The Wednesday Weekly Addiction + Recovery News Clips - October 4, 2023
The Wednesday Weekly is a collaboration of Sober Linings Playbook and Recovery in the Middle Ages Podcast.
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Highlights
National
Is alcohol the new tobacco? | Corrupt treatment operators and the “Florida Shuffle”
State and Local
New OR committee to address state’s addiction crisis | Indiana adopts new addiction treatment finder
Studies/Research in the News
The link between alcohol and suicide | Marijuana may increase risk of heart attack and stroke significantly
Opinion
Sober October | Treat addiction as disease, not clickbait fodder
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National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
National
Is Alcohol the New Tobacco?
An increasingly tall pile of evidence suggests alcohol is not, in fact, a health beverage. In September 2018, a bombshell study and commentary published in the Lancet asserted that “no level of alcohol consumption improves health” and cited alcohol as a leading risk factor in worldwide deaths. In January of this year, the WHO published a news release entitled “No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.” What the drinks industry seems to have trouble grasping is that the neo-prohibition side is seizing the narrative. Over the past decade, there has been a serious push to “de-normalize” the drinking of alcoholic beverages.
Wine Enthusiast - Oct. 2, 2023
BMC Is Developing New Anti-Racism Addiction Treatment, Research, and Policy
Black people in general are less likely to receive counseling, medication, or other treatment for substance use and less likely to complete treatment when it is offered. And in part due to the long legacy of the War on Drugs and its punitive impact on Black individuals, families, and communities, the face of the opioid overdose crisis as a public health concern has been overwhelmingly white.
Health City - Sept. 28, 2023
FA Cup: Former Cambridge United forward Liam Hughes on addiction and self-harm
"By telling my story, I want to try and help as many people as I can who might be going through something similar," he said.
BBC - Sept. 28, 2023
Scotland to get U.K.'s first ever illegal drug "consumption room" in bid to tackle addiction
The Scottish city of Glasgow will soon host the U.K.'s first "consumption room," where people can go to use illegal drugs in a controlled environment, in a bid to address Scotland's long-standing problem with addiction. The facility will allow drug users to consume drugs including cocaine and heroin in a hygienic and safe environment under the supervision of health care professionals. "There is overwhelming international evidence which demonstrates that safer drug consumption facilities can improve the health, wellbeing and recovery of people who use the facility and reduce the negative impact that public injecting has on local communities and businesses," said the Glasgow City Integration Joint Board, which advises on community health and social care services.
CBS - Sept. 27, 2023
Florida Shuffle: How corrupt operators derail addiction treatment
In the Florida Shuffle, patients and their insurance policies that cover hours of supposed therapy and repeated laboratory drug tests, become commodities. Patients lose their value when they recover. When provided by unqualified operators motivated by the profits they can reap from patients’ health insurance, the Florida model can become the Florida Shuffle. It is a phrase coined in the past decade as a growing toll of overdose deaths highlighted state failures to regulate the addiction treatment industry.
Palm Beach Post - Sept. 26, 2023
Angus Cloud had help from 'Euphoria' team to stay clean
In “Euphoria,” actor Angus Cloud played a soft-spoken drug dealer who knew when to cut off his desperate clientele. Off-screen, however, he struggled with his own drug addiction that impacted his time on the hit HBO series.
Los Angeles Times - Sept. 26, 2023
Why a lifesaving medication to treat opioid addiction can be difficult to access
Buprenorphine is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat opioid use disorder. Until recently, buprenorphine could only be prescribed in certain medical settings. President Joe Biden signed a law in December meant to make it easier to prescribe. But the life-saving drug can still be difficult to access because of barriers at medical offices and pharmacies, and those who need it can face stigma, according to researchers and health care providers.
Dallas Morning News - Sept. 25, 2023
Officials Agree: Use Settlement Funds to Curb Youth Addiction. But the ‘How’ Gets Hairy.
Prevention experts worry that familiar programs like D.A.R.E. will be the go-to for elected officials and school administrators deciding how to use opioid settlement funds. When KFF Health News and InvestigateTV looked for evidence of local spending on prevention, even a cursory review found examples across half a dozen states where governments have already allocated $120,000 of settlement cash to D.A.R.E. programs. The curriculum has been revamped since the ’80s, but the effects of those changes are still being studied.
KFF - Sept. 25, 2023
National State and Local Studies in the News Opinion Reviews Comments
State / Local
Legislature forms committee to address Oregon’s addiction epidemic
Legislative leaders are forming a committee to drill into problems with Oregon’s addiction crisis amid heavy criticism of the state’s landmark drug decriminalization law and the threat of a well-funded ballot measure campaign to undo key parts of the law.
Oregon Capital Chronicle - Sept. 29, 2023
Hawaii: Rep. Tokuda joins in introducing the Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act
Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02) joined fellow Rep. Becca Balint (VT-AL) in introducing the Addressing Addiction After Disasters Act. Following a summer of climate emergencies across the country, including in Hawaiʻi and Vermont, Americans are suffering the cost, the Representatives said. While the physical damage is clear, disaster-stricken communities need resources to cope with the mental and emotional damage they endure, according to the lawmakers.
Maui Now - Sept. 29, 2023
Governor unveils new site to help Hoosiers find addiction treatment
Hoosiers struggling with substance use disorder will now be able to use a free, confidential, first-of-its-kind tool to find appropriate addiction treatment services in Indiana. Gov. Eric Holcomb on Friday announced the launch of Shatterproof Treatment Atlas at an event celebrating the end of National Recovery Month.
Indiana Capital Chronicle - Sept. 29, 2023
A new addiction treatment locator is now available for Indiana residents
“Prior to Treatment Atlas, there was no easy way for Hoosiers to access this level of transparency when seeking treatment for [substance use disorder],” said Douglas Huntsinger, the executive director for drug prevention, treatment and enforcement and chairman of the Indiana Commission to Combat Substance Use Disorder.
WFYI - Sept. 29, 2023
Indiana: New tool looks to help Hoosiers battling addiction problems
A new tool aims to help Hoosiers struggling with addiction. On Friday, the governor announced the launch of "Shatterproof Treatment Atlas." Indiana is one of 13 states to partner with the organization. The website is a free and confidential way to find help.
WTHI - Sept. 29, 2023
Ohio: What kratom is, and why Ohio might regulate it
A plant known for its caffeine-like effects and potential to help with opioid addiction may soon fall under the purview of the state. A bill to regulate kratom, a tree native to southeast Asia and sold in various forms online and in U.S. head shops, would end the legal gray area the substance occupies. Before the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday, parents of people with addiction, recovery workers and an addiction researcher pointed to the plant’s uses in managing chronic pain, mental health issues and opioid withdrawal – as well as “bad actors” who mix the drug with others – as a reason to regulate it.
NBC4 - Sept. 29, 2023
Rhode Island: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley's own recovery from addiction informs his policy-making
"Sitting here as the mayor of the city of Providence, I'm someone who struggled with addiction. There are members of our community in every corner, from all walks of life, who have shared these same struggles, and recovery is possible," he said. The mayor wants to make that more possible for more people with more access to resources.
WJAR - Sept. 29, 2023
North Carolina: NC’s mobile clinics provide treatment for opioid addiction
North Carolina is piloting a mobile clinic program to provide opioid treatment to rural counties. Mobile clinics drive across the state to provide treatment to those in need. While small, it is a fully equipped clinic with an exam room and testing materials.
WRAL - Sept. 28, 2023
California: San Francisco Mayor Wants To Test Welfare Recipients for Drug Addiction
San Francisco Mayor London Breed’s plans to compel addicts seeking government benefits to enter drug treatment have already forced the city’s elected leaders to take sides, as two members of the Board of Supervisors made emotional speeches against the proposal and others called for a hearing to see if it’s feasible.
The San Francisco Standard - Sept. 26, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Studies/Research in the News
The Link Between Alcohol and Suicide
Alcohol misuse is associated with a 94 percent increase in the risk of death by suicide. Alcohol can worsen feelings of loneliness and depression, enhance aggression, and lower inhibitions. The more heavily and habitually one drinks, the more vulnerable they are to death by suicide. Women's risk for death by suicide is particularly affected by heavy and prolonged drinking.
Psychology Today - Oct. 2, 2023
Scientists Introduce New Internet Addiction Spectrum
“Our main aim was to clarify the difference between using the Internet in a problematic way and being addicted to it,” said Dr. Brigitte Stangl, a researcher in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at the University of Surrey. “We found that the younger you are, the more likely you are to be addicted to the Internet, and this tendency decreases with age.”
Sci News - Oct. 2, 2023
Tobacco Co.-owned food brands more 'tempting' than competitors: Addiction study
Food brands owned by tobacco companies produce foods that are more hyperpalatable than those produced by non-tobacco companies, new research from the University of Kansas shows. The research found that they are more likely to feature “purposely tempting combinations of salts, fats, and sugars,” according to a press release from the University of Kansas.
The Center Square - Sept. 29, 2023
Marijuana addiction may raise the risk of a first heart attack or stroke by 60%
Adults who are addicted to marijuana are at a 60% higher risk of having their first heart attack, stroke, or another major cardiovascular event compared with people without cannabis use disorder. That’s according to a new study from University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine in Canada, published in the journal Addiction.
Fortune - Sept. 29, 2023
Underage drinking dangers: These are the states with the highest rates of teen alcohol use, study finds
A new study done by addiction recovery resource Addiction Treatment Magazine has revealed the states that have the highest and lowest prevalence of underage drinking. The study determined that the state of Vermont has the highest prevalence of drinkers between the ages of 12 and 20 in the U.S., according to the release.Nearly 25% of minors in the state had consumed alcohol, and more than 14% had participated in binge-drinking.
Fox - Sept. 29, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Opinion
Sober October: I quit alcohol 3 months ago - with surprising results
That one drink a day held a lot of power: I enjoyed it as a treat. It helped me escape the turbulence of my mind. I didn’t always feel amazing the next day, and increasingly, I felt worse the less I had to drink. Sober Girl Society founder, Millie Gooch, took a photo of me dancing around, in my own world. It feels symbolic: I look happy. Free. Unselfconscious. Uninhibited. Joyful in my body and its abilities. Happy to be connected with a community. And just like that, after the event, I decided to stop drinking. For a while, forever, maybe. It was that sudden, final and unexpected.
Hello! - Oct. 1, 2023
Treat drug addiction as a brain disease, not as clickbait headlines
If referring to individuals as 'zombies' is not a dehumanizing way to describe someone suffering the brain disease of addiction, then please put me in my place.
USA Today - Sept. 25, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Comments
Books and Movies
‘The Addict’s Wake’ premieres October 2 on WTIU - documentary covers addiction in Brown County
An award-winning film from Glory Girl Productions delivers piercing and empathetic insight into one of the most serious health crises impacting Brown County and our nation: the opioid and meth epidemic.
WBIW - Sept. 28, 2023
National State/Local Studies/Research Opinion Reviews Podcasts Comments