Feb. 6, 2017 – In the midst of a raging opioid epidemic, states are urging Congress not to pull the plug on the Affordable Care Act, particularly Medicaid expansion. Without it, states say they would be unable to provide enough addiction treatment for the growing number of people who need it … Because addiction is a chronic, lifelong disease, a cut in Medicaid funding would stymy states’ efforts to reduce the number of people who are addicted to heroin and other opioids and at risk for drug overdoses.
As a substance abuse counselor, I was asked many times by clients, “Am I an alcoholic?” My response was simple: “Do you think ‘normal’ drinkers ask that question?” Only alcoholics understand what ‘normal’ drinkers are. They’re the ones that walk into a bar, order a drink and leave an hour later with half the drink still in the glass.
READ MORE @ PsychCentral.com
Monitoring Success
Addiction Experts Publish Consensus on the Soberlink System
Feb. 6, 2017 The mission of Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, is to promote excellence in the practice of addiction medicine and in clinical research as well as to support Addiction Medicine as a mainstream medical specialty. Published six times a year, the Journal is designed for all physicians and other mental … Since 2011, Soberlink has become the fastest growing recovery system on the market. The Soberlink System promotes accountability and connectivity with real-time BAC testing. Soberlink’s passionate pursuit of better recovery drove the company to develop the world’s first web connected breathalyzer with facial recognition software.
READ MORE @ YahooFinance.com
Would There Have Been a Bounty On You?
Kill An Addict for $300 Per Head In Philippines’ Deadly War On Drugs VIDEO
Since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s (special report Duerte to Catholics-“Join me in hell” aunched his bloody war on drugs, the country’s police and their hired hitmen have killed more than 7,000 suspected drug offenders, according to a new Amnesty International report. The incentive for the bloodshed: money. As one officer with an anti-illegal drugs unit in Manila reportedly told the human rights group, police are paid “per head,” between $160 and $300 … depending on whether the person killed is a suspected user or dealer.
Acclaimed novelist Joshua Mohr’s Sirens immediately earns a place on the list of great addiction memoirs, and then it gets better. Substance abuse, rationalizing, and guilt are the cohesive elements that bring Mohr’s personal narrative together, but failure, lost love, parenthood, the possibility of redemption, health issues, and a constant struggle against the monster of relapse are what ultimately turn this memoir a special reading experience and make it one of the most unapologetically searing and brutally honest nonfiction books indie publishing will see in 2017 … he discusses writing, the nature of relationships, rehab, violence, and shame. The result is an outstanding memoir that is not only about addiction and recovery but also about all the things that occupy the space between those two things.
New Study Could Completely Shift Way Depression is Treated
“We now have real evidence to back up what’s good common sense: that eating well doesn’t just benefit your body, but it also benefits your brain,” says Drew Ramsey, MD … The study, which included patients with moderate to severe depression, found that certain foods can be powerful in treating the disorder-even more than having a strong support system … While chocolate definitely delivers when it comes to a quick mood boost, for long-term happiness, science keeps pointing in the other direction. In other words, there’s a correlation between eating salad and warding off depression…
Extreme adventurer Gavan Hennigan is currently preparing for his third expedition of this year, a 5,000km solo row across the Atlantic Ocean in December. It will be yet another experience that will test him to the limit, requiring vast reserves of mental and physical strength. It’s hard to square up this alpha male image with the backstory of his life so far. The son of an alcoholic father, Hennigan…
A mother of three who spent $125,000 on a secret meth addiction over 18 months before coming clean has revealed how it almost tore her family apart. Although crystal meth is illegal, and I knew it was addictive, the thought of doing something on my own, without my family, gave me a thrill.’ Mrs Neilsen explained from that moment on, getting high and its associated euphoria consumed her thoughts. From her first dalliance with the drug, smoking meth became an everyday habit for the now-44-year-old … Mrs Neilsen has now been clean for three years. While her marriage is strong again, the family were forced to sell their house, and the mother-of-three needed a full set of false teeth.
8th Annual Experience, Strength & Hope Awards – Feb. 23 in LA
Broadcast giant and Recovery advocate PAT O’BRIEN is set to receive the Experience, Strength and Hope Award presented on Thursday, February 23, 2017 Guest Host, BRUCE DAVISON Guest Singer, Sherri Lewis Spoken word performance by author Dejuan DJ Verrett Actress Joanna Cassidy will be Thanking our VIP Sponsors from the stage. SPECIAL COMEDY performance, from South Florida to you, SARGE (He’s half Jewish and half Black. What could possibly go wrong?) PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS TBA Previous Honorees: Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Lou Gossett, Jr., Buzz Aldrin, Duran Duran’s John Taylor, Carrie White, Joe Pantoliano, Mackenzie Phillips Previous Participants: Danny Trejo, Tony Denison, Robert Downey, Jr., Ione Skye, Bobcat Goldthwait, Joanna Cassidy, Alonzo Bodden, Mark Lundholm, Dan Fante, Bob Forrest, Sharon Lawrence, Barry Diamond, Jack McGee Event Will Sell Out – Book now to avoid disappointment
Chicago Drug Treatment Worker Pleads Guilty to Distributing Heroin via the Internet
February 3, 2017 – A 47-year-old Chicago man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to distributing controlled substances, announced U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. KEVIN C. CAMPBELL sold heroin and prescription drugs such as Xanax and valium using the dark web … “This case is an outrage and a tragedy at the same time,” said U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “What allowed this defendant to work at a drug treatment center with people in the grips of addiction, and at the same time peddle dangerous drugs across the country via the dark web? The heroin this defendant sold killed one of his customers. At sentencing we will ask the Court for a sentence that reflects that fact.”
02/02/17 – I … He flagged down the bartender to buy the next round. “I’ll just have a club soda,” I said casually. “With vodka,” he stated. “No, just club soda, I’m good.” “That’s it?” he said looking at me with daggers coming out of his eyes as he frantically processed the fact that I wasn’t drinking. “Yes, I’m fine.” “So you’ve been having club soda while I’m drinking alone? Can’t you just have one shot? Or have one glass of wine.” He looked at me as if I had betrayed him in some way, all for not drinking. He was attractive, and he was probably used to liquoring up girls and having his way. I knew how to get rid of him, so I went for it. I played the drama card. “I’m a recovering alcoholic.”
FEBRUARY 4, 2017 – Just a month into 2017, an alarming statistic is ticking upward in Miami County and around the state of Ohio. Drug overdoses, including heroin and fentanyl, are on the rise. According to Miami County Public Health Commissioner Dennis Propes, there were 786 emergency department visits at Upper Valley Medical Center for drug overdoses in 2016. In 2014, 354 overdoses were reported.
READ MORE @ DailyCall.com
No Cash for Cashing In on Sobriety
Arizona Lawmaker wants end to referral fees for sober living homes
Feb 3, 2017 – Saying it’s an insurance scam, a Prescott lawmaker wants to make it illegal for sober living homes and similar day-treatment centers to pay people for referrals. Rep. Noel Campbell acknowledged that placing limits on referral fees runs contrary to the Republican philosophy of less regulation. In fact, his HB 2333 comes on the heels of the state House voting to remove all limits on how much apartment owners can pay for leads that bring them new tenants.
READ MORE @ AZDailySun.com
Service with a Smile
Teen overcomes drug addiction find passion in helping others
February 5, 2017 – Things didn’t get any easier for Jones, after a friend revealed her substance abuse on social media. Overnight, Jones became a pariah. “I was scared to go to school,” she said. “My reputation changed.” Jones’ spiral into addiction continued as she became more isolated. When Jones was 14, she began experimenting with methamphetamine. She said it started to consume her life.
READ MORE @ LaCrosseTribune.com
So Much Pain
Doctor convicted for overdose deaths gets 30 years to life in prison
A doctor to 30 years to life in prison for the murders of three of her patients who fatally overdosed, ending a landmark case that some medical experts say could reshape how doctors nationwide handle prescriptions. The sentence came after a L.A. jury last year found Dr. Hsiu-Ying “Lisa” Tseng guilty of second-degree murder, the first time a doctor had been convicted of murder in the U.S. for over-prescribing drugs … April Rovero, whose son, Joey, died after mixing alcohol with Xanax and oxycodone he obtained from Tseng, sat expressionless, listening to Tseng’s first public show of remorse.
To our Readers and Advertisers: An Open Letter from Leonard Buschel Publisher/Editor of the Addiction/Recovery eBulletin
Gratitude is always in season, and as we begin 2017, I want to thank our readers and astute progressive advertisers for your loyalty and confidence. The Addiction/ Recovery eBulletin is approaching four and a half years of continued growth and influence. This would not have been possible without the support of “The Good Guys” – our sponsors who continually stand on the side of truth, integrity and Best Practices. It is an honor to serve our readers and a responsibility I do not take lightly.
“I’ve been reading the Addiction/Recovery eBulletin for some time and I look forward to receiving it on a weekly basis. I’m a very busy professional, and I find the succinct details in which the articles are written both informative and enlightening. Please continue with your great work.”
Johanna O’Flaherty, PhD
Her doctorate in clinical psychology is from Pacifica Graduate Institute.
Go Make a Movie
REEL Recovery Film Festival
is a social, educational, networking and recovery forum showcasing first-time filmmakers and experienced professionals who make films about addiction and recovery. Our audience is treatment professionals, people in recovery, members of the entertainment industry, media representatives, educated moviegoers & the general public.
$2.5-billion mistake: How Trump bought into Big Pharma’s inflated claim about R&D costs
Jan. 31, 2017 – President Trump’s meeting Tuesday with pharmaceutical executives was a theatrical display of chumminess in which all the parties seemed to share deep regret over high and soaring drug prices. It also was a one-stop shop of misconceptions and misinformation about the causes of high drug prices, and therefore a mishmash of solutions, most of which are a lot more complicated than Trump thinks, some of which won’t work, and some of which are disguised handouts…
Baxter Ekern Named CEO of Addiction Hope & Eating Disorder Hope
Jan. 30, 2017 – Addiction Hope is pleased to announce that Baxter Ekern, MBA, was recently named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the online community and its sister site, Eating Disorder Hope. Jacquelyn Ekern, M.S., LPC, founder and former CEO of both organizations, now serves as President while Mr. Ekern oversees daily operations. Under this new leadership structure, these communities aim to reach even more people in recovery throughout 2017. Mr. Ekern earned his Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Texas A&M University, then went on to obtain his Master of Business Administration from Phoenix University. He had a successful career in outside sales, primarily electrical distribution and low voltage systems…
READ MORE @ Finance.Yahoo.com
Rabbi, Priest and Jesus Walk Into a Rehab…
Stand up comics start show to talk about addiction VIDEO
For many, drugs and alcohol addiction can lead to rehab, jail, or worse. For Kurtis Matthews and Mark Lundholm, it lead them to the comedy stage. The two started the Addicts’ Comedy Tour three years ago, sharing stories of surviving life’s darkest moments. Lundholm and Matthews created the show to share stories about life, love, jail and rehab. With over 50 years of stage experience and recovery between them, these performers are doing it through laughter…
Virginia defeats bill to shield overdose victims from prosecution
Among them was John Shinholser, president of the Richmond area McShin recovery organization, who decried Wednesday’s vote as a hate crime that would result in deaths. When Shinholser asked the crowd on Monday whether they would rather die or go to jail, more than a dozen people who came to lobby in support of the bill raised their hands. “I personally probably go to 30 or 40 overdose funerals a year,” he said. “By criminalizing these cases, it’s a big hurdle for those seeking help.”
READ MORE @ Richmond.com
Anything That Can Help Save Lives
Marijuana Compound Shows Potential for Treating Opioid Addiction
Feb. 2, 2017 – A component of marijuana may help heroin users resist the urge to use the drug and alleviate withdrawal symptoms, but more research should be done in this area, according to a new review of previous research. So far, research on these marijuana compounds, called cannabinoids, for treating opioid addiction has been scarce because of certain regulations that restrict their testing in humans, according to the review. Opioids, which are made from the opium poppy or synthetic versions of it, include hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine and heroin. This dearth of research in the field is particularly important considering the ongoing epidemic of opioid abuse in the United States, according to the review author.
READ MORE @ LiveScience.com
Can You Stop If You Want To?
Battle Breaks Out Over Effort to Classify Video Game Addiction as Mental Illness
Jan. 30, 2017 – World Health Organization believes you suffer from “Gaming Disorder” and wants to include that condition in the latest edition of its International Classification of DiseasesThe academics are concerned that the classification draws from low-quality research and that it leans too much on substance abuse and gambling criteria, and isn’t based on research into video games. “Gaming Disorder” is defined as “persistent or recurrent gaming behavior characterized by an impaired control over gaming.” In other words, an addiction to playing video games. If “Gaming Disorder” is included in the ICD, it could lead to restrictions on marketing and advertising for video games, and would also require large labels on video games warning them of their health risks, like those seen on tobacco products.
Kaleo: Death Dealing Pharma Gouges on Life Saving Drug
FEB. 3, 2017 – Now a small Richmond-based company called Kaleo is joining their ranks. It makes an injector device that is suddenly in demand because of the nation’s epidemic use of opioids, a class of drugs that includes heavy painkillers and heroin. Called Evzio, it is used to deliver naloxone, a life-saving antidote to overdoses of opioids. More than 33,000 people are believed to have died from such overdoses in 2015. And as demand for Kaleo’s product has grown, the privately held firm has raised its twin-pack price to $4,500, from $690 in 2014.
Credit cards ought to have built-in breathalysers. Not content with leaving rambling voicemails for your ex at four in the morning, your inebriated self may also think it’s a good idea to log on to Trade Me. You’ll wake up with ‘QWERTY’ imprinted across your forehead, a splitting hangover, and a bunch of mysterious packages on the doorstep. Drunken online shopping is a real thing, and presumably the sole demographic for whatever company makes those shoes with little wheels in them.
Drug addict finds recovery and a career as a barber
Once he got sober, Sal Giannone started working dead-end jobs. Ed Lopez, a stylist at Bubbles at the King of Prussia Mall, who gave him clothes and food on the street, brought Giannone on board as an assistant. He encouraged Giannone to go to his grandfather, a barber for 50 years, to teach him. “This is in your blood, you can do this,” Lopez told him … Make sure he is at the shop tomorrow morning, and he is going to spend the whole day sweeping hair,” instructed the elder Giannone. Giannone swept hair for months, only cutting the hair of friends and relatives after hours.
READ MORE @ TimesHerald.com
Miracle Media VIDEO
Bay Area Patients Find Psychiatric Relief From Psychedelic Therapy VIDEO
Feb. 2, 2017 – “I just thought this is like a miracle,” exclaimed Richard Vaughn. After decades of disregard, scientists said once again, psychedelics are showing great promise as a therapeutic tool. “It opens you up to yourself,” said cancer patient Andy Gold. With permission from the FDA, California researchers are studying psychedelics in patients with life-threatening conditions, such as cancer. “Patients with cancer, particularly advanced cancer, have significant levels of anxiety, depression, and demoralization,” explained UCLA Psychiatrist Doctor Charles Grob.
Super Bowl overdose ads by St. Louis-drug abuse-prevention group VIDEO
Feb. 5, 2017 – For a third year, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in Olivette is running Super Bowl ads dramatizing the nation’s drug epidemic. The council’s jarring, gloves-off messages during the last two Super Bowls have generated thousands of comments, compliments and even some criticism. “I think this year’s ads are the most powerful yet,” said Mark Schupp of Schupp Consulting, which has been the creative director for the project since it began. “There’s a spin to these that I think is very effective,”
WATCH MORE @ StLToday.com
Books Can Change Your Life
Mackenzie Phillips: ‘I’m passionate about recovery’
Feb. 6, 2017 – Mackenzie Phillips practices what she preaches. The One Day at a Time star, whose wild upbringing and addiction struggles have been the subject of many headlines over the years, made a big change in her life and is now an alcohol and drug counselor and the author of a new book, Hopeful Healing: Essays on Managing Recovery and Surviving Addiction on sale Tuesday. As she entered her 50s, Phillips, 57, decided to go back to school to become a counselor.
Dark side of hedonism: a rock journalist’s battle with drug addiction
5 February 2017 – To this day I don’t know why I said yes – why I rolled up my sleeve and told my old friend: “Do it.” I can’t say it was peer pressure. I harboured no secret longing to be a junkie. You’d think that, having just graduated with a first from Oxford, I might not have stuck my hand in this particular fire. In a moment of existential recklessness, I did it anyway … Perhaps I had some sixth sense of what heroin would do for me: of how, temporarily, it would fill me and complete me and make nothing else matter very much. I did know, instantly, that I’d always wanted to feel like this, as if suddenly there was an invisible forcefield around me. I’d wanted to feel like this since I was a kid – a skinny, shame-plagued schoolboy who could never tell you what he was feeling, because he didn’t know.
Recovery housing provides a supportive, sober living community where you can start your new life free from alcohol or other drugs. Residents at sober homes commit to abstaining from substance use while pitching in and helping to create a safe, supportive living environment. Choose from short-stay and longer-term sober living options, depending on your situation. Living in sober housing helps you develop new habits and routines, taking what you learned during drug or alcohol rehab and applying it in your daily life. This is where the rubber starts to meet the road in recovery.
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Feb. 6, 2017 The mission of Journal of Addiction Medicine, the official journal of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, is to promote excellence in the practice of addiction medicine and in clinical research as well as to support Addiction Medicine as a mainstream medical specialty. Published six times a year, the Journal is designed for all physicians and other mental 
