The Wednesday Weekly - September 15
Highlights
National
Lessons from Portugal’s 20-year harm reduction approach | Michael K. Williams and other celebrity deaths put spotlight on addiction
State and Local
NY wins $50 million for opioid abatement from Endo Health Solutions | Maine’s first non-alcoholic brewery opens in Portland
Studies/Research in the News
Black opioid deaths increasing faster than whites | Vaccine for opioid addiction in the works at Virginia Tech
Opinion
Infrastructure investment should include drug treatment | The impact of Michael K. Williams’ death
Reviews
Black recovery stories | Hulu lands addiction documentary, “Jacinta”
Podcasts
Chef Andrew Zimmern on Let’s Talk Addiction | Author Laura McKowen (“We are the Luckiest”) on Heart of the Matter
Legislative Updates and Advocacy
Biden-Harris administration unveils fentanyl plan
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
National
John Mulaney's Candid Quotes About Addiction, Recovery Through the Years
Mulaney revealed in 2014 that he had been sober since September 2005. However, in December 2020, the Big Mouth star voluntarily checked into rehab seeking help for alcoholism and cocaine addiction.
MSN.com - Sept. 12, 2021
2 Chainz Throws Fentanyl-Free Birthday Party
2 Chainz has made a statement about the fentanyl epidemic that has ripped through Hollywood and the nation, by throwing a "no fent" birthday party for himself. Chainz is turning 44 Sunday, and he marked the occasion a few days early with his party Friday night.
TMZ - Sept. 11, 2021
Thailand Legalizing Opioid-Like Herb Spurs Rush of Online Sales
Popular in the U.S., where advocates say it’s an opioid alternative but critics say it’s a dangerous drug, kratom is the latest herb the Thai government has legalized for production. Though producers can only sell domestically for now, Thailand has plans to allow exports, potentially enabling local dealers to become suppliers to the U.S., the world’s most lucrative market.
Bloomberg - Sept. 11, 2021
Why there is skepticism surrounding video game 'addiction'
CNN's Kristie Lu Stout unpacks the debate over video game "addiction," looking into what prompted the WHO to introduce "gaming disorder" as a new mental health condition, why there is still a lack of consensus among Western psychologists over the issue, and what measures are effective to protect the physical and mental health of minors when it comes to gaming.
CNN - Sept. 10, 2021
Portugal reversed addiction crisis by decriminalizing drugs
Last month, in the wake of an Office For National Statistics report that revealed there were 4,561 drug fatalities in the UK last year — the highest total since records began in 1993 — an unlikely advocate of the Portuguese approach called for it to be adopted by the UK. Former leader of the Conservative Party, William Hague, wrote an article in The Times headlined 'Decriminalising drugs is the only way forward'. Portugal’s “integrated drug strategy” was launched 20 years ago with decriminalisation of narcotics at its heart, but with important add-ons, such as harm-reduction, treatment, education and re-integration.
Daily Mail - Sept. 8, 2021
Famous deaths spotlight tragedy of addiction
Addiction knows no boundaries. So why should we assume anyone is immune? Recovery advocate Brian Sullivan says, “People think that because people are celebrities that they’re immune to these issues. They’re not.”
News Channel 5 - Sept. 8, 2021
The rise of harm reduction in the war on drugs
Starting in the 1980s, a rowdy group of individuals began advocating for a different approach to drug policy called harm reduction. These activists, researchers, social workers, attorneys, and others, from a myriad of different backgrounds, have focused on the harms of drug use — not the drugs alone.
Salon - Sept. 8, 2021
Opioid overdoses are killing more Black Americans than ever
The epidemic of opioid addiction has overwhelmingly affected white communities, in part because prejudicial ideas about Black patients’ higher threshold for pain made doctors less inclined to prescribe opioid medications for them—which in turn led to lower addiction rates.
Quartz - Sept. 7, 2021
Deaths of Michael K. Williams and Fuquan Johnson Highlight Opioid Epidemic
The recent drug-related deaths of several high-profile celebrities have renewed attention to the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States.
Insider - Sept. 7, 2021
How to have an honest conversation with your kids about dangers of fentanyl
The Drug Enforcement Administration says upwards of 25% of pills sold as OxyContin, Percorcet or Xanax on the black market are fake and can contain enough fentanyl to kill a person. So, what can parents do? Experts recommend taking multiple actions: (1) It’s important to have a dialogue with kids. Talk to your children about the consequences fentanyl pills can have; (2) become aware of and versed in the language kids use when interacting on social media. Emoji and codes are often used for drugs; and (3) Promote drug education programs in school, similar to sex education.
Today - Sept. 6, 2021
National State and Local Studies in the News Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
State / Local
Pennsylvania: Wolf administration ordered to reveal details of cannabis use as drug addiction treatment
The public could soon know for the first time how many patients use medical marijuana to treat opioid use disorder in Pennsylvania, one of the few states to specifically endorse that treatment option.
Trib Live - Sept. 13, 2021
Pennsylvania: New report seeks to explore role of race and trauma in opioid overdose deaths in Philadelphia
The inaugural OD Stat report summarizes findings of a panel of public health experts who reviewed in depth 22 individual overdose death cases in an effort to identify and address gaps in services. Though a small sample of the 1,214 people who died of an overdose in Philadelphia in 2020, the findings provide valuable insight to the experience of individuals in active addiction.
Philadelphia Inquirer - Sept. 13, 2021
Press Release: Attorney General James Secures $50 Million for Opioid Abatement from Drug Manufacturer Endo Health Solutions
New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced an agreement with Endo Health Solutions that will immediately deliver $50 million to combat the ongoing opioid epidemic and remove the opioid manufacturer from New York’s ongoing opioid trial, currently underway in Suffolk County State Supreme Court. The funds will be transferred to New York state and Nassau and Suffolk Counties today and will be used to further fund prevention, treatment, and recovery programs.
Office of NY Attorney General Letitia James - Sept. 10, 2021
San Diego plans shelter for homeless residents struggling with addiction, mental health challenges
A shelter for homeless people struggling with addictions and mental health issues is expected to open in a few months on Sports Arena Boulevard as part of a far-reaching plan targeting a specific population often resistant to help.
San Diego Union Tribune - Sept. 9, 2021
Just say ‘I need help’: Virginia Beach police, commonwealth’s attorney launch program to help those with addiction
A new program launched by Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney Colin Stolle is focused on helping those addicted to opioids. The program is called First Step, because it’s up to those who are addicted to opioids to take the first step and want help. It’s as easy as just showing up to a Virginia Beach police precinct.
10 WAVY - Sept. 9, 2021
Pennsylvania takes no action on rule-breaking treatment centers as drug crisis heads toward ‘record-breaking’ year
With Pennsylvania facing a “record-breaking” year that could end with more than 5,400 overdose deaths, top lawmakers are pushing legislation to promote “whole-person health care” and taking no action on the state’s problem-riddled drug abuse treatment centers.
Morning Call - Sept. 8, 2021
MDHHS Press Release: Governor Whitmer declares September as Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer are declaring September as Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, and joining with community networks to celebrate recovery and raise awareness of recovery-oriented systems of care working to prevent and treat substance use disorders in our state.
Michigan Dept. of Health and Human Services - Sept. 8, 2021
Maine's first non-alcoholic beer brewery opens in Portland
Will Fisher, co-owner of Austin Street Brewing has teamed up with Rob Barrett to get their feet wet in the non-alcoholic beer scene. Barrett, who is new to the brewery game, gave up alcohol two years ago but missed the taste of beer. Barrett says the non-alcoholic beers he tried weren't great. He thought with the right help, he could do better.
News Center Maine - Sept. 8, 2021
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
Studies/Research in the News
Black Opioid Overdose Deaths Are Increasing Faster Than Whites, Study Finds
A study published Thursday reveals a growing racial disparity in opioid overdose death rates. Deaths among African Americans are growing faster than among whites across the country. The study authors call for an "antiracist public health approach" to address the crisis in Black communities. The study, conducted in partnership with the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health, analyzed overdose data and death certificates from four states: Kentucky, Ohio, Massachusetts and New York. It found that the rate of opioid deaths among Blacks increased by 38% from 2018 to 2019, while rates for other racial and ethnic groups did not rise.
NPR - Sept. 10, 2021
Disparities in opioid overdose deaths continue to worsen for Black people, study suggests
Non-Hispanic Black individuals in four U.S. states experienced a 38% increase in the rate of opioid overdose deaths from 2018 to 2019, while the rates for other race and ethnicity groups held steady or decreased, according to a new study by the National Institutes of Health published in the American Journal of Public Health. These alarming data are in line with other research documenting a widening of disparities in overdose deaths in Black communities in recent years, largely driven by heroin and illicit fentanyl. The research emphasizes the need for equitable, data-driven, community-based interventions that address these disparities.
National Institutes of Health - Sept. 9,2021
Researchers working to develop vaccines to fight opioid addiction
“It’s a complicated societal problem, one that impacts all walks of life,” said Zhang, a professor in the Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering. “Opioids get into the blood and then the brain. At present, there is no cure or way to solve the dependence they create. Our hope is that the vaccine, consisting of one shot and two boosters, will help recipients develop antibodies against opioids. It will alleviate the symptom of the high generated by the brain.” The vaccine may also save lives during overdose. In this instance, the idea is that the body will respond to the vaccine by quickly producing antibodies to prevent the opioids from accessing the brain.
Virginia Tech - Sept. 9, 2021
How serotonin curbs cocaine addiction
Contrary to common thinking, cocaine triggers an addiction only in 20% of the consumers. But what happens in their brains when they lose control of their consumption? Thanks to a recent experimental method, neuroscientists have revealed a brain mechanism specific to cocaine, which has the particularity of triggering a massive increase in serotonin in addition to the increase in dopamine common to all drugs. Indeed, serotonin acts as an intrinsic brake on the overexcitement of the reward system elicited by dopamine, the neurotransmitter that causes addiction.
Science Daily - Sept. 9, 2021
Study: People Are Smoking Fentanyl More In CA, Raising Many Questions
A new quantitative and qualitative study on fentanyl use in the Bay Area titled, “Transition from injecting opioids to smoking fentanyl in San Francisco, California,” sought input from hundreds of people who inject drugs and compared their responses regarding opioid use from during the second half of 2018 to the first half of 2020, amid “the new era of fentanyl availability in San Francisco.” The study in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, found some participants said they switched from heroin to fentanyl entirely, citing reasons such as cost, health, or social stigma (e.g. reducing visible ‘track marks’ from injections that might preclude jobs).
Forbes - Sept. 7, 2021
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
Opinion
The Sacklers Are Walking Off Into the Sunset. Reform the System
Ignored by a system devised to protect extreme wealth and perpetuate social disparity, Purdue’s victims find themselves doubly victimized. I know this because I not only represented the victims; I’m one of them.
NY Times - Sept. 12, 2021
Opioids and Cigarettes Are Both Harmful, but Opioids Have Valid Medical Uses
Opioids are not cigarettes. And as the opioid settlements finally near completion, it is crucial not to misapply lessons learned from tobacco. Fundamentally, this means accepting that—unlike cigarettes—opioids have genuine uses in both pain and addiction medicine.
Scientific American - Sept. 12, 2021
Don't Rush FDA's Vaping Products Review - The process must be based in evidence, not politics
Many adults, including a majority of those who smoke, believe that vaping is as dangerous as, or even more dangerous than, cigarette smoking. This misunderstanding reflects, in part, the media's skewed coverage of the issue in recent years. It is important for the public -- including clinicians -- to be aware of the rapidly growing evidence that vaping can be effective in quitting smoking. As the FDA makes evidence-based policy decisions that will affect the health of millions of Americans, its scientific review process must be protected.
Medpage Today - Sept. 11, 2021
Drug Treatment is Infrastructure
In this moment of investment in our nation’s infrastructure, it is time for federal, state, and local governments to change course and invest in proven, life-saving public health tools to finally stem the tide of overdoses across the country. Safe consumption sites, like the ones Rhode Island recently legalized, are a prime example of where investment needs to be made and barriers lifted.
ACLU - Sept. 10, 2021
Weaponizing Michael K. Williams’ Death Against Harm Reduction Is Indefensible
Tributes have flowed after the death on September 6 of Michael K. Williams, the beloved actor and advocate for marijuana legalization and harm reduction. Besides his roles in shows like The Wire and Boardwalk Empire, Williams was admired for being incredibly honest about his struggles with substance use disorder, the risks prohibition forced him to take, and how his lived experience shaped his life. We should wait until his cause of death is confirmed, rather than speculate. Sadly, some people weren’t about to let a chance go begging.
Filter Magazine - Sept. 9, 2021
WILLIAM SANSING: To reduce addiction we have to thoughtfully face it
This week a colleague and I were discussing taking new approaches to crime and addiction, and he said something I hope will stick with me for the rest of my life. “It’s just easier to kick the can down the road by locking folks up and letting someone else deal with the problem.” In my professional experience as a therapist for people struggling with addiction, I’ve learned that locking people up often does just that. It doesn’t stop the addiction, and it frequently compounds the problems in that person’s life.
Daily Journal - Sept. 9, 2021
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
Reviews
The Black Recovery Stories Speaking to Individual and Collective Wellness
The canon of habit literature has shifted through the years…but for all its permutations, this physique of labor stays overwhelmingly white. To see one’s personal restoration as half of a bigger story of Black resistance is undeniably empowering.
LightlyNews.com - Sept. 9,2021
Hulu Lands Drug Addiction Documentary ‘Jacinta’ From Jessica Earnshaw
Jacinta, a feature documentary about intergenerational trauma and addiction, has had an impressive festival run at such events as Doc NYC, AFI Fest and IDFA. The film, directed by Jessica Earnshaw, is now heading to Hulu.
Deadline - Sept. 9, 2021
Book Review: Strychnine and Vomit: The Untold Story of Past US Addiction Treatments
This volume covers the propriety cure institutes, founded by entrepreneurs who sold “cures” for alcohol addiction, that existed roughly between 1890 and 1920. A proprietary cure is essentially a “secret formula.” The methods of these institutes varied but their philosophy was to get people well and send them on to live their lives—unlike either the “inebriate asylums” of the time or today’s 12-step movement. It is part of a much longer series about the evolution of addiction treatment in the US from its start to the present.
Filter Magazine - Sept. 8, 2021
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
Podcasts: The Weekly Roundup
Let’s Talk Addiction and Recovery (Hazelden Betty Ford) – Never Too Famous: Andrew Zimmern's Story and His Principles for Humble Recovery
Before the Emmy and James Beard awards, and before he became a famous TV personality, Andrew Zimmern was living for months in an abandoned New York City apartment, nearly drinking himself to death. Tune in to hear how he transformed from a hopeless soul into a hopeful citizen.
Recovery in the Middle Ages – Sponsorship Part 3: Tandem Sponsors and Mentors
RMA proposes tandem sponsorship as an alternative to the traditional 12-step sponsorship model. Recovery in the News focuses on the death of Michael K. Williams.
Rehab Confidential – Nathaniel Hodder-Shipp, President/Founder of Breathwork for Recovery
Joe and Amy sit down with healer and President/Founder of Breathwork For Recovery, Nathaniel Hodder-Shipp. He explains what breathwork is and how it can help in the treatment of addiction and trauma. He discusses the dangers of doing breathwork with practitioners who don’t have sufficient or proper training, the need for accreditation in the field, and his experience leading breathwork groups in treatment centers.
Flourishing After Addiction with Carl Erik Fisher, M.D. – Mindful Recovery from Addiction, Pain and More with Dr. Eric Garland
For decades, clinicians have used mindfulness-based interventions to treat stress, physical pain, and mental disorders. But there’s more to meditation than “mindfulness” alone, and today’s researchers in this field are still working out how to incorporate other practices from the wisdom traditions that gave rise to mindfulness-based treatment in the first place.
The Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas – Author Laura McKowen (“We are the Luckiest: The Surprising Magic of a Sober Life”) on facing pain, telling the truth and looking inward
In this episode of Heart of the Matter, Elizabeth Vargas is joined by Laura McKowen, author and founder of The Luckiest Club. Together, Elizabeth and Laura discuss the pain that lies at the root of drinking, the glamorization of alcohol, the power of truth-telling and why Laura considers herself “lucky” to have faced addiction.
The Addicted Mind Podcast - Understanding Behavioral Addiction with Amanda Giordano
On this episode, Duane speaks with Amanda Giordano, a licensed professional counselor and associate professor at the University of Georgia, who specializes in addiction counseling both in chemical addiction and behavioral addiction. Amanda is the author of a clinical reference book titled A Clinical Guide to Treating Behavioral Addictions.
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
Legislative Updates and Advocacy
Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Provides Recommendations to Congress on Reducing Illicit Fentanyl-Related Substances
The Biden-Harris Administration’s recommended a long-term, consensus approach to reduce the supply and availability of illicitly manufactured fentanyl-related substances (FRS), while protecting civil rights and reducing barriers to scientific research for all Schedule I substances.
The White House - Sept. 2, 2021
The California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals urges California residents to STOP jail-like treatment facilities and oppose AB 1542
Stop Yolo County's attempt to lock up patients under the guise of helping them!
AB 1542 would not only lock up SUD patients, it also discounts extremely hard-won progress in destigmatizing substance use disorders (SUD). Locking up individuals suffering from SUD in jail-like "Secured Residential Treatment Programs" is clear discrimination and does more harm than good. The cornerstone to successful recovery is the personal desire to change; coerced treatment is extremely harmful and can lead to lifelong trauma. Take action today against AB 1542! Take Action