The Wednesday Weekly Addiction + Recovery News Clips - November 29, 2023
The Wednesday Weekly is a collaboration of Sober Linings Playbook and Recovery in the Middle Ages Podcast.
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Highlights
National
Predatory rehabs and the “Florida Shuffle” | Many unhappy with Sackler settlement agreement
State and Local
Oregon Measure 110 hotline goes cold | Philadelphia doulas help prevent postpartum overdoses
Studies/Research in the News
Study finds genetic link to cannabis addiction | Study from Japan shows 40 mg per day increase in alcohol causes significant increased risk of lifestyle diseases
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National
John Mulaney on Turning Addiction Into Comedy and Why He ‘Identified’ With Matthew Perry’s Journey
Only a comedic mind like John Mulaney’s could mine gold from one of the lowest points of his life. The comic released his third Netflix special, “Baby J,” in April. In stark relief to his previous, more ebullient hours, his latest work examined his 2020 drug relapse and the intervention that led to a successful stint in rehab.
Variety - Nov. 27, 2023
Man runs from Bristol to London for sister who died from alcohol
A man whose sister "drank herself to death" aged 30, has run the equivalent of seven marathons to raise awareness of alcoholism. Tom Harding ran 115 miles (185km) from Bristol to London to raise money for charity in memory of Katy Harding. He said she was an "intelligent and funny person" but struggled with her mental health and from the age of 15, alcohol was her dependency. There was no funeral due to his family's "devastation" and "taboo", so Mr Harding said the run would give him closure.
BBC - Nov. 26, 2023
Rehabs prey on addicts stuck in the 'Florida Shuffle'
A billion-dollar rehab industry is accused of making money off addiction. Brokers get kickbacks to lure drug addicts to certain treatment centers. A former addict said rehab in Florida wasn't the quick help she expected.
News Nation - Nov. 25, 2023
Elizabeth Vargas' Journey With Addiction and Anxiety Helps Others
News anchor Elizabeth Vargas, 61, becomes the story as she shares details about her struggles with anxiety and addiction. The mother of two bravery surrounding a topic as sensitive as mental health helps drive the conversation forward on issues surrounding mental health.
Survivor Net - Nov. 24, 2023
Once a Homeless Addict, a Mayor Takes On Housing and Drug Crises
“For 17 years, I was an absolutely horrible individual,” said Mr. Carter, the mayor of Oshawa, Ontario. “Horrible individual. I lied, cheated, stole.” But it was perhaps this atypical background that appealed to voters in Oshawa, a city of 175,000 on Lake Ontario’s shoreline, who first elected him mayor in 2018. Or at least his story positioned him as someone who could bring his personal experience to bear on the city’s most pressing problems.
New York Times - Nov. 24, 2023
Shopping feels like an addiction around the holidays for a reason. Experts explain why
Between the decorations, feasts and gift-giving, the winter holidays give us plenty of reasons to spend money, which human brains find rewarding. As good as the initial feeling is, however, holiday spending habits may have some negative consequences. Whether it’s addictive or just a feeling of not being totally in control of spending, the holidays are a good time to look at your relationship with shopping.
CNN - Nov. 24, 2023
OxyContin maker's settlement plan divides victims of opioid crisis
The agreement by the maker of OxyContin to settle thousands of lawsuits over the harm done by opioids could help combat the overdose epidemic that the painkiller helped spark. But that does not mean all the victims are satisfied. In exchange for giving up ownership of drug manufacturer Purdue Pharma and for contributing up to $6 billion to fight the crisis, members of the wealthy Sackler family would be exempt from any civil lawsuits. At the same time, they could potentially keep billions of dollars from their profits on OxyContin sales.
AP - Nov. 23, 2023
Pandemic Lockdowns Led to Spike in Behavioral Addictions
According to a new textbook chapter, online behavioral addictions increased during the pandemic as people were forced to engage with digital technologies that were designed to be addictive in order to deal with the stress and isolation of COVID-19 lockdowns. The chapter appears in the textbook Behavioral Addiction: A Comprehensive Perspective. It was written by Prerna Sharma at Lok Nayak Hospital, Delhi, India, with Sneha Das. The authors document a rise in gambling, internet gaming, pornography, social media, online dating, shopping, and food addictions, and address each individual topic by providing context for its use and abuse.
Mad in America - Nov. 22, 2023
Sean Penn praises Matthew Perry for speaking out about addiction battle
Sean Penn is saluting late Friends star Matthew Perry for speaking out about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction prior to his death. The actor and director, who starred on two episodes of Friends in 2001, described Perry as a “talented guy” and recalled praising him on his journey the last time that the pair crossed paths.
Entertainment Weekly - Nov. 22, 2023
"Thirty Days Sober Tomorrow": Another MCU Superhero Is Officially Struggling with Addiction
Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy #8 reveals her struggle with alcohol addiction, joining other Marvel heroes who have battled with addiction. Marvel comics frequently explore real-life problems like alcoholism, with many heroes, including Iron Man and Captain Marvel, dealing with alcohol dependence. The prevalence of alcohol addiction in Marvel heroes may be a reflection of the extreme experiences and responsibilities they face as crime fighters.
Screen Rant - Nov. 21, 2023
Colts owner Jim Irsay recalls near-death experience due to drug overdose: 'I stop breathing'
Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay has been open about his addiction struggles in the past, but he opened the door even further when he discussed a drug overdose that almost killed him. During an interview with HBO’s "Real Sports," Irsay told Andrew Kremer in an interview clip that he has been to rehab "at least 15 times." But it was a near-death situation that gave him a revelation.
Fox - Nov. 21, 2023
How to navigate cancer with a history of addiction
Cancer and its treatment can affect patients physically and mentally. For patients with a history of addiction, cancer can also trigger concerns about their sobriety. What if I’m prescribed opioids? What if I become stressed and have the urge to misuse substances again?
MD Anderson Cancer Center - Nov. 21, 2023
Safety Shot: New drink that lowers blood alcohol levels set to release in December
Safety Shot Inc. is introducing a groundbreaking beverage to swiftly squash a buzz. The "Safety Shot" is crafted to accelerate alcohol detox and promptly plummet blood alcohol content (BAC) in record time. A recent study on the nutraceutical functional beverage version of Safety Shot demonstrated a notable reduction in blood alcohol content within 30 minutes. This was compared to a control group. The average decrease in BAC with the Safety Shot was 0.079% BAC/hour, while the control group exhibited a 0.01% BAC/hour reduction. The company has initiated a larger double-blinded placebo-controlled trial, with results expected in December 2023. Looking ahead, Safety Shot Inc. is developing a more concentrated, prescription version of the Safety Shot formula as a detox product for alcohol poisoning.
Fox26 Houston - Nov. 21, 2023
‘I’m a broken man putting the puzzle back together’: country star Jelly Roll on prison, addiction and redemption
The singer-songwriter is up for a best new artist Grammy at the age of 38, having broken a cycle of jail time and drug use. He explains his newfound joy – and survivor’s guilt.
The Guardian - Nov. 20, 2023
Drug users aren't all ready to quit. Louise Vincent says it's OK
Vincent points to research showing that abstinence-focused approaches to recovery don't work for many people who experience addiction. Her own ideas are controversial and face serious opposition from many U.S. politicians. Many Democrats and Republicans want tougher laws and longer prison sentences to combat fentanyl. But Vincent has emerged as one of the leading voices in the U.S. pushing to humanize and rally help for drug users, like herself, even when they're not yet willing or able to live sober.
NPR - Nov. 19, 2023
State / Local
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia doula program for people with addiction shows promise
Philly’s Community Doula Support Program launched in early 2020 in response to rising drug overdose deaths among pregnant and postpartum people. Research shows broadly that people who have doulas involved in their pregnancy care can have better maternal and infant health outcomes. Now, a new study looking at a Philadelphia doula program for people living with addiction shows that these non-clinical support professionals may help reduce fatal drug overdoses in the postpartum period and strengthen long-term engagement with addiction recovery services.
WHYY - Nov. 27, 2023
Connecticut: As overdose deaths dip, CT refocuses youth drug prevention on fentanyl
Drug overdose deaths in Connecticut have decreased and the trend is on track to continue through the end of this year, according to the state Department of Public Health. To keep the trend moving downward, Avery's office is spotlighting a program called the Heroin Education Action Team. The target audience is high school students and the program has been presented to about 60,000 students in the past seven years, federal officials said.
CT Insider - Nov. 24, 2023
Pennsylvania: Philadelphia man Ryan Sager a 'superhero' for saving lives with Narcan
Amongst the wasteland of one of America’s most drug-addled neighborhoods, one man has made it his mission to save addicts dying from overdoses. Ryan Sager, 27, has been dubbed the closest thing to a real-life superhero and the “Narcan Batman” by friends for his work, monitoring the streets of Kensington in his spare time for the last three years. His self-appointed mission is to find anyone who has overdosed, swoop in and save them by administering a Narcan inhaler which rapidly reverses the effects of opioids.
New York Post - Nov. 23, 2023
Ohio: Operation Bridge: A local initiative addressing drug addiction and community needs in East Liverpool
Residents gathered at the Grace City Church in East Liverpool on Wednesday for Operation Bridge, an initiative that was designed to bring several resources together in one spot for community members in need.
WTOV9 - Nov. 22, 2023
Oregon: Measure 110 addiction hotline goes cold
Measure 110 decriminalized drugs, making possession of small amounts punishable only by a ticket rather than arrest or even a misdemeanor charge. That ticket was supposed to provide an avenue to help. Recipients could simply call a treatment hotline and have the $100 fine erased. But almost nobody is calling the hotline. Data from Feb. 2021, when the measure was implemented, until September of this year shows that out of 6,271 drug possession tickets issues, only 8% or 499 people called the hotline. Of those who called the hotline, one in 10 ended up receiving treatment, a total of 50 people.
KPTV - Nov. 21, 2023
Minnesota: How addiction is impacting Karen and Hmong communities
Karen and Hmong parents in Minnesota say they are increasingly alarmed by the substance abuse they see in their communities’ youth. Opioids are the largest problem, specifically the the deadly drug fentanyl. MPR News partnered with Sahan Journal to talk about this painful topic with at a special North Star Journey Live event in mid November hosted at the Washington Technology Magnet School in St. Paul.
Minnesota Public Radio - Nov. 21, 2023
Studies/Research in the News
People suffering from work addiction feel ill even when they are working: Study
Workaholics' moods are generally worse than those of other people, even while they are engaged in the thing they are most passionate about; their work. Workaholism is similar to other addictions such as gambling or alcoholism. These are findings from a study published in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.
Times of India - Nov. 24, 2023
40 grams of alcohol per day raise lifestyle disease risk among men: Japan ministry panel
A health ministry expert panel on Nov. 22 drew up draft guidelines for drinking, setting the daily doses of pure alcohol that raises risks of lifestyle-related diseases at 40 grams or more for men and 20 grams or more for women. The guidelines warn that excessive drinking makes people more susceptible to lifestyle-related diseases, cancer and alcohol addiction.
The Mainchi - Nov. 23, 2023
Alcohol can increase blood pressure, study shows
A recent from the American Heart Association found that drinking just one alcoholic beverage a day can increase blood pressure, even for those who don't have hypertension. Adriana Diaz takes a look at some of the other benefits of cutting back on drinking.
CBS - Nov. 21, 2023
Massive genetic study finds genes linked to cannabis addiction
By analysing more than one million people’s genomes, researchers have identified stretches of DNA that could be linked to cannabis addiction. They also found that some of the same regions in the genome are associated with other health conditions, such as lung cancer and schizophrenia. The findings are evidence that cannabis addiction “could have substantial public-health risks if the usage increases”, says Daniel Levey, a medical neuroscientist at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and a co-author of the study, published today in Nature Genetics.
Nature - Nov. 20, 2023
The Brain on Opioids: Metabolic Disruptions in Addiction
Opioid addiction is a national crisis. Current treatments work for many, but additional treatment strategies are needed. New research reveals that people with heroin addiction have impaired glucose metabolism in the brain.
Psychology Today - Nov. 19, 2023