The Wednesday Weekly Addiction + Recovery News Clips - November 22, 2023
The Wednesday Weekly is a collaboration of Sober Linings Playbook and Recovery in the Middle Ages Podcast.
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Highlights
National
Navigating addiction during the holidays | Biden Administration calls on Congress to help strengthen addiction treatment
State and Local
Wisconsin Legislature updates alcohol regulations over wedding barn operators’ objections | Alaskans need better access to addiction treatment. Can telehealth help?
Studies/Research in the News
Vagus nerve stimulation may help treat addiction | How dads’ drinking may contribute to fetal alcohol syndrome
Opinion
Maia Szalavitz talks to WHYY about myths and misconceptions of addiction, importance of harm reduction | Addiction on the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation
Books and Movies
“No Matter What” documentary follows a woman’s post-prison recovery and rehabilitation | Royal Opera House performance feature ensemble of musicians in recovery
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National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
National
How a Reporter Covering Addiction Earns Trust With Sources
Jan Hoffman, who recently wrote about the lives of people struggling with addiction, approaches her sources with empathy, candor and zero expectations. When Ms. Hoffman is interviewing someone, she said, she always leaves “opportunities for things you can’t predict.” She explained her approach and process in an interview, which has been edited and condensed.
New York Times - Nov. 17, 2023
Caffeine Addiction and Withdrawal: Telltale Symptoms
Caffeine dependence and addiction are caffeine use disorders, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. This article explains caffeine addiction and withdrawal symptoms, how much caffeine can cause dependence, and how to drink less caffeine.
Very Well Health - Nov. 17, 2023
What addiction treatment works best? UCSF doctors share. Meanwhile, SF is on track for its deadliest overdose year
“Stimulant use disorder truly is a next frontier that will require all hands on deck,” Appa said during UCSF’s Grand Rounds on Thursday. What’s new and what’s working? The “gold standard” to treat stimulant use disorder is simple positive reinforcement, called contingency management: For example, a patient who stopped using methamphetamines, evidenced by a urine sample, would earn a gift card. So far, evidence shows it works: Some 26 out of 27 studies measuring the efficacy of the approach for methamphetamines suggested a reduction in patients’ substance use.
Mission Local - Nov. 17, 2023
Navigating Addiction in the Holiday Season
Holiday tension can be palpable and overwhelming when a loved one struggles with addiction. Holiday festivities can still be inclusive if appropriate boundaries and precautions are taken. Social support is a powerful resource for people struggling with addiction and can motivate recovery. Viewing addiction more as a mental illness can foster compassion and kindness during the holidays and beyond.
Psychology Today - Nov. 17, 2023
Mobile addiction services stop overdoses by meeting people where they are, panelists say
Reducing deaths from overdoses of fentanyl and other opioids requires stepping outside brick-and-mortar health clinics and taking substance use services to the streets, panelists said at AHCJ’s fall summit, “Homelessness and Health Care.” Mobile health teams allow clinicians to connect with people who would otherwise not travel to a treatment center, but pushing treatment onto people who don’t want it doesn’t work, said Juliana DePietro, overdose prevention manager for Central City Concern in Portland, Ore.
Association of Health Care Journalists - Nov. 16, 2023
Southwest Airlines raised the prices for onboard alcohol
The price for wine and most hard-alcohol drinks is increasing by about $2 for passengers, while beers are either staying the same or increasing by $1 depending on the brand.
USA Today - Nov. 16, 2023
Colleges face gambling addiction among students as sports betting spreads
Three out of four college students have gambled in the past year, whether legally or illegally, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling. An estimated 2% to 3% of U.S. adults have a gambling problem. The portion of college students with a problem, however, is potentially twice that number – up to 6%.
The Conversation - Nov. 16, 2023
Has Alcohol Left Humanity Better or Worse Off?
Last week, I asked readers, “Are humans better or worse off for having beer, wine, and spirits? Or, if you'd prefer introspection, how about you personally?” Several of you pointed out that humanity benefited greatly from alcohol in bygone eras when there was a dearth of clean water. But today we’ll focus on the modern era.
The Atlantic - Nov. 15, 2023
Dean McDermott Is Staying at a Sober Living Facility
Since leaving rehab, the Canadian actor — who’s struggled with alcohol and drug abuse — has been staying at a sober living home with eight others. He hopes his time there will allow him to soon make amends with his family, including wife Tori Spelling. The couple split in June.
People - Nov. 15, 2023
Google, Meta, Snap and TikTok must face teen addiction claims, federal judge rules
Major social media companies must face allegations that their services addicted teen users and caused other mental health harms after a federal judge on Tuesday denied a motion to dismiss the bellwether lawsuit filed by a wave of consumer plaintiffs. The decision is a blow to tech giants Google, Meta, Snap and TikTok, who claimed the case should be tossed out on First Amendment grounds and the argument that they are immune from liability under a hot-button legal shield known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
CNN - Nov. 15, 2023
Biden-Harris Administration Reiterates Urgent Call for Congress to Help Strengthen Addiction Treatment, Crack Down on Drug Trafficking as HHS Releases New Data on Substance Use Disorder
Today, amid new data released on substance use across the nation, the Biden-Harris Administration reiterated President Biden’s clear and urgent call for Congress to provide critical additional resources to strengthen addiction treatment and crack down on drug trafficking. Of the 48 million Americans struggling with substance use disorder, three out of every four did not get treatment.
US Department of Health and Human Services - Nov. 13, 2023
"Happy life, happy wife" comedian Jeff Allen shares story of escaping from addiction
Jeff Allen's clean humor is focused on marriage and family, but he's also sharing how he once battled alcohol and cocaine addiction and how he got his biggest break in the business thanks to the internet.
CBS - Nov. 13, 2023
National State and Local Studies in the News Opinion Reviews Comments
State / Local
Alaskans need better access to addiction treatment. Telehealth can help.
As an addiction medicine physician working in tribal health who has treated patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) in rural Alaska for more than a decade, I have witnessed firsthand the struggles patients face in accessing addiction care. When temporary regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic allowed patients to receive treatment via telehealth, I saw an essential lifeline extended to Alaskans living in rural areas with few or no treatment options. But these telehealth flexibilities will disappear unless Congress acts.
Anchorage Daily News - Nov. 18, 2023
Washington: Should Seattle expand involuntary commitment for mental health and addiction?
A controversial policy known as “involuntary commitment” for people struggling with severe untreated mental health or addiction issues could be on the table next year in Seattle. City Councilmember Sara Nelson told KUOW involuntary commitment is just one policy idea that could be discussed as a centrist majority gets set to take over the City Council next year, after most races in the November election went their way.
KUOW - Nov. 17, 2023
Oregon: Washington County succeeded where Portland failed: Its addictions triage center is scheduled to open in 2025
Washington County has succeeded where Portland and Multnomah County have so far failed in preparing to open a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, drop-off center to treat different levels of addiction. That’s largely because one government agency -- Washington County’s Department of Health and Human Services -- ran with the idea and saw it through.
Oregon Live - Nov. 17, 2023
Colorado: Montessori school in Longmont investigated for having alcohol on premises
Guidepost Montessori school in Longmont underwent an investigation by the Department of Human Services on Oct. 19 after an allegation reported the school had alcohol on the premises. A licensing specialist saw alcohol in the staff lounge and the snack kitchen during a second investigation.
Longmont Leader - Nov. 17, 2023
Montana: Addiction treatment facilities operating on a provisional license after state investigations
Recent operations at one of Montana’s largest addiction treatment companies included shoddy admissions practices, failure to report a patient death and safety concerns in a timely manner, and unlicensed detox and withdrawal practices, according to state investigations completed in mid-October.
Western News - Nov. 17, 2023
Ohio: Operation BRIDGE event connects community with resources for addiction in East Liverpool, Ohio
On Friday, Operation BRIDGE helped close the gap in East Liverpool. It connected people to state and local agencies that help with poverty and addiction. Sheriff Brian McLaughlin, the Columbiana County Prosecutor’s Office and several local agencies were all part of Operation BRIDGE at Grace City Church in East Liverpool. It’s an effort led by the Ohio Department of Public Safety to help those struggling with homelessness or drug addiction.
WKBN - Nov. 17, 2023
South Carolina: Smokeout highlights nicotine addiction, vaping risks
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is celebrated the American Cancer Society’s Great American Smokeout on Nov. 16 by amplifying education and awareness about the harms of nicotine, which is the addictive substance found in high concentrations in e-cigarettes and vaping products.
The Times and Democrat - Nov. 17, 2023
Bangor City Council member Joseph Leonard says fighting addiction is nearly impossible when you're homeless
Newly re-elected council member Joseph Leonard said the housing crisis is getting worse, and the state is wasting too much time to find an effective solution.
News Center Maine - Nov. 16, 2023
Deleware: AaTAcK Addiction opens first storefront resource center in Bear
AtTAcK Addiction opens its first storefront resource center in Bear. The behavioral health resource center is a partnership between atTAcK Addiction and Impact Life. It offers harm-reduction services, housing supports and referrals, overdose prevention training and access to Narcan, educational programs, family support, internet and technology access, and more.
Deleware Public Media - Nov. 15, 2023
Wisconsin: Senate forces through update to alcohol regulations over objections of wedding barn owners
A bipartisan group of Wisconsin lawmakers on Tuesday forced an update to the state’s alcohol laws through the state Senate even though the new regulation had been blocked in committee after the owners of wedding venues across the state claimed it would kill their industry. The bill overhauls the state’s “three-tiered” system for regulating alcohol that has been in place since the 1930s and includes the loosening of some restrictions that have been in place for breweries and wineries. Left out of those negotiations were operators of “wedding barns” across the state who rent out venues for events yet do not themselves serve alcohol.
Wisconsin Examiner - Nov. 14, 2023
Arizona: Hopi Tribe member shows addiction recovery is possible and now she wants to help others
Michele Honanie grew up on the Hopi reservation. Her youth was marked by addiction. According to the American Addiction Center, 10% of Native Americans have a substance abuse disorder. This includes the younger generations, with nearly one in five Native American young adults having a substance use disorder. Honanie decided she didn’t want to become another statistic. “I looked in the mirror and I was sick and tired of waking up sick and tired,” she said.
Arizona’s Family - Nov. 14, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Studies/Research in the News
From tobacco to alcohol to opioids, Sanford Burnham Prebys researchers are pursuing novel leads and promising therapies to treat addiction
Tens of millions of Americans are addicted to illicit drugs, alcohol, tobacco and other substances including opioids, with both immediate and long-term harm to not just themselves, but also family, friends and society. At the same time, many of those affected deny or hide their addictions. Most do not seek help. A 2021 national survey on drug use and health by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), for example, found that 94% of people aged 12 or older with a substance use disorder did not receive any treatment. Nearly all of them thought they did not require it. In recent months, researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have earned a series of federal grants and awards, totaling almost $25 million, to advance research—including clinical trials—that may turn the rising tide and toll of addiction.
Newswise.com - Nov. 16, 2023
Vagus nerve stimulation may help treat drug addiction
Stimulating the vagus nerve of rats deters them from seeking cocaine, suggesting that this therapy could help treat drug addiction and prevent relapse in substance use disorders. The vagus nerve is a bundle of nerve fibres connecting the brain to most internal organs. Previous research has shown that stimulating it with electrical devices called vagus nerve stimulators can treat various conditions, including depression and opioid withdrawal.
New Scientist - Nov. 16, 2023
For decades, mothers have borne the brunt of scrutiny for alcohol use during pregnancy − new research points to dad's drinking as a significant factor in fetal alcohol syndrome
When it comes to diagnosing babies born with birth defects associated with alcohol consumption, such as fetal alcohol syndrome, historically only the mother’s drinking habits are taken into consideration. Research clearly shows that sperm carry a vast amount of epigenetic information – meaning heritable shifts in the way genes are expressed that don’t result from changes in the DNA sequence – that strongly influences fetal development and child health. Yet most doctors and other health care providers do not take into account the influence of paternal health and lifestyle choices on child development.
The Conversation - Nov. 15, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Opinion
I Could Not Save My Addicted Child
My son, Philip, was 36 years old when he died of a drug overdose. That was 1996; he would be 62 now. He died shortly after leaving a rehab facility where he had lived for nine months. I do not believe there is any one way, any one answer to handle an addicted child. Phil’s death taught me a lot about myself. I learned that I am not a bad mother and that I did not cause my child to use drugs. I will never stop missing Phil, but in time the pain softens and the heart opens.
The Highlands Current - Nov. 17, 2023
Rethinking Drug Addiction and Treatment
Neuroscience journalist Maia Szalavitz on recovering from substance use disorder, the myths and misconceptions of addiction and the importance of harm reduction. She joins us to talk about how trauma, temperament, despair and mental illness drive our drug epidemic and why the war on drugs has has been a colossal failure by criminalizing users and promoting myths and misconceptions about drug use. Her book, Undoing Drugs, is about the promise of a harm reduction approach to addiction which removes stigma and humanizes the users. It grew out of the activism of the AIDS crisis of the 1980’s.
WHYY - Nov. 17, 2023
How Drug Addiction Tore a Family and Tribe Apart
On the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation, where my family has lived, my sons played sports, hunted, fished and participated in motocross events. I had high hopes for my children and could not fathom what would happen to us when OxyContin came to the valley.
New York Times - Nov. 15, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Books and Movies
AFF 2023: ‘No Matter What’ shows addiction’s impact on families
“No Matter What” follows Cassy Bustos, a recovered drug addict and former prisoner, in her journey post-prison to rehabilitate her life documented by Gayle Nosal and Beret Strong. The 48-minute film opens with Bustos in the present day at the transitional rehabilitation house she directs in Colorado. She talks with some of the residents and fixes up the house during her daily rounds. She sits with a few residents and starts telling her story, taking the audience back in time to the start of her addiction.
Alexandria Times - Nov. 17, 2023
Addiction recovery orchestra plays at Royal Opera House
A Brighton-based ensemble formed of musicians in recovery from drug and alcohol issues found itself at the premier opera venue on November 4. The New Notes Orchestra were engaged to perform a new dance piece, Traces Through Time, with the Fallen Angels dance theatre group. Their slogan is ‘fighting addiction through dance’.
Slipped Disc - Nov. 17, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments