The real causes of the worst drug crisis in US history VIDEO
“Superficial” is how Anna Lembke describes the common understanding of the opioid painkiller and heroin epidemic. Lembke, a Stanford psychiatrist focused on addiction care, agrees that the commonly cited causes of the epidemic – doctors hoping to treat previously untreated pain conditions, pain patients demanding better treatments, and big pharma pushing opioids on the market – contributed to the vast over-prescription of opioids. That let the pills flow not just to patients’ hands but to their family, their friends, and the black market.
Joe Walsh and the Experience, Strength & Hope Awards Honor Pat O’Brien
Indeed, the lesson taught by the Experience, Strength & Hope Awards show year in and year out is the redemptive power of recovery. No matter how far addicts or alcoholics fall, through the miracle of recovery, they can realize their potential and experience a deep and lasting sense of meaning in their lives … Getting sober offers the creative promise of a bright, productive and inspired future that opens doors and deserves recognition. For providing such acknowledgement, the Experience, Strength and Hope Award has become a valuable facet of the jewel that is recovery. Such an annual celebration of honest accounts of the path to sobriety reminds both the newcomer and the old-timer of how their inner strength can overcome past bad experiences and lead to true hope today and onward.
Published on Feb 14, 2017 Tara Conner, Miss USA 2006, shares her life-long struggle with addiction and what she has learned from 10 years of sobriety. Addicts are not bad people that need to get good, but sick people that need to get well. In this challenging and at times humorous talk, she calls for a different response to the addiction crisis. Tara Conner is a Television Personality and Recovery Advocate. Through her work, she shares her experience, strength and hope with audiences throughout the United States … Conner was crowned Miss USA in 2006. During December of that year, she entered the Caron Treatment Center and completed 30 days of treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. She has since celebrated 10 years of sobriety.
Meet CLEAN Cause, The Company Infusing Their Beverages With A Mission That Matters
The mission is personal, says Wes Hurt, the founder of CLEAN Cause and a recovering addict and alcoholic. After starting his use of drugs and alcohol in junior high, he says he dealt with an “ever present” struggle with alcohol and drugs for more than 20 years. The beverage company creates water and organic energy drinks that are created with proprietary purification processes, creating drinks that are “smooth and CLEAN from molecule to mission.™ … But at CLEAN Cause, the business is about more than creating great products – it’s about purpose, too. Here, 50% of all profits are donated to support individuals recovering from alcohol and drug addiction…
8th Annual Experience, Strength and Hope Awards VIDEO
Feb. 27, 2017 – Breezeway Productions went to The Skirball Cultural Center Museum in Los Angeles, CA, to cover The 8th Annual Experience, Strength, and Hope Awards which honors the men and women who have gone through addiction issues, and have been able to express the stories of Recovery, Addiction, and Healing through writing amazing memoirs. Writers In Treatment, an organization that supports recovery and the arts honored author and television personality Pat O’Brien. The annual event featured special guests including Joe Walsh of the world renowned band The Eagles, Actor Bruce Davison (X-MEN, Insidious 4) hosted this year’s event. Author/actor DeJuan ‘DJ’ Verrett (“Sons of Anarchy”) kicked off the show with a spoken word performance. HBO favorite Sarge, entertained the audience with his power comedy routine. As well, there was a musical appearance by Sherri Lewis (performer and consultant for UCLA AIDS Institute) along with Tony Denison (Crime Story, Major Crimes). Additional participants included Ed Begley, Jr. and Rachelle Carson-Begley (“Bold and Beautiful”).
Good Samaritan who saved addict dies of heroin overdose VIDEO
March 1, 2017 RICHMOND, VA (WWBT) – It was nearly 60 days ago that Amanda Rogers last used heroin and it almost killed her. Since that time, through recovery at the McShin Foundation, she’s found ways to stay clean and fight the desire to use. “At night now I’ve gotten in the habit of praying. I always in my head do a gratitude list, what I’m grateful for, and then I pray,” said Rogers. On that list is the good Samaritan named John, who brought Rogers back to life after her near-fatal heroin overdose in January. Just two week ago, a heroin overdose took John’s life.
Lisa Marie Presley’s Overdose Hell – Elvis’ Daughter ‘Squandered Fortune’ on Drugs VIDEO
The horrifying depths of Lisa Marie Presley’s battle with substance abuse – which included hospitalization, claims of an overdose and rehab can today be exposed. According to an insider close to the nasty divorce, 49-year-old Presley has been suffering from her demons for quite some time – and they’re taking a toll. “The last time she was in the hospital she was pretty bad off,” said the source. “But she’s been doing this for years.”
Shooting Down the Office of National Drug Control Policy during epidemic
If the administration’s goal is to save money by trimming fat, the office addressing the nation’s drug epidemic is the wrong place to do so. People suffering from addiction and people in recovery are not bad people. We have a treatable health condition and we are worth saving. We do recover. Christopher Poulos is the executive director of Life of Purpose Treatment at the University of North Texas. He has served at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy and The Sentencing Project…
Alcoholism Possible Treatment With Anti-Asthma Medication
Also, the participants under Ibudilast revealed that they are in a better mood when allowed to smell the scent of alcohol. The study also includes the safety of the anti-asthma drug when taken by consumers suffering from alcoholism. Meanwhile, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism provided the prevalence of mortality due to alcoholism. Approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women die from alcohol-related consumption annually making alcoholism as one of the leading causes of death in the United States … past studies show that ibudilast was effective in reducing alcohol consumption in rats.The new study is promising but needs further evaluation. The researchers want to test the drug with persons suffering from alcoholism who really wanted to quit drinking alcohol.
Ohio father overdoses in car with infant; mother overdoses at home with kids VIDEO
An Ohio couple were arrested on child endangerment charges Tuesday after each was discovered overdosed, according to police, in separate locations in the company of their children. Nathan Carroll, 29 was discovered by police in his car with an infant in the backseat after his car veered off the road, while Samantha Schigel, 24, was found in their home, also overdosed, but with in the presence of other children. Police in Lorain, located about 30 miles west of Cleveland, said officers went to the couple’s home to inform Schigel that they had found her husband in the aforementioned state…
3//2/17 By MAIA SZALAVITZ – Tanea Paterson, a mother of two who lives in New Zealand, used drugs to deal with social stress, but also to cope with her sensory problems. A mixture of heroin and other illegal opioids, her drug of choice, “wound down my senses to a more bearable level,” she says. Using drugs also gave Paterson routines, she says. “They were predictable in an unpredictable world.”
The Cerebellum May Play Unforeseen Role in Driving Addiction
Recently, an international team of researchers reported that the cerebellum may play a previously unforeseen role in brain alterations associated with the addictive consumption of drugs. Until now, the cerebellum-which has historically been viewed by most neuroscientists as primarily the seat of fine-tuned motor control and coordination-has gone under the radar of drug addiction specialists. The latest reports linking the cerebellum and drug addiction were based on a broad range of groundbreaking research published over the past two years.
Feb 28, 2017 – It is staffed with medical practitioners, social workers and sober coaches, people who have cleaned up and can offer life advice. Patients, most of them from Skid Row, are given beds, medical treatment when required, food and snacks, and a chance to connect with social services. The average patient will stay in the facility somewhere between a few hours and overnight … Patients are offered towels and can take a shower. They are also given water and light snacks. The center has laundry facilities. Once a patient sobers up, the staff seeks to connect him or her with long-term sobriety programs and other social services. Murch said 20% of people admitted have taken advantage of those opportunities, exceeding expectations. The center is set up to be flexible with its treatment.
READ MORE @ LADowntownNews.com
Stone(d) Parent VIDEO
Mother arrested after sons overdose on Klonopin school VIDEO
March 4th 2017 Police arrested a Pennsylvania mother after her children overdosed on prescription drugs and passed out at school. Investigators say Samantha Brown, 27, gave her 8- and 9-year-old sons the prescription drug Klonopin before school Wednesday. Klonopin is used to treat epilepsy and panic disorders.
WATCH MORE @ WTOL
Addiction/Recovery eBulletin
Welcome to 2017
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.
Chris Brown Reportedly Suffering From Serious Drug Addiction
March 2, 2017 – For the last two years, most of what’s been known about Chris Brown’s personal life has either been derived from a spate of lawsuits and criminal investigations, or erratic social-media posts from Brown himself … “You can talk to any drug addict or chemically imbalanced person – it doesn’t just go away,” says a former friend. “It’s something you have to work on. You have to change your lifestyle. And he’s not doing the things he needs to do to get well, so he’s never going to be well. The kid is going to hit rock bottom.”
Involuntary Treatment for Addicts Gets Boost in Bill Passed by Kentucky House
The Kentucky House this week advanced legislation that supporters say would improve a state law that allows involuntary treatment for alcohol and drug addiction. “It eliminates any delay in treatment,” she explained. HB 305 passed by House 95-0 now goes to the Senate for consideration.
“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.
Navigating The New Frontier of Mental Health and Addiction: A Guide for the 115th Congress
by Patrick Kennedy, ( ALL 80 pages) I’d like to extend a warm welcome to the 115th Congress, and share with you and your staff the following guide, which will help your efforts to bring about meaningful change for the millions of Americans living with a mental health condition or addiction. It is time to end the needless suffering across America, as well as in your home districts. The stakes couldn’t be clearer: The opioid epidemic continues to rage, and more than 55,000 Americans died of accidental drug overdose in 2015 alone. Over 27 million Americans reported using illicit or prescription drugs, and another 66 million reported binge drinking.
Interview with Filmmaker and Yoga Teacher Lindsey Clennell
Lindsey Clennell is a filmmaker and senior teacher of Iyengar yoga. In 2007, he created and distributed the documentary film Addiction, Recovery and Yoga. The film includes in-depth interviews with people who struggled with serious addiction problems and used yoga and 12-step programs as a part of their recovery. The Gay and Lesbian Community Center in Greenwich Village, where I lived at the time, would have AA meetings on Sunday at noon. Somebody I knew was doing sign language interpretation at the meetings and invited me along. So I went, and it blew my socks off. I thought, “Wow, this is so good.” The meetings were so open, so dramatic, very nice people were sharing their experiences. It was an eye opener for me.
READ MORE @ PsychCentral.com
Love your Road, Wherever it Leads
The Road to Recovery is Different for Everyone: Can’t We All Just Agree On That?
I recently received a Facebook message from a stranger who told me I was responsible for her relapse-that my closed mind about how to recover had caused her to drink. She railed against my podcast as the direct cause of her issues … Before I got sober, I assumed that 12-step was a cult… And so I read every book I could that confirmed I was right to hate it. Then I got desperate enough that I was willing to try anything-including something that I was sure was a cult. So I tried it and discovered it was nothing like I expected it to be-that, in fact, it saved my life.
READ MORE @ WorkitHealth.com
All Are Welcome to Save Their Lives
Staying sober without keeping the faith
Less than five years into his newfound sobriety, Steve B. found an untouched and unattended crack pipe, filled to the brim with the insidious substance that’s ravaged thousands of lives in Vancouver. (In keeping with rehab protocols and to respect their privacy, the Courier has chosen to not publish the last names of those currently attending meetings.) “I picked it up, looked at it and walked back inside to work – that reinforced my commitment to sobriety,” Steve said. “When I think of alcohol and when I think of crack, I don’t jones for it. I am repelled. I want anything but that. I had 40 years of that s***.”
Portland Police to Send Drug Addicts to Treatment Instead of Jail
Portland and Multnomah County are changing the way they deal with drug addicts. Starting Tuesday, people who are picked up on low-level possession charges will be funneled to treatment – rather than jail … “If we can have one contact, get them to social services, get them to break that cycle, it benefits not only them but us as well.” The Metropolitan Public Defenders Office likes the idea and said it should reduce racial disparities in the justice system. Seattle started the approach. Participants there are 58 percent less likely to be arrested again, compared with a control group.
Doctor used three local offices for oxycodone ‘pill mill’ VIDEO
February 27, 2017 – A Virginia physician with offices in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield has been charged for his role in getting oxycodone to the streets, according to recently unsealed court documents. Dr. Clarence Scranage Jr. worked with Anthony Harper, who recruited patients to send to Scranage for oxycodone prescriptions, according to court documents. Harper would give the names of the patients to Scranage, who would write 30 mg prescriptions for the Schedule II narcotic drug. Harper paid the doctor and sold the drugs to dealers / users, according to grand jury documents.
Ex-users try to help with Afghanistan’s three million drug addicts VIDEO
March 1, 2017 – Atiqullah, a 28-year-old in Kabul, was once a well digger with a decent salary. But over the course of 11 years of addiction, his life and health fell apart. He now lives under a bridge in western Kabul, unable to walk. “If I find money to buy food, I won’t be able to buy drugs. If I have money for my drugs, I won’t be able to have food,” he said, weeping. “I am tired of this life and even God is not ending my life so I can at least rest in peace.”
We recently got the opportunity to sit down and catch up with legendary drummer Denny Seiwell who, as you know, was the original drummer in Paul McCartney’s Wings. Seiwell spent three years as part of Wings after being noticed by McCartney during auditions. Seiwell would go on to perform on two of McCartney’s albums as well as play on major hits like My Love, Live and Let Die and Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey.
To curb opioid epidemic, California bill would tax painkillers to fund treatment
March 1, 2017 – Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) has introduced a bill that would impose a one-cent-per-milligram surcharge on prescription opioids sold in California. The tax would be imposed on wholesalers who import the medication into the state, not at the point of sale, and it would require a two-thirds approval vote in the Legislature. “California’s opioid epidemic has cost state taxpayers millions and the lives of too many of our sons and daughters,” McCarty said in a statement. “We must do more to help these individuals find hope and sobriety. This plan will provide counties with critical resources needed to curb the deadly cycle of opioid and heroin addiction in California.”
Police captain on a mission to ‘re-write the book’ on drug addiction VIDEO
February 27, 2017 – Twenty-eight years ago, Michael Zohab left his job as a bartender to become a police officer. However, about four years ago Capt. Zohab felt he needed to “re-write the book” on how the Richmond Police Department was handling the city’s war on drugs. “I started seeing the criminal justice system was not where people should be, because addiction is a disease, not a choice. The criminal justice system is not equipped to give people the care that they need,” said Zohab.
3/02/2017 – by Louise Stanger Ed.d, LCSW, CDWF, CIP – However, the people I have met look like you and me. The exception is that their substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders (i.e. anxiety and depression) have led them down a spiral staircase of street drugs, lost values, and money to a lonely existence fueled by meth to keep them up and going …With some work drying up altogether and America’s economy shifting toward service-based work in the wake of the Great Recession, the Washington Post sums up the issue with a theory that “the rise of meth coincided with the rise of low-paying, low-skilled service work, where people had to work multiple menial jobs to earn the same amount they used to earn in one manufacturing job, or other good-paying low-skilled position.” Because of the change in the economic landscape, there’s been a spike in women’s use of meth, too. Working mothers rely on a strong stimulant like meth to juggle their sundry responsibilities.
NY State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services: $250,000 in funding to support recovery peer advocates
New Yorkers struggling with an addiction, or whose loved ones are struggling, can find help and hope by calling the state’s toll-free, 24-hour, seven-day-a-week “HOPEline” at 1-877-8-HOPENY (1-877-846-7369) or by texting HOPENY (Short Code 467369). “Peer support services are essential to our system of care and are a vital part of the treatment and life-long recovery process,” OASAS Commissioner Arlene González-Sánchez said. “This initiative further strengthens our efforts to develop a coordinated network of community-based services….”
3 more sober home operators arrested in Delray Beach
February 27, 2017 – Two brothers and a tattoo artist surrendered at the Palm Beach County jail on Sunday after learning they were being charged with dozens of counts of patient brokering for allegedly accepting kickbacks from Chapters Recovery, a drug treatment center in Delray Beach. Brothers Adam, 25, and Eric, 28 Lahr, of Palm Beach Gardens, each face 34 counts of patient brokering. According to arrest reports, the brothers operated a sober home business “Vantage”.T
READ MORE @ MyPalmBeachPost.com
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
PHOTOS from 2017 Experience, Strength and Hope Awards
Addiction and recovery – The inside story with Kim Hume
On any given Monday or Tuesday in Boca Grande, you probably won’t see Kim and Brit Hume at a cocktail party. That’s because while you may be having a cocktail or watching the news on television, Brit Hume is appearing on TV, on Fox News … While they both have enjoyed successful careers, Kim suffered from addiction in her teens and twenties. “I am lucky to be alive,” she said. “During my darkest hours, I was certain I would end up on the streets as an abject failure, or dead, or likely both in that order.”
READ MORE @ BocaBeacon.com
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