Chely Wright's Emotional Coming Out Story

Family Members Often Don't Realize that they May Push the Alcoholic Gay Family Member over the edge. This reminds me of the preacher in the Black Baptist church that Gay bashes Why? Wonderful Interview! Go Chely!

Awesome Interviews Jane Velez-Mitchell

HLN anchor Jane Velez-Mitchell a recovering alcoholic who wrote Addict Nation

Jane Velez-Mitchell: “More” Won’t Make You Happy (Unless You’re a Corporation) February 10, 2011 by Carrie Baker · 3 Comments 96 Share

Jane Velez-Mitchell isn’t just host of “Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell” nightly on CNN’s Headline News, but an author, environmentalist, feminist and one of the rare gay journalists (well, openly so) on TV. She recently published Addict Nation about how the American economy is based on making us addicts of consumption in order to keep corporate profits up. The Ms. Blog had a chance to interview Jane, and here’s what she said. Ms. Blog: Why did you write a book about addiction? Jane Velez-Mitchell: I’m a recovering alcoholic and, knock on wood, I’ll have 16 years [recovery] in April. After I got a few years under my belt, I started looking around at people exhibiting a lot of addictive behavior, with shopping too much, eating too much, popping too many prescription pills, staying on the Internet too long, cleaning their house excessively and obsessively and all sorts of other extreme behaviors. It occurred to me that we live in this addicto-genic culture where everything is about ‘more is better.’ So I decided to hold a Consumers Anonymous in my house, just like a regular 12-step meeting. It was extraordinary how it became emotional very quickly, and people started sharing their guilt and shame about their overconsumption. Why are so many people engaging in such addictive behavior? I think our culture conditions us to behave addictively. We’re all bombarded with thousands of ads every single day that tell us that we’re incomplete, and we would only be complete if we bought this item or we ate this thing. They do all this research to connect these ads with very primal desires: sex, popularity, acceptance, sexual attractiveness, patriotism…desires to be part of the group and to be attractive and to be loved. So we are looking to fill the void on the inside with something from the outside, and it’s just a lie. That’s not the way happiness is achieved. There is not one material thing that you can buy that’s going to make you happy. It may give you a hit of pleasure, short term, but the old feelings of unhappiness are going to come up again. So who encourages these addictions and who benefits from them? Well that’s what people have to wake up and realize–that they are enslaved, and that a very tiny fraction of America is getting super wealthy off of these addictions. In the last couple of decades the average American’s income has remained flat, but the very tiny percentage at the top have seen their incomes skyrocket by something like 1000 percent. This whole nonsense about we’ve got to go out and spend to get the economy going … it’s going to the very wealthy. We’re not benefiting ourselves at all. It’s a double whammy on the consumer–we’re allowing ourselves to become addicted to all this destructive stuff, it’s putting us in debt, it’s making us fat, it’s getting us hooked on prescription pills. You say in your book that our society is based on corporate socialism. Can you explain that? The corporations have taken over all the agencies that are supposed to monitor them, and this is across the board. The USDA represents the interests of the meat and dairy industry. The Interior Department represents the interests of the cattlemen. The Interior Department also represents the interests of the oil companies. The FDA represents the interests of the drug companies. These agencies that are supposed to monitor these companies are being run by the industries themselves. It’s a revolving door between the industries and the agencies. So, the former executives of the industries get into the agencies and it’s the fox guarding the hen house. It’s absolutely obvious, it’s blatant. So are you saying that the corporations are encouraging our addictions so that they can make money off them? Yes. How do we regain control of our government from big business? Have a consumer revolution. Women make most of the purchasing decisions in the household. The first thing I say to women out there is that every decision you make throughout the course of the day is not a personal lifestyle choice. It is first and foremost a political choice, it’s an environmental choice and it’s a moral choice. I would ultimately like to see a consumer movement where women take the power back by saying, ‘I’m not going to buy all these products that are enslaving me and making me broke and making someone else rich.” So I say, don’t buy.

Density of Neighborhood Liquor Stores Is Especially Risky for African-Americans

Density of Neighborhood Liquor Stores Is Especially Risky for African-Americans Who Drink, Study Finds

ScienceDaily (Feb. 15, 2011) — Previous studies have shown a strong link between neighborhood alcohol environments and outcomes such as drunk driving and violence. This study investigated linkages between neighborhood liquor stores, on-premise outlets, convenience stores, and supermarket densities and at-risk drinking among African Americans. Researchers found that a neighborhood's liquor-store density had a significant impact on at-risk drinking among African Americans who consumed alcohol, particularly for women who drink. See Also: Results will be published in the May 2011 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View. "There has been limited research on this topic among specific minority groups or by sex," said Katherine P. Theall, associate professor in the department of community health sciences at Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine. "Researchers have only recently begun to examine in greater detail the impact of the neighborhood and other distal factors on health outcomes." It was not because researchers did not think distal influences were important, explained Theall, also corresponding author for the study, but because methods for testing the role of social and physical neighborhood context in human health have only become available during the last decade. "Investigations that examine neighborhood influences according to specific demographic characteristics such as differential impacts by gender or race," she said, "are still emerging as we think of ways to best intervene and prevent adverse health outcomes based on neighborhood changes or polices." Researchers recruited 321 African Americans (229 women, 92 men), ages 21 to 65 years of age, during April 2002 through to May 2003 from three community-based healthcare clinics in New Orleans, Louisiana. All participants answered quantitative questionnaires. Individuals with hazardous or harmful patterns of alcohol consumption were classified as engaging in at-risk drinking based on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). "Among African Americans in our sample who drank, those who lived in neighborhoods with a greater concentration of liquor stores were more likely to be classified as at-risk drinkers compared to those living in neighborhoods with fewer liquor stores per population," said Theall. "Furthermore, the influence of liquor store concentration on at-risk drinking was much greater for African American women." Theall noted that liquor stores are the dominant alcohol establishment in many minority communities, as opposed to supermarkets. "Therefore they may play a larger role in risky drinking among those who already drink," she said. "Other studies have shown high concentrations of liquor stores, as well as physical shelf space devoted to alcohol, in minority and lower-income neighborhoods." As far as the gender differences were concerned, The all hypothesized that stress was a factor. "Women and men differ in their response to stress and I think that one primary reason for this finding was due to differential psychological coping among women who do drink," she explained. "While we do not know the specific neighborhood characteristics of the at-risk drinkers, our guess is that many were dealing with cumulative ecologic, family/household, and individual stressors. If drinking is a coping mechanism, then greater availability of alcohol may lead to riskier consumption patterns." Theall said these findings would suggest to clinicians that they take into account not only individual and interpersonal influences on their patient's consumption patterns, but also ecologic factors that may lead to riskier drinking. "As well, individuals themselves can examine the broader social and physical environment of their neighborhood and consider what role it plays in their lives -- shaping behavior, increasing disorders, or bringing something positive to the neighborhood. If the role is a negative one, then individuals might consider what steps can be taken to help change the environment or how to become more resilient in such an environment."

Praying for "That '70s Show" actress Lisa Robin Kelly

I am absolutely flawed by the difference in photos if indeed this Mug Shot is Authentic. Stark reality of the effects of long term drug and alcohol abuse. I truly hope that Lisa Robin Kelly gets the help she needs. Lessons of Life!

Lisa Robin Kelly (Laurie Forman) The tale of the young actress who played Eric's promiscuous older sister, Laurie, is a sad one: Kelly was reportedly fired from the show after three seasons due to drug and alcohol abuse. She only has one post-"'70s Show" credit, a 2005 short called "The Food Chain: A Hollywood Scarytale." The real scary tale, though, occurred in 2010, when Kelly got busted for DUI, leading to this unfortunate mug shot. On behalf of Kelso and Fez, get better soon, Laurie. "That '70s Show" actress Lisa Robin Kelly says she's been SET UP by her male roommate ... who injured HIMSELF in an effort to frame the actress as a domestic abuser. TMZ spoke with Lisa ... who insists she was wrongfully arrested for allegedly attacking the guy at their L.A. home this weekend ... because she never laid a hand on the guy. Lisa says she's been having issues with the guy for a while ... and tried to leave the pad for good on Friday, but he became angry and "roughed me up." Lisa says she called police ... but the guy took off before they arrived ... and she decided it wasn't worth her time to press charges. A short time later, the roommate showed up at the police station claiming Lisa had attacked him ... something Lisa insists NEVER happened. "He must have scratched himself or done something to himself," Lisa says. She adds, “I am clean and sober and I have made a lot of progress. I am completely innocent. I weigh 105 pounds. I could never hurt him. I just want to start working again." Attempts to reach Lisa's roommate were unsuccessful.

Ryan Leaf's arrest brings sadness, but not surprise

Ryan Leaf's arrest brings sadness, but not surprise Quarterback had been working hard to become a better person

Seattle Times staff columnist When we talked almost two years ago, Ryan Leaf had been sober for 18 months and he seemed as relaxed and happy and prepared for the rest of his life as a man who had fought so many demons could be. It was one of those sunny days in May that fools us into believing that this spring will be different. That it will be warm and bright and full of optimism. It was practically a metaphor for Leaf's life. As we sat in a restaurant at The Golf Club at Newcastle, Leaf, a former Washington State quarterback and No. 2 NFL draft choice, told me, "I look at these last 18 months as a complete rebirth." And honestly, I believed him, because it was obvious Leaf believed it himself. Continue Reading Story Here Randall prosecutor says he'll seek to revoke ex-NFL QB Leaf's probation Posted: March 31, 2012 - 10:01pm By AZIZA MUSA aziza.musa@amarillo.com Prosecutors said Saturday they will file a motion this week to revoke former West Texas A&M University quarterbacks coach Ryan Leaf’s probation after he was arrested in Montana on burglary and drug possession charges Friday. Montana prosecutors Friday charged Leaf, a former NFL quarterback, with burglary of a residence, criminal possession of a dangerous drug and a misdemeanor theft, Cascade County jail officials said. Leaf, 35, posted a $76,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court there Monday. Randall County Criminal District Attorney James Farren said while he didn’t know the circumstances surrounding Leaf’s arrest, the situation “sound(ed) eerily similar” to Leaf’s charges in Randall County years before.

Learn About Alcoholism.com

Learn-About-Alcoholism.com is an online alcoholism information resource designed to help individuals who suffer from abuse or dependence, and the people whose lives they impact, gain a better understanding of the disease and begin the journey to better health and emotional wellness. Addictive, problem drinking is not a character flaw or life choice. It is a debilitating disease that affects millions of people around the world – men, women and children. As the disease advances, it takes over the body and destroys the physical and mental health of the drinker, and may lead to pre-mature death. It also produces damaging psychological effects on family members, friends and co-workers that can have life-long ramifications. Yet, there is hope for those afflicted through proper, timely treatment and ongoing support. It is important to note that the American Psychiatric Association has two separate diagnoses for problem drinking: Alcohol Abuse: a condition whereby the drinker refuses to stop even when relationships and work responsibilities are compromised. Abuse leads to dependence or addiction without proper treatment. Alcohol Dependence: an addictive and potentially fatal disease whereby the individual’s behavior has devastating consequences on work and family because of an insatiable, uncontrollable need to consume greater quantities of the drug. Though there is a distinction among diagnoses, both require professional treatment to help problem drinkers and each member of their family recover and re-build their lives. An explanation of treatment approaches is provided on this web site, along with educational articles and information on where to go for help. All the information and resources you'll find are designed to help you have informed, productive discussions with your health care professional. So, begin your educational process by clicking on the tabs to the left or the article summaries below. Use this web site as an information resource – not to diagnose or treat a health issue. And always consult with your medical provider for all health-related concerns. If you have suggestions to enhance the value of Learn-About-Alcoholism.com, please contact us to share your thoughts. Your input is encouraged and always welcomed. Thank you.