The Wednesday Weekly Addiction + Recovery News Clips - September 21, 2022
The Wednesday Weekly is a collaboration of Sober Linings Playbook and Recovery in the Middle Ages Podcast.
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Highlights
National
Meth ODs spike in NJ and PA | Hospitals lack addiction specialists | “Soberversary” celebrations on the rise
Fentanyl
Country singer Luke Bell’s death linked to fentanyl | Fentanyl a growing threat for teens
State and Local
CA Governor vetoes safe injection site bill | PA lawmaker proposes voluntary registry for people who don’t want to purchase alcohol | OK prosecuting pregnant women for medical marijuana use
Studies/Research in the News
Highlighting alcohol-related risks of cancer, logging daily drinks found to be effective for reducing drinking | Alcohol impairs ability to imagine the future
Opinion
Language and the stigma of addiction | Powder vs. crack cocaine disparity persists
Books and Movies
Film: Breitbart’s “amateurish” “My Son Hunter” panned in the New Yorker
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National
'63 days of hell': A mother's desperate search for her missing veteran son ended with the shocking discovery of his nitrous oxide addiction
Julia Charleston's son, a veteran, went missing for 63 days after he developed a nitrous oxide addiction. Following her son's death, Charleston said she wants to warn others about the addictive nature of nitrous oxide. Some states are regulating whipped cream chargers to prevent people from using them to get high.
Insider.com - Sept. 20, 2022
As meth overdoses spike in N.J. and Pa., advocates call for better treatment for people who use stimulants
Overdose deaths involving methamphetamine have increased sharply in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where a sevenfold rise in death rates between 2015 and 2019 was the highest in the country, a recent analysis from the Pew Charitable Trust found.
Philadelphia Inquirer - Sept. 17, 2022
Sex addict who slept with 700 men reveals the night she hit rock bottom
A reformed sex addict who slept with more than 700 men has revealed how she hit rock bottom when a partner turned violent during a terrifying encounter - and she now runs empowerment 'bootcamps' to help others beat their addiction.
Daily Mail - Sept. 17, 2022
Now trending: "Soberversaries"
As the pandemic winds down and people try to quit the drinking habits that may have crept up on them, the "soberversary" is emerging as a new holiday-esque milestone — complete with greeting cards, cheekily-worded coffee mugs and a growing social media presence. Why it matters: Getting sober and staying sober are significant achievements that too many people feel compelled to hide because of the ongoing stigma of alcohol addiction.
AXIOS - Sept. 16, 2022
Woman files suit alleging Instagram addiction caused depression, eating disorder
A Virginia woman filed a lawsuit against Meta — the parent company of Instagram and Facebook — alleging the company knowingly unleashed a defectively designed product that is “addictive, harmful, and at times fatal to children,” according to court records.
San Francisco Chronicle- Sept. 15, 2022
Hospitals have many disease specialists, but often not for addiction. Now, that's changing
Hospitals typically employ heart, lung, kidney and other specialists. But if your illness is an addiction or a condition related to drug or alcohol use, there are few hospitals where patients can see anyone who specializes in addiction medicine — even as overdose deaths reach record highs.
WBUR - Sept. 14, 2022
National State and Local Studies in the News Opinion Reviews Comments
Fentanyl
Cause of death revealed for singer Luke Bell, 32 - fentanyl
Country musician Luke Bell's cause of death was an accidental fentanyl overdose, according to ABC 9 KGUN Tucson. Bell was found dead Aug. 29 at the age of 32, nine days after he was reported missing in Tucson, Ariz.
MSN.com - Sept. 20, 2022
Amid another Los Angeles-area teen overdose, doctors discuss the growing threat of fentanyl
“Some folks might have opioid dependency and they’re using forms of heroin or forms of strong opiates, and they gain some tolerance to these these strong opiates,” Ciccarone said. “Children and teenagers, young adults may not have the tolerance built up. And so if they’re at a party and they see a pill is offered to them, they may not have the ability to tolerate even a tiny dose of fentanyl that’s in that pill.”Ultimately, Ciccarone offered a simple message: “Just don’t do it. You know, the DEA campaign ‘One pill can kill you,’ It actually makes sense.”
KTLA - Sept. 17, 2022
Families destroyed by fentanyl deaths rally near the White House
In 2021, more than 71,000 people died of synthetic opioid overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The mothers’ group, Lost Voices of Fentanyl, which has more than 19,000 members on Facebook, argues that the Biden administration has not done enough to stop fentanyl from being brought across the border, or to raise awareness of its dangers. “We want a covid-like response to fentanyl,” Babcock said, adding that grief stricken parents should not need to be “standing on street corners, having to hold rallies and carry signs.” In addition, the group is demanding the Biden administration classify fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and designate drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Washington Post - Sept. 17, 2022
America's fentanyl problem a growing threat for teens
America's epidemic of overdose deaths tied to fentanyl is posing a growing threat to teens — and as they return to school, officials warn they may more frequently encounter the drug disguised in unexpected forms.
AXIOS - Sept. 16, 2022
Rubio, Gonzales introduce legislation to make distributing fentanyl a felony murder offense
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) introduced legislation this week to make the distribution of fentanyl resulting in death a felony murder offense. “Fentanyl is killing Americans at a record high,” Rubio said in a statement. “This deadly drug is widespread throughout our country and has left no community untouched. This bill would make drug dealers pay the price for selling deadly fentanyl.”
The Hill - Sept. 15, 2022
U.S. limits export of fentanyl to Russia, calling it a potential weapon
Move brings U.S. in line with the E.U., which issued tight controls on fentanyl exports to Russia this summer. The United States on Thursday strictly limited the export of fentanyl and related chemicals to Russia, saying that they “may be useful” as chemical weapons to support Russia’s “military aggression.” The Commerce Department said sales to Russia of the powerful opiate will now require a U.S. government license. The rule also applies to exports to Belarus, whose leadership supports Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Washington Post - Sept. 15, 2022
Texas doctors propose solutions to combat opioid crisis
Members heard about possible solutions from different groups, including the Texas Medical Association’s (TMA) Dr. C.M. Schade. One solution he and TMA are proposing is asking state lawmakers to make prescribing opioids easier in order to combat the fentanyl crisis. He said some people are turning to fake pills to manage pain. The TMA and other groups who testified also want lawmakers to enact other solutions, including: public education, expanded access to overdose-reversing naloxone and legalizing fentanyl test strips.
KXAN - Sept. 14, 2022
Minnesota man gets life in prison over 11 fentanyl overdose deaths
A Minnesota man was sentenced to life in prison Monday after he was convicted of selling lethal doses of fentanyl to 11 people, federal authorities said. A U.S. district judge in Minnesota imposed the sentence after telling Aaron Broussard, 31, that his “disregard for human life is terrifying,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
NBC - Sept. 12, 2022
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
State / Local
Virginia: Recovering addicts work to help others in 'Project Recover'
Peer recovery specialists have been working in central Virginia this year as part of “Project Recover.” The specialists are embedded with ambulance crews and police officers so they can offer guidance and resources to victims during one of the most difficult times of their lives — immediately following an overdose.
AP - Sept. 17, 2022
California: ‘This is not the end’: L.A. advocates say veto doesn’t shut door to safe injection sites
In the sweltering heat, activist Soma Snakeoil gripped the microphone and led the crowd outside Los Angeles City Hall in a chant. “They talk! We die!” the crowd shouted. The rally came the week after Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a state bill that would have allowed supervised sites for people to inject drugs to be launched through pilot programs in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oakland.
Los Angeles Times - Sept. 16, 2022
Gov. Gavin Newsom approves court-ordered mental treatment for homeless
With more than 100,000 people living on California’s streets, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a first-of-its kind law on Wednesday that could force some of them into treatment as part of a program he describes as "care" but opponents argue is cruel.
Fox - Sept. 15, 2022
Pennsylvania: Lawmaker introduces legislation to help those recovering from alcohol addiction
A local state representative is working to find ways to combat alcohol abuse by using his own experience as a way to help others. New legislation has been introduced that would allow those in recovery to voluntarily exclude themselves from being able to purchase alcohol. State Rep. Matthew Dowling, 51st District, said the idea of the bill is to provide a new tool to help those trying to recover from addiction.
CBS Pittsburgh - Sept. 15, 2022
Oklahoma is prosecuting pregnant women for using medical marijuana
Aguilar, 33, said she stopped using marijuana after her third month of pregnancy and tested negative for the drug after her healthy son was born in October 2020. But the hospital found traces of marijuana in her baby’s stool. She is one of at least 26 women charged with felony child neglect in Oklahoma since 2019 for using marijuana during their pregnancies, an investigation by The Frontier found. The crime can carry a term of up to life in prison in Oklahoma, though previous defendants pleaded guilty and received probation.
The Norman Transcript - Sept. 14, 2022
Ohio: Mayor to ask state officials to establish mandatory care requirements for addiction treatment
Addiction treatment facilities have been discussed at length by Portsmouth City Councilmembers for months. Mayor Sean Dunne has been advocating for mandatory care requirements for these facilities.
WSAZ - Sept. 13, 2022
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Studies/Research in the News
There's One Simple Strategy to Reduce Alcohol Intake, Scientists Say, And It Works
Researchers have found an effective method of getting people to cut down on their drinking: Highlight the increased risk of cancer that comes with it, and pair that with counting each and every drink.
Science Alert - Sept. 17, 2022
The meth crisis is worse than ever, but new treatments might be around the corner
A monoclonal antibody that binds to methamphetamine molecules and helps prevent them from entering the brain. The new treatment has shown anecdotal promise in a pair of Phase 2 clinical trials being conducted at a handful of emergency rooms across the country, including Everett, a small city roughly 25 miles north of Seattle where the methamphetamine crisis has hit hard.
STATNews - Sept. 16, 2022
A moderate dose of alcohol impairs the ability to imagine a possible future situation
A study published in Psychopharmacology explores how drinking alcohol may impair consumer’s ability to think about the future, which can cause an inability to understand the consequences of questionable choices made while intoxicated.
PsyPost - Sept. 16, 2022
Medicare is found to give insufficient access to opioid addiction treatment
Medicare is vastly underserving older Americans with opioid use disorder, with only 18% of enrollees with the diagnosis receiving recommended medication treatment, according to a new federal oversight report. The report, from the U.S. health department’s Office of Inspector General, also found that more than 50,000 Part D beneficiaries overdosed on opioids in 2021, whether painkillers or illicit drugs.
StatNews - Sept. 15, 2022
Alcohol's single dose enough to permanently alter brain, cause addiction: Study
Findings of a new study imply that even a single drinking incident might lay the foundation for alcohol addiction and permanently alter brain by changing the shape of the nerve cells. Even a single exposure to alcohol may permanently change the shape of nerve cells and lead to addiction, according to a study conducted in animals.
Hindustan Times - Sept. 15, 2022
Could monoclonal antibodies could be a game changer for treating meth addiction?
Nearly one million Americans are addicted to methamphetamine, or meth as it's called on the street. So it's not surprising that researchers and doctors are excited about a promising new treatment that's already being called a "game changer." One of the doctors using the new treatment as part of a study in his emergency room is Dr. Thomas Robey. He's an emergency doctor at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, Washington, one of only four sites using monoclonal antibodies to fight addiction; a similar treatment to the one we've heard about to combat COVID-19. Dr. Robey joins Here & Now's Jane Clayson to talk about the treatment and how it could change the standard of care.
WBUR - Sept. 15, 2022
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Opinion
A recent supreme court ruling will help people in pain
By ruling in favor of two doctors accused of running pill mills, SCOTUS is clarifying opioid prescription practices.
Scientific American - Sept. 19, 2022
Language can make stigma of addiction even worse
Feeling stigmatized can make people with substance use disorder less willing to seek treatment. The recent Sun-Times front-page headline, “Once homeless drug addict now an ‘icon’ who helps others,” is an attention-grabber yet unintentionally stigmatizes its hero and the group of people with the disease. Simple changes in our language can go a long way toward stopping the stigma associated with addiction. Let’s flip the script. Why not a similar yet more impactful and hopeful headline such as “Once Homeless, this Outreach Worker now an ‘Icon’”.Indeed he is.
Chicago Sun-Times - Sept. 18, 2022
Save lives: End the opioid stigma
Connecticut’s mental health and addiction services department announced Monday that it is immediately partnering with a nonprofit organization, Shatterproof, that specializes in addressing the stigma associated with opioid use disorder.
The Day - Sept. 17, 2022
Dr. Peter Grinspoon: I Didn't Let My Addiction Win Out in the End
Why are doctors so susceptible to addiction? We have the same problems as everyone else -- depression, divorce, sick kids, elderly parents, financial problems -- and we have to deal with the unique stresses and toxic culture of medicine. As I say to medical students, your addiction will get addressed, eventually. The only question is if it is on your terms -- you straightforwardly get the help you need -- or on someone else's terms, which are astronomically more painful.
MedPage Today - Sept. 16, 2022
The powder vs. crack cocaine disparity still exists, and it’s still unfair
Crack and powder cocaine are essentially two forms of the same substance. Crack, a version of the drug that has been mixed with water and often baking soda, is smoked rather than snorted or injected. Though studies suggest White and Hispanic people have historically made up a majority of crack users, the drug has stereotypically been associated with Black communities, likely contributing to uneven enforcement: In 2019, 81 percent of those convicted on crack trafficking charges were Black and just 5.3 percent were White.
Washington Post - Sept. 15, 2022
We have to end stigma if we want to end opioid use disorder
The stigma associated with the diagnosis of a use disorder, the profound shame that is engendered as a result, and is often the biggest barrier to effective treatment. That shame very often prevents people from seeking care, or, if they seek care, from initiating medication for addiction treatment, and staying on it long enough to truly benefit. And that stigma, in my opinion, is the reason that treatment for opioid use disorder is not available in every healthcare setting, including all primary care and mental health practices, hospitals, emergency departments and long term care facilities.
Bangor Daily News - Sept. 15, 2022
We Have The Tools to Prevent Opioid Deaths and Improve Health Equity
The crisis is all the more frustrating because we have simple tools—such as opioid overdose reversal medications—that can save a life in any emergency overdose situation. Naloxone is a safe and FDA-approved medication that is used to revive someone who is experiencing an accidental overdose. But it's only effective if it's on hand during the seconds that can make the difference between a life saved and a fatal overdose.
Newsweek - Sept. 14, 2022
Addiction often goes hand-in-hand with mental illnesses — both must be addressed
Recovering from drug addiction is notoriously difficult. Setbacks are common. Too often, a critical element is overlooked: co-occurring mental health conditions. Treating mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD, and others with medications or other therapies is crucial to address the addiction and overdose crisis that now claims over 100,000 lives annually.
The Hill - Sept. 12, 2022
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Books and Movies
“My Son Hunter” Is Not the Hunter Biden Movie We Need, or the One We Deserve
The Breitbart film is an amateurish, often batshit satire-cum-thriller-cum-melodrama-cum-propaganda-organ, which switches between modes with the unexpectedness of a Surrealist cutup.
The New Yorker - Sept. 15, 2022
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Comments