Coronavirus

The AA Reopening Two-Step – We’re Baaaack!

REAL ROOMS - REAL HEALING – June 1, 2021 - This is a call to prioritization rather than prominence. Most AA members have a “favorite Step” (mine is Ten, because promptly admitting my wrongs seldom comes easy).... Read More...

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Women Now Drink As Much As Men

LISTEN – GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN...WITH PROBLEMS – June 9, 2021 - And the latest U.S. data from 2019 shows that women in their teens and early 20s reported drinking and getting drunk at higher rates th... Read More...

12 Step ProgramAddiction RecoveryAlcohol AddictionAlcoholics AnonymousBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusinterventionJune 15 2021Mental HealthRecoveryRecovery AdvocateRehab

Eating disorders in teens skyrocketing during pandemic

WASTING AWAY IN SILENCE – June , 9 2021 - Experts are concerned about a dramatic rise in eating disorders among teenagers over the past year. Possible explanations for the increase include teens’ loss of famili... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusEating Disorderfood addictioninterventionJune 15 2021Mental HealthRecoveryteenagers

Having a ‘Hot Girl Summer’—and Staying Sober

TAKING A SIP, NOT TAKING A SIP – June 10, 2021 - The last time Christina Kimbrough had a drink was Feb. 3, 2020. The 32-year-old writer and grad student, who readily identifies as an alcoholic, checked into an ... Read More...

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Author Kelsey Darragh On Being ‘Terrified’ She’d Break Her Sobriety During The Pandemic

STAYING SOBER NO MATTER WHAT – May 30, 2021 - I started gardening and thrifting and DIY’ing all over my home. I read and played games and practiced yoga and wrote a book. It took some experimentation and ... Read More...

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‘We Don’t Just Change on a Dime’

SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE – May 28, 2021- “We’ve been told that we’ve had to stay six feet away, and then three feet away, and then we can all of a sudden be back together. And that’s not how human beings... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCompassionCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictioninterventionJune 1 2021Mental HealthRecoveryRecovery AdvocateRehabTrauma

Overdose Death Rates Up 42% in 2020

HORRIFYING – May 26, 2021- According to a study by researchers from UCLA, Northeastern University and the University of Utah, the largest increases were among Black Americans (50.3%) and Latinos (49.7%). Spikes... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictioninterventionJune 1 2021Mental HealthOverdoseRecovery

Canada’s first and only overdose prevention site for women

WATCH – FOR THE LOVE OF LIFE – May 27, 2021 - While all women are welcome, including those who identify as transfeminine, 82 per cent of people using the site identify themselves as Indigenous. “There is a ... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictionfentanylJune 1 2021OverdoseRecovery

How sobriety strategies help anxious people re-enter society after the pandemic

IT’S LIKE WE’RE ALL NEWCOMERS...AGAIN! – May 27, 2021 - “There’s a sense of anticipatory anxiety around re-navigating and reintegrating — an excitement and trepidation at the same time, and the fear... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictioninterventionJune 1 2021Mental HealthRecoveryRecovery AdvocateTrauma

American Airlines joins Southwest in delaying alcoholic beverage sales as passenger violence rises

DOWNERS ARE OK? – May 30, 2021 - in March 2020, American dropped alcoholic beverage service and cut back service of soft drinks, juices, snacks and foods during the coronavirus pandemic to limit contact between flig... Read More...

Alcohol AddictionBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusinterventionJune 1 2021Mental HealthRecoveryTrauma

Many struggling with addiction have relapsed during pandemic

WATCH – KEEP COMING BACK – May 24, 2021 - This pandemic year has been very challenging for those who struggle with substance use disorder. Those who help people on the path forward say they’re especially concer... Read More...

12 Step ProgramAddiction RecoveryAlcohol AddictionAlcoholics AnonymousBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictioninterventionJune 1 2021Mental HealthRecoveryRehab

COVID-19 pandemic has fueled surge in eating disorders

HEALING THE NEW NORMAL – May 27, 2021 - The program offers inpatient treatment and outpatient programs in several states, which switched to teletherapy when the pandemic began. That has continued, though some ... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusEating DisorderJune 1 2021Mental HealthObesityRecovery

Forum weighs in on Portugal’s drug approach

PERFECT SUMMER VACATION? – May 27, 2021 - “I have been aware of the harm done to immigrant communities by drug policy since working on the deportation issue in the Azores since the 1990s,” he said. “Most of the... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictioninterventionJune 1 2021opioid crisisopioidsRecoveryRecovery Advocate

Overlooking a Major Culprit in the Opioid Crisis

THE BEST INTENTIONS...? – May 28, 2021 - And they did succeed in significantly shrinking the medical supply: since 2011, opioid prescribing has been cut by more than 60 percent. Unfortunately, however... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryAlcohol AddictionBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictioninterventionJune 1 2021opioid crisisopioidsOverdoseoxycontinRecovery

Valedictorians discuss a year like no other

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES – May 22, 2021 - The word valedictorian comes from the Latin vale dicere or “to say farewell.” So it is a goodbye speech, but also a “Look at what we’ve done” speech. And what seniors... Read More...

Books, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCompassionCoronavirusJune 1 2021Mental HealthRecovery

The pandemic brought addiction recovery online, what’s next?

TIME WILL TELL – May 19, 2021 - THOUGHTS REVEALED: Millions of patients for the first time can easily read their doctors’ case notes, thanks to a new federal mandate that opens up online access to information t... Read More...

12 Step ProgramAddiction RecoveryAlcohol AddictionAlcoholics AnonymousBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictioninternetinterventionMay 25 2021Mental HealthRecoveryRecovery AdvocateRehab

Overwork Kills Over 745,000 People A Year

MORE THAN SMACK – May 17, 2021 - The study doesn’t cover the past year, in which the COVID-19 pandemic thrust national economies into crisis and reshaped how millions of people work. But its authors note that ... Read More...

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On Parole Means Staying Clean and Sober

STAY FREE: BE YOUR OWN COMPANION – May 14, 2021- “Clients really did reach out to us,” Ms. White said. And that was even though it was up to her, Mr. Lecorchick and Mr. Bielskie to enforce consequences. Ms... Read More...

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Netflix documentary brings renewed focus to addiction problem

BIG PHARMA IN BIG TROUBLE – May 21, 2021 - Alexa Perivolotis, program director at Alyssa’s Place, said the message of the series, which is aimed at showing how the fallout from drug addiction can affect anyone... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBig PharmaBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictionMay 25 2021opioid crisisopioidsOverdoseRehab

U.S. Needs an ‘Operation Warp Speed’ for Opioid Epidemic

WATCH – WITHOUT PILLS OR INJECTIONS – May 14, 2021 - “Overdoses, which were already increasing hugely over the last few years, increased even more for the corona pandemic,” Dr. Alex Kral, an infectious disease ... Read More...

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Substance abuse recovery services see uptick in demand

WATCH – MORE HEADS NEED BEDS! – May 17, 2021 - While restrictions and mandates have been lifted, and vaccines are being distributed, many centers said they are starting to see an uptick in people coming back f... Read More...

12 Step ProgramAddiction RecoveryAlcohol AddictionAlcoholics AnonymousBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictioninterventionMay 25 2021Mental HealthRecoveryRecovery AdvocateRehab

How Are You, Really?

FINE, TOTALLY FINE – May 17, 2021 - For many of us, emerging from pandemic life has created a flurry of new emotions. A large body of research shows that labeling these emotions — something scientists call “af... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCompassionCoronavirusdepressioninterventionMay 25 2021Mental HealthRecoveryTrauma

Photographs depict the stark reality of addiction in the US

SNOW ANGELS – May 21, 2021 - Fearless and prolific conflict photographer James Nachtwey has been at the frontline of battles all over the world. On this occasion, he travelled with visual journalist and editor ... Read More...

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Healthcare worker embraces sobriety after spending $212 a week on booze during lockdown

THAT’S ALL? – May 22, 2021- Nikki had a successful career in healthcare, a detached home and, more importantly, two children and a loving and supportive husband. But alcohol held her in a vice-like grip for 15 y... Read More...

12 Step ProgramAddiction RecoveryAlcohol AddictionAlcoholics AnonymousBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusinterventionMay 25 2021Mental HealthRecoveryRehab

Virtually Sober – When AA Went Away

An original story by Christopher Dale. – Nicholas had been virtually sober once before … well, virtually anyway. Unfortunately neither the liquor store nor the whiskey nor the inevitable DTs were avatars. They were r... Read More...

12 Step ProgramAddiction RecoveryAlcohol AddictionAlcoholics AnonymousBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusMay 25 2021Mental HealthRecoveryRehab

Read How Pros Embrace Mental Health Awareness Month

MONTHLY SELF CARE – May 14, 2021 - Erica Taylor, co-founder and chief growth officer, TINSEL Experiential Design, New York “During quarantine, I got very into jigsaw puzzles as a way to do something with my ... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCompassionCoronavirusinterventionMay 18 2021Mental HealthRecoveryRecovery Advocate

Kratom Dependency Grows

WATCH – SOLD IN VENDING MACHINES – May 12, 2021 - Until the pandemic struck in March 2020, Rohr and her Kalamazoo-based staff rarely encountered Kratom, or it was mistaken for an opiate in a patient entering re... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusDrug Abuse and AddictioninterventionMay 18 2021opioid crisisopioidsOverdoseRecoveryRehab

How A.A. Survived an Existential Crisis

SECRET PASSWORDS – May 12, 2021 - The switch from in-person to online at the onset of the pandemic was overnight. “It all happened really quick,” recalls Anne, the group’s elected “overall chair” for 2020. (All... Read More...

12 Step ProgramAddiction RecoveryAlcohol AddictionAlcoholics AnonymousBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCelebrity SobrietyCompassionCoronavirusinterventionMay 18 2021Mental Healthnonprofit organizationRecoveryRecovery AdvocateRehab

Who’s to blame for America’s opioid epidemic?

FOLLOW THE MONEY – May 5, 2021 - It was an American epidemic long before Covid-19. Opioid addiction and overdoses have scythed through the US heartland, often compounding misery in regions already ravaged... Read More...

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Doctors ‘wrap their heads around’ surge in teen eating disorders

WATCH – FOOD FOR THOUGHT – May 6, 2021 - According to the association, that’s a 30% spike in teens compared to the year prior to the pandemic. Officials at Denver Health say they’re experiencing similar numbers.&... Read More...

Addiction RecoveryBooks, Memoirs, Films, and MediaCoronavirusEating Disorderfood addictioninterventionMay 11 2021Mental HealthRecoveryteenagers