addiction

Elizabeth Vargas

20/20 Anchor Elizabeth Vargas Talks About Anxiety, Alcohol and Her Moving Memoir

“A huge part of my alcoholism was anxiety,” 20/20 anchor Elizabeth Vargas told me. “I had panic attacks since kindergarten.” During our interview and in her new book, Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction, the veteran newscaster was candid about almost losing everything.

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Free Refills

Interview with ‘Free Refills’ Opiate Addicted Doctor Peter Grinspoon

Opiate addicted Dr. Peter Grinspoon said, “Coercing people into addiction treatment is a controversial topic. I was forced into treatment because I wanted to get my medical license back. I think the coercion is part of what helped me. I didn’t have it under control at all. I cannot think of anything that anybody could have said or done, that they didn’t already say or do, that would have helped me.

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jail

Three Addicts Talk About Kicking Opiates in Jail With and Without Suboxone

Written for The Fix Nobody strives to become a heroin addict. Even misguided souls with a romanticized notion of H never intended to go through the nightmare of withdrawal on a jail cell floor. But that’s what happens to many users caught in the whirlwind of our nation’s opiate crisis. Science is teaching us that addicts … Read more

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Greg Jefferys

Tasmanian Angel Leads Hep C Sufferers to Affordable Meds

Australian Greg Jefferys was near death with Hep C. The exorbitant cost of HCV treatment set him on a sojourn to find generic pills. Now he is cured and saving lives by helping strangers gain access to affordable Hepatitis C treatment.

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Defriending My Rapist: personal essay in THE NEW YORK TIMES!

I clicked “Add Friend.” He accepted within minutes. Stunned, I wondered if he had forgotten raping me. Defriending my rapist on Facebook.

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AIDS Hep C

He Had AIDS and I Had Hepatitis C: A Love Story

Published by Marie Claire AIDS + Hepatitis C = Love How we found each other amidst addiction, ongoing sobriety, and life-threatening illness. By Dorri Olds “One girlfriend slipped a mickey into my coffee,” he said, “and when I passed out she poured lighter fluid on me and all my belongings and torched me.” We were sitting at … Read more

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Why Does the FDA Care About Kratom?

It’s caused no overdose deaths. It feels like coffee and a light painkiller. Is there any reason for the FDA to crack down on kratom?

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Bill Cosby

Rape, Trauma, PTSD and Bill Cosby

This Bill Cosby scandal has triggered memories. Before my rape, I had voluntarily drunk rum and smoked a few hits of pot. Afterward, I was afraid people wouldn’t believe anything I said because I was high.

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Sarah Silverman

Comedian Sarah Silverman Isn’t Funny as an Addict. She is Oscar-Worthy!

Written for TheFix An exclusive interview with Adam Salky about directing Sarah Silverman in “I Smile Back.” Oh, addicts. Slippery and charming until everything falls apart. Watching Laney Brooks (Sarah Silverman) unravel is like rubbernecking at an Oscar-worthy disaster. Anyone who has ever been close to an addict or mentally ill person—which is practically everyone, … Read more

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Woman in Afghanistan

Meet Laila — the Brave Woman Saving Heroin Addicts in Afghanistan

Excerpts from my article written for The Fix All photos courtesy of Mirzaei Films. Laila at the Bridge—How to Combat Heroin Addiction in Afghanistan A new documentary follows a woman’s efforts in Afghanistan to fight addiction. Since the fall of the Taliban, the production of opium has skyrocketed. Afghanistan produces 90% of the world’s supply and 11% … Read more

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