGHT IN YOUR NOSE – Nov. 3, 2024 – Cocaine remains a stubbornly glamorous and seductive drug and for many people its highly addictive qualities lie hidden in plain sight. Many are the “casual” or “occasional” users partaking every weekend for years on end, claiming they can stop at any time. HAHA Martha Gill’s article about the ravages of increased cocaine usage and purity raises important questions, and gives data that shows our thinking on the whys and hows of the use and treatment of the drug are out of date (“Britons are dying in a blizzard of cheap cocaine.…
AND IT’S LEGAL – Nov. 5, 2024 – Nick had never even heard of ketamine. But when his friend pulled out a bag of white powder, “I did what anybody else would do at 20 years old. I tried it,” he says. “And I found it really fun, to be honest.” The floaty feeling, like he’d been lifted out of his own body, was “euphoric”, he says. “Like you’re in a fairy world.” Sixteen years later, reality is biting hard. Nick, now 36, has spent the past three months in recovery for ketamine addiction after more than a decade of…
FILMS MATTER – Nov. 7, 2024 – About one hour into The Outrun, I realized that I was watching one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. It was when Rona (Saoirse Ronan, who deserves all the awards) was being tucked into bed by her mother Annie (Saskia Reeves) after relapsing into alcoholism. While drunk, Rona berates her mother for her strong Christian faith. “You know he’s made up,” she says drunkenly as she rips Christian imagery off the wall. But as she falls into bed, Rona looks at her mother and says, “All that praying didn’t help me, did…
IT’S A MOVIE – Nov. 7, 2024 – Rona’s story of addiction and recovery is closely linked to her familial relationships and her interactions with the wider Orkney community. Rona, who has become used to the freedom and self-expression of London life, frequently clashes with her devout Christian mother … who runs a farm on mainland Orkney. Although Rona gets along better with her father, his struggles with bipolar disorder cause problems between them. Through flashbacks to Rona’s childhood, it is clear that her father’s extreme manic and depressive episodes have profoundly affected her, and may have been a factor…
OR BE SAVED? – Nov. 7, 2024 – Whether you’ve been feeling like something is off or want to know what to look out for in your marriage, there are certain signs that can signify a divorce could be on the cards. Of course, we know things don’t just stay rosy once you walk down the aisle and it’s normal to have rough patches, but what if it’s more than that? For some, it can be a lot worse than a few weeks of moodiness, which could lead them to look back and recognise the signs that were clear as…
FROM BOREDOM? – Nov. 7, 2024 – No one tends to associate this tiny state with heavy drinking. However, despite being the 5th smallest state by area and 10th smallest by population, New Hampshire takes first place for consuming the most alcohol per capita in the nation. This statistic refers to the alcohol category overall, including beer, wine, and spirits. There are more details behind the data reported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), though: Not all of this alcohol may necessarily be consumed in the state. New Hampshire does not have a sales tax and…
“Once you’ve danced, you always dance. You can’t deny the gifts that God sends your way.” – Judith Jamison, b. May 10, 1943 Philadelphia – d. Nov. 9, 2024 New York City
STICK WITH THE WINNERS! – Jordana Blesa is a passionate married Latina who is driven to lead in the behavioral Healthcare space. She believes in change, and has faith in innovation, believing everyone deserves a chance who is willing to seek change. Jordana is obsessed with tradition, family, friends and living life to the fullest. Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date? A. 12/27/2012 – alcohol, substances. I have been in and out of treatment since I was 18 years old. I struggled with the idea of letting go…
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 1963 – An edited clip from the motion picture, “Malcolm X” (1992) dubbed with my favorite from Sam Cooke, “A Change Is Gonna Come” (1964). CONTINUE@YouTube
BULLSH#T? – Nov. 1, 2024 – I had my last drink in September 2011. Then I quit smoking pot in 2015. I think that lasted about eight years. Nine years. In that time period, it was all about sobriety. And with a sober mind, I’m able to do things like get a pilot’s license, manage a business, start a product line. I’m sober for the most part, but every now and then, I may still break out a joint if I’m writing or something like that. But I don’t play games with the alcohol. That’s what led me down a…
NPR AUDIO – XOXOXOXXOXOXOXO – Oct. 30, 2024 – “I’m a sex and love addict. I might as well start my SLAA journey,” a young woman who calls herself Brittany McGee announced in a TikTok video. It’s among dozens of posts in which young women explain how their participation in groups such as Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous help them manage behavior that feels unhealthy, even harmful.eople struggling with compulsive behavior around love and sex have long been the brunt of sleazy jokes and lurid misrepresentation. TV shows and movies use sad, so-called sex addicts sitting on folding chairs in…
HONESTY MATTERS – Oct. 29, 2024 – Holth said he’s been in recovery for more than 16 years, but hadn’t gone public with his personal recovery journey until he was inspired by Burgum after she publicly admitted her struggles with addiction. The first lady, who shares her personal story of being in long-term recovery, said she’s happy with the positive impacts the office has made. She cited the office’s statewide survey from 2021 that showed 75% of respondents consider addiction to be a disease, an increase of 12% from when the office first asked the question in 2018. “I was…
WOMEN IN DANGER? – Nov. 2, 2024 – Carefree menstrual pads are contaminated with toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”, which presents a threat to the reproductive health of women using the products, a new lawsuit filed in California state court alleges. The suit demands Carefree remove PFAS from the products or put a warning label on its packaging. “This is a product that has direct exposure into the bloodstream because of the way it’s used and positioned on women’s bodies, so this is alarming, and it’s scary,” Dubey said. The suit was brought under California’s Proposition 65 law that requires companies…
HOME SWEET HOME – Oct. 29, 2024 – Officials with the Arizona Dispensaries Association said the new delivery program is expected to expand access across the state. “We are thrilled that the department of health’s proactive approach and commitment to implementing a well-thought-out delivery program has helped us reach this landmark moment sooner than expected,” said Ann Torrez, executive director. Recreational marijuana sales began in Arizona in 2021 under a voter-approved ballot initiative. The measure had passed in the fall of 2020 four years after voters narrowly defeated a similar proposal, although medical marijuana has been legal in the state…
ECSTASY ON THE BALLOT – Oct. 30, 2024 – The ballot initiatives would allow recreational marijuana use in Florida and the Dakotas, authorize medical marijuana in Nebraska, and decriminalize five natural psychedelics in Massachusetts. CONTINUE@Reason
A STAR IS REBORN – Oct. 27, 2024 – This comprehensive article aims to provide you with everything you need to know about Robert Downey Jr. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer to his work, you’ll find valuable information and engaging anecdotes that showcase his impact on the film industry and beyond. Robert Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965, in Manhattan, New York City, to actor Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Ford. With a family deeply rooted in the entertainment industry, it was no surprise that Robert was drawn to acting from a young age.…
LIFE GOES ON – Oct. 27, 2024 – Today, Nate Rhoades’s legacy lives on through his organ donations that have helped up to 100 people — including a Washington State man that Nate’s family has grown close to — as well as a nonprofit center helping at-risk teens and young adults struggling with substance use and mental health challenges. Oct. 27, 2024 – Today, Nate Rhoades’s legacy lives on through his organ donations that have helped up to 100 people — including a Washington State man that Nate’s family has grown close to — as well as a nonprofit center…
LAURA KNOWS – Oct. 30, 2024 – A woman who was drinking up to four bottles of wine every night has spoken about her recovery journey and the one question she claims can help determine if somebody has a problem with alcohol. Laura Van Antwerp, 39, from Pennsylvania, started drinking when she was a teenager … After years of trying to hide her addiction, job demotions, drinking under the influence (DUI) charges, and a ‘rock bottom’ incident where she woke up in a public place after blacking out, she made the life-changing decision to cut out alcohol for good. Now…