STAY SAFE – Oct. 21, 2024 – This has been due to a large rise in a specific type of throat cancer called oropharyngeal cancer (the area of the tonsils and back of the throat). HPV is sexually transmitted. For oropharyngeal cancer, the main risk factor is the number of lifetime sexual partners, especially oral sex. Those with six or more lifetime oral-sex partners are 8.5 times more likely to … Behavioral trends studies show that oral sex is very prevalent in some countries. In a study that my colleagues and I conducted in almost 1,000 people having tonsillectomy for…
Author: Leonard Buschel
LIKE MAGIC – Oct. 18, 2024 – The trial, led by Imperial College London, will focus on whether psilocybin – the active compound in magic mushrooms – combined with psychological support, can help to prevent relapse in people who have been addicted to opioids such as heroin. Combining Imperial’s expertise in psychedelics and opioid addiction, the work will be led by Dr David Erritzoe from the Centre for Psychedelic Research. The trial will recruit those who have recently undergone detoxification from street opioids such as heroin, or opioid replacements like methadone or buprenorphine. Participants will visit Imperial’s NIHR Clinical Research…
TIC TACS ALL DAY? – Oct. 23, 2024 – Warning: This article contains discussion of alcoholism which some readers may find distressing. So what signs can you look out for that could indicate that someone close to you that you may live with, like your partner, is an alcoholic? There are 12 main things to keep an eye out for: The physical signs Your partner may hide their behaviours that could indicate alcohol misuse, but physical signs such as drastic weight loss or gain, flushed or dry skin, unexplained bruises and jaundice are not easy to hide. In addition to…
VIDEO – IT’S EASY AND HARD – Oct. 24, 2024 – It’s National Addiction Treatment Week. According to the American Hospital Association, only 6% of the 46 million Americans with substance abuse issues get the treatment they need. Clinical therapist Michael McCallum from Oxford explains how you can help the people in your life get the support they need. CONTINUE@ActionNews5
MORE THAN ONE WAY – Oct. 23, 2024 – Tim Murphy’s journey to sobriety was anything but ordinary. From his childhood memories of playing “Connect the Dots” with bullet holes to surviving a blackout car crash, Murphy has transformed personal pain into a powerful, life-changing protocol. His story is not just about getting sober; it’s about reinventing the entire approach to recovery and offering hope to those who haven’t found success with conventional programs. Key Highlights: • A Personalized Path to Sobriety: Readers learn to craft a sobriety plan that is customized to their own needs, experiences, and aspirations. •…
AUDIO – SALTY TEARS – Oct. 23, 2024 – Jackie O has broken down in tears on her radio show this morning as she revealed she secretly went to rehab to treat a years-long drug addiction. CONTINUE@YouTube
AUDIO – GOOD VIBRATIONS – Oct. 26, 2024 – Singer Carnie Wilson has experienced a great deal of fame in her life. Wilson co-founded the pop music trio Wilson Phillips with her younger sister Wendy, and she is the daughter of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys. Wilson, 56, a wife and mother of two daughters, said she was there to speak from her heart. “My heart is so full tonight.” Wilson said 20 years ago, she was driving on Coldwater Canyon in Los Angeles which has many cliffs and homes on the hillside, and thought it would be easier…
STAYING STRONG – Oct. 28, 2024 – Angela was on a social media live when the person approached her off-camera with a drink. “I don’t drink,” she replied. “I made up my mind on September 14, 2022 that I was done with the alcohol. This process is not easy but I did it, [and] I plan on continuing practicing sobriety.” “Like, ‘No, I’m good,’” she told Tamron Hall. “’No, I’m straight. I’ll take a Red Bull.’” The person could be heard saying Angela could get an endorsement deal, leading her to repeat, “I don’t drink. I’m two years sober!” “I…
AUDIO – A KILLER PILL – Oct. 26, 2024 – The film begins with attorney Paul Farrell Junior giving a tour of his hometown – Huntington, West Virginia. “There’s been a slow decay. The jobs have dried up,” he says. “Certainly the coal industry has had its challenges. I think it was the perfect storm with a lack of employment, a ton of prescription opiates, and once that demon got a hold of its victims, you can’t come out of it!” “Everybody’s aware of Perdue Pharma. We all understand that there are pill mills and there are rogue doctors, but…
VIDEO – MUSICAL INTERLUDE – 369,121 views – Jan 31, 2014 – Jack Jones, Dies at 86. Once pegged as an heir to Frank Sinatra, the son of Allan Jones and Irene Hervey also had hits with “Lollipops and Roses,” “The Impossible Dream” and “Call Me Irresponsible. CONTINUE@YouTube
STICK WITH THE WINNERS! – October29, 2024 – Dr. Louise Stanger LCSW, CDWF, CIP CILC is a preeminent clinician interventionist, author and thought leader in the behavioral health and addiction treatments industry. She is the Founder of All About Interventions. She has performed thousands of family interventions in the US and abroad, gives presentations around the globe on various topics related to mental health, trauma, addiction, process disorders and chronic pain. She has received prestigious awards from her fellow industry colleagues for her clinical expertise. Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is…
PASS THE DUTCHIE – Oct. 24, 2024 – Today, even conservative states are considering the policy — including North Dakota, South Dakota and Florida, through ballot initiatives this November. And both presidential contenders now favor legalization. Kamala Harris confirmed her support this month. The shift was unusually quick for American politics; it’s very rare for the…
VIDEO – HELL IN PHILADELPHIA – TODAY: 2024 The scourge of Addiction in broad daylight. Philadelphia is home to one of the country’s most notorious open-air drug markets, but a new mayor is proposing solutions that turn away from the harm-reduction strategies of a previous administration in hopes of better tackling the problem. CONTINUE@FB
SO MANY SICK PEOPLE – Oct. 22, 2024 – In a downtown Los Angeles parking lot, a stretch of asphalt tucked between gleaming hotels and the 110 freeway, a psychiatrist named Shayan Rab was seeing his third patient of the day, a man he knew only as Yoh. Yoh lived in the underpass, his back pressed against the wall, a few feet from the rush of cars exiting the freeway. He made little effort to fend for himself, even to find food or water. When outreach workers dropped off supplies, he often let people walk away with them. He could…
RISKY BUSINESS – Oct. 25, 2024 – Worldwide, nearly 450 million adults participate in what’s called “risk gambling,” which can impact finances, mental health, relationships and work, according to the report, which was based on a review and analysis of prior gambling studies. Risk gambling leads to behavioral changes that impact a person’s life and or health, the report says. Around 80 million people arrive at a more severe form, called gambling disorder or problematic gambling. However, the researchers said that number is likely an undercount. Gambling disorder affects nearly 16% of adults and more than 26% of adolescents who…
BRIGHT EYES – Oct. 26, 2024 – One version in particular is called Noon Wheat — which some may recognize as Zendaya’s dog. Noon is Zendaya’s adorable pup who even has his own Instagram account. Holland has been open with his journey to sobriety, saying in an interview that he decided to quit drinking altogether after he struggled to do “Dry January” in 2022. “I couldn’t quite wrap my head around how much I was struggling without booze in that first month — and It really scared me,” he said on the Rich Roll podcast. He also added that a…
VIDEO – THE DOCTOR AND THE COMEDIAN – Oct. 15, 2023 – Dr. Gabor Maté joins Theo to talk about his studies on trauma and how it affects our lives and relationships, his experiences leading Ayahuasca ceremonies, and why he thinks our culture is dealing with an epidemic of loneliness. Dr. Gabor Maté is a Canadian physician and author known for his books on trauma, addiction, childhood development, stress and healing. His latest book “The Myth of Normal” is available now everywhere. CONTINUE@YouTube
AUDIO – NO PENALTIES – Oct. 23, 2024 – Eisai told everyone that they would be given a genetic test. But the results, the company added, would remain secret. An autopsy determined that the drug’s side effects had contributed to her death. Her final hours were spent thrashing so violently that nurses had to tie her down. Another high-risk trial volunteer died, and more than 100 others suffered brain bleeding or swelling. “The people who are in charge of the clinical trial have not come to grips with the severity of the toxicity” of Leqembi, said Dr. Rudolph J. Castellani,…
SAD ENCORE – Oct. 18, 2024 – Alex Van Halen is shedding light on his brother Eddie Van Halen’s addiction to prescription pills. In his first interview since Eddie’s death, he explained that his late brother, the Van Halen guitarist, became addicted to prescribed steroid pills after undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor in the years before his death in 2020 of complications from cancer. He was 65. You know, he fought until the end,” Alex told Rolling Stone in an interview published on Tuesday, October 15. “Anybody who thought he was anything less than that can suck my…
IT’S FOR REAL – Oct. 19, 2024 – The show stars Downey, 59. And as Brolin wrote alongside a selfie featuring Downey and other industry pals, it featured a “great [cast] helmed by our great @robertdowneyjr (who was astounding).” “Thanks, Downey, for continuing to find the most soul challenging roads in sobriety,” Brolin wrote. “You are a pinnacle of the power of example of how to ultimately best live what this life can provide. Love you, pal. In the photo shared by Brolin, the two actors smiled next to each other, while standing next to video game designer Donald Mustard…
VIDEO – SURPRISE – Oct. 25, 2024 – Clark Kegley explained that he had felt a whole host of physical benefits, which included: better sleep, greater mental clarity, and no longer experiencing the dreaded ‘hangxiety’. The YouTuber went on to explain that he started to feel like he had more spare time after going sober, and that he was able to re-discover his hobbies as things now ‘became more enjoyable’ for him. He also went on to add that drinking alcohol made him more ‘tolerant’ of his surroundings, and that going sober has helped him learn to be comfortable with…
“It’s not age, it’s experience. Only time can give you mayonnaise.” – Phil Lesh, b. 1940 – d. 2024
VIDEO – NOT WHAT YOU THINK – Oct. 16, 2024 – ‘Like many who struggle with addiction, my wake-up call came in the form of a series of unfortunate events, each one a neon sign blinking, ‘this is a problem,’ rather than one single event,’ says Dani D., 34, who’s been sober for seven years. Dani’s story echoes that of many alcoholics: The drinking was fun, until it wasn’t. And deciding to get sober? That was hard as hell—but worth it, every day. ‘It is so powerful to hear women’s stories of sobriety,’ says licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor…
FROM WITHIN – Oct. 13, 2024 – Antisocial personality disorder is characterized by traits such as manipulativeness, impulsivity, irritability, and a lack of remorse. People with this disorder often struggle with a variety of behavioral issues, including substance use disorders, which encompass problematic use of substances like alcohol, cannabis, tobacco, cocaine, and opioids. Previous research has shown that individuals with substance use disorders are more likely to also have antisocial personality disorder, but the specifics of this relationship remained unclear. The researchers sought to fill this gap by investigating whether antisocial personality disorder was related to the severity of different…
IT’S ABOUT TIME – Oct. 14, 2024 – According to FBI data, U.S. law enforcement agencies made roughly 217,000 arrests for marijuana-related offenses last year. Black Americans, who make up 13.7 percent of the U.S. population, accounted for 29 percent of drug arrests, according to the same data. Research also shows Black Americans are convicted at higher rates, and given longer sentences, in criminal cases. Vice President Kamala Harris promised to legalize recreational marijuana use at the federal level if elected president, her campaign announced as part of a slate of new policy promises Monday. Recreational cannabis is currently legal…
AUDIO – MUSIC HEALS – Aug. 2024 – Johnny Polygon’s latest release, “Step 1,” is a profound and transformative hip-hop track marking a pivotal moment in his career. This compelling song delves into the critical first step of his 12-step recovery process, admitting powerlessness over drugs and alcohol. “Step 1” encapsulates Johnny’s journey towards sobriety with a haunting melody that mirrors the introspection and vulnerability necessary to face addiction. His lyrics are brutally honest, narrating his years of indulgence and the stark realization that his lifestyle was unsustainable. The poignant line, “the drugs didn’t get me high no more,” highlights…
NEXT SATURDAY OCT. 26 – Oct. 16, 2024 – If you have any old or unused prescriptions, there’s an opportunity to safely dispose of them on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The event is crucial in preventing drug misuse and protecting the environment. Last year, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Day Removes Almost 600,000 Pounds of Unneeded Prescription Medications Across the Country. For more than a decade, DEA’s National Prescription Take Back Day has removed almost 17.9 million pounds of unneeded medications from communities across the country. According to a report published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health…
HARD ONE TO KICK – Oct. 13, 2024 – Tony Adams battled alcoholism and even served time in jail for a drink-driving offense in 1990 after he hit a wall while driving at four times the legal alcohol limit. However, a stint behind bars did little to curb his addiction. Reflecting on his struggles with alcohol to ESPNcricinfo in 2019, Adams said: “The denial was really strong, and the consequences too, but even a spell in Chelmsford prison down the road didn’t stop me drinking. “I came out of prison and drunk and drove again. The denial was still in…
VIDEO – SHARING – Oct. 17, 2024 – As she stood outside her school, sixth-grader Ariana Arcos was near tears, and with her lip quivering as she said, “I don’t know what’s going on right now.” Meanwhile, seventh-grader Sophia Lieva explained the buzz going around school. “People took edibles and they got really sick.” “There were a lot of people throwing up and yeah…all of sudden there were firetrucks, ambulances and police. I was scared.” After receiving an email saying that “a group of students may have consumed a banned substance…with harmful side effects of a controlled substance,” parents came…
WHAT ABOUT THE OBSESSION? – Oct. 15, 2024 – It’s praised for helping people cut down their alcohol consumption. The medication in question is naltrexone, which is primarily used to manage alcohol use or opioid use disorder by reducing cravings and feelings of euphoria associated with substance use disorder. If taken an hour before consuming alcohol, the drug can have a high success rate at getting patients to drastically reduce how much alcohol they consume as it helps fight cravings. In 2023, the World Health Organisation made a landmark public health decision to recognise the public health burden associated with…