"Psych Ward" Escape Room To Get New Theme After Backlash

A “Psych Ward” themed escape room will get a new theme by the end of the year, after a local non-profit organization voiced concern over the stigmatizing stereotypes that the room appeared to play on.The escape room is a popular group activity that challenges small groups of players to solve puzzles in order to escape different scenarios. This one in particular, created by The Escape Room in West Des Moines and Ankeny in Iowa, challenges players to race the clock to figure out where "Dr. Shaston Gunter," a chemical engineer admitted to the psychiatric ward, will release a toxic chemical in the city.StigmaThis type of scenario stigmatizes people living with mental illness, says a local mental health organization.“It’s because of the negativity and stereotypes related to mental illness they think this is okay,” said Peggy Huppert, executive director of the Iowa chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). “It’s actually very hurtful.”“It was the name and the description which we objected to, which plays on all the stigma and negative stereotypes that the psych ward is something to be scared of, it’s a scary place, the people in it are scary,” she added.NAMI requested that The Escape Room end its “Psych Ward” room. Owner Nate Tvedt said they will replace it with a brand new theme by the end of the year.While Tvedt acknowledged that the current theme may be offensive to some, he explained that the room is more focused on the puzzles rather than the psych ward setting. “We’ve had thousands of people come in and go through this room,” said Tvedt. “It’s not a scary room on the inside. The room itself, once you get inside of it, it’s just harmless puzzles.”While some have said that NAMI is being “too sensitive” about the game, it’s not hard to see why it would offend people affected by mental illness. The psych ward or “asylum” is a pretty common theme in the escape room world. And they are often accompanied by stereotypical images of, for example, a dilapidated and filthy hospital room with eerie markings scrawled on the walls.The use of mental health patients in fear-based entertainment has been long debated. Is it harmless fun? Or should “asylum” themed horror attractions be shunned altogether?

USPS Workers Convicted For Delivering Drugs

Two United States Postal Service workers were convicted last week for delivering drugs on their postal routes.One employee, Unterria Rogers of Mobile, Alabama, was given five years for his involvement in a marijuana delivery ring along the city’s postal routes. Rogers would receive packages from California and deliver them, receiving $250 per pound he got into buyers’ hands. In all, Rogers delivered around 133 pounds before being caught. Ultimately, it may have been his prolific delivery volume that did him in, as authorities were alerted following a spike of suspected drug packages in the city. Rogers was charged with using a firearm in his drug trafficking.InterceptionThe second employee convicted last week was Fred Rivers of New Jersey. He would receive packages with false names and flag them as deliveries for a local drug dealer. He got $100 for every package he intercepted.These two are far from the only USPS employees to deliver more than postage. In 2017, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania indicted nine people, including two USPS workers, Steven C. Williams and Felicia Charleston, for their involvement in a marijuana-trafficking organization. They faced life in prison and multimillion-dollar fines for helping divert packages to distribute almost 100 kilograms of marijuana. In 2018, Williams and Charleston were sentenced to 15 months and 10 months in prison, respectively.ExploitationDelivery systems like the USPS and FedEx are easy to exploit for drug delivery, even without employees getting involved. These parcel delivery services remain among the easiest ways to ship fentanyl, opioids, and other drugs into the United States. This was made especially apparent during a federal court case involving 43 members of a methamphetamine distribution ring that had ties to the Sinaloa Cartel."The sheer logistical nature of trying to pick out which packages contain opioids makes it much more challenging," said Robert E. Perez, an acting executive assistant commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). "It's unlike anything we've encountered."The major issue is that drug rings have people on the inside."Don't think that these cartels don't have their own 'intelligence services,'" warned Perez. "Friends, family members working on the inside. So they're going to know how many agents or officers are assigned to which FedEx facility, when they're working, and when they're not."

Morning Roundup: July 18, 2019

Trial Wraps in Oklahoma's Opioid Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson [NPR]Oklahoma's attorney general made the state's case against Johnson & Johnson, who they claim orchestrated a "cunning, cynical and deceitful scheme" to aggressively market opioid drugs. A ruling is expected by the end of summer.CNBC's New Vaping Documentary Offers Compelling View of Phenomenon [Forbes]The documentary Vaporized: America's E-Cigarette Addiction has sparked conversation about the rising popularity of e-cigarettes in the U.S. This "riveting" report is "not to be missed," according to this review.Former Mets Ace Dwight Gooden Arrested on Cocaine Possession [NBC News]Baseball great Dwight Gooden, who has a history of substance abuse, was found with baggies of "suspected cocaine" according to New Jersey police. He faces a maximum sentence of five years if convicted.Five Takeaways from the DEA's Pain Pill Database [Washington Post]A DEA database tracking the path of 'every single pain pill sold in the United States' has been made public. Among the biggest takeaways: just six companies distributed 75% of the oxycodone and hydrocodone in a six-year period. New York Raises Legal Age to Buy Tobacco, E-Cigarettes [The Hill]The legal age to purchase tobacco products and e-cigarettes is now 21 in the state of New York. The new law will go into effect in November.Creed Frontman Scott Stapp Pays Homage to Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington [ABC News]Scott Stapp's new album The Space Between the Shadows pays tribute to fellow rock vocalists Chris Cornell and Chester Bennington. "Man, that very, very easily could've been and should've been me."Civil Asset Forfeiture Doesn't Discourage Drug Use or Help Police Solve Crimes, Study Concludes [Pioneer Press]"Civil asset forfeiture is based on the premise that a piece of property can be guilty of a crime." The federal Justice Department has seized more than $27 billion from the American people using this practice since 2001.Music Festival Drug Overdose Victim Thought He Could 'Push Through It' [Guardian]Callum Brosnan died of MDMA and cocaine toxicity in December 2018. The 19-year-old ingested between six and nine capsules at a music festival.

Lea Michele, "Glee" Castmates Post Tributes To Corey Monteith

The late actor Corey Monteith was remembered via social media posts by his Glee co-stars, including his former girlfriend, Lea Michele, who has paid tribute every year on social media since his death from an accidental overdose in 2013.Michele posted an image of the sun behind clouds over a body of water with the message, "The light always remains," while fellow castmates Kevin McHale, Amber Riley and others also remembered their friend with their own posts.Monteith died in a Vancouver hotel room from an overdose caused by a toxic combination of heroin and alcohol, among other substances, on July 13, 2013."He Was Not His Addiction"Michele, who met Monteith while both were starring on the TV series and dated him from 2012 to 2013, has posted images and/or messages about the actor on each anniversary of his death, and carries more permanent tributes to him on her person in the form of several tattoos, including his Glee character's football jersey number.In a 2014 interview with Seventeen, Michele said that she "only had happy memories of Cory. He was not his addiction—unfortunately, it won. But that wasn't who he was. Cory made me feel like a queen every day."In addition to Michele, Monteith's co-star Kevin McHale posted an image of the actor on his Instagram page, with a caption that read, "The sweetest boy. Forever."Amber Riley's Instagram post featured a candid of her with Monteith and the caption "6 years without those bear hugs." And Heather Morris commented on Jenna Ushkowitz's post by writing, "Missing him a lot lately."His StruggleMonteith's struggle with drugs and alcohol began in his early teens, which he described in a 2011 interview with Parade as a period in which he "burned a lot of bridges." He entered rehab for the first time at the age of 19, and earned headlines in 2013 for an on-set intervention by cast and crewmembers that resulted in a stint in rehab that same year.After completing a 30-day period of treatment in April, Monteith was found dead in a room at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel on July 13. He was 31 years old.

Top Luxury Rehab Options for MS Contin Addiction

1. What is MS Contin?2. What are the slang terms for MS Contin?3. How is MS Contin administered?4. Can MS Contin interact with other medication?5. How does use evolve into MS Contin abuse?6. Some of the symptoms of MS Contin abuse7. What are the signs of MS Contin withdrawal?8. What are the factors that influence MS Contin withdrawal?9. MS Contin rehab and Treatment10. How can you pay for your MS Contin treatment?11. Should you stay near or at your rehab center?What is MS Contin?When it comes to painkillers, opioids are the strongest ones. They work by triggering the opioid receptors in the body, including the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. These receptors then reduce the pain messages sent to the brain. Opioids are taken to treat moderate and severe pain that is caused due to injuries and terminal diseases like Cancer. Morphine sulphate is one of the many variants of Morphine, and it’s specially formulated to treat pain (chronic or constant) and sold under the brand name, MS Contin. MS Contin can be used to treat ongoing pain that occurs throughout the day, so it's considered a long term and long-acting pain medication. It can be used along with other pain medication to treat critical pain. What are the slang terms for MS Contin?Slang terms or street names are given to drugs that are strictly regulated and sold illegally, even though they are not meant for recreational use. Slang terms are code words used by dealers so that they don't get caught by the authorities for carrying out these illegal activities. Medical professionals need to be aware of slang terms because it will help them treat the patient in case of an MS Contin overdose. Some of the popular terms that are used are:White ladySalt and Sugar Miss Emma/MHow is MS Contin administered?MS Contin can only be purchased at a pharmacy with a doctor’s prescription.. It's essential that you follow the advice and dosage properly because MS Contin can cause dependency which can lead to addiction. The painkiller is available in capsule and tablet forms. This is a time-released medication which is absorbed by the body gradually over the day. It's available in a variety of doses. Your doctor will consult with you to determine the exact dose that needs to be taken, and the schedule of your doses as well. You can take MS Contin with or without food. If you’re opting for the tablet forms, then you must swallow it whole. Avoid breaking, chewing or crushing the tablets because then you can run a risk of destroying the time-release coating. This can lead to overdosing on the medication. If you’re having trouble swallowing the tablet, you can ask for capsules instead. Unlike the tablet, the capsules can be opened and the contents can be mixed into applesauce or pudding, but the beads that are being mixed into the food items should not be crushed. The mixture should be swallowed whole, and it should not be chewed. The medication will begin working within 2 to 4 hours of consumption, and reach peak effects with 15 hours. The effects can last for a few days because the painkiller is designed in a way that it produces long-lasting and consistent relief. You have to ensure that you take the exact dose prescribed by your doctor, at the time mentioned to avoid overdose. Can MS Contin interact with other medication?Before being prescribed MS Contin, you have to tell your doctor what other medications you are already taking. This way your doctor can determine if the painkiller could negatively interact with the medicines that you're currently taking. If you don't consult with a professional about drug interactions, then you are risking serious side effects. For starters, you can list out all your medication, and keep track of your current health status. Then, you can share it with your doctor and pharmacist, it's best that you don't adjust the dosage of any medication until you have your doctor's approval. Some medicines that will interact with MS Contin:PentazocineNalbuphine Butorphanol Avoid taking this painkiller with other medicines that can cause extreme sleepiness and shallow breathing because there will be severe side effects that are caused when MS Contin is paired with these meds. It's essential that you check the labels on your medicines and consult with your pharmacist. How does use evolve into MS Contin abuse?At times, even if you follow the doctor's orders, there are chances you will develop a dependency  on this drug. If this dependency gets out of hand, it can escalate into addiction. This is due to the fact that MS Contin is a powerful opioid, and when it's taken for a long time, your body tends to develop a tolerance. This means that you no longer feel its effects like before, so more of the drug is needed to achieve the desired effect. This often leads to the first stage towards addiction, manipulating the dose without consulting your doctor. Once you get that ball rolling, it becomes nearly impossible to stop, and this is where MS Contin addiction symptoms begin to show. Some of the symptoms of MS Contin abuseObsession with finding and consuming the drug Craving it, even when it's not your dose scheduleLosing any interest in having a social life or maintaining social relationships Loss of appetite What are the signs of MS Contin withdrawal?Withdrawal happens as soon as you stop taking a drug. It’s a process of detoxification that your body goes through, wherein it tries to adjust its chemical balance to a normal state (before your addiction.) The withdrawal process is not easy, and it can be painful and difficult. Because MS Contin is a fast acting drug, the symptoms of MS Contin withdrawal will start showing up within 6-12 hours of your last dose. Now, the more severe the addiction, the more severe the withdrawal. The withdrawal for MS Contin comes in two stages, and the first stage will include signs like constant yawning, profusely sweating, and a runny nose. Serious withdrawal symptoms occur in the second stage; they occur within 42 hours. Serious withdrawal symptoms include:>> Trembling >> Goosebumps>> High blood pressure >> Muscle ache>> Increase heart rate >> Sleep deprivation>> Drug craving>> Depression >> Anxiety >> Nausea >> Diarrhea>> No Appetite >> A bad case of the fluWhat are the factors that influence MS Contin withdrawal?The Detox process for MS Contin will usually last for 5-7 days; of course, this is a general figure. The amount of time can vary depending on the severity of the addiction and the way your body responses to the detoxification process. Some of the factors that influence withdrawal are as follows:Duration and amount If you use large amounts of Morphine for a long time consistently, the chances of getting addicted are quite high. GeneticsPersonal or hereditary health conditions can affect the way your body responds to addiction and withdrawal. Other biological factors can also attribute a person's drug dependence. Other medical issuesIf you have any medical problems that are causing an impact on drug dependence, it can influence the withdrawal and treatment impact as well. Environmental factors Stress, peer pressure, and social environment can also contribute to addiction and withdrawal symptoms. MS Contin rehab and TreatmentWhen you are searching for addiction treatment, it's essential that you have a well-thought-out plan. Rehabilitation begins with detox. The detoxification process requires professional care, counseling, and medication. Rehab is a great place to get the help you need. Many rehabilitation centers will provide you with facilities and guidance that will help you get better.When you check into an MS Contin rehab center, you will be legally required to abide by the privacy laws and the privacy of the center, and this means that any information that is shared within rehab should stay at rehab and not be discussed with anyone from the outside world. This rule is enacted to protect the privacy of the other patients as well. What does the rehab process include?The rehab process will include the following stages:Stage One- Intake:This is the starting point of your journey towards recovery, and here, you will have to contact the rehab center and enroll in the facility. Treatment facilities are aware of the overwhelming thought difficulty that patients go through when they want to admit themselves. So, they make the enrollment process as quick and comforting as possible because the last thing they want to do is overpower or intimidate the patient. All you have to do is contact the admission center and book your Treatment.Stage Two- Admission and Assessment:When you enter the facility for the first time, you have to go through an administrative process. Here, you will be asked basic questions about your lifestyle. They will also insure you do not enter the facility with forbidden items like drugs, alcohol, or weapons. The intake process serves as an orientation for new patients, and they are introduced to the facility and the staff. This process is to reassure the patient that the treatment center is a welcoming and comfortable environment.Stage Three- Detoxification:The detoxification process permits your body to eliminate any toxins that are present from your addiction. This process will lead to withdrawal, and as your body begins to adjust and balance itself chemically, you will feel a certain amount of discomfort and pain which can be mitigated with certain medications. The staff at the rehab center will make your detox process as comfortable as they can, and help you through this tough time. Usually, the withdrawal symptoms will last about a week. Once the detox is done, the patient feels better and calmer. You will be ready to heal yourself physically and mentally once your system is clean.Stage Four- Therapy:Once the detox stage is complete, you're now prepared for inpatient care. During this stage, there will be many single and group therapy sessions and services that will help you in the short and long run. During this stage, you will identify your triggers, learn how to handle them and avoid relapsing, and achieve long term sobriety.Stage Five- Recovery Program:The recovery program or aftercare service takes place when you leave the rehab center. This is done because stepping back into the real world after an intensive rehabilitation can be quite overwhelming and it can trigger you into a relapse. Aftercare services will teach you how to handle your daily routine without caving into substance abuse. How can you pay for your MS Contin treatment?Rehabs do not have a standard fee, and they don't all charge the same price for their services. Each facility bases its fees on the services they provide, the quality of its staff and the results they can deliver. Inpatient and residential rehab centers will cost you more than outpatient rehab centers, and this is because the patient is always under supervision and professional care. Many rehab centers accept insurance. You will have to contact your insurance provider to find out if your policy covers your treatment plan, and if you have to pay additional fees. Should you stay near or at your rehab center?If you have strong support from your community, then another option might be to go for Outpatient rehab treatment, this way you can stay near the center and visit it only when you are scheduled to receive therapy and medication. However, if you don't live in a stable environment and everything around you triggers your addiction, then the best option might be residential treatment where you will be under constant supervision and medical care. The actual recovery begins when you accept that you have a problem. If you know anyone who is dealing with addiction or if you’re experiencing substance abuse, it's best that you consult a professional and get help as soon as possible. 

Megan Rapinoe, World Cup Winner, Pays Tribute To Brother In Recovery

Professional soccer midfielder and newly crowned World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe gave a shoutout to her brother for his birthday during a post-win interview with Fox Soccer.Her brother, Brian, has struggled with addiction for much of his life to the point of experiencing legal troubles, including a total of 16 years in prison.“Just one thing: Happy birthday, Brian. I love you so much,” Megan said at the end of the brief interview just before blowing a kiss to the camera.The Road To Re-EntryBrian is currently spending the end of his latest prison sentence in a rehabilitation program that allows inmates with addiction disorders to spend their last 12 months working on themselves and taking classes as they prepare to re-enter society.Due to the fact that he is still technically serving his sentence, he could not travel to France to witness his sister’s victory in person.However, according to a profile by ESPN, Brian had been watching the tournament in the common room at the San Diego Male Community Reentry Program with his recovery buddies.“He sat on a couch in his red USA jersey, watching on a 60-inch flat-screen, and felt ‘f—ing great,’" reported Gwendolyn Oxenham. “He had accomplished a major goal for himself: to get out of prison in time to watch his kid sister play in her third World Cup.”Brian's StoryBrian’s struggles with substance use began at age 12 and his trouble with the law began at 15 when he brought meth to school. He later ran with white supremacist gangs, a not-uncommon result of being in and out of the prison system, though he now rejects and regrets that part of his past.Before that, Brian was the treasured big brother who taught Megan (and their sisters) how to play soccer, setting up cones in a field across from their church.“And it wasn't like he drilled them. He let them do it their own way,” their mother Denise Rapinoe told ESPN. "It was just the cutest thing, and we remember it so clearly."Now 18 months sober, Brian is the one looking to Megan for inspiration. At age 38, he says he has finally turned a corner and is looking for ways that he can use his experience to participate in early intervention programs for at-risk teens.“I want to make a difference,” he said. “I want to be like Megan.”Megan and Brian have kept in contact via letters and texts over the years and remain very important to each other. Two months before Megan’s latest World Cup win, they had a long talk about racial prejudice and police brutality. The soccer star is incredibly happy about her brother’s progress.“It would be such a shame if he left this world with nothing but prison sentences behind him,” she said. “To be able to have him out, and to play for him, and to have him healthy, with this different perspective that he has now: This is like the best thing ever."

Juul's Popularity On Instagram Explored In New Study

Thousands of posts about the e-cigarette brand Juul appeared on Instagram in just a three-month period in 2018, and more than half were focused on cultures or lifestyles related to young people.Those are among the findings in a new study in the online journal Tobacco Control, which, as UPI noted, also included posts comprised of content that promoted means of purchasing Juul-related products at a reduced cost.Spokesperson: Juul Is Cutting Back On Digital MarketingA spokesperson for Juul said that the company itself only issued eight posts on Instagram during that three-month period, and has actively sought to reduce digital marketing and social media listings, which medical specialists have claimed can contribute to the appeal of such products among young people.The study—conducted by researchers from the non-profit public health organization Truth Initiative, as well as New York University, the University of Chicago and Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health—looked at discussions of Juul and its products on social media by using hashtag-based keyword queries to collect posts about the e-cigarette brand.They uncovered nearly 15,000 Instagram posts related to Juul, all of which were posted between March and May of 2018. More than half of the posts (55%) contained what UPI described as "youth-related content"—memes, cartoon images and celebrity references, and using Juul products at home, school or other places that were likely to be frequented by teenagers.Another 57% of the posts also mentioned or specifically highlighted using Juul with family or friends during social activities, while approximately one in 10 also mentioned the addictive properties of nicotine, albeit in a "fun light," as UPI said.Juul Deactivates Facebook, InstagramLindsay Andrews, a spokesperson for Juul Labs, said that six of the company's eight Instagram posts in the time period covered in the study were testimonials from former adult smokers.Andrews also said that in November 2018, the company deleted its Facebook and Instagram accounts, removed thousands of social media listings by third parties—including more than 25,000 individual Instagram posts—and limited its Twitter usage to non-promotional items like press releases. But some health specialists remain skeptical of these efforts. Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City said, "Every young person has Instagram, and that's how they share information. The actual industry doesn't have to do anything but let the people using the device share their insights, and advice and encouragement."Study senior researcher Elizabeth Hair, who is also the senior vice president of Truth Initiative's Schroeder Institute, said that stricter regulation on social media could help to stem the tide of posts she and her co-authors uncovered."If we can stop the promotional pieces of it, I think that will help stem a lot of it," she said. "A lot of this content was from companies that were selling the product and had these promotional aspects to it."

Morning Roundup: July 2, 2019

Florida Picks Harm Reduction Over Politics with New Needle Exchange Law [Forbes]On Wednesday, syringe exchange was legalized in Florida. The measure was approved unanimously in the legislature and signed by the governor in the name of reducing disease and supporting addiction-recovery.Parents of Children with Meth Addiction Feel Left Out of Illicit Drugs Report [CBC]Two women who have children in recovery from methamphetamine use disorder say they are in desperate need of support. "I'm suffering from trauma. I don't sleep. I've lost weight. My patience is gone." Free Concert Uses Music to Raise Awareness of the Opioid Crisis, Change Perception [WLOS]"Love is the Drug"—a musical event featuring a youth orchestra and West African percussion group—took place in Asheville, NC on Sunday. The fundraiser was organized to shed light on substance use disorder and harm reduction.The Secondhand Harms of Drinking Impact 1 in 5 Adults, Study Says [CNN]Harassment, feeling threatened or afraid, damage of physical property, physical assault, traffic accidents or financial trouble are among the "secondhand harms" of alcohol that affect nearly 1 in 5 adults. Children were not included in this study. Roy Carroll: Former Goalkeeper Says He Feared Alcohol Could Have Killed Him [BBC]The former Manchester United goalkeeper feared he was going to "end up dying" at the height of his battle with alcohol. "The drink had taken over my life, I didn't care about anybody."What To Know About Section 35 Civil Commitment in Massachusetts [WBUR]A closer look at Massachusetts' Section 35 law that allows the involuntary commitment of people with substance use disorder. A commission has been tasked with studying the "efficacy" of the law.Surgeon General: 'Connect With Community' [UC Davis]Addressing an audience at UC Davis Health last week, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams called stigma the "biggest issue" with America's addiction epidemic. "We need to normalize addiction as a disease." No Harsh Punishment Can Help Prevent Drug Abuse and Trafficking: UNODC Head [RT]An interview with the head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Yury Fedotov. "When we combine both supply and demand reduction, when we act in accordance with human rights standards, in accordance with international treaties we can hope to succeed."

Morning Roundup: July 1, 2019

In West Virginia, Free College—After Students Pass a Drug Test [CBS News]Students seeking free college tuition in West Virginia must pass a drug test each semester. It is the first state to add this requirement for a student to qualify for free tuition.Gambling Addict's Parents Launch Action to Hold Government Liable for His Death [Guardian]Charles and Liz Ritchie, who lost their 24-year-old son Jack, is urging the government to increase regulation on gambling and to warn the public about the risks associated with gambling. "Any suicide connected with gambling harm is one too many."Malaysia Plans to Decriminalize Drug Use to Battle Addiction [Miami Herald]Despite having one of the world's harshest penalties for drug possession (death), the Malaysian government is planning to decriminalize small amounts of illegal drugs—acknowledging that addiction is a health issue, not a crime.Eight Months After Kensington's Disaster Declaration, Progress Tempered by the Realities of the Opioid Crisis [Philadelphia Inquirer]The Philadelphia neighborhood of Kensington still has a long way to go before it is cured of its drug issues. Despite a slew of initiatives by the city, Kensington is still plagued by drug use.Feds: Former Warden Accepted Prescription Drugs, Gifts [US News]A former superintendent of a Virginia jail accepted prescription drugs from a pharmaceutical company that did business with the jail, according to federal authorities. John Marshal Higgins also has a number of other misconduct allegations against him.'I Feel Trapped': Photos Capture Experiences of People Who Use Drugs [WTTW]A photography project collected photo submissions from 25 people who use heroin, giving them a platform to express their "photovoice" via images captured through their eyes. Can a Psychedelic Drug Save the Terminally Ill from Their Deepest Fears of Death? [The Age]Specialists at a Melbourne hospital are set to investigate a new form of relief for those facing death who are struggling with severe depression: a drug linked with magic mushrooms.Fentanyl Rising as Killer in San Francisco—57 Dead in a Year [SF Chronicle]Fentanyl has apparently surpassed other opioid substances as the leading cause of opioid overdose deaths in San Francisco. "Fentanyl has just flooded the market."

Stopping Booze Even Temporarily Has Health Benefits

Today, sobriety is trendy, and more and more people around the country are stepping away from alcohol and giving sober life a try. Anecdotes and research show that giving up booze can boost your happiness, help you lose weight and improve your liver health even if you’re just abstaining temporarily. "The findings of these studies are actually very surprising," Aaron White, the senior scientific adviser to the director at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, told NPR. White pointed to a study published in the British Medical Journal last year. Researchers concluded that taking a break from drinking helped reduce risk factors for cancer, diabetes and other health conditions. "They found that at the end of that month — just after one month — people, by and large, lost some weight,” White said. "They had improvements in insulin sensitivity, their blood pressure numbers improved and their livers looked a little healthier." Another British study published in 2016 followed participants of “dry January.” Eighty-two percent of participants reported a sense of achievement, 62% reported better sleep and 49% said they had lost weight. Stephanie Forte, who was sipping virgin cocktails at a Los Angeles bar recently, was not surprised by those results, since she had seen similar effects herself when she stopped drinking. "Oh my gosh. Well, one thing that was noticeable to pretty much everybody was my overall health and, like, my skin, my eyes. ... I lost weight," she said. Her friend Kathy Kuzniar lost 30 pounds and felt reinvigorated. "I'm creative again," she said. "And I know I wouldn't be doing those things if I was still drinking.”Forte said that she is seeing more and more people opt to stay sober, even when they are out among people who are using alcohol. "Not everybody wants to get wasted when they go to the bar," she said. Chris Marshall, who has been sober for 12 years, wanted to give people the chance to have the same community experiences that they would have in bars or clubs, without the alcohol. He opened a sober bar in Austin that has seen great success. "All my drinking was really centered around community and wanting that connection so badly with other people,” he said. His establishment, Sans Bar, gives people that opportunity. “What I want to create across the country are these little incubators for social connection.”With that, people won’t need to explain their sobriety. "You know, alcohol is the only drug in which you have to give a reason for why you don't do it,” Marshall said.