Sir Elton John Celebrates Sobriety Milestone
The acclaimed singer, Sir Elton John has been open with his fans about his struggles with addiction and shared a positive message on Instagram to celebrate 35 years of sobriety. He was met with supportive messages from fans celebrating his “Sobriety Birthday.” His transparency about drug addiction continues to inspire others to share their stories.
Elton John Addiction
Elton John struggled with addiction in the 1980s and fell into a loop of drugs and self centeredness claiming in an interview for The Today Show, “I was consumed by cocaine, booze, and who knows what else. I apparently never got the memo that the Me generation had ended.” He felt that drugs and alcohol consumed a part of his life and could not stop even as friends around him passed away.
He also shared the feeling like the “luckiest man in the world,” when receiving a negative HIV test after addiction. A particularly thought provoking insight that Elton John shared during the interview was, “When you take a drug and you take a drink and you mix those together, you think you’re invincible.”
The Courage to Share Your Story
There is a lot of value to celebrities and public figures sharing their personal experiences of addiction when so many people face similar adversaries. David Mahoney shares his perspective as a counselor and founder of the community agency KindComms saying, “If your favourite artist is sharing their sobriety journey, it can be inspiring and make you feel less alone.” It can inspire more openness to conversation, making the topic of addiction less taboo.
Certified sobriety coach Christy Osbourne also shared insights to HELLO! About her personal experience moving away from alcohol. She began to understand the role alcohol played on her stress levels and instead of it relieving stress, it became the main source. She found tasks that used to feel overwhelmingly more doable.
If you are struggling with drug or alcohol dependency, you’re not alone. Recovery is real and help is just one decision away.
Call
800-914-7089
(
Sponsored)
today to find affordable treatment centers in your area.
More Stories Like This
Tiny Alaska Sober Homes Tackle Homelessness, Addiction
Some Alaska sober homes are getting unique makeovers thanks to an innovative approach led by the local government in Anchorage. A new project is underway to build tiny homes that can provide transitional living and addiction treatment services.
Visser Construction was selected to design and build these “micro-units.” They’ll be located in a lot that the Anchorage Police Department once used at the corner of Tudor and Elmore.
Meeting an Urgent Need
Mayor Suzanne LaFrance recognizes the need for recovery residences and housing for community members experiencing homelessness. This service is a way for Anchorage residents to come together and help one another.
The move is similar to another Alaska tiny homes project that was started at the nearby Central Lutheran Church called “In Our Backyard.” That program began in 2024 and provides tiny houses on the church property for seniors without homes.
A Combined Approach to Homelessness and Addiction
The municipality has been considering tiny home projects for close to a year. One of the requirements that distinguishes this project from others is that residents will be required to attend behavioral health and addiction rehab treatment programs to continue living in their units.
There are currently 24 units planned and the city hopes to build eight more. Officials said they plan to use the $1.2 million received by the city from opioid settlement funds to help cover the costs of building and operating the homes. Their focus is now on finding a unit operator as well as someone who can oversee the addiction treatment program.
Looking for housing when you’re already facing challenges like substance use disorder can make a difficult situation that much harder. These tiny homes are designed to help ease that burden. Ideally, these Alaska sober homes will serve as beacons of hope and help inspire similar movements around the state and across the country.
Rehabs.org lists affordable Alaska sober living programs as well as treatment centers in Alaska and nationwide. Use our directory to find a center near you or call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
today.
More Stories Like This
Carfentanil Surge in Arizona Sparks DEA Warning
A resurgence of the deadly drug, carfentanil, has Arizona DEA officials sounding the alarm. The synthetic opioid is 100 times stronger than fentanyl and the pills are also so small that they’re nearly impossible to see. This amplifies the risk of a potentially fatal drug overdose.
Parents on Alert
Many parents have had concerns about their children using fentanyl or being exposed by mistake. But with the resurgence of carfentanil on Arizona’s streets officials warn there’s now even more reason for parents to be concerned
They advise parents to be proactive and vigilant. Parents should have frank discussions with their children and teens about the life-threatening risks of new street drugs.
They’re also suggesting that adults and youth alike have immediate access to Narcan, the medicine that can be used to reverse an opioid overdose. Given the ubiquity of carfentanil and related opioids across Arizona, and particularly in major cities like Phoenix, community-wide access to Narcan may save untold numbers of lives.
One of the concerns is kids going back to school, where there is often peer pressure and the urge to try something new.
Stemming the Tide
DEA officials, law enforcement and community leaders across Arizona are sounding off on the surge of carfentanil pills flooding the state in recent weeks. According to reports, 70% of the one million pills seized in the past year in Arizona were found in the last month alone.
Why is the drug booming in this state? Part of the reason may be the proximity to the Mexico border. The border is the bridge between these illegal drugs and the United States.
DEA Agent Cheri Oz emphasized that this is not a time to start experimenting. The pill is so deadly that most people don’t have a chance to survive taking it, and she went on to state that we are likely to see a spike in overdoses because people are unaware of the dangers.
One of the major takeaways is that parents should have transparent conversations with their kids, especially now that school is starting. Keeping Narcan close by is a wise decision, and if an overdose occurs, always call 911 immediately. Children are naturally curious and adventurous, so parents must be the first line of defense against this deadly opioid.
Don’t let synthetic opioids rob you of your future. If you’re experiencing addiction, there is hope.
Call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
today or visit our Rehabs.org directory to find an affordable treatment center near you.
More Stories Like This
Powerful Sobriety Journey of Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne did not have an easy journey to sobriety. The rocker had quite a history of alcohol and substance abuse. It’s a history of addiction so severe that the late rocker himself once remarked that he “should have died 100 times.”
But at the end of Osbourne’s celebrated life friends and fans alike remember his story not as one of addiction and helplessness but of triumph and recovery.
Remembering an Icon
Osbourne, the rock legend, was laid to rest on July 31st. His funeral took place in Birmingham, England, his hometown. As fans gathered, the late singer’s past comments about death have resurfaced.
Ozzy’s son, Jack, produced the documentary God Bless Ozzy Osbourne, in which the notorious “Prince of Darkness” reflected on his career from his Birmingham beginnings to his successful post-Black Sabbath solo career.
In the documentary, Osbourne reminisced on his chaotic past, “I should have died 100 times and never did. If you want me to do something, tell me not to. I can’t remember the 80s at all. Never happened.”
The iconic Osbourne was infamous for his wicked live shows, offstage antics and electrifying stage presence.
Some of his most notorious moments and unpredictable behaviors, even in front of his adoring fans, were due to his alcohol and substance use, including a severe cocaine addiction.
A Long Journey To Sobriety
Across his decades-long career, Osbourne gained infamy as well as acclaim. In 1979 Osbourne was kicked out of the band he founded, Black Sabbath, reportedly due to his out of control drug and alcohol use.
In an interview conducted before his shocking death, Osbourne recalled consuming more than 28 gallons of alcohol to make it through the Christmas season.
But despite the severity of Osbourne’s long battle with addiction, drugs and alcohol were not the end of his story. After multiple attempts at treatment and recovery, Osbourne was finally able to achieve sobriety in the final decade of his life.
In his final years, he celebrated the release of his 2020 album, Ordinary Man, which Osbourne describes as the first album he ever co-wrote and recorded completely sober. It put to rest the nagging doubt in Osbourne’s mind that his musical talent might not have been his own but the product of the cocaine, marijuana and alcohol that had consumed his life for so long.
A Sad Goodbye
The rocker faced some unfortunate events, including an ATV crash in 2003 that nearly took his life and a domestic accident in 2019 that aggravated injuries from the prior crash. He had to cancel his No More Tours 2 UK and European performances.
Then Osbourne revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. After undergoing major spinal surgery, he had to cancel his 2023 touring plans.
There had already been multiple delays to the concert series from the Covid-19 outbreak, medical concerns, and organizational hurdles. In January 2020, Osbourne revealed in a Good Morning America interview that physicians had identified the brain disorder after a fall.
During the interview, he said, “I did my last show on New Year’s Eve at The Forum. Then I had a bad fall. I had to have surgery on my neck, which screwed all my nerves and I found out that I have a mild form.”
Parkinson’s can be difficult to discuss, and advocacy groups praised Osbourne for addressing his diagnosis so openly and helping others in “feeling less alone,” while facing obstacles presented by the condition. Cure Parkinson’s thanked Osbourne for “putting a spotlight” on the cause, while Parkinson’s UK applauded the rock icon for “normalizing tough conversations.”
Osbourne’s willingness to speak about both physical and mental health challenges helped bring attention to what many in the recovery community recognize as dual diagnosis. This is when substance use disorder coexists with other medical or mental health conditions.
Proceeds from the Black Sabbath reunion performance supported multiple Parkinson’s organizations, including Acorns Children’s Hospice, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, and Cure Parkinson’s.
CEO of Parkinson’s UK, Caroline Rassell, observed that “News of Ozzy Osbourne’s death, so soon after his celebratory homecoming show, will come as a shock to many. By speaking openly about both his diagnosis and life with Parkinson’s, Ozzy and his family helped so many families in the same situation.
They normalized tough conversations and made others feel less alone with a condition that’s on the rise and affecting more people every day. All of our heartfelt thoughts are with his family, friends, and fans worldwide.”
Ozzy’s death was announced last week in a statement by his family.
The statement read, “It is with more sadness than mere words can convey that we have to report that our beloved Ozzy Osbourne has passed away this morning. He was with his family and surrounded by love. We ask everyone to respect our family privacy at this time.”
Ozzy Osbourne’s iconic life and unlikely rise to rock legend status didn’t come without its share of troubles. Drugs and alcohol threatened not only to rob a family of the husband and father they loved but also to rob the world of music that would endure forever.
But addiction didn’t prevail in Osbourne’s life. It didn’t write the end of his story. And it doesn’t have to write the end of yours.
If you are struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, help is available and recovery is real.
Rehabs.org lists free and affordable treatment centers nationwide. Find help near you or call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
today to begin your own second act.
More Stories Like This
Inside Denver Recovery High School for Teens
At 5280 High School students get an unusual start to their day with a school wide recovery meeting. That’s because the students at the Colorado recovery high school all have substance abuse histories.
The director of recovery for the school, Keith Hayes, said that “When we’re talking about sobriety, we’re talking about all mind altering substances.”
Ending Lives Before They Begin
Due to the surge in lethal narcotics like fentanyl being mixed into street drugs, Hayes had a crucial warning for the gathered teens. “Here’s the thing…that line [of cocaine or other drugs] could be your last, permanently.”
Although there are only 43 recovery high schools nationwide and approximately 160 residential treatment programs, the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics states that 2.9 million kids in the U.S. between 12 and 17 need addiction treatment.
Meeting a Dire Need
At 5280, they’ve got 109 students for the 2024-2025 school year, making it one of the largest recovery high schools in the nation. Denver Public Schools and private donations fund the high school and it’s been operating since 2018.
Students can’t attend unless they’re fully committed to their sobriety and school statistics reveal that 70% of the students have been sober for a minimum of six months. Once the kids are stable, they begin focusing on their academics.
Hayes told Nightline that he has a team of recovery coaches, individuals experiencing sustained and long recoveries. The coaches handle individual case management with the students. “It’s [like] having a sponsor here at school on a day to day basis,” Hayes said.
Notably, Hayes himself is eight years sober from a 20 year active addiction to cocaine and alcohol.
“Our goal is to help kids get sober, stay sober, find purpose and passion in their recovery, while getting their high school diploma,” Hayes remarked.
One Success At a Time
Graduating seniors of 5280 High School include twins Clara and Ben Leoni.
Ben, who deals with dyslexia, told Nightline, “It’s amazing how much they’re doing for the community and people in recovery. But also it’s a school where it helps me kind of learn the way that I need to learn.”
Clara added that she appreciates the school’s support system. “If I’m struggling, I know I can go to my teachers or I can go to [my] classmates. So…you always feel like you can lean on somebody,”
Conor Schroeder, 18, in recovery from benzodiazepines, marijuana and alcohol, was one of several students followed closely by Nightline’s team throughout the school year. Conor is in his fifth year of high school and is a senior working to graduate. He told Nightline that he used to attend school solely to score drugs before he went to 5280.
“I got suspended for fighting multiple times…I had moved into sophomore year with a 0.014 GPA,” he said.
Growing up, Conor was surrounded by drugs. His father used their suburban Denver home to grow weed before it was legal there. His mother is now in recovery but she abused cocaine, alcohol and Xanax.
Conor said he was 8 the first time he got high. He said his drug use escalated when he was 12, and his friends called him “Popper” because, “I literally would, like, take unnamed pills…like I wouldn’t know what they were.”
He had subsequent run-ins with the police due to untold numbers of drug fueled benders and breaking into cars. In 2022, Conor reached out to his mom, who had maintained her sobriety for years by then.
He told his mom, “I don’t think I could do this anymore,” and she told him about 5280 High School.
Students at the school get help recovering credits so they can get their academics back on track. They’re giving Conor the opportunity to graduate this year. He celebrated two years of sobriety in October 2024. Only days later, his mother, Ceara McAllister, celebrated 5 years of recovery.
Ms. McAllister remarked to Nightline how special it was to be able to celebrate these milestones with her son.
Conor attends the “Full Circle” recovery group outside of school, and has applied for an internship because the group gave him a purpose he doesn’t think he could find anywhere else.
Another senior at 5280 High School, Lele Mayfield, 17, lost her mother when she was only 2 years old. She then lived with different family members but her alcohol and cannabis use escalated to addiction after her aunt died in 2023.
Lele told Nightline that she “got into a very, very depressive state after my auntie passed away…if I would’ve continued to do what I did [at] another school and didn’t go to 5280, I don’t think I would have been sober.”
Lele’s cousin has since become her legal guardian, taking her into her home and enrolling her in 5280 High School, where she’s been since October 2023. She recovered enough missing credits to graduate on time and in January, she celebrated one year of sobriety.
Morgan Hendrick, a 17 year old junior at 5280 High School, was introduced to crystal meth at a sleepover, she told Nightline. She was only 13 years old at the time and her life quickly spiraled out of control.
She told Nightline, “I was a meth addict who had hardly any ways of getting what I needed. So I got myself into a lot of trouble…I was selling nudes, you know. They leaked. I was actively getting blackmailed with my nudes while I was in school.”
Morgan’s parents ran out of affordable options in Texas after exhausting their finances to get her the help she needed, she said. They decided to move to Colorado, specifically so she could attend 5280 High School.
Keith told Morgan’s stepdad, “Just bring her, just get her here. We got her.” Morgan’s parents were relieved and hopeful, though scared. They moved to Colorado in 2022.
Morgan noted, “I’m eternally grateful to them for that.”
In December 2024, Morgan celebrated two years sober. She and Conor attend Full Circle meetings together, and she also hopes to work at 5280 High School at the end of the year when she finishes school.
On probation, facing jail time, and in recovery from alcohol, fentanyl, and crystal meth addiction, Anthony Montano, an 18 year old sophomore, came into the school year with a lot at stake. Additionally, his girlfriend gave birth to his first child, a boy.
Anthony ended up homeless in Denver at the tender age of 13, which is when his struggles began. He took the Nightline team to the bus stop where he used to sleep and shared that he would have “nowhere to go just walking up and down the streets. I had a bag full of clothes…I sat here for about maybe four or five days.”
Anthony’s mother had an alcohol addiction, and his father was in prison, leaving no one to take care of him. He fell in with someone who recruited him to join a gang, where he learned to sell dope to make money.
Anthony ended up with a meth addiction and wound up bouncing between arrests, with time in juvenile detention, and motels. He turned to fentanyl upon his mother’s passing in 2022. He overdosed immediately but was revived with Narcan.
He ended up in jail after stealing for the last time in December 2023, when he was 17. His older half brother, Tomas Salazar took control after that. Tomas took Anthony in. As part of his probation, Anthony enrolled in 5280.
His infant son suffered a near-fatal exposure to fentanyl when Anthony was seven months into the school year but has recovered. The child’s mother pleaded guilty to child abuse with bodily injury and awaits sentencing.
Anthony now has custody of his son and feels that if his son had died, he would have lost it. Despite his numerous setbacks, including one brief meth relapse, he celebrated five months of sobriety in April of 2025 and finished the school year. After receiving his diploma and his probation ends in November of 2025, he hopes to enlist in the Army.
Stories like those of the students at 5280 High School show that no one, no matter their age, is immune from the thralls of addiction. But they also show that recovery is real and that drugs and alcohol don’t have to rob our kids of the happy and healthy future they deserve.
If a young person in your life is struggling with addiction, call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
today.
More Stories Like This
U.S. Coast Guard Seizes $93M in Florida Cocaine Bust
The U.S. Coast Guard just announced a large Florida cocaine bust, intercepting nearly $93 million of the drug. $93 million in cocaine has been intercepted off the Florida coast. They say almost 12,600 pounds of the drug were offloaded after a patrol that targeted Florida drug trafficking routes lasted 59 days.
A Joint Effort
The cocaine seizure comes after the crew of the United States Coast Guard Cutter Resolute joined forces with the U.S. Department of Defense command to monitor and support the movements of illicit narcotics in the air and sea domains off the U.S. southern coast.
The Resolute spent weeks in the Eastern Pacific providing coverage across ocean spaces that equaled over one million square miles. It was eventually joined by other cutters to coordinate and broaden coverage for drug smuggling that spanned from Ecuador to the United States.
Unleashing the Power of Technology
The Coast Guard’s hard work paid off when officials intercepted a vessel from almost 70 nautical miles away. Law enforcement stopped the suspicious vessel and seized close to 5,000 pounds of concealed cocaine hidden in the cabin. One of the tools that makes this possible is the Over-the-Horizon Cutter Boat (OTH), which can intercept from long distances.
Although experiencing an OTH casualty, the crew still managed to work through the challenges. They collaborated quickly with a Coast Guard Air Station and officials at the Coast Guard’s Surface Forces Logistics Center in Elizabeth City. The replacement OTH was airlifted via a USCG HC-130J Super Hercules aircraft to Panama City, Panama, where The Resolute was waiting.
With a full complement of tools and technology at their disposal once again, The Resolute deployed to complete another interdiction mission at sea. The second interception led to over 3,700 pounds of cocaine.
Then, in less than 24 hours, they interdicted another go-fast vessel south of the Galapagos Islands. There they seized another 3,900 pounds of cocaine bound for the U.S.
The Resolute’s exploits are even more impressive considering it is a vessel that’s almost 60 years old.
The mission’s success illustrates how much can be accomplished when people work together to overcome challenges in accomplishing a single, critical mission: to take illicit drugs off American streets and end the cycle of addiction, crime and violence in our communities.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has also had a historic year, seizing approximately 201,500 pounds of cocaine, 65,000 pounds of methamphetamine, 44 million fentanyl pills, and 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder so far in 2025. There will always be threats, but these achievements bring hope for the future.
If you or someone you love is caught in the grasp of addiction, there is hope. The first step to freedom is just one decision away.
Use Rehabs.org’s list of affordable treatment centers to find help near you or call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
today.
More Stories Like This
Charlottesville Fentanyl Bust Nets 6,000 Pills
A quiet neighborhood in Charlottesville became the site of a major fentanyl bust this week. According to reports law enforcement seized thousands of fentanyl pills and a firearm. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin claimed that there was enough fentanyl in this drug bust to kill every Virginia resident “ten times over”.
A Quiet Neighborhood
The drug bust unfolded on Prospect Avenue in the city’s Fifeville neighborhood. According to Virginia State Police, the July 17th operation was part of a broader ongoing narcotics investigation led by the 3A Regional Task Force. Charlottesville police were not involved in the effort.
More than 6,000 containing fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid responsible for the vast majority of overdose deaths in the United States, were recovered during the search. Officers also confiscated a firearm, although no additional weapons or paraphernalia have been publicly reported.
Arrests Made Before Sale Could Take Place
Authorities arrested 23-year-old Jataviou Taymoze Turner-Jones on charges of attempted possession with intent to distribute narcotics. According to Virginia law this charge indicates the defendant allegedly tried to obtain a large quantity of drugs with plans to sell them. However in this case the suspect was intercepted before those plans could be carried out.
Turner-Jones is now being held at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail. No bond information or court date have been released at this time.
Fentanyl’s Growing Toll on Local Communities
This bust shines a spotlight on the escalating presence of fentanyl in smaller cities like Charlottesville, where synthetic opioids are increasingly linked to fatal overdoses. It’s a reminder that even quiet residential streets are not immune to the ripple effects of the nationwide opioid crisis.
If you or someone you love is struggling with opioid use, there are affordable and confidential treatment options available.
Rehabs.org lists free and low-cost rehab centers in Virginia and across the nation. Use our directory to find treatment near you or call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
today.
More Stories Like This
Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Sending Teens to ER
A new health threat has emerged. Cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, a serious cannabis vomiting disorder, is sending teens to the emergency room in record numbers according to reports. It’s a condition related to marijuana toxicity and it’s led to a more than 10 fold increase in ER visits among kids aged 21 and under.
A Surge in Cannabis ER Visits
Cannabis use is on the rise among teens and young adults in the US. And with it has come a surge in the number of cannabis related ER visits and hospitalizations in young people.
One particularly prevalent concern to ER physicians is a relatively little known condition called cannabis hyperemesis syndrome or CHS.
CHS has increased by 49% each year from 2016 to 2023 among kids 13 to 21 years old. The number of CHS related emergency room visits per one million persons soared from just over 160 in 2016 to nearly 2,000 in 2023.
Normalizing Cannabis
Part of the reason for this uptick in cannabis use among teens could be the ease of access combined with the normalization of the drug that accompanies nationwide legalization movements.
Cannabis is increasingly thought to be harmless and so persons of all ages are turning to the drug in record numbers. But we often forget that there are still significant risks associated with using these products.
Since cannabis use is climbing among adolescents, researchers are finding decreased academic success and more adverse events. Even edible cannabis, once assumed to be an especially innocuous means of cannabis consumption, has been shown to pose particular mental and physical health threats to include an elevated risk of early onset heart disease.
Understanding Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome
CHS isn’t commonly discussed or written about but it can cause frequent emergency room visits. So what is this syndrome?
CHS occurs when too much cannabis is ingested and patients experience nausea and vomiting so severe they require emergency medical care. What’s even more concerning is that care of the condition can be challenging, requiring clinicians to remain alert to the possibility of an underlying addiction when diagnosis and treating CHS.
More studies are needed to thoroughly understand both the short and long-term effects of cannabis use across the lifespan. These insights are essential to optimize patient care, support addiction prevention efforts and facilitate legislation that responses to grassroots legalization efforts while maintaining community safety.
Cannabis addiction doesn’t have to jeopardize your health or steal your future. Freedom from dependency is possible.
Use our list of free and low-cost drug rehab centers and addiction nonprofits to find affordable care near you or call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
today.
More Stories Like This
Backstreet Boys’ AJ McLean Talks Sobriety After Relapse
AJ McLean is opening up about his struggle with addiction and his return to sobriety following a recent relapse. But the pop star is undeterred. Despite the scary setback, the former Backstreet Boys star is committed not to let alcohol and drug addiction take over his life and steal his future.
AJ McLean Relapse
McLean explains in a series of recent interviews that he’s been in and out of rehab since the age of 22. But this isn’t an isolated incident. Many people have this same story. They go through many cycles of relapse and recovery before finally achieving lasting sobriety.
Overcoming Guilt and Shame
McLean also poignantly describes the guilt and shame he’s struggled with in the aftermath of his relapses. The current Building the Band host recalls coming home after a night of drinking in Las Vegas. “You don’t smell like my daddy,” his youngest daughter said.
AJ McLean says he felt “disgusted” with himself and decided to attempt rehab again. After 10 weeks of inpatient rehab he transitioned to an intensive outpatient program (IOP).
Over the course of his treatment the boy band icon learned he’s suffering from previously undiagnosed depression, anxiety and trauma disorders.
This requires McLean to receive specialized dual diagnosis care to address both the addiction and the mental health conditions which likely exacerbated his substance misuse and may have contributed to his relapses.
Coping With a Painful Loss
AJ McLean credits his sponsor with helping him return to sobriety and avoid another relapse. His sponsor’s support has been especially critical as McLean copes with the loss of his Building the Band co-star and fellow pop star, Liam Payne.
McLean explains that when he first learned of Payne’s shocking death he “dropped everything” and called his sponsor for support. Such devastating events can lead one back into the grips of addiction, and he understood this.
Other ways McLean is staying sober include self care such as working out at the gym, eating healthy, exercising and maintaining a good balance between family and work.
AJ McLean’s recovery story shows that sobriety is possible even in the aftermath of relapse. With the appropriate treatment, a strong support system and a healthy dose of self care you can build the healthy, happy and dependency-free life you and your loved ones deserve.
Rehabs.org lists free and low-cost drug rehab centers around the nation. If you need help finding treatment near you, call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
for immediate support.
More Stories Like This
DEA Drug Seizures in 2025 Hit Record High
In a recent press release, Attorney General Pamela Bondi touts the extraordinary efforts of the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). According to Bondi DEA drug seizures are responsible for taking thousands of pounds of addictive drugs off American streets since January 2025.
Disrupting the Cycle of Addiction, Violence
At their roots, the DEA’s drug interdictions are designed to protect Americans from drug related crime and violence. They’re also intended to reduce rates of addiction and overdose.
Since January 20, 2025, the DEA has seized a stunning amount of drugs that includes approximately 201,500 pounds of cocaine, 65,000 pounds of methamphetamine, 44 million fentanyl pills, and 4,500 pounds of fentanyl powder. Additionally, the DEA has made over 2,105 fentanyl related arrests.
US AG Bondi said, “Our DEA agents are doing historic work to keep our communities safe from deadly drugs like fentanyl and dismantle the cartels selling them.” She added, “I want to remind all Americans to exercise extreme caution: a pill can kill.”
Saving Lives, One DEA Drug Bust At a Time
The Acting Administrator of the DEA, Robert Murphy, remarked that the “DEA is hitting the cartels where it hurts – with arrests, with seizures, and with relentless pressure. From meth labs in California to fentanyl pills disguised as pharmaceuticals seized at our border, these operations are saving American lives every single day.”
Murphy emphasized, “We are not slowing down. We are dismantling these networks piece by piece – and we won’t stop until the last brick of their empire falls.”
The DEA has conducted numerous operations across the US over the last few weeks. These include:
Austin, Texas – the DEA coordinated with local and state partners, as well as the FBI, to seize 783 pounds of methamphetamine. The drugs were concealed in a refrigerator truck transporting blueberries.
El Paso, Texas – The DEA coordinated with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Border Patrol to seize 115 pounds of methamphetamine from a vehicle laden with drugs and equipped with a GPS tracker.
Fresno, California – Federal, state, and local agencies partnered with the DEA to seize 24 pounds of carfentanil. The pills were disguised to look like real prescription pills. This was the largest single seizure of carfentanil ever in Northern California.
Gainesville, Georgia – State and local agencies partnered with the DEA to intercept over 705 pounds of methamphetamine. The drugs were concealed in a truck full of cucumbers. Two traffickers were arrested in the drug bust.
Galveston, Texas – Coordinating closely with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the DEA helped discover more than 1,700 pounds of methamphetamine concealed in a vehicle. The drugs were worth over $15 million.
Kern County, California – The DEA, along with its local partners, arrested five traffickers and shut down a methamphetamine conversion lab. They seized 151 gallons of liquid meth and over 250 pounds of crystal meth.
Lexington County, South Carolina – The DEA coordinated with local and state partners to seize 44 pounds of methamphetamine, over 156 pounds of fentanyl, and a firearm. They arrested one trafficker.
Miami, Florida – The DEA and FBI coordinated to seize more than $10 million in cryptocurrency. The currency was linked to the Sinaloa cartel.
Minneapolis, Minnesota – There were 889 pounds of methamphetamine and one handgun seized by the DEA, along with federal and local partners. They arrested three traffickers.
Omaha, Nebraska – AR style pistols, machine gun conversion devices, and fentanyl pills were seized in a raid by the DEA and its local partners. The operation dismantled a multi state poly drug network.
Don’t find yourself on the wrong side of a DEA operation. If you’re struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, there is hope.
Find an affordable treatment center near you or call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
for immediate support.
More Stories Like This
Patricia Heaton Celebrates 7 Years of Sobriety
Beloved Everybody Loves Raymond star Patricia Heaton is celebrating seven years of sobriety and she wants the world to know. Heaton, who played Debra on the iconic sitcom, recently posted an Instagram video announcing her “soberversary.” In her post she also invites friends, family and fans to share their own stories of recovery.
Behind the Laughter
Sometimes when we read stories of famous people celebrating recovery, it becomes noise in the background of our minds. You might think it’s just another story about some spoiled and rich celebrity whose life is nothing like your own.
But when we look closer, we begin to see that behind every celebrity persona is just an ordinary person, a living, breathing human being with the same struggles as anyone else.
And nowhere is this more apparent than in Heaton’s powerful story of her own fight for sobriety. The acclaimed comedic actress looks back on her years being sober, as she sips her Arnold Palmer and recounts her struggle with alcohol addiction.
A Slow Descent
Like many people who struggle with alcohol dependency, Heaton’s drinking slowly increased over the years. It began innocently enough and soon became something she looked forward to after a day’s work.
She noticed during a trip to visit her sons that she was drinking more heavily, consuming multiple glasses of wine within a few hours at dinner. She recalls feeling “humiliated” when attempting to tell a joke at a table surrounded by her children and their friends.
Instead of regaling the crowd with her usual ELR, she fumbled her words and prompted her son to reply sarcastically, “Oh great, mom. You can’t even talk.”
This event was the wakeup call the actress needed to recognize her gradually worsening dependency and the need to get help.
Not only did she not want to appear drunk in front of family and friends but she was also concerned about how it would impact her long-term. She envisioned the possibility of future grandchildren and she wanted to be healthy and wholly present in mind, body and spirit when they arrived.
Finding Inspiration
Heaton found inspiration in her recovery journey in the memory of co-star Peter Boyle, who was sober before his passing in 2006. She recalls Boyle telling her that when he thought about drinking, he played the scenario all the way through to the inevitable end.
He described memorably how one drink leads to a second and then to a third until finally you’re in a position of dependency that you never want to be in again.
Heaton says she never forgot the story Boyle shared and that she’s drawn inspiration from it in her own fight for sobriety.
Now, after seven years in recovery, she’s asked fans to share their sober stories in the Instagram comments. That cohesive, inviting nature led many to comment with encouragement and positivity.
Heaton’s soberversary video shows how a simple story can shine a light of support for others and show what is possible for anyone who is willing to make changes.
Someday your recovery journey can be the light through another person’s darkness too. And that journey can begin today.
Find low-cost treatment centers in your area using Rehabs.org online directory or call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
today.
More Stories Like This
Teen Cannabis Use Tied to Suicide, Depression
New research draws a hard line between teens and cannabis. In teens, there appears to be a link to a higher risk for depression and suicide among teens who regularly use marijuana. And the numbers aren’t small.
Seeking Peace, Finding Poison
A CDC study of 16,000 teens shows most use cannabis to feel better. They’re looking for calm in an overwhelming world, and they think they’re getting it from cannabis.
Recent findings say the tradeoff is steep. Cannabis use during adolescence is tied to higher odds of depression and suicidal thoughts. For some users, there’s a tripled risk of suicide attempts in early adulthood.
The Impact of Legalization
Legalization may have shifted the stigma, but not the science. Cannabis skipped the FDA process and landed on shelves anyway. We’ve all heard the claims that it treats depression, but where are the trials?
As it turns out, there are no successful trials to provide evidence that cannabis does anything but complicate the state of mental health in teens. Even so, they’re turning to it as a fix and teens are the group most at risk for developing cannabis use disorder. Once weekly use starts, long term risks to mental health jump.
Experts aren’t mincing words. Some are calling cannabis a mental health hazard for teens until proven otherwise. Researchers are pushing for more oversight. They want screening and long term data on teen cannabis use, especially since high potency THC is everywhere now, from vapes to edibles.
If cannabis is in the mix, it’s time to ask more questions. For now, science says teen brains and cannabis don’t mix well. And that’s why screening for depression and potential cannabis addiction is essential for teens who are struggling.
If a young person in your life is exhibiting signs of depression or marijuana dependency, take action today. Rehabs.org can help you find treatment centers specially trained to meet the unique needs of adolescents and young adults.
Addiction and mental illness don’t have to rob our kids of their future. A better tomorrow can start today.
Call
800-914-7089
(Sponsored)
today.
More Stories Like This
Sponsored
