In the Spotlight

By William C. Moyers

William C. Moyers is the vice president of public affairs and community relations at Hazelden.
He is the author of the best-selling memoir, Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption

It’ll be a while before we know the “official cause” of Whitney Houston’s death. But based on what she openly shared about herself, as well as how others saw her in the final few days before she died, alcohol, other drugs, or a combination of both probably were involved.

I didn’t really follow her talented career, and I’m not much into the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Still, I relate to her struggles. I’ve been right there on the precipice of life or death under the influence of all sorts of substances. Fortunately I survived long enough and with enough chances to finally get clean and sober. Put another way, I am an alcoholic and a drug addict who doesn’t get drunk or high anymore. This requires hard work on my part to stay this way, day after day after day. The good news is that even the toughest days add up; I’ve been in long-term recovery continuously since 1994.

That doesn’t mean I’ve been completely drug-free any more than it suggests I’ve relapsed. In the past 18 years I’ve sought medical help for various ailments. Part of the healing process has always included medications, including those for pain. Not even addicts like me are tough enough to bite the bullet and revel in the hurt stone-cold sober.

Several of these medications, like hydrococone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Percocet), and codeine are narcotics. Some people can become addicted to them. To people in recovery, like me, they are the muse that beckons us back to the mirage of a promised land that was the personal hell we swore to escape. Other medications, like alprazolam (Xanax) can be used to manage anxiety and panic disorders. They too, can be habit-forming. And addicts in recovery are especially susceptible to their addictive effects.

That’s why the dentist and the doctor and the surgeons whose skills I’ve called in my sobriety all know my personal history of addiction, treatment, and recovery. I tell them. They keep careful tabs on my medications, restrict my supply (I’m rarely allowed more than a single refill), and remind me to always visit the same pharmacy. It is easier to fool a lot of pharmacists than one, even in this era of prescription monitoring systems designed to keep addicts from hopping around for a buzz. Most of the time my docs keep it simple and just order me to take two extra-strength aspirin, lie down, and call them tomorrow.

During these times I too must do my part to “stay in the middle of the bed,” as my mentor in recovery reminds me, and not fall off the side. Because addiction is an illness affecting the mind, the body and the spirit, this means taking care of all of me. So I eat right and exercise, stay connected to a power greater than myself, attend group meetings with other addicts and alcoholics in recovery, and remain vigilant to the persuasive, often subtle affects of these doctor-prescribed medications.

For people like me, this is an especially tricky era. Not only is America awash in pharmaceuticals, but we’re getting older. And that means health-related issues that could challenge our sobriety in ways that go beyond simply not drinking or taking the illegal drugs that got us in trouble a long time ago.

Whether she believed she was an addict or thought it was just her personal problems that needed fixing, Houston had sought professional treatment several times in recent years because of the consequences of excessive drinking and drugging. Only her closest friends and family know for sure if she, or they, ever took seriously the experts’ advice while she was under their care, and afterwards. But all the reports of her last days indicate that she was once again undoubtedly in the grips of alcohol and other drugs, like Xanax. She was 48 years old. Perhaps her greatest legacy won’t be that of a singer, but in how the end of her story holds a lesson for all of us too.

By Michael Smith, MD

What an amazing and exciting event in Homestead, FL! WebMD is thrilled to celebrate the 2^nd anniversary of Let’s Move with First Lady Michelle Obama (See Mrs. Obama’s video). The questions from the audience and WebMD’s nationwide audience were great and the answers from Mrs. Obama and the expert panelists were even better. Where do I start?

The event kicked off with a question for the First Lady regarding her favorite go-to healthy meals. She raised a great point – “I remind my kids that a lot of foods out there are healthy. A hamburger is not unhealthy if it’s on a whole wheat bun, grilled and not fried.”

So what about dessert? “Dessert is that ‘sometimes’ treat.” She limits dessert to the weekends and makes sure to have plenty of healthy snacks around, like fruit, trail mix, and air-popped popcorn. She encouraged families to keep it simple.

Now for what to eat before and after exercise: Jim Kauffman, YMCA fitness expert told the packed audience to eat some protein about an hour before a workout and avoid anything heavy. Mrs. Obama said her favorite snack before working out is peanut butter and apples. WebMD Director of Nutrition Kathleen Zelman noted that after working out is a good time to enjoy that glass of chocolate milk since research has shown it to be a great post-workout drink.

So how do you fit healthy foods into your grocery budget?  Dr. Hansa Bhargava, WebMD pediatrician, advised listeners to “eat at home; it’s much less expensive.” Before arriving at the white house, Mrs. Obama said that’s exactly what they did. “We decreased the number of times we went out. That meant I had to be way more organized.” She used to make enough for leftovers so one meal would last a couple of nights. “My kids liked being at home and liked sitting around the table.” Even at the White House, the Obamas sit down together and have dinner. “My girls aren’t as focused on gobbling down the food when they’re involved in conversation.”

Next, the battle of broccoli. What do you do when your kid doesn’t like veggies? “Be creative,” said Zelman. “I got my kids to love vegetables  by grilling or roasting them.” Dr. Bhargava noted that research shows your kids may need to try a vegetable eight or nine times before they like it. Mrs. Obama said she takes a tougher stance: “Sometimes, it’s just, eat your vegetables.”

How does the First Lady balance her work, family, exercise, stress, and sleep? By prioritizing what’s important and making sacrifices. “The secret is good diet and exercise. Sorry, it just is.” And she makes sure her two daughters know exercise is a priority. “I make sure my girls know mommy is tired … mommy doesn’t want to work out, but I do it.” Mrs. Obama had a great tip for motivating yourself. “When you come home from work, put on your workout clothes — not your pajamas.” Another tip is to work out first thing in the morning, as Mrs. Obama does, and get it out of the way. “You never know what your day is going to look like.”

How often does the First Lady work out? Every day! Of course, sometimes life gets in the way. She admitted she sometimes can’t work out when she travels, like today when she had to get down to Homestead for the WebMD Town Hall.

How do the Obamas compete with video games? “Just say no. Turn if off.” Dr. Bhargava shockingly noted that kids are spending 7.5 hours a day on media.

What about TV time? “We have strict rules,” Mrs. Obama said. They do not allow their girls to watch any TV during the week unless they “earn it.” They can earn up to an hour of TV time during the week and are allowed two hours on Friday and three hours on Saturday. She noted that the girls get bored and figure out something else to do.

What can we do to encourage our kids to get enough sleep? Unplug – 50% of our kids have TVs in their rooms; 40% of 4-year-olds. Unplug at least an hour before sleeping.

And finally … bedtime. “We still set bedtimes,” the First Lady said. “As they get older, they get more homework but there is a bedtime expectation and there is a goal to work towards that.”

By Michael W. Smith, MD

We’re in Homestead, FL at the WebMD Town Hall, waiting for the arrival of first lady Michelle Obama.

In honor of the second anniversary of the Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move initiative, WebMD has convened a panel of children’s health experts to answer questions from parents here in the Miami area as well as from questions posted by WebMD’s national audience.

WebMD is very excited about the opportunity to work with Let’s Move as we share a common goal of promoting a fit and healthy lifestyle for families to help combat childhood obesity.

Follow @WebMD and #webmdth on Twitter as we tweet live from the WebMD Town Hall.