Among the clamor over the ills of vaping and the genuine troubling issues it raises, often overlooked is the real concern that it’s another gateway drug feeding the addict’s brain and making their situation worse.

Thankfully, the recent public attention given to vaping is a much-needed step toward curbing the practice, particularly among vulnerable teens. Yet, it must be remembered that the allure doesn’t evaporate, and for countless users, the logical path is the black market.

By all accounts, back-alley-generated vaping products dominate the market and are assumed to be responsible in large part for the multiple illnesses linked to vaping, and most likely, the deaths as well.

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A changed man. The Hills star Jason Wahler reflected on his sobriety journey, from 2006 to now, and he’s come a long way. “I think the person I was when I was active in my addiction back in the day was a very lost, scared, confused individual to somebody today that has self-worth, passion, motivation,” he told In Touch exclusively. Now, the reality star describes himself as, “loving, caring, kind and somebody who loves giving back.”

The 32-year-old — who teamed up with Hilary Roberts and the Red Songbird Foundation to give away a $100,000 scholarship at The Beach House Treatment Center in support of trauma, mental health and substance abuse — has been candid about his addiction struggles in the past, and surprisingly enough, he doesn’t regret appearing on reality TV. “I think everything happens for a reason,” he explained. “Obviously, there was a whirlwind of everything that had happened. I went through that very public battle of addiction. I went through 14 different treatment centers — from Florida to Hawaii [and] every state in between. But what that has allotted me to do is it created a platform because, you know, I say all great change proceeds with chaos. I had to go through hell to experience the benefits of this.”

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If you don’t have a drink in your hand, someone at the wedding (whether that’s a server or another guest) is going to offer you one. So, if you’re being sober at a wedding, take it upon yourself, head to the bar, and get yourself a non-alcoholic drink.

“Play it safe and get yourself a drink when you arrive. Just having something in your hand will relieve much of the anxiety over being asked about not drinking,” says Emily Eckstein, PsyD, MFT of Beach House Treatment Center in Malibu, CA.

If you don’t want people to ask why you’re not drinking, just order a drink that could pass for a cocktail. “There are multiple options like apple juice, cranberry juice, and sparkling water that look to be a cocktail with a twist of lime and deter nosey wedding guests,” says Eckstein.

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Lost amidst the news of more opioid deaths and the ongoing legal troubles of Purdue Pharma is another terrifying side to the story. As a psychiatrist specializing in addiction, witnessing people fight the demons of opioid addiction is frightening, but even more so is the number of uneducated physicians who prescribe life-threatening medications–virtually without a second thought–to patients with a history of substance abuse. I know. I was one of those–one of countless practitioners who wished we had known better.

Yes, it was a different time and place. We practiced what had been taught. When I finished my psychiatric training in 1995, the world of addiction medicine and psychiatry was a much smaller universe. Yet to be fully understood were the million little pieces needed to put the puzzle of a patient’s history together to form a proper diagnosis and best course of treatment. Prescriptions were the panacea.

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It’s common to turn to a drink or two to loosen up and relax when out with friends, networking, or after a rough day at work. But despite feeling relaxed in the moment, did you know that for some people, drinking alcohol can actually lead to anxiety–or shall we call it “hangxiety”–the next day?

“People feel anxious after drinking because alcohol directly affects the brain’s neurotransmitters in causing one to initially experience calmness and euphoria,” says Mark Jaffe, a psychiatrist at The Beach House Treatment Center. “After one consumes alcohol, especially in large quantities, the opposite feeling occurs; people feel anxious, unwell, tired and depressed.”

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Forget rhubarb gin and #roseallday; in 2019, all the cool kids are sober.

Earlier this year, the New York Times wrote about “the new sobriety,” highlighting the waves of people ditching booze for the sake of their health — not because they have an issue with alcohol.

On the face of it, sobriety slots in neatly alongside other wellness trends, like meditation apps, reiki and eating raw foods for breakfast. People write books about it that aren’t “addiction memoirs” based on horror stories of blackouts and absconding from rehab. Sober Instagram influencers boast thousands of followers, including regular drinkers and the “sober curious.” Alcohol-free bars, like Listen Bar in NYC and Sans Bar in Texas, are popping up all over the place (and hipsters are hanging out there).

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Scott Lapollo runs up to a popular path encircling a reservoir at the edge of Boston and smiles at the sight of hordes of other runners doing laps.

Not long ago he was more likely to spend a cloudless Saturday like this one getting high on something other than sunshine and endorphins, he says. Now he’s working his way through the legal system and fighting his addiction to prescription drugs. Part of his recovery is running with fellow members of the Boston Bulldogs, a running group of men and women who are also contending with substance issues or have family or friends who are.

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A year ago, right after my 21st birthday party, my mom told me that she thought I might have a drinking problem. “I want you to be careful because it seems like most of your social life is focused around drinking,” she explained. During the party, my friends had given speeches and shared stories of me getting drunk.

At the time, I thought my mother was overreacting because getting drunk is so normal in my social circles. I never drank alone and sometimes went weeks without drinking, so I believed I was far off from having a problem. But I was actually binge drinking.

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At the juice bar getting loaded with vitamins — all part of a unique perspective on addiction treatment through healthy eating! Gourmet food and natural juices are highlighted in a forthcoming segment filmed at the exclusive Beach House Treatment Center in Malibu by health expert Lori Corbin for KABC-TV News. Participating in this fresh look at recovery are Beach House Founder and President Kimberly James (in red), KABC’s Lori Corbin (in print) and Laurie Dhue (in white), former FOX News anchor and sober living advocate.

Your trip home every day is a matter of life and death. You’re dodging other cars. You’re worrying about what to eat. You’re ducking your neighbor, the one with halitosis. When you finally shut your front door, a sense of calm prevails: You made it. You’re home.

But are you safe?

Shocking new research proves there are health dangers lurking in every house, with threats found in your dishwasher, shower, bedroom and more. In fact, there’s not a room untouched by scary substances that might make you sick. The Remedy asked the country’s top researchers for exactly what the issues are and how to solve each problem, so you can be happier, healthier, and safer–where it matters most.

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