A woman turns to AA for help battling her addiction – her family says she was exposed to a killer. As September 8, 2014 dawns over the San Gabriel Mountains, a morning of dread and expectation — a day they have waited for — finally begins for Hector Mendez and his wife of 34 years, Jara. “All this time I have been asking, ‘what happened, what happened,'” said Jara Mendez told “48 Hours” correspondent Maureen Maher. Twenty miles northwest of Los Angeles, in the working class suburb of San Fernando, a jury is set to hear the case, and to listen to a story that is about much more than murder. “We promised justice for Karla,” said Hector Mendez. (There are commercials) CONTINUED

Police departments across the country announced plans to stock up on a medication that reverses the effects of a heroin or painkiller overdose. The move signaled a shifting approach for officers more accustomed to fighting drug abuse with arrests than with a medical antidote. But police and public health officials from New York to San Francisco are facing sticker shock: Prices for a popular form of the medication are spiking, by 50 percent or more. The form most often used by law enforcement and health departments is made by Amphastar.
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No question there is a problem that needs to be understood. But “addiction” is not currently the answer. So, the question becomes why do some become enthusiastic believers in addiction as the diagnostic explanation for the problem absent sufficient evidence? I think we need to consider two reasons. First is the discomfort of not knowing. We like knowing what is going on, or at least feeling as though we know. When we don’t know, when we find ourselves in situations of perplexing uncertainty, we become anxiously uncomfortable, and anxiety undermines curiosity. CONTINUED

The Danish director broke his self-imposed vow of silence to reveal he had been undergoing treatment for drugs and alcohol addiction. Lars von Trier has revealed that he is undergoing treatment for drugs and alcohol addiction. The famously prickly director of such films as Dogville, and Melancholia, revealed that he is now clean and attending AA meetings. In a frank admission, von Trier, 58, said he had to drink a bottle of vodka daily to help him enter a “parallel world” he felt he needed to be in to be creative, and that almost all of his films were written under the influence. The director worried that now, because he was clean, he would only produce “shitty films.” CONTINUED

Hollywood is the land of fame and excess. It is a place where your wildest dreams can come true and, upon coming true, completely wreck your life. Many of Hollywoods ‘bad boys and girls’ have become famous for the way their drug rehab stints and drug addiction treatment programs have played out in the tabloids. There are stars out there who have surprised us by their need to enter into drug treatment centers. Let’s take a look at 8 celebrities that you just won’t believe had to go to rehab. CONTINUED

“I think it’s extremely important to take care of yourself and live a healthy lifestyle, because it affects your mental well-being as well,” she told PEOPLE about keeping in shape during her tours. “Every performance on stage for my world tour is a workout, so I’ve been doing a lot of cardio to keep my stamina up and put on a great show for my fans.” The girlfriend of Wilmer Valderama had experienced depression, an eating disorder and self-harm issues way before her rehab stint in 2010. CONTINUED

Downey Sr., said that the “highlight” of his life was “when my son turned his life around [from drug problems], that’s my highlight moment.” “You’re confronted with histories and predispositions and influences and feelings and unspoken traumas or needs that weren’t met, and all of a sudden you’re three miles into the woods,” he added. “Can you help someone get out of those woods? Yes, you can. By not getting lost looking for them. CONTINUED

Residential treatment may be an appropriate first-line option for young adults who are dependent on opioid drugs – including prescription painkillers and heroin. Research indicates that live-in programs may result in higher levels of abstinence than the outpatient treatment that is currently the standard of care. A study found that a monthlong, 12-step-based residential program with strong linkage to community-based follow-up care enabled almost 30% of opioid-dependent participants to remain abstinent a year later. CONTINUED

“I got to the point where I realized that I was still blaming my father for a lot of things in my life, and that I needed to finally take responsibility for my life,” Noack continued. “But I didn’t know how to do that until I had a relationship with God.”  Glenn Beck said many people think that once they’ve stopped drinking, they’re done. When in fact, he said, it’s like you’ve stopped the elevator car, but you still need to get off at every single floor and deal with all the issues. CONTINUED

If you asked me whether I’m addicted to my smartphone or whether I overuse it, I would say absolutely not. I pride myself on not keeping my devices (I have two of them!) in my bedroom while I sleep, and keeping them out of reach on the kitchen counter when I’m home with my kids. But, every time I walk into the kitchen, I find myself checking my email and Twitter feed. CONTINUED

An exclusive video of Doherty shows the former Libertines frontman at the Hope Rehab Centre just outside Bangkok.  “It’s a fairly tight regime when you first get up,” he says. “There’s normally a bang on the door. Although if you are detoxing they ease you into it gently. “There’s the morning exercise, which can range from the stroll round the cemetery.” CONTINUED

During their 12-year career, My Chemical Romance ascended to monumental heights during the emo / post-hardcore movement. After breaking up in 2013, the MCR members went their separate ways, with Mikey Way falling deeper into his habit. Hard partying on the road took its toll on Way, and the bassist was unable to quit his life of excess after MCR dissolved. A statement written by Mikey Way gets into all the deeply personal details until the present, where he’s currently eight months sober: CONTINUED

“I’ve been struggling with substance abuse since I was 16 years old, finally at the age of 24 I decided to get some help. The aspiring rapper allegedly spiralled into addiction over the past year, after being a long-time marijuana user. “I’ve been blessed with the programs of AA and NA which allow me to rise above this disease. I’m learning to accept my faults and be ok with being human. If anybody that sees this struggles with addiction, feel free to reach out. Thank you all for the love and support! GOD IS REAL!!!” CONTINUED

It had been a downward spiral for years, but when Kirk Haakensen found himself utterly alone last Christmas after years of depression and extreme drinking, he decided to take action and the first steps toward a healthier life. “When it became too much, I just couldn’t deal with it on my own anymore and I realized I needed to get help,” said the 43-year-old Edmonton musician. It’s almost like you’re turning down the reward system and turning up the system that’s responsible for inhibiting behavior.” CONTINUED

“Transformers” star Shia LaBeouf is complying with his drug treatment program and should see charges dismissed stemming from his Broadway breakdown, a judge said Tuesday. LaBeouf, 28, pleaded guilty in September to disorderly conduct, a violation, stemming from his wild meltdown at a “Cabaret” performance, but the charge was expected to be wiped after six months of good behavior and three months of substance abuse treatment. CONTINUED

Ultra-wired South Korea takes smartphone addiction more seriously than any other country. Should we listen? Sam-Wook Choi is a Korean psychiatrist who specializes in addiction research, including alcoholism, pathological gambling and nicotine dependence. In 2011, Choi began investigating a new potential addiction: to smartphones. CONTINUED

“Graduation” day at Hazelden arrived. I don’t think one single person could understand me through my sobbing. There was still so much uncertainty in front of me as I walked out the doors that day; having more free time meant more time to think and dwell, something which never serves me well. But that’s what AA meetings are for. In retrospect, I had all the makings of an alcoholic. Depression. Anxiety. Family history. Addictive personality. I should have seen this disease coming.” CONTINUED

Nalmefene, also called Selincro, is suitable for anyone who regularly drinks high amounts of alcohol, which is defined by the World Health Organisation as 7.5 units a day for men and five units a day for women. It helps patients gradually cut back on their alcohol intake and is therefore not suitable for anyone with a severe alcohol problem who needs to stop immediately. CONTINUED

In fact, the two men who started AA, Dr. Bob and Bill W. both died from tobacco-related illnesses. Public health experts say smoking is still pervasive among people living with addiction and mental illness, and it’s often not seen as a priority in treatment settings. For example, smoking rates in Philadelphia have dropped significantly over 10 years, but haven’t budged among people with mental illnesses and substance-abuse issues. Research also indicates smoking is high among people who work in mental health treatment settings. CONTINUED

The number of anti-anxiety and sleep medications prescribed to teens has risen over the past decade, research shows. According to a 2011 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 3 percent of adolescents in the U.S. abuse these drugs. “This is a wake-up call to the medical community as far as the risks involved in prescribing these medications to young people.” CONTINUED

Leonard Buschel is an undefined character. From one angle, he’s frazzled and possibly a bit mad. At another, he’s brilliantly keen and inquisitive. It’s hard to put a finger on the silver-haired businessman and one gets a sense his free spirit likes it that way. As a creative enthusiast, he has drawn up and executed several successful projects in the recovery industry, all centering upon the same thing: the individual experience.
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Join best-selling author Shaun Attwood on a harrowing voyage into the darkest recesses of human existence in Hard Time. Shaun Attwood covets the American Dream. He moves to Arizona with only student credit cards and becomes a stock-market millionaire. After throwing Ecstasy parties for thousands of ravers, Shaun bumps heads with Sammy the Bull Gravano, an Italian Mafia mass murderer, who puts a hit out on him. The dream turns into a nightmare when SWAT team smashes Shaun’s door down. Inside Arizona’s deadliest jail, Shaun struggles to survive against a backdrop of violence and human-rights violations. CONTINUED

Because we now have credible science, and it’s being published on a daily basis, by the top universities, funded by the National Institutes of Health … showing a relationship that is so powerful between sugar – specific foods we call the hyperpalatables, sugary, fatty, salty – food combinations, and their very, very strong association with addiction, and now proven changes, organic changes that take place in the brain, specifically the brain’s reward center. CONTINUED

“The favorite so far is the Betty Ford Center in the California desert – but another contingency considered would be private counseling in a remote location to keep it as quiet as possible.” Hillary has always been a drinker of wine and cocktails, but her boozing increased on long flights during her term as Obama’s Secretary of State, despite health problems. CONTINUED

About four Sacramento- area residents die from accidental drug overdoses, on average, every week. From 2008 to 2012, about 1,160 residents in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties died following an overdose, according to the latest figures from the state Department of Public Health. By comparison, about 875 local residents died in car wrecks during that period. CONTINUED

The driver, 26, told the officer he was taking his sister to a modeling audition. The man seemed anxious and said he didn’t have his registration or proof of insurance because it was his mother’s car. When the driver was arrested, he asked the police officer if they could let his nephew out of the trunk. Apparently there wasn’t enough room in the car, so the cousin was in the trunk. Police also found a bag of marijuana and a grinder. CONTINUED

Paul Gascoigne has addressed his alcoholism, saying that he is responsible for his own recovery. “The only person who can save me is me,” he said. “The last couple of times when I’ve relapsed I’ve managed to nip it in the bud quickly. “If the person’s not strong enough the person could find themselves in a coffin.
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When Justin Phillips lost her 20-year-old son to a heroin overdose, she turned grief into action. Now, she’s learned her efforts to help others, through Narcan kit donations, have literally saved a life. “I felt like it was something I could do to really help make a difference and stop this from happening to other families,” Phillips explained. CONTINUED

Drinking excessively can cause serious health risks and is responsible for an average of 88,000 U.S. deaths every year. But the vast majority of excessive drinkers are not alcoholics, according to new government data. The vast majority of excessive drinking is binge drinking, a pattern of behavior in which men consume roughly five or more drinks and women consume four or more within a short period of time. CONTINUED

From holiday parties to happy hours, social events with co-workers often revolve around alcohol, which can put non-drinkers in an awkward position. A new study shows that tensions in these environments lead non-drinkers to develop techniques to fit in socially without taking a drink. From holiday parties to happy hours, social events with co-workers and clients often revolve around alcohol, which can put non-drinkers in an awkward position: they don’t want to drink, but they do want to take part in events they feel are important to networking and career advancement (without making drinkers feel bad). CONTINUED

She moved to Wisconsin from California, where she had been working with alcohol biomarkers. She was appalled by a report showing one in three Wisconsin drivers admitted to driving under the influence, and by the frequency of repeat operating-while-intoxicated convictions. “Every time I would see in the newspaper, it was like, this person has been convicted by seventh OWI, eighth, 11, 13! I never saw that anywhere,” she said. “Then I said well, why are we not doing here the same thing that European countries are doing?” CONTINUED

“Twenty-six percent of the county is 65 and older,” said Brenda Iliff, executive director of Hazelden. “When people turn 50, they start to metabolize alcohol differently. They really become more at risk.” The one or two drinks baby boomers had daily for years without issue can become problematic because the liver and kidneys slow in metabolizing alcohol, she said. People over 50 and older adults in their 70s and 80s are more vulnerable to developing addiction because they deal with issues like grief and have more free time so they might use substances more. CONTINUED