The Wednesday Weekly Addiction + Recovery News Clips - May 31, 2023
The Wednesday Weekly is a collaboration of Sober Linings Playbook and Recovery in the Middle Ages Podcast.
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Highlights
National
Experiencing an opioid OD increases a person’s risk for death in the 12 months following | Does Ozempic have potential for treating addiction?
Fentanyl
6 of 10 “fake” pills laced with fentanyl, DEA warns | Federal and California fentanyl legislative proposals divide law makers
State and Local
Oregon residents call for oversight and monitoring of new funds for treatment | San Francisco Mayor Breed supports new (as yet unspecified) plan to address public drug use by “holding people accountable”
Studies/Research in the News
Research sheds light on how the brain heals during recovery
Opinion
Will the new “pre-addiction” label do more harm than good? | Can Alberta’s recovery-focused approach serve as a model for all of North America?
Books and Movies
Heroin addiction a focus of Hanna Halperin’s new novel set in Madison, WI | Hulu documentary to reveal depths of Jelly Roll’s addiction
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National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
National
Why Dax Shepard Doesn't Hide His Past Addiction Struggles From His Kids
Actor, comedian, and podcast host Dax Shepard has always been an open book when it comes to his past struggles with addiction — including a relapse in 2020 after nearly sixteen years of sobriety. And as it turns out, that goes for his two young daughters, Lincoln and Delta, as well.
NickiSwift.com - May 28, 2023
Opioid Overdose Hikes Odds for Death Within a Year
Surviving a trip to the emergency room for an opioid overdose dramatically increases a patient's odds of dying in the year after, U.S. health officials reported Tuesday.
Newsmax - May 27, 2023
Lamar Odom Helping Save Rehab Center From Going Under
Lamar Odom is adding another assist to his stat line -- the ex-NBA star is stepping up to help a local rehab center that fell on hard times recently ... by raising money to keep it from closing its doors forever. We're told Lamar met with the family-owned Wavelengths Recovery out of Huntington Beach back in April ... and he felt compelled to partner with the center to help keep its lights on for good. As we previously reported, the 2-time NBA champion recently launched the Odom Wellness Treatment Centers to fight substance abuse ... a cause he has vowed to fight for following his near-fatal overdose in 2015. Odom previously invested in facilities in San Diego, El Cajon and Lemon Grove ... and he's determined to help save as many lives as possible.
TMZ - May 26, 2023
FA reduced Ivan Toney's suspension due to gambling addiction diagnosis
Brentford striker Ivan Toney has been diagnosed as a gambling addict, which led him to bet on his own clubs to lose matches, according to the English Football Association's (FA) reasons for handing him an eight-month ban. The 27-year-old was hit with the suspension and a £50,000 fine earlier this month after he accepted 232 breaches of the FA's rules on betting. English football's governing body published the independent regulatory commission's full verdict on Friday and revealed they pushed for a 15-month ban but handed down a reduced punishment after taking into account the striker's guilty plea and evidence from a psychiatry expert who concluded he is an addict.
ABC - May 26, 2023
How Jason Ritter's Inspiring Sobriety Journey Changed His Life
Actor Jason Ritter is often portrayed on screen for who he is in real life — one of the genuine good guys. He's also well known for being the son of the late iconic "Three's Company" star John Ritter. Jason has experienced intense pain in his life, particularly after losing his father suddenly. However, besides using alcohol to dampen pain, Jason says initially he began using alcohol to help overcome anxiety. He says it made him feel free and also like he was living in the moment because he was drinking to get out of his head. Now sober for close to a decade, he realizes how it has opened his life in so many ways.
MSN.com - May 25, 2023
Sober home operator Daniel Cleggett indicted in fraud scheme
The founder of a small Boston-area addiction treatment empire knew he was under scrutiny; the Globe and STAT News published investigations in 2017 and 2019 into his questionable business dealings, and the Massachusetts attorney general’s office announced shortly after that it was examining alleged scams involving addiction treatment.
Stat - May 24, 2023
Did Ozempic tap into a potential addiction cure?
Diabetes drugs like Ozempic have made headlines for their weight loss benefits. Now some users are saying the meds are helping them combat other addictions — and researchers are hopeful about the potential benefits it could have on alcoholism and other addictive behaviors. NBC’s Stephanie Gosk reports and Dr. Roshini Raj provides analysis for TODAY.
NBC - May 24, 2023
DEA's handling of case against large opioids distributor questioned, spotlighting government-industry revolving door
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed one of the nation's largest wholesale drug distributors to keep shipping highly addictive painkillers for nearly four years after a judge recommended it be stripped of its license for its "cavalier disregard" of thousands of suspicious orders fueling the opioid crisis. The DEA did not respond to repeated questions from The Associated Press about its handling of the case against Morris & Dickson Co. or the involvement of a high-profile consultant the company had hired to stave off punishment and who is now DEA Administrator Anne Milgram's top deputy.
CBS - May 24, 2023
‘Our veterans are killing themselves every day': Group urges support for vets
Speakers urge local veterans, their families and community members to engage in helping America’s vets get access to treatment and mental health resourcesData from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs shows the suicide rate for veterans was 57.3% greater than for non-veterans in 2020. That same year, suicide was the 13th leading cause of death among veterans, and the second-highest cause of death for veterans under the age of 45.
Deseret News - May 23, 2023
Most US adults still unaware of 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline months after its launch, survey suggests
A survey released Tuesday by the Pew Charitable Trusts suggests that only 13% of adults in the United States are aware of the national 988 lifeline and how it is intended to connect mental health crisis counselors with people who call or text the three-digit number.
CNN - May 23, 2023
Purdue Pharma to Sell Consumer Business for $397 Million
Bankrupt Purdue Pharma received a U.S. judge's permission on Tuesday to sell its consumer health business for $397 million to a subsidiary of Arcadia Consumer Healthcare. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Sean Lane approved Purdue's sale of Avrio Health at a hearing in White Plains, New York, allowing Purdue to begin liquidating its assets while it awaits a final ruling on a $10 billion settlement that would devote the company's remaining resources to combating the U.S. opioid epidemic.
US News and World Report - May 23, 2023
What is chroming? Inside lethal trend as teen dies from huffing toxic chemicals
Chroming is the latest drug trend, and it’s becoming more and more popular, especially among teenagers. A teenage girl in Australia died recently after inhaling toxic chemicals from a can in a trend called “chroming.” However, many people are unaware of chroming and what it is, or the effects it can cause. Chroming is the inhalation of toxic substances as recreational drugs, according to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne.
New York Post - May 23, 2023
National State and Local Studies in the News Opinion Reviews Comments
Fentanyl (and Xylazine)
6 out of 10 fake prescription pills are laced with fentanyl. Warn your kids.
Today, the Drug Enforcement Administration estimates 6 out of 10 fake prescription pills are laced with fentanyl.
USA Today - May 30, 2023
Why A Bill Called The ‘HALT Fentanyl Act’ Has Some Lawmakers Split
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday aimed at restricting access to the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which has been blamed for causing an overdose crisis in the U.S., by classifying it as a drug with no medical purpose—but more than 100 Democrats voted against the legislation over concerns it could lead to unjustified incarcerations and stifle research involving the drug for purposes like treating pain from cancer.
Forbes - May 25, 2023
California lawmaker has a dire warning on ‘tranq'
As state lawmakers discuss solutions to the raging fentanyl crisis, one lawmaker who works as an addiction doctor says they’re already behind on responding to the next wave of deadly street drugs. During the hearing, Assembly Member Jasmeet Bains, D-Bakersfield, interjected to say the Legislature isn’t working quickly enough. Bains serves as the medical director at Bakersfield Recovery Services, a residential addiction treatment agency.
SF Chronicle - May 25, 2023
Fentanyl hearing shows continued fracture in California over penalizing dealers
For the second time in less than a month, California lawmakers held a special hearing focused on fentanyl, which showed state legislators agree raising awareness and boosting access to treatment are vital but continue to be divided over whether dealers of the illegal drug should face harsher consequences. Speakers included grieving parents, state and local public health and law enforcement officials, and the state's Superintendent of Public Instruction.
KCRA - May 25, 2023
What to know about the fentanyl crisis
Addressing the fentanyl crisis has become a priority in an often-deadlocked federal government with the Biden administration calling on Congress to pass a bill aimed at tackling fentanyl trafficking in the U.S.
Axios - May 25, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
State / Local
San Francisco business owners and residents decry drug, crime crisis: ‘Zombie apocalypse,’ ‘dystopia’
San Francisco residents and business owners told Fox News Digital that the city has changed in recent years, with many giving personal stories of drug addicts laid out on the streets and violent assaults.
New York Post - May 29, 2023
Utah: ‘Flood the state with naloxone’: In the last decade, Utah bucked the national trend of opioid overdose deaths
In the last decade, Utah went from having one of the country’s highest rates of opioid overdose deaths to one of the lowest, bucking the national upward trend that came to a head in 2022, likely the deadliest year for overdoses in the U.S. ever. In 2012, the Beehive State had 16.1 deaths from opioid overdoses per 100,000 people, tied with New Mexico for second highest rate in the country, according to data analyzed by the Kaiser Family Foundation. Only West Virginia was higher, at 27.1. “They referred to Utah as Appalachia West,” said Jen Plumb, a physician who in the late ’90s started the nonprofit Utah Naloxone after her brother died of an overdose.
Deseret News - May 29, 2023
Hawaii: Big Island drug addict who got clean starts lawn care business to help himself and his employees in recovery
To help his recovery, Ulu started We Care Lawn Care three years ago to create a “safe” work environment for himself. He also helps others, hiring only people who are in recovery, too. They function as a support group.
Big Island Now - May 28, 2023
Oregon officials want closer monitoring of $265 million for drug decriminalization
Funding for drug treatment centers in Oregon, financed by the state’s pioneering drug decriminalization policy, stood at over a quarter-billion dollars Friday as officials called for closer monitoring of where the money goes. That need for oversight was demonstrated Wednesday when state officials terminated a $1.5 million grant agreement with a drug recovery nonprofit in Klamath Falls accused of failing to submit completed expenditure and data reports and buying a building for more than double the authorized amount.
OregonLive.com - May 28, 2023
Oregon, awash in treatment funds after decriminalizing drugs, now must follow the money
Oregon’s drug decriminalization had a rocky start after voters approved it in a 2020 ballot measure. Only a tiny number of people have accessed treatment services after being ticketed for possessing drugs, and funding to treatment providers was delayed. But as of Friday, $184 million has been handed out to these behavioral health resource networks, or BHRNs, in a state of 4.2 million people. To ensure things run smoothly, the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council, responsible for overseeing addiction and recovery centers and the funds to support them, needs more staff, officials say. And the Oregon Health Authority needs more leverage to address bureaucratic and administrative barriers to oversight.
AP - May 26, 2023
California: San Francisco to launch pilot program to address fentanyl crisis by “holding people accountable”
San Francisco's emergency management department announced Tuesday it would launch a pilot program to address "when someone is so far under the influence of drugs that they may pose a danger to themselves or others," The San Francisco Chronicle reports. Details of the program are unclear, as they will be announced next week, but Supervisor Dean Preston said he's been informed the pilot will involve arresting people who authorities deem to be exhibiting signs of public drug use, according to the Chronicle. Mayor London Breed, speaking before the city's Board of Supervisors Tuesday, did not share specific details about the plan, but said there is a need to "hold people accountable when their behavior on the street is disruptive to residents, families and small businesses."
Axios - May 24, 2023
Wisconsin: Downtown Madison addiction treatment clinic is closing
Monarch Health, an addiction treatment clinic that opened in Downtown Madison in September 2020, is closing Friday, according to the clinic’s website. Co-founded by Dr. Michael Repplinger, an emergency medicine doctor at UW Hospital, Monarch Health has provided counseling and the addiction treatment medications buprenorphine, or Suboxone, and naltrexone, also known as Vivitrol, to help people become sober. The clinic, at 521 E. Washington Ave., hasn’t provided methadone, the other medication approved to treat opioid use disorder.
Madison.com - May 24, 2023
Oregon: Oregon City school leaders say fentanyl crisis is worse than ever
Fentanyl has made headlines for years but school officials say the crisis now is even more dire than it was two years ago. The Oregon City School District hosted a fentanyl forum at Oregon City High School to educate the community on the crisis it’s facing. Police say teens are purchasing pills like Adderall, Percocet, and Xanax through social media but are getting deadly counterfeits. The counterfeits are often made with fentanyl. According to the DEA, about six out of 10 fake pills contain a potentially deadly dose of fentanyl.
KPTV Fox 12 - May 23, 2023
Washington: Fentanyl crisis disproportionately impacting Native Americans in King County
When it comes to the fentanyl crisis, Native Americans suffer more than any other ethnic group in King County. A tribal summit and new money for treatment could begin to address those challenges.
KOMO - May 23, 2023
Tennessee first responders train for overdoses from a popular drug that Narcan can't help
First responders in Tennessee are now training on how to respond to overdoses involving an increasingly popular drug that can be deadly. Xylazine, commonly known as 'tranq,' is an animal tranquilizer and is sometimes mixed with fentanyl. The emergency medicine Narcan is now widely popular and available to treat overdoses. But 'tranq' is not an opioid, and that means Narcan is ineffective.
Fox 17 - May 23, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Studies/Research in the News
Taking a brain-health approach to addiction treatment
Understanding addiction’s effects on the brain has evolved in recent decades. Scientists now know that the human brain can form and repair neural connections throughout the life span — a concept known as neuroplasticity — which means the brain can generally heal from the damage and dysfunction caused by substance use. “More and more studies are showing that when you get into recovery, your brain heals,” Dr. Fong said.‘More and more studies are showing that when you get into recovery, your brain heals,' says UCLA Health addiction psychiatrist Timothy Fong.
UCLA - May 11, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Opinion
Here’s to (Genuinely) High Times Ahead: Anonymous letter to a newcomer in rehab
I am occasionally involved with the alumni group of a facility where I attended an outpatient program several years ago. Staff at the facility recently asked members of the alumni group to write anonymous letters to people newly admitted to the facility’s residential program. Here is mine…
Sober Linings Playbook - May 28, 2023
Denver should heal addiction, not feed it
While the root causes of addiction are many, varied and much debated, we should at least be able to agree as a community not to make matters worse. For one thing, that means avoiding policies that address dangerous and highly addictive drugs like meth, heroin and fentanyl — by actually indulging their use. So-called “safe-injection sites” offer a prime example. If the road to hell is paved with good intentions, there must be a safe-injection site at every pitstop along the way.
Denver Gazette - May 28, 2023
Alberta’s recovery-focused approach to addiction is a model for North America
We should expect to see overdose deaths drop drastically while many more people with addiction find their path to a better life in recovery. The lesson for all of us in North America is clear. We need to change course now. But repeating the 1980’s War on Drugs is not the answer. We need to focus on helping our brothers, sisters and neighbors get on the path to recovery. Everyone with addiction deserves no less. It should be the goal. Recovery is possible. For the past couple of years, I have been watching as Alberta implements its Recovery-Oriented System of Care, widely known as the Alberta model. While Alberta borders British Columbia, their approach to the addiction crisis couldn’t be more different.
National Post - May 27, 2023
The newly proposed label 'preaddiction' will not help people
The National Institute on Drug Abuse and National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recently proposed a new addition to the addiction vernacular: “preaddiction.” The idea is that the word will help identify and intervene on harmful substance use earlier and more effectively. While it’s an admirable goal, the term fails to align with the evidence. Worse, adopting it could have potentially disastrous consequences for people with substance use disorders — an already marginalized group. Instead of creating new labels, it would be more effective to take a public health approach to conceptualizing addiction, one in which the harms resulting from substance use are viewed on a continuum without specific thresholds or cutoffs like “preaddiction.”
Stat - May 25, 2023
Addressing America’s deadly drug epidemic goes far beyond fentanyl
About 3 out every 5 overdose deaths that involved methamphetamine also involved fentanyl or heroin in 2021, according to a study published in March. That share has increased over time – but it leaves about 2 in 5 meth-related deaths that do not involve opioids. And other research has shown that use of methamphetamine is on the rise in general. “Because the rise in overdoses seems to be really driven by how lethal the drug supply is, a lot of effort really needs to be focused on harm reduction,” Cerdá said. “Treatment needs to target all kinds of populations that use drugs, not only those who use opioids.”And the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated social factors that could contribute to increased drug use, experts say, such as housing instability, employment instability and reduced access to counseling and other non-medication treatment options. There are unique challenges in reducing fatal overdoses among Black people, experts say, especially relating to the criminal justice system.
CNN - May 23, 2023
Rep. Greg Murphy: How Washington can tackle America's deadliest drug epidemic
As the only practicing surgeon in Congress, I know that the roots of this epidemic did not appear overnight. More than 30 years ago, the “War on Pain” commenced due to the overprescribing of opioids. First, we must address mental health and substance abuse. Among the millions of people who abuse opioids, 64% struggle with a mental illness, and 27% suffer from a serious mental illness . Further, more must be done to get those with an addiction into treatment. Second, we must provide better support for law enforcement. Third, and most importantly, the Biden administration must secure the border and take on the cartels and China.
Washington Examiner - May 23, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Books and Movies
Spider-Man 2’s Portrayal Of The Symbiote Suit Is Based On Addiction
The voice of Peter Parker in Insomniac’s Spider-Man, Yuri Lowenthal, has revealed that his portrayal of the symbiote suit is based on “behaviours of addiction”. Ever since Spider-Man 2 was first revealed and Venom was confirmed to play a key role in the game’s story, it’s been speculated that Peter Parker was going to get the symbiote at some point and become influenced by it. As it turns out, that was right on the money, as the PlayStation Showcase gameplay trailer confirmed right off the bat that Bully Lowenthal is on the case, deep voice and all.
The Gamer - May 28, 2023
Heroin addiction and a codependent relationship are at the heart of new novel set in Madison
In her prizewinning debut novel, "Something Wild," former Madison resident Hanna Halperin examined the complexities of intimate partner violence with a rare nuance. Similarly, in her second novel, "I Could Live Here Forever" (published by Viking in April), a theme that could be treated clumsily or stereotypically — heroin addiction — is approached with that same soulful care for its characters. Even as we're tempted to judge Charlie Nelson for the ways he can't quit his drug, Halperin helps us consider why Leah Kempler can't quit Charlie.
Madison Magazine - May 26, 2023
Inside Jelly Roll’s dark past, including addiction and mental health struggles ahead of new documentary
JELLY Roll has opened up about his previous struggles with addiction and mental health ahead of his upcoming documentary release. A new trailer has dropped for the Hulu film, which will give new insight into Jelly's dark past and rising music career.
The U.S. Sun - May 23, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments