The Wednesday Weekly - Addiction + Recovery News, May 4, 2022
The Wednesday Weekly is a collaboration of Sober Linings Playbook and Recovery in the Middle Ages Podcast.
Highlights
National
U.S. Army sued over discharges for addiction | AA flight attendants ask for 2-drink limit in economy class | 4 states poised to receive millions for opioid settlements
Fentanyl
Fentanyl fuels record OD deaths | W. VA reeling from fentanyl addiction
State and Local
Michigan: Wayne State medical students release recommendations for SUD curriculum | Wisconsin advocates and lawmakers mark Stand Up for Recovery Day | Recovery high school slated to open in Virginia in the fall
Studies/Research in the News
OD deaths increase among adolescents | Racial disparities in opioid OD deaths | Smoking declines among people with SUDs
Opinion
Maia Szalavitz on the failure of forced treatment | Ohio “good Samaritan” law should extend to parolees and probationers | MAT for AUD
Books and Movies
Veronica Valli (“Soberful”) | The 20 best gambling movies | Leah McSweeney (“Chaos Theory”) | Movie “Stay Awake” opens SF Film Festival
Podcasts
RMA “Take 3” discusses involuntary treatment, Alcohol Awareness month and non-substance addiction | Rapper Tom McDonald on Dopey
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National
Kirk Hammett 'Got Brain Back' When He Stopped Drinking
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett said he got his “brain back” when he stopped drinking in 2014. Since he gave up alcohol in 2014, he asserted, he's found much more energy to focus on his creativity, and as a result, he doesn't feel like he's 59.
Ultimate Classic Rock - May 2, 2022
How I shrugged off my smartphone addiction, without a therapist
Anuj Bhatia suggests ways to counter your smartphone addiction and tells us what worked for him.
The Indian Express - April 30, 2022
Two weeks, no smartphone: how I tried – and failed – to kick my screen addiction
James Ball spends countless hours a week staring at his iPhone. Would a fortnight with just old-school text messages and games of Snake shake him out of it?
The Guardian - April 30, 2022
Insomnia, addiction, depression: The dark side of life trading crypto
Crypto was going to make them rich. Instead, therapists say, more people became depressed and addicted.
The Washington Post - April 29, 2022
Terry Crews says pornography addiction almost destroyed his marriage
Terry Crews has revealed how a decades-long addiction to pornography almost destroyed his marriage. He explained to Steven Bartlett on The Diary Of A CEO: "Drinking is a way of numbing your pain - for me it was pornography. Pornography numbed my pain. I've never been drunk or high but porn was something that took me out.
Mirror Online - April 29, 2022
Rose Leslie says husband Kit Harington's alcohol addiction is 'his own responsibility'
Rose Leslie has told how her husband Kit Harington's past alcohol addiction is 'his responsibility' and that it is solely down to him whether he choses to drink again. The actress, 35, said that she 'won't nanny' him into making good choices and refuses to 'put that pressure on herself' during a candid new interview. Game of Thrones actor Kit, also 35, revealed he was suffering from alcohol addiction in 2019 after the hit series came to an end and checked into the Privé-Swiss retreat in Connecticut to recover.
Daily Mail - April 29, 2022
Steroid cream: Teacher says her skin ‘sheds like a snake’ after 44-year ‘addiction’
A secondary school teacher who believes her skin has become “addicted to steroid creams” now vacuums her bed every morning as she sheds it “like a snake” in her sleep after ‘going cold turkey following 44 years of using the treatments.
The Independent - April 29, 2022
Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard Trial: Every Time Drugs, Alcohol Were Mentioned
As Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's defamation trial continues, jurors have listened as a host of allegations are dished out from both sides—including several mentions of purported drug and alcohol use.
Newsweek - April 29, 2022
Army sued over discharges of soldiers with addiction issues
The U.S. Army is violating veterans’ rights, its own regulations and the Constitution by refusing to give soldiers with alcohol and drug use disorders honorable discharges that would qualify them for federal benefits, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday.
Army Times - April 28, 2022
American Airlines’ Flight Attendants Are Asking for a Two-Drink Alcohol Limit in Economy
American Airlines has a plan to phase in alcoholic beverages to economy class, with potential new limitations. In a first-of-its-kind policy, the airline’s flight attendants union is requesting American implement a two-drink maximum for all economy passengers.
Condé Nast - April 28, 2022
Four States To Receive Millions In Opioid Settlements
Over the past week, several states have settled lawsuits with Opioid drugmakers, distributors, and pharmacies, tallying up over $390 million in total. The states in question (Alabama, New York, West Virginia, and California), have been deeply impacted by the ramifications of the Opioid epidemic, which has led to over 500,000 overdose deaths nationally in the past 2 decades. Among others across the nation, these settlements are the first steps to providing the financial backbone that many states need to rebuild their communities affected by Opioids.
Addiction Center - April 28, 2022
Pseudoaddiction: How it may affect treatment
Pseudoaddiction produces similar behaviors to drug addiction, including substance misuse and attempts to attain a drug or drugs. It can affect people who are not getting the correct treatment or management for their pain. However, it is not an official diagnostic term. [SLP: Isn’t this just a marketing term coined by Purdue Pharma? for more see Pseudoaddiction: Fact or Fiction? An Investigation of the Medical Literature].
Medical News Today - April 28, 2022
Xanax addiction treatment: What to expect from detox and how to help
Alprazolam, which is available under the brand name Xanax, is a form of benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are a type of sedative, meaning that they help slow down brain and bodily functions. Xanax is prone to misuse, which may lead to addiction.
Medical News Today - April 28, 2022
Adderall addiction: Signs, causes, treatment, and more
Adderall is a type of prescription medication used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. If misused, however, the risk of Adderall addiction increases.
Medical News Today - April 27, 2022
Singer-Songwriter Sydney Sherrill Raises $5K for Shatterproof Nonprofit with Release of ‘Vice’
Sydney Sherrill, 17-year-old emerging pop artist, premieres live performance video for new single “Vice” and announces $5,000 raised during the performance for Shatterproof, a national non-profit determined to end the stigma of addiction in the U.S.
Massachusetts News Wire - April 27, 2022
People struggling with addiction face lack of affordable housing
“When it comes to housing and substance use, people often say, 'Oh, that person is homeless because they’re using drugs.' In reality, actually the statistics and from my experience with the people I treat the reality is the lack of housing either worsens or starts the substance use.”
10 WJAR - April 27, 2022
Will Wilcox embracing recovery through competitive golf
A longtime struggle with drug addiction had caught up to Will Wilcox, he admitted in a Fire Pit Collective story earlier this month. Wilcox has since committed to a journey of recovery, which began with treatment earlier this year. He wants to share his story, in hopes of inspiring others who deal with similar issues to seek help as needed, and to keep himself accountable. And he believes that competitive golf will play a crucial role in his journey of recovery.
PGA Tour - April 26, 2022
National State and Local Studies in the News Opinion Reviews Podcasts Comments
Fentanyl
Families who have lost kids to fentanyl share mixed feelings about today's test strips
The first-ever National Fentanyl Awareness Day in the U.S. is coming up on Tuesday, May 10, 2022 — thanks to a coalition of nonprofit groups, major corporations, government agencies and schools, including Google, Snap, Shatterproof, the Ad Council and more, according to a recent media release about the issue. Ed Ternan of Pasadena, who lost his son to a single pill laced with fentanyl, said fentanyl test strips might be appropriate in some scenarios — yet he believes there are serious limitations. "All responsible harm reduction advocates stress that test strips cannot be used to test a part of a pill, or one pill from a batch," he told Fox News Digital.
Fox News - May 2, 2022
'Completely overwhelmed': Fentanyl, pandemic fuel record opioid overdose deaths
COVID-19’s disruption of regular life and an increased presence of fentanyl in other types of illicit drugs, often with users not knowing, have spurred record levels of fatal opioid overdoses around the country, including in Wisconsin, officials say. The state had 1,227 opioid overdose deaths in 2020, 32% more than in any previous year. The preliminary total for 2021, as of Tuesday, was 1,237, a figure that may grow. Wisconsin’s rate of opioid overdose deaths is highest among people ages 18 to 44, more than twice as high among men than women and nearly double the state average among Black people and Native Americans.
Wisconsin State Journal - April 28, 2022
Still rocked by opioid crisis, West Virginia now dealing with rise in fentanyl overdoses
Even though OxyContin and other related pills are harder to prescribe, there is a population of West Virginians who are still suffering from addiction and have found an alternative to those prescription pain pills - primarily heroin, health experts said. But by substituting a new drug, those suffering from addiction are putting themselves at a bigger risk, the experts warned. Fentanyl has been found in as much as 70% of the nation's heroin supply, according to the CDC. In many cases, those who use heroin have no idea that fentanyl has been added until it's too late.
ABC - April 26, 2022
State / Local
Maine: Dover-Foxcroft residents are wary of proposed downtown opioid addiction treatment center
Dover-Foxcroft residents are divided on whether an opioid addiction treatment office proposed for downtown is needed in the community.
Bangor Daily News - May 2, 2022
Michigan to collect unwanted, unused prescription drugs
Saturday is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day! A day used to provide safe and convenient disposal of prescription drugs. In Michigan, there are hundreds of locations where residents can take unwanted prescription medications to. The national day aims at controlling the opioid epidemic that is sweeping through the nation.
Fox17 - April 29, 2022
Pennsylvania’s Growing Addiction Crisis
Pennsylvania is facing a growing addiction crisis, that’s the word today from the Secretary of Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs.
PA Homepage - April 29, 2022
Michigan: How we did it - Paper details the evolution and impact of student organization Detroit vs. Addiction
The students and faculty behind the Wayne State University School of Medicine’s Detroit vs. Addiction medical student organization have released a paper that could serve as a road map for other medical schools wishing to build similar organizations. “Building a strong foundation from the ground up: the impact of a medical student substance use disorder organization on curriculum and community,” is published in the Journal of Addictive Diseases.
Wayne State University School of Medicine News - April 29, 2022
Colorado: How the growing fentanyl crisis in Colorado has scarred a student, a mother, a daughter, a friend
Fentanyl deaths in Colorado increased more than tenfold in the past five years — from 81 in 2017 to more than 900 in 2021 — and there is no indication they’re slowing. Fentanyl killed more Coloradans last year than homicides or traffic crashes. Colorado lawmakers currently are working on a bill to address the drug, but their proposed legislation has been criticized by all sides.
MSN.com - April 28, 2022
Wisconsin: Groups advocate on issues around substance use disorders, recovery on Stand Up for Recovery Day
Advocates and supporters from around Wisconsin gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday to educate and advocate on issues around substance use disorders, mental health and recovery. Wednesday marked the annual Stand Up for Recovery Day. Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison) and Attorney General Josh Kaul joined the organizations Wisconsin Voices for Recover and Shatterproof in a series of community discussions and training programs.
Channel 3000 -April 27, 2022
Louisiana: Gambling addiction on the rise in Louisiana
Gambling addiction rates are higher since sports betting has taken off, said Janet Miller, executive director of the Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling. And it does not impact the typical 45-54 age group. “We are seeing an uptick in helpline callers from 25 to 34 in male callers seeking help,” she said.
KSLA - April 27, 2022
California: Walgreens, Teva Face San Francisco Trial Over Opioid Epidemic
San Francisco will square off on Monday against Walgreens Boots Alliance and three other companies accused of fueling an opioid crisis in the city, the first trial to target manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies over the addictive pain medicines.
Medscape - April 26, 2022
Virginia: Addiction recovery high school could open this fall for Central Virginia students
High school students recovering from addiction could have a new way to stay on track with their studies. Hope Academy is a regional recovery program that will enroll high school students from all around the region. It’s a partnership with Chesterfield County Public Schools and the Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.
WRIC - April 26, 2022
Kansas: Addiction derailed their lives. These Kansans say the criminal justice system made it worse
Kansans with substance use problems say they are falling through the cracks of a legal system that’s more concerned with punishing them than getting them sober.
KCUR News - April 26, 2022
Parents, recovery advocates call for immediate Oregon action on addiction crisis
The availability of residential treatment has dropped but deaths have risen since the start of the pandemic. Moms and others concerned about addiction rallied in Portland on Saturday, calling for the Oregon Health Authority to take effective and immediate action against substance use.
Oregon Capital Chronicle - April 25, 2022
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Studies/Research in the News
University Of Arizona, Oklahoma State Team Up To Fight Opioid Crisis, Chronic Pain
The University of Arizona and Oklahoma State University announced last week that the two research universities will form a partnership to address the opioid crisis and the problem of chronic pain. The new effort will combine research, treatment and education in an attempt to develop non-addictive treatments for people suffering from chronic pain as well as to discover new treatments for substance use disorders.
Forbes - May 2, 2022
What time can you buy alcohol in Scotland? Ban on cheap alcohol has COST Scots £270million
A ban on cheap alcohol has cost Scottish people about £270 million, a report has suggested. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) has said the nanny state policy had little positive impact on employment, crime and health and warned policies like this often make cost of living worse. Nicolas Sturgeon's government the minimum price on alcoholic drinks law, now in its fifth year, they claimed it would reduce alcohol-related harms, including death, crime and unemployment by preventing cheap drink being bought easily in supermarkets and off-licenses.
Daily Mail - May 1, 2022
Deadly drug overdoses increase in adolescents
The number of teens and adolescents dying from drug overdoses has increased drastically over the past two years. According to a study published by the Journal of American Medical Association, deadly overdoses among adolescents nearly doubled from 492 in 2019 to 954 in 2020. There was an additional rise of 20% in 2021. The National Institute on Drug Abuse says a lot of the drugs are more deadly.
Fox - April 29, 2022
Racial Disparities in Opioid Overdose Deaths in Massachusetts
Since 2013, opioid-related overdose deaths have risen disproportionately among US non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic people. We implore national- and state-level policy makers to divert resources toward enhancing data reporting practices so that disproportionate harms may be adequately measured, evaluated, and addressed.
Journal of the American Medical Association - April 28, 2022
Tobacco use declined among people with major depression, substance use disorder: NIH
The rate of tobacco use among American adults with major depression, substance use disorder or both was found to have decreased between 2006 and 2019, according to the results of a study published on Tuesday. NIDA Director Nora Volkow, who was a co-author of the study, said the results showed that tobacco cessation “should be prioritized” along with treatments for substance abuse and depression.
The Hill - April 26, 2022
Study reveals surprising effects vaping has on the brain and heart
Researchers published the new study in the journal eLife in early April of 2022. The researchers say that it’s the first study to assess how JUUL devices and their flavorings affect multiple organs in the body. The study was carried out by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. The reason that the way vaping affects the brain is so notable is that this region has been linked to anxiety and depression. It has also been linked to addictive behavior. The researchers say this could further increase the amount of substance use as well as how addictive using the JUUL is.
BGR.com - April 26, 2022
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Opinion
Harm reduction programs for opioid addiction work
AS A WOMAN in recovery and a member of the board of directors of the New Hampshire Providers Association (NHPA), I want to express my sincere thanks to the New Hampshire House for passing SB 279, creating a committee to study the efficacy of current harm reduction strategies and how to expand these life-saving programs in our state. The House Health and Human Services Committee voted 19 to 1 to approve SB 279 last month and the full House endorsed that recommendation on April 21.
New Hampshire Union Leader - May 3, 2022
Maia Szalavitz: Why Forced Addiction Treatment Fails
At least 37 states now have laws on the books that allow parents, police or concerned others to petition courts to compel rehab through civil commitment if a judge deems someone a threat to themselves or others. But voluntary rehab has a better track record and is less likely to harm the people it is intended to help. Criminalization and coercion have helped create a patchwork of addiction programs that is harsh, low quality, underfunded, understaffed and too often fraudulent. Since legally mandated care is often the only way to get immediate and free treatment, a damaging cycle continues.
New York Times - April 30, 2022
Discriminating against people with opioid use disorder is a violation of the ADA
On April 5, the Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights issued a bold statement: People who are in recovery from opioid use disorder have a disability, and cannot be discriminated against. In plain terms, this means that people who are receiving addiction treatment — especially those taking medication such as methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone (MOUD) — cannot be denied services, including continuing access to their medication. Reading this document unleashed a floodgate of memories of patients who had been penalized for being in treatment.
The Philadelphia Inquirer - April 29, 2022
There's a way to treat alcohol abuse that doesn't involve AA or abstinence
I wasn’t ready to quit drinking and didn’t believe I had the willpower to do so on my own. I was too ashamed to check into rehab and couldn’t imagine going to Alcoholics Anonymous. There are many reasons why safe, effective medications for treating alcohol use disorder aren’t prescribed as often as they could be. But, as my experience shows, health care professionals must take responsibility to treat the patients who turn to them for help in whatever setting they show up.
MSN.com - April 28, 2022
28-year-old man dies of overdose because law made friends afraid to call 911
By the time paramedics arrived, he was gone. Why did his friends wait to call for help? The short answer is fear. The house they were in was full of people on parole and probation, and drug paraphernalia was present. In Ohio, bystanders who call for help can be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and people on parole or probation are not protected by Ohio’s “Good Samaritan” law.
Yahoo! - April 26, 2022
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Books and Movies
Theater: New musical in Trenton examines journey of six women fighting substance abuse
Passage Theatre Company will present the world premiere of “Group!,” a musical following six women from vastly different worlds who come together to battle the great equalizer: addiction.
NJ.com - May 2, 2022
Veronica Valli (“Soberful”) on why ditching the booze will make you happier
A sober coach, and a leader and pioneer in the field of alcohol recovery for almost two decades, Veronica Valli is former clinical psychotherapist who is evangelical about the joys of a booze-free life. ‘There is a quiet revolution taking place,’ she tells Metro.co.uk. ‘Sobriety has come out of the closet and into the daylight. Author of books Why You Drink and How to Stop, Get Sober Get Free, and her newest book Soberful: Uncover a Sustainable, Fulfilling Life Free of Alcohol, Veronica co-hosts the renowned Soberful Podcast with Chip Somers, Russell Brand’s former ‘sober coach’ (now advising the UK government on drug rehabilitation).
METRO.co.uk - May 1, 2022
Innisfil author invites readers to 'Walk in Beauty' with latest book
It can be difficult to face substance addiction, and Innisfil author Nick Goodman is sharing his story of facing those demons with readers. “‘Walk in Beauty’ is the inspirational true story about the first five years of my sobriety," Goodman said.
Simcoe - April 30, 2022
Minister writes book about 18-year drug addiction struggle that saw her turning to sex work
Trudy Makepeace hopes that by sharing her journey she can help other people who may be in a similar situation to what she was. The minister has opened up online, about her 18-year drug addiction struggle which saw her having to turn to sex work. Now working as a key member of her community, Trudy says that she is "happy to be a voice of change, a light in the darkness - that is a privilege."
Nottingham Post - April 30, 2022
The 20 Best Gambling Movies to Watch if You're Feeling Lucky
Films like the Safdie Brothers' Uncut Gems feature a series of huge sports bets. But, it's Adam Sandler's picture-perfect of the emotional instability of gambling addict Howard Ratner that makes that gives the gambling existential stakes far beyond a huge payday. If you're feeling lucky and want to see what that luck can get you, put down the FanDuel app and check out the 20 best gambling movies you can watch to satisfy your hunger for more.
Men’s Health - April 30, 2022
‘Stay Awake’ Starring Chrissy Metz Opens SF Film Festival
Stay Awake, a new film directed by Jamie Sisley and starring Chrissy Metz, opened the 65th San Francisco Film Festival last week. The film follows a single mother, Michelle (played by Metz), and her two teenage sons, Ethan and Derek, as they navigate her prescription drug addiction.
Forbes - April 28, 2022
Leah McSweeney on her newly released book ‘Chaos Theory’
Leah McSweeney joined us to talk about her new book, “Chaos Theory: Finding Meaning in the Madness One Bad Decision At a Time.” It is available everywhere now. The book offers an entertaining, moving and deeply honest chronicle of her life, (drug addiction, mental health struggles, getting sober, having a baby and more) to offer inspiration and insight on embracing life’s unexpected turns.
KTLA - April 28, 2022
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Podcasts: The Weekly Roundup
Recovery in the Middle Ages – April’s Top Recovery Stories on a VERY Special ’Take 3 SLP’ LIVE edition!
This week on RMA-it’s a Take 3 Takeover! RMA and Sober Lining Playbooks’s own Grant Boyken joins Mike and Nat to discuss involuntary civil commitment, alcohol awareness month and process addictions. Also, Monkster’s Speak,the week in Weird and the life-update, on a slowly recovering, technologically challenged, newsworthy episode of RMA.
Dopey – Rapper Tom McDonald on Drugs, Alcohol, Psychotic Break, Racism, Eminem and Hip Hop
This week on Dopey! Tom MacDonald goes super deep on his journey through severe mental illness, alcoholism, and drug addiction all the way to YouTube super stardom and the very top of the Billboard charts. PLUS the story about his Eminem produced track and the truth on his racist allegations and political leanings! PLUS it's Todd's birthday and much more on a powder keg of a new episode of that old Dopey Show!
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