🎬Sober Scoop Thursday: Yellowstone Star Wes Bentley, Teen Mental Health in Crisis, and Opioid Addiction Treatment Rates Stagnant in US!

Good Morning! We're the DailyFix, and it's time for another installment of Sober Scoop Thursday, where we serve up the freshest and most fabulously sober news you can handle!

Here’s what's in store for you today:

• 📰 Yellowstone Star Wes Bentley Reveals How Heath Ledger Urged Him to Get Sober Amidst Addiction and $400K Debt

• 📰 Teen Mental Health in Crisis: CDC Reports Rise in Suicidal Thoughts and Risky Behaviors

• 📰 Opioid Addiction Treatment Rates Stagnant in US Despite Policy Changes
  

🎯 Yellowstone Star Wes Bentley Reveals How Heath Ledger Urged Him to Get Sober Amidst Addiction and $400K Debt

It turns out that even famous actors can have some tough times, just like the rest of us. Wes Bentley, who you might know from the show Yellowstone or the movie American Beauty, recently opened up about his struggles with addiction. He said that he got really into drugs and partying, and ended up with a whole lot of debt and no car, clothes, or money.

Wes's friend Heath Ledger, who was also an actor, tried to help him get sober, but Wes wasn't ready to listen at the time. Unfortunately, Heath passed away before Wes was able to turn his life around. Wes said that he feels bad for not being able to show Heath how much he loved him when he was still alive.

But the good news is that Wes has been clean for more than 10 years now, and he's doing well. He's married and has two kids, and he's still acting. He said that he thinks about Heath a lot and wishes he could have shown him more love when he was still around. So remember, kids, it's important to show the people you love how much you care about them, even when things are tough.

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🎯 Teen Mental Health in Crisis: CDC Reports Rise in Suicidal Thoughts and Risky Behaviors

Do you want to know some not-so-fun news? A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that many American teens are facing mental health problems. Teen girls in particular are experiencing more suicidal thoughts and suicide planning and attempts, while LGBTQ+ students and minorities are also struggling. This is all because of the COVID-19 pandemic and social media, which can make kids feel sad or worried. But, it's not all doom and gloom! Parents who stay involved in their kids' lives can help them avoid these problems, and schools can create a safe and supportive environment that makes teens feel connected to others. And there's some good news too – substance use among high school students has dropped, although the use of e-cigarettes containing marijuana has gone up. So, while the world might be a little different than before, by sticking together and supporting each other, we can make it through!

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🎯 Opioid Addiction Treatment Rates Stagnant in US Despite Policy Changes

Did you know that the opioid crisis has been going on for quite some time now in the U.S.? That's right, and unfortunately, a recent study found out that rates of medication use for opioid addiction treatment have been stagnant despite changes in policies that make it easier to get help. Researchers from the University of Michigan and Boston University used national prescription dispensing data to study medication trends, and they found out that the numbers of Americans who started buprenorphine were flat between 2019 and 2022. Those who stayed on the medication for at least six months hovered around 20% from 2016 to 2022. Staying on the medication for longer is associated with reduced risk of opioid overdose death.

Changes in policies that could have increased buprenorphine use, like seeing patients via telehealth and not requiring an eight-hour federal education requirement to issue the medication, didn't seem to have much effect. Even if prescribers can now prescribe buprenorphine without needing special approval from the federal government, it might not be enough to overcome other barriers like stigma about the drug among clinicians, patients, and pharmacists. It's like trying to solve a puzzle that just won't fit, huh?

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