Weekly Wrap Up

DDAP encourages use of treatment locator tool, Huntingdon Daily News

October 15, 2022 — "'When it comes to addiction treatment, one size does not fit all. ATLAS is available for you or your loved one to find the right program,' said DDAP Secretary Jen Smith.

Even Low Doses of Alcohol Cause Changes in Brain Circuitry, SciTechDaily

October 15, 2022 — "...while the research does not, for instance, imply that one drink results in addiction in individuals, it does provide some insights into why certain people are more susceptible to alcohol use disorder."

Melissa Etheridge Says She Won’t Feel ‘Shame’ Over Son’s Fatal Overdose At 21, Hollywood Life

October 15, 2022 — "'We can all choose every day, whether it’s love or fear, and my son made his choices and I did the best I could as a mom and I’m not going to take any guilt or shame.'"

As drug deaths surge, one answer might be helping people get high more safely, NPR

October 15, 2022 — "'I used to be a complete mess before I got on this program,' [Max] said. 'I used to inject a gram of meth every day three times a day.'"

Fentanyl overdose: US teens fastest growing group to die, BBC News

October 16, 2022 — "Teen overdose deaths have never been higher in the US as young Americans are increasingly poisoned by the synthetic opiate fentanyl, even as fewer teens use drugs."

How Do We Save Teens From Fentanyl?, Rolling Stone

October 17, 2022 — "A new series from the Ad Council is embracing education and promoting harm reduction as the right stokes fear over rainbow fentanyl."

‘Rainbow fentanyl’ panic is obscuring the real dangers of a contaminated drug supply, Philadelphia Inquirer

October 18, 2022 — "As Halloween approaches, the federal government has been warning parents of a spooky new danger: Drug cartels are using rainbow-colored pills and powders that look like candy to introduce children to highly addictive synthetic opioids."

Biden administration seeks to expand 24/7 mental health care, PBS News Hour

October 18, 2022 — "The government announced plans Tuesday to award millions of dollars in grants to expand all-hours mental health and substance abuse care in more communities around the country."

Matthew Perry Opens Up About His Addiction Journey with a New Memoir, People

October 19, 2022 — "The Friends star's new memoir, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing hits bookshelves on November 1."

36 million lethal doses of fentanyl removed from U.S. communities from May to September, Washington Examiner

October 19, 2022 — "As part of the DEA’s One Pill Can Kill initiative, DEA agents and law enforcement partners in multiple states seized more than 10.2 million fentanyl pills and approximately 980 pounds of fentanyl powder."

Paying for mental health care leaves families in debt and isolated, NPR

October 19, 2022 — "Untold numbers of families like Rachel's are dealing with myriad challenges finding and paying for mental health care, and then ending up in debt. There are too few therapists and psychologists in the US — and fewer still who provide treatment paid for by insurance."

Virtual reality experiences to aid substance use disorder recovery, ScienceDaily

October 19, 2022 — "Researchers are combining psychological principles with innovative virtual reality technology to create a new immersive therapy for people with substance use disorders."

States Should Measure Opioid Use Disorder Treatment to Improve Outcomes, PEW Charitable Trusts

October 19, 2022 — "To close these gaps, improve treatment overall, and save lives, states need a set of core metrics to track relevant data and provide a comprehensive picture of care for OUD—from diagnosis through recovery."