Addiction

Many hip hop songs normalize opioids and other drugs, a fact that is left out of public health approaches to the opioid epidemic, says Kaiser Health News reporter Chaseedaw Giles. At the same time, many people are unaware of side effects like withdrawal – which could be solved with public health messaging that looks to the culture and incorporates it.

Wes Hurt was in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction when he came up with his latest business idea — a beverage company that would help people who were also recovering from addiction. Clean Cause, based in Austin, Texas, now donates half its profits to supporting people in recovery. It also employs them.

While the pandemic closed many casinos last year, the rise of legal online betting gave gamblers easy outlets to pursue this addictive activity during lockdowns. And the stress and anxiety of the pandemic drove many problem gamblers even deeper into addiction. NBCLX storyteller Ngozi Ekeledo explores why the “hidden addiction” has become an even bigger problem during the isolation of...

A West Dundee mother who lost her son to overdose is now dedicating her time to helping others struggling with addiction and isolation amid the pandemic. NBC 5’s Regina Waldroup reports

Drug and alcohol-related overdoses have been on the rise since the onset of the pandemic. Addiction specialist Dr. Kevin Gilliland joins LX News to explain why talking about addiction is so important to help understand the root of the problem.

A role that earned Ben Affleck some of the biggest praise of his career turned out to be a “cathartic” experience despite hitting close to home given his own struggles with alcoholism.

Nick McGlashan, who appeared on 78 episodes of Discovery’s “Deadliest Catch,” has died at the age of 33, E! News can confirm.

Scott Strode is the founder and executive director of The Phoenix, which is a recovery organization that uses fitness to help those suffering from drug and alcohol addiction to find strength and community. He joins LX News to explain how the coronavirus pandemic is making his programs more important than ever.

Reports from the CDC showed 13 percent of Americans have started or increased substance use to cope with the stress regarding the COVID-19 crisis. We had the chance to discuss these findings with CEO of Global Recovery Initiatives Jan. M. Brown, who highlights the importance of the path to recovery- more so during a pandemic, and gives tips how to...

The coronavirus pandemic has hit especially hard for those in substance recovery programs across Illinois. The state’s stay-at-home order has limited the amount of available resources and forced rehab facilities to limit who they can accept. Some, like Banyan Treatment Center Chicago Director of Operations Brad Gerke, also fear the risk of overdosing has increased during the pandemic. “Relapse...

Every time she got out of jail, Jamie Cline started hustling again for heroin, driven by an addiction she didn’t understand. “You want to get clean so bad. You know something’s killing you and you can’t stop,” said the 33-year-old who used heroin for 10 years.

Ben Affleck says battling addiction is “a lifelong and difficult struggle.” The actor posted on Instagram Thursday that he has completed a 40-day stay at a treatment center for alcohol addiction and remains in outpatient care.

Nearly two weeks after suffering a drug overdose, Demi Lovato is reaching out with a message to her many supporters.

Singer Demi Lovato was rushed to the hospital Tuesday after an apparent drug overdose. The former Disney star has been open about her struggles with addiction and recently celebrated six years of sobriety. However, in her latest song “Sober” Lovato admitted that she had relapsed.

The Weeknd, Bruno Mars, Jack White and Arctic Monkeys will headline this year’s Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago. Travis Scott, The National, Vampire Weekend and Odesza also were among the performers announced Wednesday morning on Lollapalooza’s website . More than 180 acts will play on eight stages Aug. 2-5 in Chicago’s lakefront Grant Park.

Demi Lovato celebrated six years of sobriety with her followers on Twitter Thursday afternoon. The singer and songwriter thanked her family, friends and CAST centers, a mental health and wellness program organization she created to help people struggling with addiction receive treatment, for being integral to her journey and recovery.

Michael Miller tried taking prescription painkillers when he was younger. Over time, his use grew stronger. Now, he’s addicted to heroin and desperately trying to get his life back on track. NBC10 spent time with Michael to understand how addiction controls his life.

President Trump outlined the White House’s plans to curb the opioid epidemic, which he declared a nationwide public health emergency. Trump shared a personal anecdote about his late older brother, who told him to never start drinking.

As deaths from painkillers and heroin abuse spiked and street crimes increased, the mayor of Everett took major steps to tackle the opioid epidemic devastating this working-class city north of Seattle. Mayor Ray Stephanson stepped up patrols, hired social workers to ride with officers and pushed for more permanent housing for chronically homeless people. The city says it has spent...

A recent study finds mobile users who check their phones frequently feel more stressed. According to the American Psychological Association, we are a nation of “constant checkers” and it’s taking a toll. Some experts consider this a behavioral addiction.