The Wednesday Weekly - October 6, 2021
Highlights
National
Pharmacy chains face opioid litigation | SAMHSA launches new Office of Recovery | U.S. Labor Secretary Walsh speaks about his own sobriety
State and Local
New England men charged in addiction treatment insurance scam | California judge questions counties’ opioid case
Studies/Research in the News
Impact of alcohol on heart health | Brain surgery to treat opioid addiction? | Lessons from AI on the role of pleasure and learning in addiction
Opinion
Chef Andrew Zimmern’s open thank you letter to “sobriety sherpa” | Maia Szalavitz rethinks what recovery from addiction means
Reviews
Book: librarian seeks to understand opioid addiction in ‘Unstitched’ | ‘American Horror Story’ explores addiction nightmare
Podcasts
RMA continues the conversation about emotional sobriety | Chicago public health expert Dr. Wilnise Jasmin on Flourishing After Addiction
Legislative Updates and Advocacy
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
National
A landmark opioid trial puts spotlight on pharmacy chains CVS, Walmart and Walgreens
On Monday in a federal courtroom in Cleveland, Ohio, the nation's legal reckoning over the opioid crisis shifts to four name-brand pharmacy chains: CVS, Giant Eagle, Walgreens, and Walmart.
NPR - Oct. 4, 2021
Pharmacy chains face first trial in U.S. opioid litigation, judge urges settlement
Four large pharmacy chains are set to face their first trial over the deadly U.S. opioid epidemic, creating new pressure to reach settlements with state and local governments who accuse them of contributing to the public health crisis.
Reuters - Oct. 1, 2021
Emerging Afghan methamphetamine trade poses ‘threat’ to Europe
Authorities warn that Afghan meth could penetrate the European market due to its low price and the availability of pre-existing trafficking routes used to smuggle heroin.
TRT World - Oct. 1, 2021
A safe space for addicts? The battle over Paris's 'shooting galleries'
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has been given the go-ahead to open four new "shooting galleries" – supervised sites where addicts can use drugs with clean equipment – across the French capital. But while the charity that runs the city's only shooting gallery says they have proven effective, plans for more have met fierce opposition from some of the city's residents.
France24.com - Oct. 1, 2021
Biden administration grapples with American addiction as overdose deaths hit a record high
On the campaign trail, Biden presented a comprehensive plan to address the opioid epidemic, but his public advocacy on the issue has largely fallen by the wayside as he focuses his presidency on his legislative agenda and the coronavirus pandemic. Now, more than halfway through Biden's first year in office, as National Recovery Month comes to a close, his administration is facing calls to do more to stave off the crisis.
CNN - Sept. 30, 2021
SAMHSA to Launch New "Office of Recovery" to Expand Its Commitment to Recovery for All Americans
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is launching an Office of Recovery, within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, to advance the agency’s commitment to, and support of, recovery for all Americans.
SAMHSA - Sept. 30, 2021
Press Release: Portman, Whitehouse Continue Recovery Leadership with Introduction of Excellence in Recovery Housing Act
U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have introduced the Excellence in Recovery Housing Act, to boost the availability of housing nationwide for those in recovery from substance use disorder. The framework for this bipartisan legislation was included in CARA 3.0 and would help to expand the supply of recovery housing, coordinate the government’s efforts to provide recovery housing, and study and promote the adoption of best practices for housing agencies and other housing providers.
Office of U.S. Senator Rob Portman - Sept. 30, 2021
U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh opens up about his sobriety as the nation faces addiction crisis during Covid-19 pandemic
Marty Walsh chose to go to an alcohol detox program in 1995. But even after committing to it, he was questioning his decision. "I didn't want to go to detox. ... When I got there, I thought to myself: 'What am I doing here?' " the secretary of labor said in an interview with CNN during National Recovery Month, which has taken on an extra level of significance as Covid-19 fuels concerns over a rise in addiction in America.
CNN - Sept. 30, 2021
The Lingua Franca of Addiction—Stigmatizing Words That Wound
A recent article published in Neuropsychopharmacology points out that despite decades of progress made in educating clinicians about the genetic and neurobiological foundations of addiction, stigma endures, even among physicians. One of the coauthors, Nora D. Volkow, MD, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), indicated that SUDs currently are the most stigmatized medical problem, much more so than HIV, depression, and other psychiatric disorders. That’s why the words clinicians use when they speak about SUDs or to patients who have these conditions are so important.
JAMA Network - Sept. 30, 2021
Why you should limit alcohol consumption
One of the most common ways to relax on the weekends after all that grind, but how is alcohol ruining your health in the long run or overdose?
Medium - Sept. 29, 2021
How a brother’s drug overdose led to one woman’s crusade for harm reduction
Until this week, needle exchange programs were illegal in Arizona. Gov. Doug Ducey in May signed a measure that legalizes such efforts. Another measure decriminalizes the use of strips that can detect the presence of deadly fentanyl in pills, powder or injectable drugs. The new laws come amid surging overdose deaths in the state and the nation, and communities of color are seeing the greatest increases in drug overdoses.
Cronkite News - Sept. 28, 2021
The Cherokee Nation Has Agreed To A $75 Million Settlement With Opioid Distributors
The Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma has reached a $75 million opioid settlement with three of the nation's largest drug distributors, the first deal of its kind with a tribal government in the country.
NPR - Sept. 28, 2021
National State and Local Studies in the News Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
State / Local
New England: Mass. man and New Hampshire man charged in addiction treatment scam
Two men have been indicted on insurance fraud charges. “Two individuals have been indicted in connection with preying on people with substance use disorder, sending them to treatment facilities in Florida, and signing them up for false insurance policies in order to make a profit,” says A.G. Maura Healey’s office.
Boston25 News - Oct. 1, 2021
California judge questions counties' opioid case against drugmakers at trial's end
A California judge on Thursday said several large counties accusing four drugmakers of fueling an opioid epidemic had presented a "dearth of evidence" during a multi-billion dollar trial to support finding the companies' pain pill marketing caused the health crisis.
Reuters - Sept. 30, 2021
How much Texas gets from multistate, $26 billion opioid settlement hinges on local governments
In July, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that Texas had joined a $26 billion, multistate opioid settlement with the country's three major drug distributors - McKesson, Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen - as well as drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. The agreement could yield the state and many of its local governments up to $1.5 billion.
ABC 13 News - Sept. 30, 2021
Press Release: In Louisiana, Endo Reaches Agreement in Principle to Settle Louisiana Governmental Opioid Cases and Claims
(“Endo”) today announced that it has reached an agreement in principle with the Louisiana Attorney General’s office to settle all opioid-related cases and claims of the state and other Louisiana governmental persons and entities in exchange for a total payment of $7.5 million.
AP - Sept. 28, 2021
Maryland announces program aimed at identifying illicit drugs
A new partnership in Maryland is aimed at bringing awareness about illicit drugs and preventing fatal overdoses, the state’s lieutenant governor announced. Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford announced the Rapid Analysis of Drugs (RAD) program Monday morning, a new initiative bringing together the Maryland State Police, the Maryland Department of Health and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Washington Examiner - Sept. 28, 2021
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
Studies/Research in the News
Press Release: Clearmind Medicine to Host ‘Psychedelics for Alcoholism‘ Virtual Educational Event on October 20
Clearmind Medicine Inc., a psychedelic medicine biotech company focused on the discovery and development of novel psychedelic-derived therapeutics to solve widespread and undertreated health problems, is pleased to announce it will be hosting Psychedelics For Alcoholism, a free, live virtual event highlighting new potential treatments for alcohol use disorder and binge drinking.
Yahoo! Finance - Oct. 1, 2021
Alcohol's impact on heart health: Can it raise your heart rate?
Alcohol’s impact on the heart has been heavily debated and existing research has often been conflicting. So, what is known regarding how drinking can affect heart health? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while past studies have indicated that moderate alcohol consumption has protective health benefits, recent research shows that may not be true. Experts say alcohol can temporarily increase heart rates by multiple beats per minute, climbing as blood alcohol levels rise. The CDC notes that excessive alcohol use can lead to an irregular heartbeat. An August study from the University of California San Francisco found that a single alcoholic drink was associated with a two-fold increased risk of atrial fibrillation, the most commonly treated heart arrhythmia.
Yahoo! News - Sept. 30, 2021
Association Between Housing Insecurity, Psychological Distress, and Self-rated Health Among US Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated concerns about the threat of evictions and foreclosures. While prior research has documented an association between housing insecurity and health, the magnitude of this relationship has not been examined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding the association between housing insecurity and health in a nationally representative sample during the pandemic is critical to inform efforts to support people harmed by the economic downturn.
JAMA Network - Sept. 30, 2021
Deep brain stimulation may ease opioid addiction when other treatments fail
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been used successfully for decades to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Doctors at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute developed the technique for worst-case drug addiction on the theory that targeting one of the brain’s reward centers — the nucleus accumbens — with tiny sparks of electricity could quiet powerful cravings, allowing the brain regions involved in judgment and decision-making to be heard, said principal investigator Dr. Ali Rezai, executive chair of the institute in Morgantown.
NBC News - Sept. 29, 2021
Drugs, robots and the pursuit of pleasure – why experts are worried about AIs becoming addicts
The addict circumvents all the effort of achieving “genuine goals”, because they instead use drugs to access pleasure more directly. Both the addict and the AI get stuck in a kind of “behavioral loop” where reward is sought at the cost of other goals.
The Conversation - Sept. 14, 2021
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
Opinion
It’s time to treat addiction in emergency rooms and hospitals
Emergency departments diagnose and treat the most serious medical conditions — heart attacks, car accidents, strokes and, in pandemic times, COVID-19. Although emergency visits for alcohol and other substance use disorders are just as common and life-threatening, they remain largely unaddressed by hospitals.
San Francisco Examiner - Oct. 5, 2021
To address the mental-health crisis, invest in proven approaches
We have a mental-health crisis in the Northwest, across the country and around the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has created additional challenges for our mental health. Four in 10 U.S. adults report symptoms of depression or anxiety, and 1 in 10 say they have seriously considered suicide. To address this crisis, we need local and national investment in proven approaches to increase access to effective mental health care.
Seattle Times - Oct. 3, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has increased addiction. We must invest in treatment
For Tennesseans to rebound from this costly pandemic will require a multi-layered approach, including public-private partnerships. One critical element involves an investment in addiction treatments with known efficacy. Though most Tennesseans know someone who has personally struggled with mental illness, including addiction issues, fewer are aware of the medical treatments that are most effective or the many costs to society when treatment is denied.
Tennessean - Oct. 2, 2021
Sober October: I'm an RD, and This Is The One Thing You Crave When You Give Up Alcohol
Sober October began in the U.K as a fundraising campaign to support people living with cancer. In addition to being a way to support charitable means, the challenge encouraged participants to think about their relationship with alcohol. As someone who has not had a drink in over four years, I personally can attest to improved sleep, mood, and overall vitality. The benefits of sobering up for one month are incredible and yet, there is one side effect that might not get enough airtime: sugar cravings.
Eat This, Not That - Oct. 1, 2021
To a sobriety sherpa from your friend Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern is an Emmy- and four-time James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef and author. Thirty years sober, he's also an advocate for those recovering from and struggling with addiction.
CNN - Sept. 28, 2021
Maia Szalavitz: Rethinking what it means to recover from addiction
There is no “one true way” to end addiction—and the idea that “one size fits all” can be harmful and even deadly in some cases. Until we recognize this and celebrate the variety of recovery experiences, September’s National Recovery Month and similar efforts to promote healing will fail to reach millions of people who could benefit. During an overdose crisis that killed more than 90,000 people in 2020 alone, a better understanding of how people really do overcome addiction is essential.
Time - Sept. 29, 2021
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
Reviews
Review: 'American Horror Story' Explores Addiction Nightmare
The first part of American Horror Story’s double-feature season, Red Tide, is a macabre metaphor. Horror is the sublime’s shadow, and in exploring our country’s addictions through vampiric tropes, Red Tide is a sublime story of America’s current horror.
National Review - Oct. 3, 2021
Dancer Corey O’Brien Reflects On 9 Years Of Sobriety In Powerful Short Film
Dancer Corey O’Brien last week unveiled “Freedom,” which was produced in collaboration with the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Directed by Brandon Hudson, the film shows O’Brien reflecting on his recovery journey in commemoration of National Recovery Month (September) as well as his ninth year of sobriety on Oct. 1.
Huffington Post - Sept. 30, 2021
Book Review: 'Unstitched: My Journey to Understand Opioid Addiction and How People and Communities Can Heal,' Brett Ann Stanciu
One frigid afternoon in January 2018, a library trustee walked in on the man, who fled. Minutes later, he shot himself fatally in a nearby woodshed. This shocking event could have prefaced a news story about the opioid epidemic's effects on rural communities. But for Stanciu (pronounced "Stan-chew"), it inspired a memoir in the form of a quest. In Unstitched: My Journey to Understand Opioid Addiction and How People and Communities Can Heal, published this month, Stanciu follows the individual and communal threads that converged on and extended from the library intruder's suicide.
Seven Days Vermont - Sept. 29, 2021
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy
Podcasts: The Weekly Roundup
Recovery in the Middle Ages – 12 Smart Things to do when the Booze and Drugs are Gone: Part 2 & The Monksters Speak!
This week on RMA-We continue our discussion of emotional sobriety as an essential element of recovery by taking a look at a few of Dr. Berger’s 12 Smart Things. Find out what you have in common with a Bonsai tree! Don’t let other people edit your reality, man! Also, know thyself and above all, watch your projections.
Rehab Confidential – Ester Nicholson, speaker, counselor and author
Joe and Amy sit down with speaker, counselor and author Ester Nicholson. Ester believes that racism is actually an addiction and an identity crisis and once indoctrinated on a generational, ancestral, familial, environment level, it takes more than education to recover. We talk about her book and program Soul Recovery which aims to heal these patterns on a spiritual and emotional level.
Flourishing After Addiction with Carl Erik Fisher, M.D. – “Health in all” to prevent and treat addiction with public health leader Dr. Wilnise Jasmin
Dr. Wilnise Jasmin is a family medicine doctor and leader in the city of Chicago’s public health system, where in addition to battling COVID-19, she directs the city’s Behavioral Health program. A crucial focus of her work is the opioid overdose epidemic, which disproportionately affects Black residents and is one of the drivers of an 8.8-year life expectancy gap between Black and White Chicagoans. In this episode, we talk more about what public health practices and approaches have to teach us about addiction and recovery.
The Heart of the Matter with Elizabeth Vargas - Bonus episode: Elizabeth gets interviewed by Annie Grace on This Naked Mind!
Join us for a bonus episode! Recently, Elizabeth was interviewed by Annie Grace, host of This Naked Mind, a podcast that explores the role alcohol plays in our world and in our lives, with honesty and without judgment. Tune in as Elizabeth shares her story about drinking, working in broadcast television, and now, being a woman in recovery.
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Leg/Advocacy