July 14, 2021 Wednesday Weekly
National
Public health experts question WHO’s campaign against tobacco harm reduction
Over the years, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been spearheading varied global awareness campaigns and coupled with traditional nicotine replacement methodologies, yet the number of smokers has remained over a billion since 2000.
Economic Times Health World – July 15, 2021
A tragic death shows how ERs fail patients who struggle with addiction
Patients and families desperate for addiction treatment often arrive in the ER only to find the facility's staff may not be equipped to deal with substance use. Or, even if they are, the treatment is prohibitively expensive.
NPR – July 14, 2021
Key Senate democrats are taking the first step toward legalizing marijuana
Their proposal would also expunge the criminal records of people convicted of nonviolent federal crimes involving marijuana, and transfer responsibility for regulating the drug from the Drug Enforcement Administration to the Food and Drug Administration and the wing of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that is charged with gathering excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco.
Huffington Post – July 14, 2021
Biden picks ex-West Virginia health official as drug czar
The White House said Tuesday that Dr. Rahul Gupta will be the first physician to lead the Office of National Drug Control Policy, also known as the “drug czar.”
Yahoo News – July 13, 2021
Alcohol abuse is on the rise, but doctors too often fail to treat it
Most people with alcohol use disorder do not receive treatment for it, even when they disclose their drinking problem to their primary care doctor or another health care professional.
Yahoo news – July 13, 2021
Donald Trump Jr has taken the stage at CPAC - America's largest Conservative conference - to call Hunter Biden a "total waste" and accused him of "selling access to the highest levels of government".
Business Insider – July 11, 2021
Tips for former addicts, families trying to restore finances
Financial recovery is not easy, but there are tools to help.
Californianewstimes – July 11, 2021
Purdue Pharma exit plan gains steam with OK from more states
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma’s plan to reorganize into a new entity that helps combat the U.S. opioid epidemic got a big boost as 15 states that had previously opposed the new business model now support it.
AP – July 8, 2021
Whitney Houston, American girl
The image stuck. As Houston began to publicly struggle with addiction, the press kept making confused references to those halcyon days when Whitney Houston meant America.
Vox – July 8, 2021
Jada Pinkett Smith says she once passed out on set after taking ‘bad batch of ecstasy’
The actor opened up about her personal struggles with drugs and alcohol on the latest episode of “Red Table Talk.”
Huffington Post – July 7, 2021
State / Local
Maine Governor to hold 3rd annual opioid crisis summit
Democratic Gov. Janet Mills said she has scheduled the third annual Governor’s Opioid Response Summit to assemble health care providers, policy experts, law enforcement officials and members of the public to work together on the opioid crisis.
AP – July 14, 2021
West Virginia to vote against Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan
West Virginia will vote against Purdue Pharma's bankruptcy plan because of objections over the allocation of settlement money, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) said Tuesday.
The Hill – July 13, 2021
Meth use drove huge surge in heart failure crises in California
In a finding that demonstrates methamphetamine's power to destroy the human heart, new research shows hospitalizations for heart failure related to the illicit drug have soared by 585% in California.
Drugs.com – July 14, 2021
Parkersburg, West Virginia to consider moratorium on drug treatment facilities
The state passed legislation in 2017 that exempted treatment facilities from a process to determine if they are needed. “We are going to be proactive in not allowing any more of them until this is addressed by the state Legislature.
AP News – July 12, 2021
Evolve Treatment Centers for Teens Opens in Sacramento
Opening in July 2021, Evolve Arden Oaks Residential Treatment Center treats adolescents ages 12-17 who struggle with mental health and substance use issues.
AP News – July 12, 2021
Coronavirus pandemic worsened the opioid crisis; a new Connecticut law is designed to help
Yahoo news – July 11, 2021
Purdue’s Sackler family to pay Colorado $50 million in settlement over opioid crisis
The $4.3 billion settlement is part of several lawsuits alleging Purdue Pharma pushed doctors to liberally prescribe opioids while downplaying their addictiveness.
Yahoo news – July 9, 2021
Los Angeles says: Too much alcohol on these streets!
California Alcohol Policy Alliance Rally & Call-To-Action to Oppose State Assemblymember Gabriel's Support for Sponsored Drinking on CA Sidewalks. Advocates demand public health and social justice over corporate profits, oppose AB 61 & SB 314
PR Newswire – July 7, 2021
Studies in the news
Scientific study finds fish can turn to meth addicts
Researchers got brown trout addicted to the drug in a test that had them swimming in a tank with meth-laced water for eight weeks, a study published Tuesday said. When they were later given an option of a clean stream or one with methamphetamine the trout preferred the tainted water – a sign they were experiencing withdrawal.
NY Post – July 7, 2021
4 Major Effects Drinking Beer Has on Your Health, New Study Says
[Articles touting the benefits of alcohol usually selectively choose one finding from a study that makes imbibers feel good while ignoring the broader context and findings of the study. In contrast, this article acknowledges up front that the study’s authors do not claim alcohol itself has health benefits.]
Eat This Not That – July 10, 2021
Opioid addiction app accesses personal data, study finds
The findings came from the rise of remote healthcare services during a pandemic that raised new privacy challenges.
Californianewstimes – July 7, 2021
Opinion
When your child finally gets real help for their addiction
I lovingly encourage the reader who may be experiencing any similar feelings or situations to know you are not alone and that we do need real help.
Medium – July 13, 2021
The best way to slow the spread of disease is not to make unrealistic demands for total abstinence, but to work to reduce the greatest harms. The “abstinence violation effect:” if the only acceptable goal is continuous abstinence, even a minor slip can rapidly snowball.
Scientific American – July 7, 2021ight now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.