Michigan leaders speak during Unite to Face Addiction rally at Capitol
Attendees lay flowers at 'Unite to Face Addiction' rally at the Michigan Capitol Building on May 14, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols
Addiction is a disease that impacts all Michiganders, from the Capitol to local communities, State Sen. Joseph Bellino (R-Monroe) told a large crowd outside the State Capitol Building Wednesday during the annual Unite to Face Addiction rally.
Bellino has been vocal about his struggles with addiction prior to his time in the Legislature, telling attendees there is a lot of shame in addiction and making mistakes because addiction, but there is pride in recovery.
'This is my favorite day of the year, when addicts outnumber assholes in Lansing,' Bellino said.
In Bellino's first year as a lawmaker, he told the crowd that he befriended another legislator, a Democrat, and the pair would go to recovery meetings together, staying sober together. But the other state representative ultimately lost their fight with addiction, killing themselves in 2017.
About 17% of Americans aged 12 or older have experienced a substance abuse disorder, according to the 2023 report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. In Michigan, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, or MDHHS, reported in 2024 that through efforts to provide harm reduction resources and recovery opportunities, Michigan's overdose death rate declined five times faster than the national average.
Attendees listened to live music, laid flowers on the Capitol steps in honor of those who have experienced addiction and heard speakers advocate for hope in recovery.
The fight against addiction is a statewide fight, Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson, a Democratic candidate for governor, told the crowd and there needs to be belief in recovery, that generations of addiction can be broken if communities work together.
That's the soul of the IGNITE program in the Flint area, Swanson said. IGNITE, which stands for Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education is a program in correctional facilities across the country that Swanson created to offer educational opportunities to those who've interacted with the justice system to have opportunities in the workforce. This week, Genesee County saw its 100th GED earned through the program since it launched in 2020.
'Keep fighting, fighting for the people, giving hope to people, believing in people, that's what's going to free people… not one person… on this stage, not one person on this lawn has not been touched by the disease of addiction and you are the one that needs to stand in the gap. So if you do your part, I do my part. We do our part, we will save lives every single day,' Swanson said.
Sobriety is an everyday commitment for many who've experienced addiction and not enough attention is paid to the level of grit and hope that's required to take on the challenge of overcoming addiction, Chris Nixon, an addiction medicine specialist at Henry Ford Health told the crowd.
Reflecting the journey of his wife, who has been clean from opioid addiction for eight years and the loss of his father and brother to addiction, Nixon said there is honor in fighting against addiction.
Relapse is not defeat in addiction, Nixon said, perfection is not required, only a willingness to reset and start again. At a gathering of addicts and supporters like the Unite to Face Addiction rally, Nixon said there's likely attendees that have relapsed within the last 48 hours, but their decision to attend a rally where several recovery organizations are offering contact info and advocates are ready to support is a testament to their commitment to strive towards sobriety again.
SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Attendees lay flowers at 'Unite to Face Addiction' rally at the Michigan Capitol Building on May 14, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols
Chris Nixon, director of addiction medicine at Henry Ford Health Maplegrove Center speaks at 'Unite to Face Addiction' rally at the Michigan Capitol Building on May 14, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols
Genesee County Chris Swanson (right) speaks at 'Unite to Face Addiction' rally at the Michigan Capitol Building on May 14, 2025. | Photo: Anna Liz Nichols
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Chicago trans and LGBTQ+ community take to streets to protest gender-affirming care ban
CHICAGO - Jey McCreight underwent hormone replacement therapy and top surgery in their mid-30s to transition into a transmasculine person. They said the medical treatment helped them "live life to the fullest." "It was like my depression was magically cured after struggling with it my entire life - going to therapy, being on other medications," they said. "Gender-affirming care is what made me happy." When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for minors on Wednesday, McCreight said they were unsurprised, but sad and angry nonetheless. McCreight, 37, joined about 200 others who braved the Saturday afternoon heat to protest the court's decision in U.S. v. Skrmetti. Demonstrators started the 12:30 p.m. rally in Federal Plaza in the Loop to the tunes of Chappell Roan's "Pink Pony Club" and Nipsey Hussle's "FDT" from loudspeakers. Under the blistering sun, protesters demanded equal rights for trans and gender-nonconforming people. They pointed to the importance of gender-affirming care in helping trans youth who face higher rates of mental health issues, including depression and suicide. "We need to show up for our youth," said Asher McMaher, executive director of Trans Up Front Illinois and one of the protest's organizers. "Because they deserve to be the incredible human beings that they're meant to be, and we need every single one of them to grow up." Advocates blasted the court's decision in the Skrmetti case, where families and a doctor challenged Tennessee's ban on puberty blockers and hormones to help minors transition. They argued the law deprived them of their constitutional right to equal protection under the law, but the state contended it was necessary to protect children. For Keerthi Nan, a trans Chicago schoolteacher, the decision "further dehumanized" young trans and gender-diverse people. "It sucks to be a trans adult right now," Nan told the crowd. "But it is so much harder, so much scarier, to be a trans kid, a trans adolescent in this moment." Nan added that though Illinois and Chicago appear to be safe places for trans youth, they still hear Chicago Public School students calling their peers slurs for gay and trans people. They called on protesters to raise continued attention for trans rights. "Show up to the school board meeting," she said. "Show up when people aren't watching. Fight like our students' futures depend on it because they do." State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Democrat and the only openly lesbian member of the Illinois House, also called for more action from the broader LGBTQ+ community. She said not only were trans rights and abortion rights at risk - other liberties for LGBTQ+ people could also be in danger. "You don't get to take your wedding cake and go home, boys," Kelly said. "They are not just coming for trans kids." At the rally, the parents of trans children stressed the importance of accepting their kids for their identities. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who has two children who have received gender-affirming care, said letting his kids lead their treatment in consultation with medical professionals wasn't "hard" nor "emotionally complicated." "At no moment in that process did it make a bit of sense for a politician to insert themselves," he said. After speeches from trans and LGBTQ+ rights' advocates and local politicians, protesters marched for about a half hour, circling downtown, from Dearborn Street to Michigan Avenue and Adams Street to Washington Street. The crowd chanted slogans including "Health care is a human right" and "Trans rights are human rights" for about half an hour as it moved. Onlookers on the sidewalks stopped to cheer, clap and record the march. McCreight said they felt "reinvigorated" by the event. "You're seeing your rights being stripped away and wondering, 'Am I going to lose access to my health care next as an adult, the thing that I know has literally saved my life?'" they said. "But I come out here and I know that people aren't going to give up, and honestly, I feel like we're going to eventually win." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Buzz Feed
6 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Foods And Drinks That Cause Constipation
Constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint, affecting millions of Americans of all ages. Prevalent as it may be, it's an unpleasant issue that you'd probably prefer to avoid. And what you eat can either help or hinder things in the poop department. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, you're typically considered constipated when you're passing 'small amounts of hard, dry stool, usually fewer than three times a week.' But when it comes to poop frequency, the normal range is pretty wide: anywhere from three times a day to three times a week. So consider what's a deviation from your usual pattern. Constipation is about more than just frequency of bowel movements, though. Other symptoms include pain or difficulty pooping, feeling like you haven't fully emptied your bowels, bloating, sluggishness and stomach discomfort. Most people deal with short-term constipation at one point or another. Chronic constipation, however, is an ongoing issue that can negatively affect your quality of life and lead to complications, like hemorrhoids or fecal impaction, if left untreated. You may become constipated due to dehydration, lack of exercise, changes to your routine (such as travel), stress, certain medications and health conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome. But below, we'll focus on some of the ways your diet could be contributing to your constipation woes. The main takeaway: Foods that are high in fat but low in fiber tend to be the worst offenders. No one specific food or drink is likely to cause constipation on its own for most individuals — however, your daily eating habits can worsen an existing issue, according to Medical News Today. We asked experts — including gastro doctors and dietitians — to explain which foods and drinks you might want to consider cutting back on when you're backed up and why. 'Refined grains like white bread, white pasta and white rice are known to be binding and can contribute to constipation,' registered dietitian Stefani Sassos, nutrition and fitness director for the Good Housekeeping Institute, told HuffPost. 'This is due to the fact that they are lower in fiber than whole grains.' Baked goods such as pastries, cookies and cakes, as well as crackers and flour tortillas fall under this umbrella, as well. With refined grains, the fiber our bodies need to facilitate digestion is stripped away during the milling process. 'Fiber promotes regularity by helping food move through your digestive system,' gastroenterologist Dr. Supriya Rao previously told HuffPost. 'This is because fiber absorbs water and bulks up stools, making them easier to pass.' Dairy products like cheese tend to be high in fat, yet low in fiber, which can make constipation worse, gastroenterologist Dr. Rabia A. De Latour told HuffPost. For those with a lactose intolerance, consuming dairy products typically leads to diarrhea and gas. But according to a 2022 literature review, about 30% of lactose-intolerant individuals experience constipation after eating dairy. Red meat, such as beef and pork, these kinds It is also rich in protein, the most satiating macronutrient. This means you might feel full after eating that steak or burger, making you less likely to reach for high-fiber foods like fruits and veggies. Fried foods French fries, fried chicken, mozzarella sticks and other fried fare can make you more backed up. 'Fried, greasy foods are very high in fat and can be hard for the body to digest, contributing to constipation,' Sassos explained. 'Plus, they often are void of fiber.' For other folks, these kinds of foods may lead to more urgent and looser stools — it really depends on the individual and the other components of their diet. Booze is another one that causes different GI symptoms for different people. For many individuals, a night of drinking leads to soft stool or diarrhea. In other cases, it can have a constipating effect. If you're backed up, Dr. Kenneth Josovitz — a Virginia gastroenterologist with Gastro Health — recommends avoiding alcohol, 'which can cause dehydration and worsen constipation.' So why does alcohol have this effect? Alcohol suppresses the release of vasopressin, a hormone which helps your body hold onto fluids by telling the kidneys to reabsorb water, rather than excrete it. 'That [suppression] is why people will pee more when they drink,' gastroenterologist Dr. Sunana Sohi previously told HuffPost. 'The alcohol is making them pee out all the water in their body, and so they get dehydrated and then constipated because of it.' In addition to cutting back on the aforementioned foods and drinks, try to incorporate more high-fiber foods into your diet to help you stay regular. Women should aim to consume at least 25 grams of fiber a day, De LaTour said. For men, that number is about 38 grams per day. Sassos recommends foods like raspberries, apples and pears with the skin on, lentils, beans, broccoli, leafy greens and nuts. Prunes, known for their laxative properties, can also be a good at-home remedy to try, she said. 'If you're not used to eating prunes and fiber-rich foods, start with one to two prunes per day,' Sassos said. 'You can work your way up to five or six as tolerated. Prune juice can be effective too, especially warm prune juice since warm liquids in general can speed up digestive motility.' When increasing your fiber intake, go about it slowly and be sure to drink enough water, she advised. 'We need adequate hydration to help fiber digest properly in the body,' Sassos said. 'If you don't drink enough water, high-fiber foods may actually constipate you even more.' To ease constipation, you can also try drinking a cup of tea as 'the hot temperature speeds up the motility and the caffeine stimulates the bowels,' Josovitz suggested. Reducing stress and exercising can help get things moving as well, he added. Sassos also emphasized the importance of physical activity in keeping you regular. 'Even a short 10-to 15-minute walk after a meal can help,' she said. The occasional bout of constipation typically resolves on its own with minor lifestyle adjustments. But in other cases, constipation may warrant a visit to your doctor — especially if it's coupled with significant abdominal pain. 'You should seek medical attention if the constipation is new, severe, lasts more than a few weeks, or comes with bleeding, weight loss or weakness,' Josovitz advised.
Newsweek
16 hours ago
- Newsweek
The Key to Better Sleep Is in Your Gut, Says Gastroenterologist
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Around 25 million U.S. adults suffer from insomnia. At the same time, more than 3.9 million Americans are taking probiotics, usually for gut health, according to the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA). And gut health could be the key to better sleep. A study published in the journal Engineering examined a specific probiotic strain called Lactobacillus helveticus CCFM1320. This probiotic produces a compound known as SAM (S-adenosylmethionine), which helps regulate the body's internal clock and supports the production of melatonin, a hormone that promotes sleep. The researchers found that this probiotic could significantly improve sleep quality. The Gut as a Second Brain Neuroscientist Dr. Chelsie Rohrscheib, the head of sleep at Wesper, a national home sleep disorder diagnostics company, told Newsweek: "The gut essentially acts as a secondary nervous system and creates and releases many crucial neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, which also help to regulate nervous system activity. "This allows for two-way communication between the gut and the brain, called the gut-brain axis. Healthy gut microbes are essential to keeping the gut healthy and functioning, and there is ample evidence that gut microbiota dysregulation can negatively impact the activity of the gut-brain axis. Because the brain is highly sensitive, this can lead to poor sleep quality." Stock image of a woman taking pills from her nightstand before bed. Stock image of a woman taking pills from her nightstand before bed. Liudmila Chernetska/iStock / Getty Images Plus Is CCFM1320 a Game-Changing Strain? To test the effectiveness of CCFM1320 in humans, scientists from Jiangnan University conducted a four-week study with 60 volunteers who experienced sleep difficulties. Participants were divided into two groups: one received the probiotic, while the other took a placebo. Results showed that those who consumed the probiotic had better sleep scores, lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and a healthier balance of gut bacteria. Additionally, the probiotic boosted the expression of genes involved in producing and utilizing SAM, a key factor in sleep and overall health. Strain-Specific Benefits Dr. Michel Bass, a board-certified gastroenterologist and the Founding Medical Director at Oshi Health in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, emphasized the importance of strain specificity: "Not all probiotics are created equal. This study identified CCFM1320 as uniquely beneficial for sleep quality. This isn't a generic 'take-any-probiotic' situation—it's about strain-level specificity," Bass told Newsweek. "That's where a lot of public messaging needs to evolve. Just like different medications target different conditions, different strains do different things. And this one appears to enhance melatonin synthesis via SAM methylation—a novel pathway." Probiotic Supplements vs. Fermented Foods Stock image of an assortment of fresh vegetables and meats. Stock image of an assortment of fresh vegetables and meats. esilzengin/iStock / Getty Images Plus While fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, and kefir are beneficial for general gut health, Bass explained that they may not provide targeted probiotic strains at therapeutic levels. "If someone wants to improve things like sleep quality or reduce stress hormones like cortisol, a strong, well-researched supplement—especially one with proven strains like CCFM1320—is usually more effective," he said. "That said, eating fermented foods is still a great daily habit and can complement targeted probiotic supplements." Jason Eastty, owner of Healthspan Longevity in Westborough, Massachusetts, and a nutrition specialist, added that overall good nutrition can combat poor sleep. "Having a nutrient deficiency—like low iron, magnesium, or vitamin D—can throw off your gut microbial balance, leading to poor sleep. Clinical trials have shown that correcting these deficiencies helps microbial diversity and improves sleep efficiency," Eastty said. He also emphasized that a whole-foods diet rich in fiber—from fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, and whole grains—is essential to feeding the "good" bacteria in your gut.
