Author: The Fix

Prohibition Party Reignites Anti-Alcohol Campaign In New York

The state party is focused on pushing back on New York’s flourishing alcohol industry.

Seems like alcohol prohibition didn’t die with the 21st Amendment. In fact, support for the idea is alive and well in New York state, where a small group of prohibitionists are reigniting the fight for temperance.

The Prohibition Party of New York (established in 1869) has been dormant since national prohibition—the ban on the manufacture and sale of alcoholic beverages—ended in the United States in 1933. But the group reemerged in 2017 with a small membership, led by state party chairman Jonathan Makeley of Amherst.

“The motivation for re-establishing our state party organization was to have a positive influence on the condition of our state. To promote good government based in moral principle, ethical public service, and policies to advance the public well-being,” the NY Prohibition Party said to NYup.com. “To promote temperance, to advance policies to deal with the problem of alcohol in our society, and to advance other reforms to help build a better future for the people of New York state.”

The state party believes that the common anti-prohibition narrative is perpetuated by myths that are “not historically accurate.” For example, the party believes that instead of being a failure, prohibition succeeded in drastically cutting drinking rates and decreasing crime in the U.S.

The state party is particularly focused on pushing back on New York’s support for its alcohol industry.

According to NYup, under Gov. Andrew Cuomo, New York has cut fees and regulations for breweries, wineries and distilleries amounting to millions of dollars, which has allowed the number of alcohol producers in the state to double since 2012.

“Gov. Cuomo is perhaps the worst governor on alcohol issues that our state has had since Herbert Lehman (New York’s governor when Prohibition ended in 1933). His support for the alcohol industry is unethical and has harmed the people of New York,” says the state party.

It’s also the New York Prohibition Party’s goal to encourage New York towns to stay “dry” or “partly dry” (having some restrictions on alcohol use/sales). Currently there are 8 completely dry towns and 36 more that are partly dry.

And in addition to ending pro-alcohol policies in New York, the state party also supports more substance abuse prevention efforts and to “expand education on the harms of alcohol and the benefits of teetotalism (complete abstinence from alcohol).”

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26 October 2018
Utah Lawmaker Tries Pot For First Time On Facebook Live

“I decided it was about time that at least one legislator knew a little bit about marijuana before we changed all the laws,” said the state senator.

A Utah state senator decided to do some hands-on research before voting on the state’s marijuana policy in the upcoming November election.

Jim Dabakis, a Democrat, took to Facebook Live to stream himself trying marijuana for the first time. He ate an edible gummy bear in Las Vegas, where recreational weed is legal.

“I decided it was about time that at least one legislator knew a little bit about marijuana before we changed all the laws,” Dabakis said in the video. “I don’t think there’s a senator that’s used marijuana. I think maybe nobody has ever smoked marijuana and we’re going to make the laws.”

Dabakis said “with great sacrifice” he went to Vegas on his own accord to give pot a try. However, he doesn’t like smoke, so he opted for an edible instead.

“I wouldn’t recommend it as a sheer candy because it’s a little bit bitter,” he said.

After trying the candy, Dabakis said that the experience wasn’t remarkable

“It was no big deal,” Dabakis told USA Today. “It was fine. I just felt a little high.”

In a follow-up video, Dabakis said he “wouldn’t recommend shooting up marijuana to anybody.” However, he called on everyone in Utah to just “mellow out” about marijuana.

“The people who are terrified by it seem to be the people who have never tried it,” he said.

In fact, he recommends that all his colleagues takes a moment to familiarize themselves with the issue at hand.

“I think the reefer madness crowd – you guys, you need to try it. It’s not that big a deal,” he said in the video.

He reinforced that stance when speaking with USA Today.

“I want all my colleagues to get amnesty and go get a gummy bear or smoke a marijuana cigarette,” he said. “I think everybody is afraid of what they don’t know about.”

Utah voters will consider legalizing a medical marijuana program in November. The issue has been fiercely debated in the state, where a heavy Mormon influence has resulted in some of the strictest alcohol laws in the nation. While the proposition to legalize medical marijuana seems to be slightly ahead by voters, the governor of Utah recently said that even if it doesn’t pass the state is headed toward legalization of medical cannabis.

“The good news here is that whether [Prop 2] passes or fails, we’re going to arrive at the same point,” Utah Gov. Gary Herbert told The Salt Lake Tribune.

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26 October 2018
What’s Actually Happened Since Trump Declared An Opioid Emergency

Critics say the emergency declaration was more for show than to actually resolve the crisis.

A year ago, President Trump declared a national public health emergency because of the opioid epidemic, vowing that doing so would streamline responses to a health crisis that killed more than 70,000 Americans last year.

However, a new report shows that the declaration has led to little change.

The report, prepared by the Government Accountability Office, found that the administration has used just three of 17 available authorities that are activated when the government proclaims a public health crisis. These authorities include, for example, waiving certain administrative processes in order to quicken responses in an emergency.

The Trump administration used one authority to more quickly field a survey of healthcare providers about their prescription practices. The results of the survey will help inform policy decisions going forward, the administration said.

Secondly, authorities waived the public notice period for approval of two state Medicaid demonstration projects related to substance use disorder treatment, which was intended to speed up implementation of the projects, allowing the states to test and evaluate new addiction-related services delivered through Medicaid.

Finally, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) increased support for research on opioid use disorder treatments and gave out information on opioid misuse and addiction.

The Department of Health and Human Services said that more authorities haven’t been used because many of the abilities enabled by the state of emergency declaration are not applicable to the opioid epidemic. Instead, they are designed for response to infectious diseases or natural disaster.

“HHS officials determined that many are not relevant to the circumstances presented by the opioid crisis,” the report reads. However, the potential for additional responses will be reviewed. “Officials told GAO they will continue to review the authorities as the opioid crisis evolves and in the context of HHS’s other efforts to address the opioid crisis.”

Still, critics of the administration say that the fact that so few resources have been utilized shows that the administration’s declaration was more for show than in hope of solving the problem.

“Communities are desperately in need of more help to address the opioid epidemic. President Trump, as this report shows, has broken his promises to do his part,” Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) said in a statement reported by Vox. “I’ve asked this administration time and time again to show what actions they are taking to meaningfully address this crisis. No response. To me, it looks like empty words and broken promises. Hand-waving about faster paperwork and speeding up a few grants is not enough — the Trump Administration needs to do far more to stop the opioid epidemic.”

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26 October 2018
You Made It Through Sober October, What’s Next?
Recovery is not something we wear lightly; it is a lifelong challenge to recover our ability to regulate our bodies, heal from our trauma, and lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

Sober October is a great way to gain awareness of your drinking — whether your goal is to get sober or just take a break from alcohol. As positive as that lifestyle change might be, however, it has caused some controversy in the recovery community. For many of us, sobriety isn’t a choice; it’s a necessity if we want to stay alive. So it feels somewhat tokenizing when people are trying on recovery for size. On the other hand, what if it is a doorway to change? What if it creates sufficient awareness to help someone make a few adjustments to lead a healthier and more fulfilling life?

The challenge — initially called Go Sober for October — originated in the UK as an alcohol awareness campaign and a fundraiser for MacMillan Cancer Support. It is now gaining traction globally as more of a lifestyle change leading up to the holidays. In a recent Forbes article, Sober October was touted as a way to help reset your body and prepare it for the damage that inevitably takes place over the indulgent holiday season. They point out that a month off alcohol combined with other wellness-supporting measures such as a healthier diet and more exercise will lead to better sleep, increased energy, and a clearer mind. With those small lifestyle improvements, people who participate in a month of sobriety will no doubt mitigate the health damage of the party season should they return to drinking. And that’s a positive outcome no matter who you are — whether you’re seeking sobriety or just want to improve your health and wellness.</p

But for people in recovery, the problem occurs when those trying Dry January or Sober October flippantly celebrate how easy it was, or alternatively reach out to recovery advocates to ask for support during their challenge. Writer and advocate Tawny Lara describes why this is annoying in her article, Why Trying On Sobriety is Offensive: “Strangers frequently reach out to me asking for suggestions on how to get through 30ish days without drinking,” she says. “I don’t think they realize that my sobriety doesn’t have an end point. It’s fine that someone who probably doesn’t have issues with substance abuse, is ‘trying on sobriety’ for a little while, but why are you asking me, someone who does struggle with substance abuse, for advice? I can’t be your cheerleader for 30 days just so you can celebrate day 31 by posting photos of mimosas on Instagram.”

She continues, “If you really want to experience the lifestyle of us sober folks, try on recovery … not sobriety. Almost anyone can take a break from drinking. Try doing that, paired with the emotionally exhausting work of identifying why you drink and why you’re choosing to give it up temporarily.”

I understand Tawny’s frustration. Recovery is not something we wear lightly; it is a lifelong challenge to recover our ability to regulate our bodies, heal from our trauma, and lead a healthy and fulfilling life. And I used to find these types of challenges as offensive as she does. Now though, as I have become more of an advocate for harm reduction, I see them as a gateway to change. I support anyone in their desire to lead a less harmful and destructive life, whether they have a problematic relationship with alcohol or just want to temporarily improve their health.

So, to those of you who tried the challenge to improve your health and are ready to return to moderate drinking: I salute you. Even though I cannot drink normally, I respect those who can. It is also my hope that you’ll be able to recall how great you felt when you were sober for a month, and how you achieved it, should your relationship with alcohol change.

And to those of you who entered into the challenge hoping to try sobriety on for size with that nagging feeling in the back of your mind that your drinking might be a little out of control, I’m here to tell you that life only continues to improve in sustained sobriety. Truly. I am not going to tell you that it’s easy because it’s not. But it sure as heck is worth it. As a woman who has been in recovery for over six and a half years, my life is immeasurably better: there is less drama, I have fun, I don’t have to sell my belongings to get four bottles of wine on the way home. I feel great most days, and I can’t imagine a life so painful that I have to numb myself every day. Today I want to be present and I want to show up.

If you want to extend Sober October into November and beyond (or if you think you might want to try again sometime in the future), there are many resources to help you on your journey to recovery. As Tawny suggests, we need to examine a problematic relationship with alcohol and get to the heart of why we’re using it as a coping mechanism. There are many pathways of recovery and many supportive groups to help you with the process. Here are my top five tips:
1. Find a pathway of recovery that works for you. Whether it’s AA, SMART Recovery, or a meditation community, there is something for everyone. Don’t give up until you find one that works.
2. Work with a great therapist to help you through the process.
3. Build social supports. Find a local recovery community in your area, like an Alano Club. The Meetup website is a great way to find sober groups to hang out with.
4. Find an online supportive community. Reddit and Facebook groups (She Recovers Together, Sober SHAIR Group, HOMies, Life After 12-Step Recovery) are great supportive communities.
5. Read recovery literature.
If you’re still unsure and want to ponder the idea of continued sobriety, why not follow Joe Rogan’s Sober October thread? Or you can continue to read recovery publications to see if this is a lifestyle you want now that you’ve had a taste of it. I can recommend staying alcohol-free indefinitely, but you have to do what is right for you when you’re ready. If Sober October opens the doorway to that challenge, then I wholeheartedly support you!

Note: heavy drinkers should not stop drinking alcohol suddenly without medical supervision. Going “cold turkey” can cause serious and even life-threatening complications.

View the original article at thefix.com
26 October 2018
White House Launches Treatment Program For Moms With Opioid Addiction

The program will streamline care and reduce healthcare costs for mothers and children who are affected by opioid addiction.

The Trump administration announced this week that it will begin a program to address opioid abuse among pregnant and postpartum women, in an attempt to address health complications related to addiction and reduce the number of infants born dependent on opioids.

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar announced the model during a conference on Tuesday.

“The M-O-M model, for ‘Maternal Opioid Misuse,’ will partner with state Medicaid agencies to integrate a wide range of services for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with opioid misuse, to ensure not only their health, well-being, and recovery, but protect the health of their children as well,” Azar said, according to Medpage Today.

In a press release about the program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said that it is designed to streamline care and reduce healthcare costs for mothers and children who are affected by opioid addiction.

“Too many barriers impede the delivery of well-coordinated, high-quality care to pregnant and postpartum women struggling with opioid misuse, including lack of access to treatment and a shortage of providers in rural areas, where the opioid crisis is especially destructive,” Azar said in that release. “The MOM model will support state Medicaid agencies, front-line providers and healthcare systems to help ensure that mothers and infants afflicted by the opioid epidemic get the care they need.”

The program will be tested in up to 12 states over the next five years. As the opioid epidemic has unfolded, complications from addiction have become a leading cause of maternal death. In addition, the number of babies born dependent on opioids has increased sharply, from 1.19 cases per 1,000 hospital births in 2000, to 5.63 in 2012, according to The Washington Post. Those infants can have lifelong complications from being exposed to opioids in the womb.

Azar said that the MOM model is the latest step that the Trump administration has taken to make real changes to how opioid addiction is addressed.

“We believe in evidence-based treatment, we believe in a public-health approach to this epidemic, and we believe in approaching addiction as a disease, never a moral failing,” Azar said.

The health secretary added that early indications show that opioid overdose deaths seem to be plateauing this year. Although he acknowledged that too many people are still dying from opioid addiction, he said that there are signs of progress.

“Since President Trump took office in January 2017, the number of patients receiving buprenorphine, one form of medication-assisted treatment, has increased by 21%… [and] from 2015 to 2017, we have seen a statistically significant decline in the number of Americans who misuse prescription opioids,” Azar said.

View the original article at thefix.com

25 October 2018
Congress Passes Bill To Penalize, Convict Patient Brokers

The new bill would impose prison sentences of up to 10 years and fines as high as $200,000.

A bipartisan bill—passed as part of the SUPPORT Patients and Communities Act on Oct. 24—will impose criminal penalties on individuals or organizations that accept or give payments or other incentives to prospective rehabilitation patients in exchange for referrals to treatment facilities.

An op-ed piece in USA Today noted that these “patient brokers” connect those seeking treatment with centers or sober homes without proper or reputable means of providing assistance to patients; the result is loss of funds, increased insurance rate and in many cases, greater chances of overdose or death.

The new bill would impose prison sentences of up to 10 years and fines as high as $200,000.

S.3254—the Eliminating Kickbacks in Recovery Act of 2018—will allow federal prosecutors to pursue and penalize patient brokers, phone-call aggregators and the companies that allegedly pay them for referrals.

As USA Today noted, it has been illegal for Medicaid or Medicare facilities to accept kickbacks since 1972, but it remains fair game for treatment centers and sober homes that take private insurance, including policies sold through the Affordable Care Act.

The USA Today op-ed claimed that patient brokers can be a persistent presence wherever individuals suffering from dependency issues might be found, from drug courts to street corners. The facilities that they promote also maintain a media presence through television and internet advertising, and call aggregators can purport to connect prospective patients to treatment, but actually collect their information to sell to the highest bidding facility.

A bipartisan group from the Energy and Commerce Committee questioned eight such call aggregators about their business practices in May 2018.

Avoiding such blatantly predatory entities can be a challenge for the more than 2 million Americans suffering from opioid dependency. While some can consult family medical practitioners or guidelines from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and other organizations, state laws vary on the regulation of treatment centers, so that what may be illegal in some areas can pass in others.

As USA Today noted, penalizing those that prey on individuals in crisis is an important step in providing proper assistance to those with dependency issues.

View the original article at thefix.com

25 October 2018
New Opioid 500 Times Stronger Than Morphine Nears FDA Approval

Sufentanil is currently used intravenously in operating rooms in tightly-controlled circumstances.

The chair of an FDA advisory panel is speaking out against the approval of a powerful new opioid that is even stronger than fentanyl, but despite his public stances it appears likely that the FDA will approve the drug.

“Opioids are substantially different than almost any other classification of drugs in that they carry with them the risks of tolerance, addiction, and death, and what we’ve been trying to get the FDA to come to grips with is that this class of drugs needs to be treated differently,” Raeford Brown, Jr., MD, chair of the Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee and professor at the University of Kentucky told MedPage Today. “Some of the methodology they use to manage other drug classes are perhaps not reasonable with this.”

The drug in question is DSUVIA, a form of sufentanil, a synthetic opioid that is 500 times more powerful than morphine. Sufentanil is currently used intravenously in operating rooms in tightly-controlled circumstances, but DSUVIA would make it available in a tablet that is administered under the tongue.

On Oct. 12, the FDA’s advising committee voted 10-3 to allow the drug to go to market.

However, Brown said that many committee members — himself included — were absent for that vote because they were attending the American Society of Anesthesiologists conference.

“That’s one of the reasons I felt that I needed to speak up, because people that are regulating this drug need to be very thoughtful about the public health in this particular circumstance,” he said.

The drug would be approved with a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program, but Brown said that is not enough of a safeguard.

“There’s no indication whatsoever that any of the REMS programs for opioids have been effective in improving the safety,” he said.

Brown is so against the approval of DSUVIA that he penned an open letter to the FDA, saying that sufentanil has “substantial risks of respiratory depression, diversion, abuse, and death,” and that its benefits do not outweigh these risks.

“It is my observation that once the FDA approves an opioid compound, there are no safeguards as to the population that will be exposed, the post-marketing analysis of prescribing behavior, or the ongoing analysis of the risks of the drug to the general population relative to its benefit to the public health,” he wrote. “Briefly stated, for all of the opioids that have been marketed in the last 10 years, there has not been sufficient demonstration of safety, nor has there been post-marketing assessment of who is taking the drug, how often prescribing is inappropriate, and whether there was ever a reason to risk the health of the general population by having one more opioid on the market.”

Further information on the approval of DSUVIA is expected in early November.

View the original article at thefix.com

25 October 2018
Liam Neeson's Son Talks Recovery, Hitting Rock Bottom

After gaining sobriety, Michéal paid tribute to his late mother Natasha Richardson by taking on her maiden name.

As a tribute to his late mother, the actress Natasha Richardson, Michéal Richardson changed his last name from that of his father—the actor Liam Neeson—to his mother’s storied surname.

The 23-year-old’s maternal grandmother, Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave, told the British press that Michéal’s decision was a way for him to “hold his mother close.” According to Michéal, his mother’s death in 2009, from injuries incurred in a skiing accident, put him in a depressive spiral which he treated with drugs and alcohol.

After gaining sobriety, Michéal paid tribute to his mother with not only the name change, but also following in his parents’ footsteps by becoming an actor.

Michéal was 13 at the time of his mother’s death, and in a 2015 interview with the Sunday Times, said that he was unable to find a way to cope with the loss. “In my mind, subconsciously, I either pushed it out or stored it deep inside,” he said. “And so, within the next week, I was like, ‘Okay, on with my life.’”

But by the spring of 2014, Michéal saw that “things just started going downhill” in his life. “The people I was with, we were partying a lot. It was dark.”

Though observers saw his behavior as springing from his loss, Michéal wasn’t ready to accept it. “Everybody said, ‘This kid has lost his mum, that’s where the problem comes from.’ And I was like, ‘No, it isn’t. I just like to party.’ But looking back, I realize it was a delayed reaction.”

According to Us Weekly, Michéal sought help at a treatment facility in Utah, where through wilderness therapy, he eventually gained sobriety. He credited his father with giving him the support and work ethic he needed to make the change. “He came from a small town, Ballymena,” Michéal told Hello! Magazine in 2015. “It took him years to make it. He’s an inspiration.”

The adoption of his mother’s last name appears to be one of several ways in which Michéal has paid tribute to her memory. He has also appeared in several film and television projects, though his father has expressed caution in the choice.

“Dad was like, ‘Please become a carpenter or something,’” he said. “On my mother’s side, I was encouraged to do whatever I wanted.”

The Richardson/Redgrave family counts such acclaimed acting talents as his great-grandparents, Sir Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson; grandmother Vanessa Redgrave and her siblings Lynn and Corin Redgrave; aunt Joely Richardson; cousins Jemma Redgrave and Daisy Bevan; and step-grandfather Franco Nero. Michéal’s maternal grandfather was Oscar-winning director Tony Richardson and his uncle is film producer Tim Bevan.

“I know that my mum liked the idea of me becoming an actor,” said Michéal. “She would have thought that was cool.”

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25 October 2018
Ben Affleck To Portray Former Basketball Star In Recovery

Affleck reportedly began preparing for the role while in rehab with daily training and meetings with a basketball coach.

As Ben Affleck adjusts to life post-rehab, he’s taking on a new role that he can very much relate to.

This month, the 46-year-old actor completed a 40-day treatment program for alcohol, which he began in late August. In a statement posted on social media, Affleck shared that he will “remain in outpatient care.”

He’s now back at work, filming his new movie Torrance, about a former basketball star struggling with substance use disorder who tries to make a comeback by coaching a high school basketball team, according to IMDb.

Affleck’s problem with alcohol—which he’s been contending with for more than a decade—mirrors his character’s issues.

People reports that Affleck began preparing for the role while in rehab with daily training and meetings with a basketball coach.

Affleck previously sought treatment in 2001 and then in 2017. After his most recent stay, he expressed gratitude for the support he’s received throughout his highly publicized ordeal.

“The support I have received from my family, colleagues and fans means more to me than I can say. It’s given me the strength and support to speak about my illness with others,” Affleck wrote on social media.

“Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle… So many people have reached out on social media and spoken about their own journeys with addiction. To those people, I want to say thank you.”

His brother, actor Casey Affleck, says he was lucky to have “the kind of resources and time” to be able to go to a good facility and get help.

“It can’t be easier to have everybody looking at you and taking your picture as you’re walking out of an intervention,” said Casey. “I don’t envy that. I saw my father struggle with it for many years and nobody was following him around with cameras and stuff.”

Casey added that he and his brother “come from a long line of alcoholics.”

“Alcoholism has a huge impact on not just the person, but also their family,” Casey told ET in September. “So, I think for his kids’ sake and for their mom, he’s trying to do the work and get it together.”

View the original article at thefix.com

25 October 2018
HHS Secretary Discusses "Plateau" Of The Opioid Epidemic

Health Secretary Alex Azar discussed the state of the opioid epidemic at a recent health summit.

Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. may be plateauing, but it’s still too soon to know for sure.

“We are so far from the end of the epidemic, but we are perhaps, at the end of the beginning,” said U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar at a recent Future of Health Summit in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday (Oct. 23).

Azar said that the rate of drug overdose deaths had “begun to plateau” toward the end of 2017 and beginning of 2018. More than 70,000 Americans died of drug overdose in 2017, a 10% increase from 2016, according to preliminary figures by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Azar’s remarks also reflect recent CDC figures from this month which show that from December 2017 to March 2018, the rate of increasing drug overdose deaths over the last 12 months has gone down from 10% to 3%, suggesting a slow-down. However, these figures won’t be final until all death investigations are completed.

“It appears at this point that we may have reached a peak and we may start to see a decline,” says Bob Anderson, senior statistician with the National Center for Health Statistics, according to AP. “This reminds me of what we saw with HIV in the ‘90s.”

Azar, who heads the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, cited the success of multi-pronged efforts to mitigate the opioid crisis.

Promoting medication-assisted treatment (with drugs like buprenorphine, naltrexone and methadone), the use of naloxone, and increasing scrutiny on doctors’ prescribing practices have all played a part.

However, AP reports that while opioid deaths may be leveling off, “deaths involving fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamines are on the rise.”

The New York Times reported in February that “meth has returned with a vengeance.”

“At the United States border, agents are seizing 10 to 20 times the amounts they did a decade ago,” the Times reported. “Methamphetamine, experts say, has never been purer, cheaper or more lethal.”

Fentanyl is now notorious for being the synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times more potent than morphine. Though traditionally it is a pharmaceutical drug, illicitly-made fentanyl is said to have fueled rising rates of drug overdose deaths in the U.S.

This month, the maker of Narcan (naloxone) announced plans to release a new opioid overdose antidote that will match the strength of increasingly potent fentanyl analogs.

“Compounds like fentanyl, carfentanil and other synthetic opioids act for longer periods of time. The concern is that naloxone’s half-life doesn’t provide sufficient cover to prevailing amounts of fentanyl in the blood,” said Roger Crystal, the creator of Narcan and CEO of Opiant Pharmaceuticals, in a past interview.

View the original article at thefix.com

25 October 2018