The Wednesday Weekly Addiction + Recovery News Clips - July 5, 2023
The Wednesday Weekly is a collaboration of Sober Linings Playbook and Recovery in the Middle Ages Podcast.
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Highlights
National
Should U.S. follow Portugal’s path to address addiction? | Pregnant women risk losing babies for taking addiction medication
Fentanyl
Xylazine-related OD deaths surged years earlier than reported | Unintentional fentanyl use rampant
State and Local
Wisconsin and Shatterproof launch online addiction treatment locator | Oregon lawmakers earmark millions for mental health and addiction treatment
Studies/Research in the News
Study finds most residential treatment facilities don’t offer medication for opioid use disorder | Howard University uses NIDA grant to launch clinical trial for community-based delivery of medication to combat opioid addiction among Black people
Opinion
Child psychologists warns of dangerous of teen marijuana use
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National
Meet the Iraq Veteran Saving Opioid Addicts With CrossFit
The opioid epidemic devastated Portsmouth, Ohio, now a former Army Captain is trying to bring it back — one burpee at a time.
Rolling Stone - July 1, 2023
Should the U.S. follow Portugal’s path to breaking drug addiction?
Portugal decriminalized drugs 22 years ago and has seen dramatic drops in overdoses and drug-related crime. In the United States, by contrast, the drug epidemic continues to worsen, and overdose deaths remain at crisis levels. In 2022, a record 109,680 lives were lost to overdoses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Given Portugal’s tangible results, should the United States follow the Portuguese pioneering drug policy, or at the very least try to apply some of the lessons learned there?
Herald News - June 30, 2023
‘It’s the biggest spread of addiction this country has ever seen’: Regulatory noose tightens on vaping”
Vaping was supposed to help smokers wean themselves off cigarettes, or at least take nicotine in a safer way. No doubt that is still why some people vape. But the snazzy packaging, the use of flavours such as bubblegum and birthday cake, and the ads by influencers on TikTok all indicate that vaping is now being aimed at a whole new market.
Irish Times - June 30, 2023
Pregnant Women on Anti-Addiction Medication Had Their Babies Taken Away
Despite consensus within the scientific and medical communities that Suboxone is safe, child-protection authorities often disavow the drug, treating it like an illegal substance. No agency tracks how many new mothers have been investigated for taking legally prescribed medications, but after sending 100 public-records requests to every state and the District of Columbia, I found thousands like Dass who have been referred to child-welfare authorities, their lives suddenly under scrutiny, their newborns sometimes placed into foster care for weeks, months or indefinitely.
New York Times - June 29, 2023
RFK Jr. Pledges To Legalize Marijuana And Psychedelics, Using Revenue To Fund Farms Where People Recovering From Drug Addiction Can Grow Organic Food
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a 2024 Democratic presidential candidate, says that he would legalize marijuana and psychedelics if elected to the White House—and he’d tax both substances, using revenue to create “healing centers” where people recovering from drug addiction could learn organic farming as a therapeutic tool. He also voiced support for freeing up banking services for the cannabis industry.
Marijuana Moment - June 29, 2023
Once-resistant rural court officials begin to embrace medications to treat addiction
A study conducted a decade ago found that barely half of drug treatment courts offered medication treatment. Those that didn't cited uncertainty about its efficacy and noted political, judicial, and administrative opposition. But research in the years since has persuaded many of the most insistent abstinence-only advocates.
CBS - June 28, 2023
RFK Jr. talks in personal terms about substance abuse
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. battled addiction for 14 years. He said he would decriminalize marijuana and tax consequent income Money would go toward "healing centers" for those struggling with addiction.
News Nation Now - June 28, 2023
Biden is 'open-minded' about psychedelics as medicine
President Joe Biden’s youngest brother said in a radio interview Wednesday that the president has been “very open-minded” in conversations the two have had about the benefits of psychedelics as a form of medical treatment.
Fortune - June 28, 2023
Uniting Faith and Compassion: Kashmir’s Inspiring Battle Against Drug Addiction
In the picturesque region of Kashmir, India’s Muslim-majority area plagued by decades of conflict and violence, a new enemy has emerged — rampant drug addiction.
Religion Unplugged - June 28, 2023
National State and Local Studies in the News Opinion Reviews Comments
Fentanyl (and Xylazine)
Overdose deaths involving street xylazine surged years earlier than reported
A new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released Friday found the street drug xylazine surged much earlier than previously reported. The CDC concluded that by 2021, the "rate of drug overdose deaths involving xylazine was 35 times higher than the 2018 rate." But the report shows the explosion of xylazine-related deaths began in 2018 with overdose fatalities rising to 627 in 2019 — doubling to 1,499 in 2020 — and then doubling once more to 3,468 in 2021.
NPR - June 30, 2023
Unintentional Fentanyl Use Rampant
In a recent study of people who use drugs in New York City, 83% tested positive for Fentanyl, but only 18% reported intentional use. This is an alarming nationwide trend, as related findings were also seen in Massachusetts (86% tested positive; 15% intentionally used) and Texas (where Opioid-related overdoses quadrupled from 2020 to 2022). In all 50 states, Fentanyl use and deadly overdose are on the rise.
Addiction Center - June 30, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
State / Local
North Carolina: Robeson County sheriff doesn't let money stop him from helping those in need
Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins has found a way to continue a program that was helping to turn the lives around of those dealing with substance abuse issues. Wilkins has started the Substance Abuse Freedom & Education or SAFE to replace the LEAD program (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion). LEAD proved to help hundreds of individuals suffering from addiction start their journey to recovery, but, unfortunately, grant funding for the program ran out this week.
15 News - June 30, 2023
Oregon lawmakers earmark millions for mental health and addiction services
On some fronts, the Oregon Legislature took immediate action to address the state’s behavioral health and addiction crises. On another front, lawmakers avoided direct action by creating a task force to discuss solutions. Through different bills, state lawmakers have allocated money to expand residential treatment facilities for people who need mental health or addiction treatment services.
Oregon Capital Chronicle - June 30, 2023
California: Local treatment center focuses their efforts on the LGBTQ+ community
Westwind Recovery is a client-centered treatment facility that offers detox, residential, outpatient, and up-scale sober living homes throughout Los Angeles, California. Their LGBTQ+ addiction treatment center program addresses coping with coming out, confusion around sexual orientation and gender identity, internalized homophobia, and more.
ABC 7 - June 30, 2023
New York: Program aims to bolster addiction services workforce
As the opioid crisis persists, the need for more workers in the field of addiction services is at an all-time high. New York state is taking a proactive approach in filling the gaps by providing financial assistance to people choosing addiction services as a career. New York state is rolling out a nearly $3 million scholarship program created through by the state’s Opioid Settlement Fund.
Spectrum News 1 - June 29, 2023
California: San Jose nonprofit aims to prevent fentanyl addiction among vulnerable youth
As the CEO of Alum Rock Counseling Center, Eckert leads an organization that plays a vital role in preventing drug addiction among vulnerable youth in Santa Clara County. This summer, Alum Rock Counseling Center is ramping up its efforts after a recent warning by Santa Clara County supervisor Cindy Chavez about an anticipated surge in fentanyl availability in the region.
CBS - June 29, 2023
Wisconsin: Non-profit launches new program to help people fight addiction
More than 46 million Americans ages 12 and older currently live with a substance use disorder. A new resource is helping people find addiction treatment that will meet their needs. On Tuesday, the non-profit organization Shatterproof launched Atlas, a statewide initiative for those looking for treatment options for substance abuse disorders. NBC15′s Leigh Mills talked with Shatterproof Founder Gary Mendell to discuss why he launched the successful non-profit and how Atlas helps people suffering from addiction. You can watch the recorded interview attached to this story.
NBC 15 - June 28, 2023
Oregon: Measure 110 forced Oregon to build a new drug addiction services model. Here’s how that’s going
Up until 2020, police and the courts would often interact with people with addictions who ran afoul of the law. But when Oregon voters decriminalized drugs through Measure 110, the criminal justice system lost a lot of its power to coerce people into treatment. For more than two years since, courts have oftentimes not been able to force people into treatment. Few think the old system, which so often turned people sick with addiction into felons, was effective. Even fewer think the new system is working. Since Measure 110 passed with 58% of the vote, support has steadily eroded. Today, 63% of Oregonians support bringing back criminal penalties for drug possession.
Oregon Public Broadcasting - June 27, 2023
Michigan: Vigilante Kitchen + Bar opens in Midtown with a focus mission for addiction recovery
For six years, executive chef Aaron Cozadd set his sights on a restaurant concept with a core purpose of supporting its staff, who also face addiction recovery, and a focus on life balance. On Friday, that concept is set to come to fruition. That's when Vigilante Kitchen + Bar is set to open in the former Smith & Co. space on Selden Street in Midtown. Here the focus will be on Midwest flavors with Asian influences, but the goal is also to provide its staff with assistance, support and resources needed for recovery.
Detroit Free Press - June 27, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Studies/Research in the News
Study identifies protective factors against substance use disorder in individuals with history of childhood maltreatment
New research published in Molecular Psychiatry explored the neural and emotional factors that may help victims of childhood maltreatment become resilient to substance use disorder. The study found that people who experienced childhood maltreatment but didn’t develop substance use disorder had better emotional control and a healthier functioning of the endocannabinoid system. These findings may contribute to the development of treatments to prevent substance use disorder in people who have suffered childhood maltreatment.
PsyPost - July 3, 2023
Howard University Teams Up with Institutions for Clinical Trial Combating Black Opioid Addiction
With a $14.2 million grant is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Howard University is teaming up with the University of Illinois Chicago and the University of Miami to begin a clinical trial collaborating with neighborhood sites to treat opioid use disorder. According to the school’s website, the trial intends to use non-medical community spaces, such as churches, community centers and homeless shelters, to provide medical treatment for opioid dependence. In doing so, they will test this community-focused approach in Chicago, Miami, and Washington D.C., three major cities plagued by opioid addiction.
BET - July 3, 2023
Most residential treatment centers don’t offer key addiction medication to teens, OHSU study finds
There’s only one drug approved by the FDA to treat opioid dependence in teens — and most adolescent treatment facilities don’t offer it. That’s according to a new study from Oregon Health & Science University, which found that only a quarter of the country’s residential treatment facilities offered buprenorphine to teens.
Oregon Public Broadcasting - July 1, 2023
USU Researchers Study Teen Nicotine Addiction With New Vaping System for Rats
Amy Odum, a professor of psychology at Utah State University, is researching ways to address adolescent nicotine usage with a new method to study nicotine addiction in rats. To study the factors that influence nicotine addiction among youth, Odum and her team are in the final stages of developing the Rodent Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (RENDS), a novel system that allows rats to voluntarily inhale nicotine. “It may surprise you, but rats share common neurobiology of addiction with humans,” Odum said. “If we can figure out what makes rats voluntarily vape nicotine, it can help us prevent and treat nicotine addiction in people.”
Utah State University - June 28, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Opinion
With legalization on the horizon, a child psychologist reflects on hazards of teen marijuana use
Sarah Paper is comfortable with uncomfortable situations. As an Allina Health child psychologist, she sees young patients at a range of ages, but her area of specialty is working with teens. While she is in favor of decriminalization and expungement, she explained that she is concerned about the drug’s impact on teens’ still-developing brains, especially with heavy, chronic use. “Just like with anything else,” Paper said, “just because it is legal doesn’t mean it will be harmless.”
MinnPost - July 3, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Books, Movies, Podcasts, Television
Tribeca Film About Ibogaine--A New Treatment For Addiction And PTSD?
Of Night and Light tells the story of Lotsof who, in 1962, had noticed that a single dose of ibogaine had eradicated his heroin habit.
Forbes - June 30, 2023
'The 13th step' investigates sexual misconduct in New Hampshire's addiction centers
The 13th Step podcast investigates sexual misconduct allegations at New Hampshire's largest addiction treatment network.
NPR - June 25, 2023
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