The Wednesday Weekly Addiction + Recovery News Clips - October 26, 2022
The Wednesday Weekly is a collaboration of Sober Linings Playbook and Recovery in the Middle Ages Podcast.
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Highlights
National
Biden administration plan to expand medication assisted addiction treatment for pregnant women | The burden of paying for mental health care
Fentanyl
Halloween risk of “rainbow” fentanyl debunked | Rolling Stone examines Ad Council fentanyl campaign aimed at youth
State and Local
New Mexico $24 billion Walgreens lawsuit goes to judge | Texas Gov. Abbott urges state funded naloxone distribution
Studies/Research in the News
Deep brain stimulation for eating, substance use disorders | How virtual reality experiences may aid recovery
Opinion
The Dangers of marijuana induced psychosis | Fentanyl: Solutions need to focus on demand and supply
Books and Movies
NY Times, People review Matthew Perry’s new addiction memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing”
Podcasts
Heroin assisted treatment on Flourishing After Addiction | Dopey interviews author Hannah Sward (“Strip”)
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National
Matthew Perry says he “probably spent $9 million or something trying to get sober”
Matthew Perry's road to sobriety has been both challenging and expensive. Speaking with The New York Times in a recent interview, Perry reveals how much money he's spent battling his addictions.
ET Online - Oct. 24, 2022
Biden Administration to Offer Plan to Get Addiction-Fighting Medicine to Pregnant Women
The Biden administration will use federal courts and health programs to expand the use of medication to treat substance use disorders in pregnant women, according to a report by the White House released Friday. The plan is part of the administration’s broader effort to combat a drug crisis that now kills more than 100,000 Americans annually.
New York Times - Oct. 21, 2022
A New Paramedic Policy May Guide Overdose Patients Into Treatment
As the number of opioid overdose deaths continues to surge across the United States, some experts stress the urgency of providing the addiction treatment medication buprenorphine to drug users as soon as possible, on the scene of an overdose. Not only does buprenorphine help people with an opioid use disorder resist cravings and stay away from drugs, but it also protects patients from the increasingly likely possibility that they will end up using an illicit drug laced with fentanyl and die. Studies have found that overdose patients have at least a 1 in 10 chance of dying from a subsequent overdose in the following year. But no ambulances routinely carried buprenorphine until 2019, when a group of paramedics in Camden, New Jersey, became the first to receive training on the addiction medication, and ambulances in the state were authorized to carry it.
Pew - Oct. 21, 2022
After fentanyl killed her soulmate, recovering drug user fights to end stigma of addiction
When Paul Francs Duffy II got a call that another person was brought to the emergency room after an overdose, he would put on his suit and head to the hospital. Duffy, as a peer support specialist, would offer support to survivors — and encourage them to seek treatment, just like he had. But for a time, even as he worked to help other addicts, Duffy was quietly struggling with his own sobriety.
Fox - Oct. 20, 2022
Paying for mental health care leaves families in debt and isolated
Untold numbers of families are dealing with myriad challenges finding and paying for mental health care, and then ending up in debt. There are too few therapists and psychologists in the U.S. — and fewer still who provide treatment paid for by insurance. That compounds the financial toll on families.
NPR - Oct. 19, 2022
States Should Measure Opioid Use Disorder Treatment to Improve Outcomes
The most effective treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD) are medications: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.1 However, there are substantial gaps between the number of people who need these medications and those who receive them,2 and the United States continues to experience a devastating number of lives lost to the opioid epidemic. To close these gaps, improve treatment overall, and save lives, states need a set of core metrics to track relevant data and provide a comprehensive picture of care for OUD—from diagnosis through recovery. Such metrics would allow policymakers to measure successes, identify areas for improvement, and take appropriate actions.
Pew - Oct. 18, 2022
Family Physicians Serve on the Front Lines of Addiction Medicine
While practicing family medicine for many years, I saw how substance use disorders affected many of my patients and their families. To provide them with the best comprehensive care possible, I pursued the addiction medicine fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. It was one of the best career decisions I’ve ever made. Now, during National Addiction Treatment Week, I encourage other family physicians to learn about the critical role we can take in treating patients with SUDs.
AAFP - Oct. 18, 2022
Biden administration seeks to expand 24/7 mental health care
The government announced plans Tuesday to award millions of dollars in grants to expand all-hours mental health and substance abuse care in more communities around the country.
PBS - October 18, 2022
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Fentanyl
Rainbow Fentanyl Halloween Candy: The Latest War on Drugs Myth
On August 30, the Drug Enforcement Agency released a warning about “rainbow fentanyl” — colorful batches of the potent synthetic opioid reportedly found in drug busts across 26 states. The warning described it as “a new method used by drug cartels to sell fentanyl made to look like candy to children and young people.” But according to a recent NBC interview, “the [DEA] has seen nothing that indicates that the pills will be related to [Halloween] or that drug traffickers are putting it into Halloween candy.” Outlets like Snopes and Rolling Stone found no credible evidence to indicate that parents need to look out for rainbow fentanyl on Halloween. But once the DEA rang the what-about-the-children bell, it couldn’t be unrung.
Teen Vogue - Oct. 24, 2022
Harm reduction experts, LE officials debunk fentanyl exposure myths
"There's a belief that if you touch fentanyl that you could receive a lethal dose or you could get exposed to fentanyl to the skin ... I've never heard of a case of that happening."
Police1 - Oct. 23, 2022
No, drug dealers aren’t trying to slip kids fentanyl. But fentanyl deaths are spiking.
Trick or treating and urban legends go together like chocolate and peanut butter. Hoaxes or myths about the prevalence of poisoned or otherwise intentionally tainted, deadly candy have circulated around all hallows eve for decades. The latest incarnation of these stories revolves around fentanyl: a potent synthetic opioid responsible for a massive spike in overdose deaths over the past decade. There’s no question that fentanyl poses real dangers to certain demographics. But experts say there’s a relatively low risk of “rainbow fentanyl” being passed to trick-or-treaters or young children generally. At the same time, people who use drugs are at genuine risk of unknowingly buying fentanyl and overdosing. Here’s what you need to know.
Inverse - Oct. 19, 2022
‘Rainbow fentanyl’ panic is obscuring the real dangers of a contaminated drug supply, experts say
Local and national experts say that while fentanyl is a serious concern for drug users — especially those who aren’t used to opioids — drug dealers aren’t targeting children or secreting fentanyl into their candy. “Drugs are expensive. No one is going to be giving away free drugs,” said Jen Shinefeld, a field epidemiologist with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.
Philadelphia Inquirer - Oct. 19, 2022
Children not target of 'rainbow fentanyl,' experts say. And adding color may actually protect drug users
In reality, experts say colorful fentanyl is not likely to pose a risk to children, and in fact, it might actually help keep users from unintentionally overdosing. What's more, rather than helping to protect children, the spread of misinformation like this could actually be harmful for those who are already at risk.
Medical Xpress - Oct. 17, 2022
How Do We Save Teens From Fentanyl?
A new series from the Ad Council is embracing education and promoting harm reduction as the right stokes fear over rainbow fentanyl.
Rolling Stone - Oct. 17, 2022
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State / Local
Virginia: Among Black Virginians, opioid overdose deaths nearly tripled during pandemic
In the past four years, the state has seen opioid overdose deaths among Black Virginians more than triple — the highest death rate, by far, of any demographic. The numbers underscore the lethality of a fentanyl-polluted drug supply, as well as structural barriers to entering recovery — a critical first step in preventing fatal overdose.
Richmond.com - Oct. 24, 2022
Virginia given $67 million in latest settlement with opioid maker
Johnson & Johnson, owner of opioid manufacturer Janssen Pharmaceuticals, has made the first payment of $67 million in its settlement with Virginia and other states. In addition to around $40 million to be set aside for the state Opioid Abatement Authority, which is leading efforts across the commonwealth to fight opioid addiction, the settlement payment also includes $11 million for the state government and $16 million to be divided up among local governments.
WRIC - Oct. 20, 2022
Oklahoma marijuana legalization initiative will appear on the ballot on March 7, 2023
Oklahoma voters will decide on State Question 820, an initiative to legalize marijuana, on March 7, 2023. State Question 820 would legalize marijuana for adults 21 years old and older. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority would be responsible for marijuana business licensing and regulations. Individuals would be allowed to possess, transport, and distribute up to one ounce (28.35 grams) of marijuana, eight grams of marijuana in a concentrated form, and/or eight grams or less of concentrated marijuana in marijuana-infused products. Marijuana sales would be taxed at 15%.
BallotPedia - Oct. 20, 2022
New Mexico's $24B lawsuit against Walgreens goes to judge
Oral arguments in a civil lawsuit that asks a state court to hold Walgreens responsible for helping create and worsen New Mexico’s opioid addiction crisis ended Tuesday after a bench trial that lasted more than seven weeks.
Santa Fe New Mexican - Oct. 19, 2022
California: LA County libraries will soon be supplied with overdose-reversing Narcan
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to place the overdose-reversing or Narcan at county libraries for use as needed there, use these libraries as public distribution centers for the drug.
FoxLA - Oct. 18, 2022
Texas: Gov. Greg Abbott says state should fund distribution of medication that can reverse opioid overdose
Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday said the state should fund the distribution of an overdose reversal medication to help curb the growing number of opioid-related deaths. While not detailing how the distribution might be funded, Abbott said the medication, Narcan, should be distributed to law enforcement agencies as well as some hospitals and schools.
The Texas Tribune - Oct. 17, 2022
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Studies/Research in the News
The Quest to Treat Binge-Eating and Addiction—With Brain Zaps
Delivering small bursts of electric current via brain implants has long been used to treat Parkinson’s and epilepsy. Can it work for psychiatric conditions? Networks of neurons form circuits that, when activated, carry out specific functions. Sometimes this complex electrical wiring goes awry, which can be a factor in neurological and psychiatric disorders. But what if the rhythm of these circuits could be restored with a kind of factory reset button? That’s the idea behind deep brain stimulation, a technique that delivers tiny zaps of electricity to brain tissue via implanted electrodes.
Wired - Oct. 21, 2022
Virtual reality experiences to aid substance use disorder recovery
Indiana University researchers are combining psychological principles with innovative virtual reality technology to create a new immersive therapy for people with substance use disorders. They've recently received over $4.9 million from the National Institutes of Health and launched an IU-affiliated startup company to test and further develop the technology.
Science Daily - Oct. 19, 2022
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Opinion
Seattle can’t afford not to fund addiction treatment
Given the role substance use disorder (SUD) plays in our homelessness and public safety crises, one could reasonably assume that the city of Seattle provides robust funding for treatment to recover from a chemical dependency. Astonishingly, we do not. That is why I am proposing a $2 million pilot program to directly fund addiction treatment in the 2023-2024 budget.
Seattle Times - Oct. 23, 2022
We Can't Ignore the Criminal Side of the Fentanyl Problem
The fentanyl problem is a multi-headed monster and requires a comprehensive approach to deal with it. As a society, we have made impressive advances in the fields of addiction medicine and overdose prevention, and those measures can and should be continued. Addressing the demand side of the equation is an important part of this fight. But it must be recognized that it is only one front in a larger battle. Confronting the supply side—the criminal enterprise that manufactures and distributes this poison and fuels an escalation in violence and property crime—is equally vital. We will make no progress by ignoring one side of the coin in favor of the other.
Newsweek - Oct. 23, 2022
San Diego ER seeing up to 37 marijuana cases a day — mostly psychosis
“We probably see 20 THC-induced psychoses for every amphetamine-induced psychosis,” said Ben Cort, who runs a drug and alcohol treatment center in Colorado. One study showed an increase of 24% in cases of psychoses in emergency departments in Colorado in the five years following marijuana’s legalization in that state in 2012. “One clinical study showed that a moderate dose of pure THC causes psychotic symptoms in about 40% of people who lack a family history of psychosis. If you’re a casual user and your dosage is mild, that likely just means a touch of paranoia,” said neuroscientist Christine Miller, an expert on psychotic disorders.
New York Post - Oct. 22, 2022
Biden's Marijuana Executive Order Is a Big Step, But There's Much More to Do
President Joe Biden's decision to pardon Americans convicted of simple marijuana possession is both common-sense policy and represents a sea-change in our country's drug laws. And, politically, it keeps a major campaign promise and bridges the country's fractured, polarized political divides. We can't say that about many other issues today.
Newsweek - Oct. 21, 2022
I could have been a casualty. We need to address the roots of the opioid crisis
While some blame border security for the opioid epidemic, the need for drug smuggling stems from the addiction that doctors, Big Pharma and politicians created. Border security aside, if there wasn’t a black market demand driven by addiction, there would be no need for potential drug-smugglers to come into America illegally in the first place. It is my goal to focus on the root of the problem. By addressing the culprits of mass opioid addiction in America, we can begin to finally eliminate the fuel for the crisis.
Deseret News - Oct. 20, 2022
How drug policy has helped shape the Fetterman-Oz Pennsylvania Senate race
Drug policy has been a key issue in the race between Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Dr. Mehmet Oz for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. Legalizing marijuana and addressing the opioid crisis are both supported by large swaths of Pennsylvania voters. But while voters seem to be largely in agreement on these issues, the two Senate candidates have taken notably different approaches toward them on the campaign trail. Fetterman has been a major supporter of weed legalization and has discussed broader possibilities for drug policy reform, positions that have been used against him in the race. Oz has discussed the opioid crisis on the campaign trail, but his extensive history as a public medical figure reveals mixed messages and evolving positions on the issue.
Yahoo! - Oct. 19, 2022
A promise to my brother pulled me back from my drug addiction
I was four years clean when my beloved brother died – I had promised him I would finish my memoir, so that’s what I did.
The Guardian - Oct. 19, 2022
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Books and Movies
The One Where Matthey Perry Writes an Addiction Memoir
As his former co-star Lisa Kudrow confesses in the foreword to his memoir, “Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing,” the first question people ask about “Friends” is often “How’s Matthew Perry doing?” Perry answers that question in the book, which Flatiron will publish on Nov. 1, by starkly chronicling his decades-long cage match with drinking and drug use.
New York Times - Oct. 23, 2022
Matthew Perry Opens Up About His Addiction Journey with a New Memoir: 'I'm Grateful to Be Alive'
Matthew Perry is ready to share the truth about his life. The Friends star, 53, beloved for his portrayal of Chandler Bing on the hit TV series, has written a heartbreakingly beautiful memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing (available Nov. 1), detailing his journey — one filled with incredible highs and shattering lows.
People - Oct. 19, 2022
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Podcasts: The Weekly Roundup
Flourishing After Addiction with Carl Erik Fisher, M.D. – Heroin-Assisted Treatment, and Making Sense of Addiction, with Prof Sir John Strang
In the weeks prior to this episode, the story broke that the UK’s Middlesbrough clinic, which offered a pioneering Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT) program, is slated to close because of budget cuts. Patients were allowed to self-administer medical-grade heroin (officially, diamorphine) under medical supervision. One of the key scientific studies that supports this intervention is the RIOTT Trial—“Randomised Injectable Opiate Treatment”—and I got to speak to the principal investigator of that trial, a giant in the field of addiction research, and the first knight to appear on the Flourishing After Addiction podcast: John Strang.
Heart of the Matter - Best-selling author David Magee: On how recovery is a journey
As a child, best-selling author David Magee felt that his life purpose was to write a book that could change lives. He recently told his remarkable journey of triumph in the face of trauma in his book “Dear William: A Father’s Memoir of Addiction, Recovery, Love, and Loss.” A few years ago, David lost his son William to an accidental overdose just one year after his other son Hudson was in a three-day coma following his own overdose. At the same time, his daughter Mary was struggling with an eating disorder, and David himself was in recovery from an alcohol and substance use disorder. But before he passed away, William encouraged David to write about their family’s struggles to let others know they are not alone. With his wife’s blessing, David published this book, which gives readers an open and honest glimpse into the Magee family’s story.
Dopey – Interview with author Hannah Sward (“Strip: A Memoir”)
This week on Dopey! We are joined by Hannah Sward, the author of the super beautiful and still seriously debaucherous new memoir - STRIP! Hannah brings a super honest and vulnerable story to Dopey. She gets super honest about her life whilst in active addiction, becoming a prostitute and exotic dancer before succumbing to horrible alcoholism and crystal meth use. PLUS Strung Out author and unlicensed advice columnist, Erin Khar is back! PLUS DOPEY hippie voicemails, attachment theory, and more on this brand new super hones and vulnerable new Dopey!
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