Latest news with #SubstanceAbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Barry Keoghan reveals he's 'an addict': 'I'm not in denial anymore'
Barry Keoghan reveals he's 'an addict': 'I'm not in denial anymore' Barry Keoghan is sharing something deeply personal about his struggle with sobriety. The "Saltburn" star, 32, opened up about witnessing his mother's addiction and falling prey to drugs himself. In a May 1 interview with Hollywood Authentic, he recalled his mother's death from a heroin addiction when he was a child, and how her death affected his own "curiosity" about narcotics. "I'm not in denial anymore. I understand that I do have an addiction, and I am an addict," he told the outlet. "You know, when you accept that, you finally can move on, and learn to work with it." He added that his father's death under "similar" circumstances, other family members dying from drug overdoses, as well as his son Brando "coming into this world didn't stop me from being curious." Barry Keoghan says he's 'not an absent father' after parenting criticism: 'It sickens me' "That should be enough to go, 'OK, if I dabble here, I'm (screwed). But your curiosity is a powerful thing," he continued. "You go to LA, you go to Hollywood, wherever the big scene is. There's an enormous amount of pressure, and a different lifestyle that is good and bad for you." Keoghan showed the Hollywood Authentic interviewer marks on his arms from injuries while high, adding, "I've got scars here to literally prove it." The "Banshees of Inisherin" actor said his longtime driver, Niall, was the one who put him on a plane to a rehab facility in England. He said he's coming out of this low point in his life more "at peace," "present" and "responsible for everything that I do." "I'm getting to just see that haze that was once there – it's just a bit sharper now. I feel like I've arrived," Keoghan said, adding an apology. "Mainly to myself more than anything else for all the pain I've put people and myself through." The "Hurry Up Tomorrow" star was previously romantically linked to Sabrina Carpenter. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental and/or substance use disorders, you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's free and confidential treatment referral and information service at 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It's available 24/7 in English and Spanish (TTY: 1-800-487-4889).
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
U.S. Sees Dramatic Drop in Drug Deaths Amid Growing Funding Fears
For the first time in half a decade, drug overdose deaths in the United States saw a significant decline—falling to their lowest point since before the pandemic. But experts say this rare moment of progress may not last if federal support begins to unravel. According to new CDC estimates, roughly 80,400 people died from drug overdoses in 2024, down from over 110,000 the year before—a 27% drop. Deaths linked to synthetic opioids like fentanyl fell even more steeply, dropping 37%. Cocaine and meth-related fatalities also declined, marking the most promising trendline in years. So what's driving the change? The answer isn't clear-cut. Some researchers believe that local interventions and harm reduction programs are finally hitting their stride. Others credit changes in drug user behavior or point to increasing dissatisfaction with dangerous additives like xylazine, the powerful animal tranquilizer known as 'tranq.' Still, most agree on one thing: sustained momentum depends on continued funding. And that's where things get shaky. Cuts proposed to key federal programs, particularly those under the CDC and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), have sparked concern across public health circles. These programs fund everything from naloxone distribution and epidemiology to treatment infrastructure and community outreach. Without them, local health departments could lose critical personnel and resources. 'Overdose is still the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 44,' the CDC noted in a statement. 'Now is not the time to step back.' The decline in overdose deaths may be a turning point—but if budget cuts take hold, advocates fear the country could lose the fragile gains it has just started to make.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Indiana doctor accused in fentanyl, Oxycodone buyback scheme because of own addiction
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health or substance abuse problems, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for help. Anyone grieving the loss of someone to overdose can text 'mental' to 317-435-5281 to get connected with mental health resources. An Indiana doctor was arrested by Franklin police on accusations that he was dealing drugs to his patients. Dr. Derrick Lane Hasenour, 44, who has been a physician for 14 years, served as Chief Medical Officer at Windrose Health Network in Franklin. The Johnson County Prosecutor's Office has charged him with dealing a controlled substance by a practitioner, dealing in a schedule II controlled substance, and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit. At 11:45 a.m., on May 9, 2025, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Franklin Police detectives met with a confidential informant about alleged illegal activities. According to court records, the informant said Hasenour prescribed pain medication, including Fentanyl and Oxycodone. After the prescription was filled by a pharmacy, the doctor would then buy the medication from the patient. Related: Boy, 3, dies of methadone overdose in Indianapolis home. Grandfather figure arrested The informant said this happened about 50 times and reported other patients were a part of the same scheme. The doctor and the informant communicated through text messages, and there was a setup to meet that day, according to an affidavit for the doctor's arrest. The informant was told by Hasenour to fill a prescription for Oxycodone HCL 10 mg at the Greenwood Meijer Pharmacy, the affidavit states. Text messages revealed potential location meetups before settling on the parking lot of the Rural King in Greenwood. According to court records, the doctor offered the informant $150 to buy 30 of the 45 prescribed pills and texted the informant to "hurry" and "go fast." Around 2:35 p.m., the informant drove to the location, and undercover detectives followed, locating the doctor's 2024 Kia Sportage. Hasenour got out of the vehicle, walked up to the informant's driver's side window, and handed him a red notebook with an envelope inside. The informant handed over the drugs, and Hasenour pocketed them, according to the affidavit. He walked back to his car, but was stopped from exiting the parking lot by Franklin detectives. During a police interview, Hasenour told investigators he has an opioid addiction that had gone on for 8 months to a year after he got a herniated disc in his neck, investigators wrote in the affidavit. Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at and follow her on X, formerly Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana doctor accused of buying back drugs prescribed to patients
Indianapolis Star
14-05-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana doctor accused in fentanyl, Oxycodone buyback scheme because of own addiction
If you or a loved one is struggling with mental health or substance abuse problems, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for help. Anyone grieving the loss of someone to overdose can text 'mental' to 317-435-5281 to get connected with mental health resources. An Indiana doctor was arrested by Franklin police on accusations that he was dealing drugs to his patients. Dr. Derrick Lane Hasenour, 44, who has been a physician for 14 years, served as Chief Medical Officer at Windrose Health Network in Franklin. The Johnson County Prosecutor's Office has charged him with dealing a controlled substance by a practitioner, dealing in a schedule II controlled substance, and obtaining a controlled substance by fraud or deceit. At 11:45 a.m., on May 9, 2025, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Franklin Police detectives met with a confidential informant about alleged illegal activities. According to court records, the informant said Hasenour prescribed pain medication, including Fentanyl and Oxycodone. After the prescription was filled by a pharmacy, the doctor would then buy the medication from the patient. Related: Boy, 3, dies of methadone overdose in Indianapolis home. Grandfather figure arrested The informant said this happened about 50 times and reported other patients were a part of the same scheme. The doctor and the informant communicated through text messages, and there was a setup to meet that day, according to an affidavit for the doctor's arrest. The informant was told by Hasenour to fill a prescription for Oxycodone HCL 10 mg at the Greenwood Meijer Pharmacy, the affidavit states. Text messages revealed potential location meetups before settling on the parking lot of the Rural King in Greenwood. According to court records, the doctor offered the informant $150 to buy 30 of the 45 prescribed pills and texted the informant to "hurry" and "go fast." Around 2:35 p.m., the informant drove to the location, and undercover detectives followed, locating the doctor's 2024 Kia Sportage. Hasenour got out of the vehicle, walked up to the informant's driver's side window, and handed him a red notebook with an envelope inside. The informant handed over the drugs, and Hasenour pocketed them, according to the affidavit. He walked back to his car, but was stopped from exiting the parking lot by Franklin detectives. During a police interview, Hasenour told investigators he has an opioid addiction that had gone on for 8 months to a year after he got a herniated disc in his neck, investigators wrote in the affidavit.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion: With Washington Cutting Programs, States Must Step Up on Child Mental Health
The federal government recently announced a range of changes impacting agencies overseeing mental health programs and education. These include executive orders directing the dismantling of the Department of Education, the planned elimination of about 20,000 employees at the Department of Health and Human Services and the cancellation of $1 billion in school-based mental health grants. The White House is also eliminating the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, merging its responsibilities with other programs into a new proposed agency: the Administration for a Healthy America. The government's role in education and youth mental health has been vast, including managing programs, distributing funds, enforcing student civil rights and tracking data on student well-being. As states adapt to the new, shifting landscape, supporting youth mental health remains a vital and necessary investment, with young people from kindergarten through college and early career facing immense levels of anxiety, depression and suicide risk. States must now take the lead in addressing youth mental health needs. Some already exemplify the creative leadership needed at this moment. These include Pennsylvania, Oregon, Texas, Louisiana and Arizona, all of which participated in the Mental Health and Wellness Learning Community launched in 2023 by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association and The Jed Foundation. Related Their efforts highlight five state strategies for enhancing student mental health support through strategic collaboration across agencies: Mental health can no longer be relegated to a single agency or initiative. State governments and organizations with whom they work should treat it core to learning, development, academic success and career readiness for students and the future workforce. Pennsylvania demonstrates this through its PA Maslow framework, which considers mental health a basic need along with housing, transportation and digital access and brings together school systems, colleges and state agencies to coordinate services. In Oregon, a statewide mental health survey gathers data across schools and local communities. Arizona's Board of Regents has launched the Student Well-being Workgroup, which hosts listening sessions at colleges to hear directly from young people and inform statewide policies. Young people don't leave their mental health challenges behind when they graduate high school. Yet there is often a gap in services when transitioning to college or the workforce. Pennsylvania is working to close these gaps by integrating K-12 and postsecondary services. Similarly, Arizona's Healthy Tomorrow Initiative links health and wellness strategies with economic and workforce development goals by creating a seamless continuum from high school to higher ed and career. States can build cross-agency task forces to coordinate funding, staffing and crisis response, striving to ensure that students don't fall through the cracks simply because they change schools. To be effective, mental health care must be tailored to the needs, challenges and barriers experienced by each young person. Amid changing federal guidance, some colleges and universities struggle with how to sustain these efforts. States can encourage school leaders and policy advocates to implement a comprehensive approach to mental health for all students. This should focus on narrowing gaps in services and getting them to student populations that need them most. Arizona's multilingual counseling and Louisiana's rural telehealth expansion show it's possible to design inclusive, customized care, while ensuring all students are supported and welcomed. These efforts focus on meeting students where they are — with respect, understanding and effectiveness. Behavioral health workforce shortages are widespread, hindering staff recruitment and retention. States must invest in pipeline development: expanding degree programs, offering financial incentives and accelerating credentialing pathways. Arizona's Healthy Tomorrow Initiative addresses the state's critical shortage of health care professionals by establishing new medical schools and expanding existing programs. Pennsylvania's stipends for student-led college mental health initiatives are another promising model. While technology, such as telehealth, can help, it is no substitute for sustained human relationships. Investments must also include training for educators, school leaders and peer mentors, who often serve as the first line of support. As federal reporting requirements change, states will need to invest in data collection, track long-term outcomes and use findings to inform resource allocation. Texas links mental health investment to success metrics such as whether students remain in school and earn a degree. Pennsylvania audits school districts to identify barriers to care and implement targeted solutions for students. With the right data, states can demonstrate to the government and the public the return on investment in student mental health — and build the political will to maintain funding over time. States must engage with the federal government to identify the programs and funding streams vital to their economies, schools and workforces. However, certain functions must remain at the federal level, including oversight of congressionally approved funding to ensure states enforce civil rights guidelines, collect data, coordinate public health programs and support workforce development. Policymakers must be ready to effectively partner with HHS — or whatever other new federal structures are put in place — in order to support young people's well-being and readiness for the future economy. As federal departments face unprecedented change, states must not only respond, but lead. Youth mental health is among the most urgent issues facing America's education system — and is among the most solvable. This is a moment to act with clarity, courage and strategic precision. States have the opportunity to build a future in which youth are prepared to navigate mental health challenges, allowing them to thrive.
