The Wednesday Weekly - Addiction + Recovery News, January 12, 2022
The Wednesday Weekly is a collaboration of Sober Linings Playbook and Recovery in the Middle Ages Podcast.
Highlights
(Inter)National
Advocates in Canada push for cancer warnings on alcohol | Ireland’s alcohol minimum pricing aims to curb binge drinking |
State and Local
CA AG halts prosecutions for drug-related still births | Mass. treatment program to pay $4.5 million for unnecessary urine tests Medicaid fraud | Nevada joins 42 states in $26 billion Johnson & Johnson opioid settlement
Studies/Research in the News
Study finds homelessness a barrier to telehealth treatment | Lowering barriers to MAT telehealth treatment | UW researchers to work to develop opioid vaccine
Opinion
Is American obesity an addiction crisis? | What to make of the no/low alcohol boom
Reviews
George Clooney-directed ‘The Tender Bar’ skirts alcoholism focus of the memoir on which the movie is based | 7 “brutally honest” films about addiction
Podcasts
RMA discusses HBO’s ‘Life of Crime’ | Dr. and author Peter Grinspoon (‘Free Refills’) on Rehab Confidential | Gabor Mate on Dopey | Author Eva Hagberg (‘How to be Loved’) on Flourishing After Addiction | Dopey host David Manheim on WTF
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(Inter)National
Suit highlights suburban unease with addiction centers
Treatment advocates say the resistance highlights how everyone seems to recognize the need for the facilities amid the ongoing opioid crisis — but bristle at putting them in their neighborhoods.
San Diego Union Tribune - Jan. 11, 2022
Canada: Alcohol should have cancer warning labels, say doctors and researchers pushing to raise awareness of risk
Advocates of warning labels want Canadians to understand alcohol is one of top causes of preventable cancer. Few Canadians know the truth, and few may want to hear it: alcohol, any amount of alcohol, can cause cancer. There is no safe amount, and the calls to inform Canadians are growing.
Canadian Broadcast Corporation - Jan. 8, 2022
Vaccine appointments multiply after Quebec requires shots for weed, alcohol stores
First-dose vaccine appointments quadrupled in Quebec after the Canadian province required vaccine passports to buy alcohol and marijuana.
NY Daily News - Jan. 8, 2022
Sober curious? Here’s how to take a pause from drinking alcohol
Away from the pressure of social settings and nightlife, many people have taken a hard look at the role alcohol plays in their lives. And the growing popularity of “mocktails,” nonalcoholic beverages and sober bars have made it easier for them to abstain from drinking.
The Lily - Jan. 8, 2022
The Deceptive Promise of Alcohol
Alcohol promises us an entrance to the land of fun, excitement, belonging, connection, relaxing, romance, sex, and treating ourselves. But more people are discovering that sobriety is delivering everything that alcohol promises but fails to deliver. All that is required is a shift in perception.
Psychology Today - Jan. 7, 2022
Are There Any Good Non-Alcoholic Wines?
One of the fastest-growing segments in the wine market isn't actually wine, at least, not technically. Sales of de-alcoholized wine, aka non-alcoholic wine, rose 43 percent in the first half of 2021, according to Nielsen, making it the second-fastest-growing category of wine last year. Clearly many consumers see these products as a way to moderate their alcohol consumption or caloric intake. But do they offer satisfaction for serious wine drinkers?
Wine Spectator - Jan. 7, 2022
How to find an alcohol-free drink that still hits the spot
Non-alcoholic cocktails are a minefield, and no-lo wines are still a no-go, but alcohol-free beers continue to impress.
The Guardian - Jan. 7, 2022
Coca-Cola and Constellation Brands team up to create alcoholic Fresca cocktails
Coca-Cola and Constellation Brands are teaming up to create spirits-based cocktails under the Fresca soda brand. Fresca Mixed Cocktails are slated to launch this year in the U.S. According to Coke, Fresca is surging in popularity recently, making it the fastest-growing soda trademark in the beverage giant’s U.S. portfolio.
CNBC - Jan. 6, 2022
Carry-out alcohol can carry on, Hochul announces
Gov. Kathy Hochul is throwing bars and restaurants across the state a lifeline, allowing them to sell alcohol to-go once again.
WHEC News 10 - Jan. 6, 2022
Ireland Puts Minimum Price on Alcohol to Curb Binge Drinking
The rule requires a price of one euro, or $1.13, per standard drink. That means that a bottle of wine containing 12.5 percent alcohol, equivalent to about 7.4 standard drinks, for example, cannot be sold for less than 7.40 euros, about $8.35.
NY Times - Jan. 5, 2022
Cutting back from alcohol can be hard. Here's how to make it easier
It's common to want to take a break from booze in the new year. The best way to support your loved ones who don't want to drink alcohol is to make sure drinking feels like a choice — not an obligation.
NPR - Jan. 5, 2022
These 2 Bodybuilders Stopped Drinking Alcohol for 30 Days
YouTube's Buff Dudes tracked the effects of an alcohol-free month on their training, sleep, and overall wellbeing.
Men’s Health - Jan. 4, 2022
National State and Local Studies in the News Opinion Reviews Podcasts Comments
State / Local
Idaho State Police program to offer addiction treatment, not arrest
A new pilot program will soon give Idaho State Police in North Idaho another choice when interacting with certain people with substance use disorders — and give people struggling with addiction another chance.
Coeur d’Alene / Post Falls Press - Jan. 9, 2022
Maine: Midcoast school district staff will soon be able to administer life-saving Narcan
About a dozen staff members in a Rockland-based school district will soon receive training on how to administer a medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Bangor Daily News - Jan. 8, 2022
California Law Doesn't Criminalize Stillbirths Even If Drug Use Is Contributing Factor: AG
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an alert Thursday to inform law enforcement that women should not be prosecuted for losing their fetuses, even if actions like drug use contributed to the loss.
Newsweek - Jan. 7, 2021
Nevada: Holdout State Joins Johnson & Johnson Settlement
Formerly one of a small handful of holdout states, Nevada has now joined 42 other states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia in backing a $26 billion settlement that would resolve over 3,000 lawsuits pointed at Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and 3 corporate drug distributors over their culpability in the Opioid epidemic.
Addiction Center - Jan. 6, 2022
Salt Lake City, UT: Beyond The Treatment Center — Investing In Long-Term Addiction Recovery
Ian Acker, an entrepreneur in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, founded a gym in Salt Lake City called Fit to Recover.
Forbes - Jan. 6, 2022
Boston: Mayor Wu visits shuttered Long Island addiction recovery facility
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu says the city is on track to clear out the tent encampments at so-called ‘Methadone Mile’ by next week. The Mayor toured Long Island for her first time since the island’s addiction recovery facility was cut off from the mainland when the bridge was torn down years ago. The city-owned facility previously had upwards of 1,000 beds for addiction treatment. But the bridge connecting the island to the mainland was demolished in 2015 after it was deemed unsafe.
Boston 25 News - Jan. 4, 2022
National Addiction Treatment Center to Pay $4.5 Million in First-Of-Its-Kind Settlement of Laboratory Self-Referral Violations and Claims of Unnecessary Drug Tests | Mass.gov
A national addiction treatment center chain has agreed to pay a total of $4.5 million to the state’s Medicaid program, known as MassHealth, and Medicare to resolve allegations that the company submitted false claims for urine drug tests that were medically unnecessary and were illegally performed at the company’s own laboratory. This resolution is the first civil settlement under the Massachusetts clinical laboratory anti-self-referral law, originally proposed by the AG’s Office.
Office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey - Dec. 30, 2021
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Comments
Studies/Research in the News
How Psychedelic Drugs Can Be Used for Mental Health
Many recreational drugs known for mind-altering trips are being studied to treat depression, substance use and other disorders. Here’s what you need to know.
NY Times - Jan. 7, 2022
Refresh Takes: Alcohol became a crutch for a growing number during the pandemic
Studies have reported that adults drank more alcohol, and binge drank more often, during the first year of the pandemic than in previous years.
The Buffalo News - Jan. 7, 2022
Telehealth Can Lower Barriers to Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
FDA-approved medications, which include buprenorphine, are considered the gold standard of treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Yet just 1 in 9 people with OUD receive these medications, which are highly regulated by the federal government.
PEW - Jan. 6, 2022
Homelessness Drives Up No-Show Rates for Virtual Addiction Treatment
Using telehealth for substance use disorder treatment may only see success for people with stable housing, as no-show rates for virtual visits were higher for people experiencing homelessness, a study published in the Asian Journal of Psychiatry revealed.
mHealth Intelligence - Jan. 6, 2022
To fight opioid crisis, UW researchers take new shot at developing vaccine against addictive drugs
Despite millions of dollars in research — and decades’ worth of studies, including a high-profile but failed attempt at a nicotine vaccine — there’s still no Food and Drug Administration-approved shot against any addictive substance. Scientists at a new University of Washington research center hope that will soon change.
Seattle Times - Jan. 5, 2022
Speedy, on-site drug detection key to reducing impacts of addiction crisis
On-site, real-time monitoring of abused drugs in a patient’s system could alert clinicians before dangerous levels are reached, and such an approach may not be far away. A goal of a Penn State review paper is to draw attention to the problem so someone working in drug prevention can access hundreds of references.
Penn State - Jan. 3, 2022
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Comments
Opinion
A recovering addict to Mayor Adams: Don’t let NYC become San Francisco
As both an addict and a progressive, I understand the hesitancy to employ strict policing measures to combat drug addiction. Arresting an addict might further hinder his chances of recovery, since he then has a criminal record atop an addiction problem. But I understand that a mayor must protect the safety and public health of all constituents. Because addicts don’t just abuse substances — they also abuse fellow citizens to feed an unquenchable, expensive illness.
NY Post - Jan. 11, 2021
The war on drugs failed — will radical compassion work?
Volunteers talking with drug users who are using alone could turn the tide on drug overdose deaths. Never Use Alone, or NUA, began only a few years ago, the brainchild of a recovering heroin user in Tennessee who was inspired by a Facebook posting. So far, the service is already showing clear promise as one of the few effective ways to turn the tide on America's raging epidemic of drug overdose deaths.
Salon.com - Jan. 9, 2022
With needle vending machines, NYC surrenders in the battle against drugs
Just get high all the time. That’s the message that New York lawmakers keep sending out. Here’s just the latest example: Vending machines that sell clean needles and naloxone. How’s that for a one-two punch? Use the needle to get high, but in case you go too far, be sure you also buy some naloxone to beat back the overdose. The city is spending $730,000 to put the vending machines in targeted neighborhoods around the city.
Staten Island Live - Jan. 8, 2022
How Women-Only & Queer AA Meetings Are Safe Spaces
Holly* (who also asked for her real name not to be used) attends AA meetings. She is a queer woman in her early 30s. Holly acknowledges that a lot of AA’s literature is "very outdated". "The 'Big Book'," she adds, "presumes that all alcoholics are men and is written in a very patriarchal style with drunken men and hard-suffering wives. If I was paying for it as a service, I’d have a lot to say about this but it’s free and accessible."
Refinery29 - Jan. 7, 2021
My parents fear to leave money to their drug-addicted son
They care for my brother who has serious problems, but do not want to make a divisive decision.
The Guardian - Jan. 6, 2022
What the no-alcohol boom means for our drinking habits and health
Low and no-alcohol drinks taste better than ever – but do they really help you cut down on boozing, and are they healthier than the real thing? Before, I had never seen the point of a pint with no punch. Now, I am attempting a dryish January, propped up by my new drinking buddies no and lo. But I have questions. Can low and zero-alcohol drinks really help me cut down, or will they ultimately reinforce my drinking habits? Are they healthier than the real thing? And can they ever taste as good?
New Scientist - Jan. 5, 2022
It's time to call the American obesity epidemic what it is: An addiction crisis
As a formerly obese brain and cognitive scientist, and a recovering addict, I have made the understanding of the impact of processed food on the brain my life’s work. Packaged, highly refined products — marketed as “food” — are killing us, and will continue to do so until we reframe what is being perpetrated on consumers.
The Hill - Jan. 3, 2022
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Reviews
‘Boiling Point’ Movie Was Filmed In One Shot
The This Is England star, Stephen Graham, plays a head chef pushed to his limits as he works the last Friday before Christmas, the busiest night of the year. Graham’s central character is already battling debts, addiction and an imploding personal life when health and safety services unexpectedly show up for an inspection.
LAD Bible - Jan. 10, 2022
7 Most Brutally Honest Films About Addiction
Movies focusing on addiction are important, but can be hard to watch. Let's look at the most brutally honest depictions of addiction in films.
MovieWeb.com - Jan. 8, 2022
‘The Tender Bar’: A Tale of Drinking That Ducks Alcoholism
Though the memoir this film is based on confronts the issue of addiction to alcohol, the adaptation skirts the topic and its deeper implications. “The Tender Bar,” which has been adapted as an Amazon Prime movie, directed by George Clooney, isn’t strictly about alcoholism. It’s about community and family and the void left by an absent (alcoholic) father.
NY Times - Jan. 7, 2022
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Podcasts: The Weekly Roundup
Recovery in the Middle Ages – Discussing “Life of Crime 1984-2020” and Surviving a Snowstorm Sober
Imagine being a documentary filmmaker and following your subjects around for 36 years. That’s what Jon Alpert did when he documented the lives of three petty criminals and drug addicts in Newark NJ, from 1984 to 2021. The resulting movie, Life of Crime, is an achingly candid and at times brutal documentary for HBO spanning a lifetime of crime, incarceration and the compounding ravages of addiction. Mike and Nat discuss the film and what lessons it teaches about the way society deals with the related issues of poverty, intergenerational crime and drug abuse.
Rehab Confidential – Dr. Peter Grinspoon, Author, Physician and cannabis specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital
Joe and Amy sit down with Dr. Peter Grinspoon, primary care physician, cannabis specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. He is also the author of the memoir ‘Free Refills: A Doctor Confronts His Addiction’. We discuss his own addiction, cannabis, his take on 12 step and why there aren’t earlier interventions and less punitive routes for doctors facing SUD.
Flourishing After Addiction with Carl Erik Fisher, M.D. – How to Be Loved—Writing about Addiction and Recovery
This week’s guest on the Flourishing After Addiction podcast is Eva Hagberg. Eva is an author who has written beautifully about her own addiction and recovery in her memoir, How to be Loved. It’s an honest and raw account that includes her experiences with chronic medical conditions, grief, loss, romances, and friendship. In this episode, we talk about being seen and wanting to be known, the creative process, what she has learned from memoirs—addiction and otherwise—and her own experience with different varieties of 12-step recovery. And, with my own book coming out soon, she gives me some great advice about focusing on what matters most.
Dopey – In the Realm of Dopey Ghosts, Gabor Mate, Linda, Maron, Weed, Heroin, Dab
This week on Dopey! After many years of trying we are joined by addiction expert, best selling author, physician, and renowned lecturer, Dr. Gabor Mate. Dr. Mate calls in and drops some of his theories about addiction as well ADD and trauma. Plus Linda is back and we read Dopey emails, catch up on the Marc Maron episode and more! On this brand new episode of Dopey!
This Naked Mind Podcast - What I Wish I knew Before My First Drink (Part 4) - The Pitcher Plant, A Deadly Warning
In the final episode of Annie’s 4-part series, What I Wish I Knew Before My First Drink - Annie paints a picture of how the slide into alcohol can be similar to a bug attempting to drink from a pitcher plant. Though we might believe we can simply fly away at any point, this slow hard-to-control journey can happen to any one of us. Tune in to hear the story.
WTF with Marc Maron - David Manheim
Most people who know David Manheim don’t know him as David Manheim. To fans of the Dopey podcast, he’s just Dave (no last name given), a recovering drug addict who built a tight-knit digital community around addiction, recovery and being human. David talks with Marc about how his career in show business fizzled out as addiction took hold of his life and how starting a podcast with a friend he met in recovery was his salvation. They also talk about Dave’s other life at Katz’s Deli and they get into the important hierarchy of deli meats.
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