All 2021 News (California and National)
12/22/21 Idaho Man Pleads Guilty In Murder of His Roommate At A Sober House (ID)
12/21/21 Wausau police: Man tried to burn down 2 houses on same day (WI)
12/21/21 UPDATE: Wausau fugitive captured in Rothschild accused of setting fire to sober living home (WI)
12/19/21 Man found hiding under bed during Trappe burglary gets probation, community service (MD)
12/19/21 Unnecessary death? Mother pushes for answers after son dies in Portland recovery housing (OR)
12/16/21 Four Men Arrested in Alleged Sober Living Kickback Scheme
12/16/21 Department of Justice: Orange County is now nation’s center for addiction fraud
12/16/21 California Man Convicted of Federal Violations in Health Care Kickback Scheme
12/13/21 Unseen Part 5: Sex traffickers prey on drug addicted young men (CT)
12/13/21 As deaths pile up, lawmaker tells addiction rehab regulators blood “on your hands”
12/11/21 Defendant convicted in fatal stabbing of Westminsters man behind a Santa Ana store in 2016
Occupant of “sober living" home killed man with whom he was smoking meth.
12/10/21 Addiction treatment center hearing could turn emotional, confrontational
12/10/21 Larimer County adds 5 active COVID-19 outbreaks at health care facilities, Bible camp (CO)
12/9/21 State hearing will focus on why little has changed in drug rehab industry
12/8/21 Biden’s drug overdose strategy pushes treatment for some, prison for others
12/8/21 PART 1: Questions about Pa. Recovery Houses Arise After Overdose Death in Munhall (PA)
12/7/21 Medical Director of Long Beach Addiction Clinic Sentenced in Fraud Case
12/1/21 Addiction rehab CEO, indicted on federal charges, died with fentanyl in his system
11/30/21 Two San Antonians Sentenced to Prison for Health Care Fraud Schemes (TX, CA)
11/25/21 Sober home owner Kenneth Bailynson pleads guilty in $31.3 million health care fraud scheme (FL)
11/25/21 Woman sues famed Las Vegas rehab boss claiming he raped her… says that he still uses drugs despite his job (NV)
11/19/21 United States: Federal Authorities Have Their Eyes on Sober Living Home Operator and Marketers, Especially in Orange County
11/19/21 Discovery House adding carriage house to Edna Street property
11/18/21 PART 2: Questions about Recovery Houses In Pennsylcania Arise After Overdose Death in Munhall (PA)
11/17/21 Addiction doctor admits to writing illegal scrip (VT)
11/16/21 Holzmann: The Fatal Cost of Inaction
11/15/21 South Ogden man ordered into mental health courses for child kidnapping (UT)
11/12/21 Quincy Woman Arrested, Arraigned for Scheme to Bill Public and Private Insurance for Behavioral Health Services Not Provided (MA)
11/4/21 State audit orders Cleveland addiction treatment center to repay $145,000 (OH)
11/4/21 South Florida Brothers Who Ran Detox Facilities Convicted in $112M Fraud Scheme (FL)
11/3/21 Newport Beach forms ad hoc committee on residential care facilities
11/2/21 Biden Admin Signals Shift to Harm Reduction
11/1/21 Rewarding recovery: how California will pay addicts to give up drugs
10/31/21 Local faith-based recovery center shut down due to safety issues
10/29/21 Two Sentenced for Embezzling over $777,000 from Native American Addiction & Counseling Center (WI)
10/28/21 NJ suspends license of doctor who admitted sexual misconduct with patient, state announces (NJ)
10/28/21 Sacramento sobering center served 457 people in its first year. Most were homeless.
10/26/21 Authorities ID 3 victims found dead in Balboa Island rental home as investigation continues
10/25/21 3 dead at Balboa Island home; illegal drugs suspected’
10/25/21 Pa. is on the brink of regulating recovery homes for the first time. (PA)
10/21/21 A murder on Virginia Street; Neighbors: Group homes adding to risk of violence (MA)
10/17/21 West Virginia lawmakers learn about Parkersburg residential addiction recovery moratorium (WV)
10/12/21 New drug rehab rules call for honest advertising, insurance and naloxone. (CA)
10/11/21 Newport Beach homeowner who shot intruder cleared by Orange County DA
10/10/21 “My life was saved by YSS”: Leaders hope $13 million campus makes Iowa a destination for youth recovery (IA)
10/6/21 Agents investigate California Palms
10/5/21 They preyed on locals searching for addiction recovery help, prosecutors say (MA)
10/5/21 Sober Living Home Returns as Issue in Lakeside Park Meeting (KY)
10/2/21 Addiction Recovery: Too Close to Home in Paradise (AZ)
10/1/21 Detox shooting in Santa Ana Heights has neighbors begging for help (CA)
9/30/21 DOJ announces charges in $1.4 billion healthcare fraud sweep
9/29/21 Fire destroys McMinnville recovery house, displacing 12 (OR) (Oxford House)
9/29/21 New records reveal the cost of Pa.’s failure to clarify rules around addiction treatment and marijuana (PA)
9/28/21 Nashua woman sentenced for selling drugs that led to overdose death (NH)
9/27/21 A leading addiction recovery reformer in Philly was on the payroll of a rehab center now charged with crimes (PA)
9/27/21 Sober living home bursts into flames, fire spreads to grass (CA)
9/26/21 Fire destroys sober living facility in neighborhood off Sharp Road (LA)
9/17/21 Addiction treatment reforms land on governor’s desk
9/15/21 Lakeside Park residents Protest Third Sober-Living Home in City
9/15/21 Sober home files lawsuit against Manchester to continue to operate (NH)
9/13/21 Legislature continues to look at ways to address issues with recovery residences (WV)
9/10/21 Legal win for Costa Mesa zoning rule could mean changes for sober living industry (CA)
9/10/21 Denver man pleads guilty to killing, dismembering man found in 2 suitcases. (CO)
9/9/21 Fire Department battles large fire near Highway 165 and Highway 80 (LA)
9/7/21 Are You Sober If You’re on Suboxone? I Wasn’t. I Was Snorting Suboxone.
9/3/21 Resident who broke rules, didn’t pay rent can be evicted from Manchester sober home, says Supreme Court (NH)
Resident abused prescription medication could not legally be considered a tenant.
Had signed a contract saying he had no tenant rights.
NH law specfically exempts group homes from landlord-tenant laws.
9/2/21 Ex-President and CEO of Long Beach Substance Abuse Treatment Provider Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Health Care Fraud
9/1/21 Pharmacy Operators, Patient Recruiter Charged in a Nearly $800,000 Illegal Opioid Distribution Conspiracy
9/1/21 Laboratory Owner Pleads Guilty to $73 Million Medicare Kickback Scheme (FL)
8/29/21 Meadow Lake lawsuit against addiction ecover center continues (MS)
8/26/21 California looking to pay drug addicts to stay sober
8/25/21 Sober home failed to protect employees, residents from COVID-19, feds say (NJ)
8/23/21 Family opening 13-acre sober-living farm in Warren County (OH)
8/17/21 Addiction rehab CEO, indicted on federal conspiracy charges, dead at 51
Former anesthesiologist whose license was revoked for abusing narcotics, discussed the
monetary value of 19 people and kickbacks. Paid cash. Cause of death unknown.
8/13/21 Identifying Maintenance Doses of Opioids, When They Pose Problems for Patients with History
of Opioid Abuse
"…how pharmacists can respond to the identification of potentially problematic opioid
prescription practices at sober-living facilities."
8/12/21 New legislation to impose stricter rules for Tennessee sober living homes (TN)
NARR convincing TN to adopt the same inadequate standards it tried to get CA to adopt.
8/11/21 Feds: Mass. sober home operator sexually harassed female tenants (MA)
8/11/21 Sober living homes are part of life in the US (CO)
8/9/21 Parole can’t be revoked for refusing faith-based rehab, federal court rules
8/1/21 Drug recovery center CEO “bought” patients with kickbacks, prosecutors say (FL)
7/25/21 Sober Living, Body Brokering
A description of the business structures that allow operators to fraudulently bill for services.
7/24/21 SLO County orders cleanup, relocation of residents at Sunny Acres sober-living ranch
Scummy “sober-living ranch” finally shut down.
7/23/20 AG Tong Announces Settlement with Recovery Network of Programs Over Drug Testing
Overbilling (CT)
7/22/21 Drugs, Death and Denial at a Rehab for the Rich
Despite deaths and revoked license, operators opened subsequent “harm reduction houses,"
where people used drugs and died. California did not prevent them from operating.
7/22/21 Pennsyvlania to take down part of website following Morning Call story on site’s conflicting
data (PA)
7/22/21 Rescue Mission Director Stabbed to Death by Resident (OK)
7/22/21 Nonprofit uses art and more to help transition recovering addicts (TX)
7/21/21 New safety guidelines in the works for sober living homes (AL)
NARR convincing AL to adopt the same inadequate rules it tried to get CA to adopt.
7/21/21 Sober home appeals coming denial; Manchester grapples with definition of “family” (NH)
7/20/21 Lala Kent Calls Out Demi Lovato's "California Sober' Lifestyle: It's "Super Offensive" (CA)
7/13/21 Boca Raton doctor pleads guilty to insurance fraud; losses said to top $17 million (FL)
7/13/21 Allentown church claims city’s denial of plans for sober house was discriminatory (PA)
7/8/21 Local drug addiction activist joins program with apartments and treatment center (OH)
7/7/21 New Pennsylvania law requires notification to emergency contacts if patients leave rehab
centers against medical advice. (PA)
7/3/21 Failure by Pa. officials to clarify rules around medical marijuana, addiction treatment had serious
consequences
7/2/21 California lawmakers push feds to allow a therapy that pays meth users to abstain
Two articles discuss a potential incentive system, paid for with federal funds, to reduce relapse.
7/2/21 Lawmakers renew call for stronger addiction treatment overisght as two Pa. providers
charged (PA)
7/2/21 California lawmakers push feds to allow a therapy that pays meth users to abstain
Works for some.
7/1/21 AG Shapiro Charges More Drug and Alcohol Treatment Providers for Illegal Kickbacks… (PA)
6/30/21 Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada reboots sober living community (NV)
A 44-bed congregate living space and 28 studio apartments, including wrap-around services.
Recovery housing done right.
6/25/21 CT Addiction Medicine Provider Pays $1 Million to Settle Improper Billing Allegations (CT)
6/24/21 SLO County claims “obvious” violations at DeVaul’s Sunny Acres
Rancher caught by county warehousing 48 “elderly, infirm, mentally ill” and in recovery
in unsafe and unpermitted structures.
6/24/21 ZBA denies Orange Street “sober house” variance request (NH)
6/21/21 Pair Plead Guilty to Kickback Scheme (VA)
6/18/21 Oregon’s Pioneering Drug Decrimininalization Experiment Is Now Facing the Hard Test (OR)
6/18/21 Addiction treatment had failed. Could brain surgery save him? (WV)
Deep brain stimulation might be an extreme option.
6/17/21 CLAIM: The Bridge Sober Home Let Client Use Drugs, Die (FL)
6/15/21 President and VP of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs Plead Guilty to Medicaid Fraud (MD)
6/14/21 Recovery center takes over former college campus to transform lives (KY)
Dormitory style residential living for recovering addicts in Kentucky.
6/12/21 Sober Living Homes in Sparta will Leave Residential Neighborhoods, Operator Says (NJ)
6/10/21 Man accused of trying to breach cockpit released to sober living facility (NM)
6/4/21 Fake patient reviews are making it increasingly hard to seek medical help on the internet
Fraudulent rehab marketing has virtually no consequences.
6/3/21 New sober living apartments add rare resource to Dayton recovery infrastructure (OH)
29 Units and 58 beds in transient housing on a campus providing additional services.
5/26/21 Salvation Army Faces Lawsuit for Bupe Discrimination in Its Rehabs (MA)
Organization requires recovering addicts to be drug-free, not on opioid-replacement therapy.
5/24/21 Rehab Center Accused of Unpaid Overtime in Class Action Lawsuit of Former Employees (NY)
5/24/21 California prison doctors fear drug treatment program could create new addicts
138 Doctors object to requirement that they prescribe opioid replacement therapy.
5/21/21 State argues sober home ordinances are illegal, forcing cities to make expensive decisions
Article summarizes state’s attacks on city rights to protect the vulnerable from exploitation.
5/19/21 Overdoses in Volusia County drop after hospitals partner with treatment counselors (FL)
5/18/21 No jail for 62 guilty pleas in body brokering case, sparking anger and questions
No consequences for brokering patients into illegal and experimental surgery in California.
5/18/21 From up to 62 years in prison to zero; plea deal raises anger and questions
An unconscionably lenient sentence proves California courts just don't care about addicts,
unless there's the slightest potential for discrimination with no addict involved. Appalling.
5/18/21 Senate approves “Brandon’s Law” to ban deceptive marketing in rehab industry
Bill makes it past Senate.
5/17/21 Women’s sober living home leaves Clarendon Hills after a month (IL)
5/16/21 Plugging deadly holes in California’s addiction treatment system
Mental health organizations band together and propose more prevention.
Predictably, no improved enforcement or oversight recommended.
5/16/21 Plugging deadly holes in California’s addiction treatment system.
Behavioral health experts propose spending more time and money on prevention, while ignoring
California's current problems with fraud and sham addiction treatment.
5/8/21 Manchester issues fine against sober home; lawyers warn that city has weak case (NH)
5/8/21 Sober-home owner: City should legally treat residents as families (NH)
5/8/21 Roanoke lowers property assessments for neighbors who object to sober-living residence (VA)
“The real estate assessor’s office responded favorably to claims that the special home depressed property values."
5/7/21 Pa. can’t fine addiction treatment facilities that break rules. Some lawmakers want to change that (PA)
5/6/21 Nonprofit receives $7M Project Turnkey grant to open recovery-oriented hotel in east Portland (OR)
5/5/21 NC lawmakers seek to outlaw unethical addiction treatment practices (NC)
5/3/21 3 Florida Men Charged in $46M Health Care Fraud, Kickback, and Money Laundering Conspiracy (FL)
4/30/21 Oversight of Pa. recovery homes stalls as officials, advocates disagree on best approach (PA)
4/29/21 Police: Driver of overturned (addiction recovery) van in fatal Gwinnett Co. crash charged, has outstanding warrant (GA)
4/28/21 Town settles lawsuit involving proposed conversion of (33 bed) Daniels House (DE)
4/26/21 Girlfriend of man charged with killing neighbor gets no contact order changed slightly (AK)
4/23/21 Lindsay Lohan’s father faces patient brokering charges in South Florida (FL)
4/22/21 Convicted NH Bank Robber Accused of Supervised Release Violation (NH)
4/14/21 House bill seeks to redefine sober housing in Vermont (VT)
4/14/21 I-Team Only on 8: Downtown Las Vegas home invasion caught on video (NV)
4/13/21 Richard Girard: Recovery v. neighborhoods: A false choice (NH)
4/9/21 Encinitas City Council to repeal housing ordinances inconsistent with state laws
Encinitas folds in a showdown with the state over multiple types of zoning, including
both Recovery Residences, and low income housing.
4/9/21 Defendant takes fentanyl to insure admission to sober living facility (OH)
4/8/21 Hartford sober living community not a permitted use, special exception needed (MD)
4/6/21 Egg Harbor City plans to regulate some sober living facilities (NJ)
4/5/21 Rep. Mike Levin Introduces Legislation to Analyze Effectiveness of Sober Living Homes
Rep. Levin's bill directs the National Academy of Sciences to study the quantity, quality
and effectiveness of different kinds of recovery housing, attempting to segment
effectiveness by for-profit or nonprofit, occupancy and other factors.
4/5/21 Cañon City man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting woman pleads not guilty (CO)
4/5/21 County board approves drug court contract for drug testing services (MI)
4/2/21 Pennsylvania drug treatment centers violated regulations by failing to make timely reports in 23 deaths; no fines issued (PA)
4/1/21 One defendant found guilty, another sentenced in 2019 Berkeley County murder (WV)
4/1/21 One defendant found guilty, another sentenced in 2019 Berkeley County murder (WV)
3/30/21 Orange County Man Arrested on Criminal Complaint Alleging He Received Illegal Kickbacks from Corrupt Sober Living Homes
More than $350,000 paid to Patient Broker by "Sober Living Homes."
3/25/21 Sober living home likely first in Utah to use medical cannabis to aid addiction recovery (UT)
3/25/21 CA Dept. of Housing and Community Development Issues Notice of Violation to Encinitas
California cites comments by Encinitas' City Planner as indicative that Encinitas discriminated
against recovering addicts in its ordinances. Says there was no evidence of overconcentration.
By requiring a house to serve only disabled people, the ordinance "targets a protected class
with the intent of creating constraints and barriers to residential uses." It claims, without
reference to state court cases that have established the distinction between 6-and-under and
7-or-more, that distinguishing between 6-and-under or 7-or-more occupants "without regard
to the size of the structure, the number of bedrooms, or occupancy under State law" is
discriminatory. The state, once again, clearly fails to distinguish between requirements
of a business-operated house and how requirements do not apply to a communal living
situation.
3/24/21 Former employee admits embezzling $400K from Rancho Mirage addiction treatment center (CA)
A “probationer” employed by the company stole money. Surprised? Nope.
3/19/21 Recovery programs work to address trend of clients relapsing with stimulus check (WV)
3/17/21 Bills tweaking recovery residence certification law leave subcommittee (WV) NARR
3/15/21 Fires Leaves Sober Home Occupants Homeless (MA)
3/15/21 Derelict motel being being transformed into housing for people recovering from drug, alcohol addiction(WA)
3/14/21 A Seattle-Area Sober Housing Company Promised Respite from Homelessness. Tenant found chaos. (WA)
3/11/21 33-year-old Clarksburg West Virginia man: Had been up 5 days on meth when broke into home, then tried to grab cop’s gun (WV)
3/10/21 Split council allows Blaine sober living home to increase number of residents (MN)
3/10/21 Bills tweaking recovery residence certification law in subcommittee (WV)
WV looks to eliminate a third party certifier monopoly in favor of state provided certification.
Exempts larger facilities.
3/3/21 Why All Treatment and Recovery Should Be Local (SC)
An industry rep argues against the unscientific myth that addicts have to move away
in order to achieve successful treatment.
3/3/21 Wealthy rehab doctor pays $100 a night for ‘boutique’ jail stay as he awaits trial
Implant doctor pays $3k/month to stay in Huntington Beach city jail rather than county jail.
2/21 Admission Practices And Cost of Care for Opioid Use Disorder at Residential Addition Treatment Programs in the US
Study finds: "One-third of callers were offered admission before clinical evaluation…"
2/26/21 Boca Raton Doctor Max Citrin Jailed on Insurance Fraud Charge (FL)
2/23/21 A movie about drug rehab’s dark side sparks pushback, even as legislators seek sweeping changes (CA)
Behavioral Health Directors issue press release saying movie must say it is “fiction."
2/23/21 As Pennsylvania drug overdose deaths surge, lawmaker renews push for more oversight of treatment centers (PA)
2/23/21 Father and son from Inland Empire must pay $26.7 million for drug rehab fraud
Youth minister sentenced to three years for faking 300 people in 12 states.
2/22/21 Kent County man sentenced after stealing vehicle in Norman Twp. (MI)
2/22/21 Figures Show a Growing Number of Rehab Centers Turning to Addiction Treatment Marketing Specialists (CO)
2/20/21 Cigarette Determined to Be Cause of Lynn House Fire (MA)
2/19/21 California Bill Would Mandate Minimum Insurance Coverage at Rehabs (CA)
Bill would require licensed houses carry commercial insurance, report adverse events to insurance companies.
2/17/21 Lawmakers present host of plans to improve addiction treatment (VT)
Includes ending insurance pre-authorization for drug treatment centers, unlike California.
2/15/21 As Addiction Deaths Surge, Profit-Driven Rehab Industry Faces “Severe Ethical Crisis”
Profits before patients: misleading sales tactics, “more like luxury spas”
2/12/21 AG Shapiro Stops Deceptive Marketing by Drug Treatment Center (MA)
2/10/21 Foster dad sentenced to prison for raping foster daughter (MT)
2/9/21 Denver City Council Approves Massive Group Living Zoning Overhaul (CO)
2/3/21 Fear, fraud and “fun felonies:” More allegations from local survivors of teen drug rehab program (GA)
2/1/21 Salem man found dead in Manchester identified (MA)
2/1/21 Secret Addiction Treatment Shoppers Log Hard Sell Tactics at Some Residential Programs
2/1/21 Thousands of drug, alcohol recovery homes in Pa. still operate without state oversight (PA)
2/1/21 Owner of Kansas addiction treatment center accused of drug trafficking (KS)
1/30/21 Police: Youth admits setting fire to Pasadena youth treatment home (CA)
1/27/21 Crews respond to structure fire on Western Ave. in Augusta (ME)
1/27/21 Morristown judge slaps ‘sober living’ home with $25k fines (NJ)
Judge takes side of NJ city in suit in which recovery residence violates muni code
1/25/21 Drug Rehab Counselor Jose Yepes Arrested for Allegedly Stalking, Sexual Assaulting Client (CO)
1/11/21 Attic fire destroys building at residential treatment center in LaVerkin (UT)
12/21/21 Wausau police: Man tried to burn down 2 houses on same day (WI)
12/21/21 UPDATE: Wausau fugitive captured in Rothschild accused of setting fire to sober living home (WI)
12/19/21 Man found hiding under bed during Trappe burglary gets probation, community service (MD)
12/19/21 Unnecessary death? Mother pushes for answers after son dies in Portland recovery housing (OR)
12/16/21 Four Men Arrested in Alleged Sober Living Kickback Scheme
12/16/21 Department of Justice: Orange County is now nation’s center for addiction fraud
12/16/21 California Man Convicted of Federal Violations in Health Care Kickback Scheme
12/13/21 Unseen Part 5: Sex traffickers prey on drug addicted young men (CT)
12/13/21 As deaths pile up, lawmaker tells addiction rehab regulators blood “on your hands”
12/11/21 Defendant convicted in fatal stabbing of Westminsters man behind a Santa Ana store in 2016
Occupant of “sober living" home killed man with whom he was smoking meth.
12/10/21 Addiction treatment center hearing could turn emotional, confrontational
12/10/21 Larimer County adds 5 active COVID-19 outbreaks at health care facilities, Bible camp (CO)
12/9/21 State hearing will focus on why little has changed in drug rehab industry
12/8/21 Biden’s drug overdose strategy pushes treatment for some, prison for others
12/8/21 PART 1: Questions about Pa. Recovery Houses Arise After Overdose Death in Munhall (PA)
12/7/21 Medical Director of Long Beach Addiction Clinic Sentenced in Fraud Case
12/1/21 Addiction rehab CEO, indicted on federal charges, died with fentanyl in his system
11/30/21 Two San Antonians Sentenced to Prison for Health Care Fraud Schemes (TX, CA)
11/25/21 Sober home owner Kenneth Bailynson pleads guilty in $31.3 million health care fraud scheme (FL)
11/25/21 Woman sues famed Las Vegas rehab boss claiming he raped her… says that he still uses drugs despite his job (NV)
11/19/21 United States: Federal Authorities Have Their Eyes on Sober Living Home Operator and Marketers, Especially in Orange County
11/19/21 Discovery House adding carriage house to Edna Street property
11/18/21 PART 2: Questions about Recovery Houses In Pennsylcania Arise After Overdose Death in Munhall (PA)
11/17/21 Addiction doctor admits to writing illegal scrip (VT)
11/16/21 Holzmann: The Fatal Cost of Inaction
11/15/21 South Ogden man ordered into mental health courses for child kidnapping (UT)
11/12/21 Quincy Woman Arrested, Arraigned for Scheme to Bill Public and Private Insurance for Behavioral Health Services Not Provided (MA)
11/4/21 State audit orders Cleveland addiction treatment center to repay $145,000 (OH)
11/4/21 South Florida Brothers Who Ran Detox Facilities Convicted in $112M Fraud Scheme (FL)
11/3/21 Newport Beach forms ad hoc committee on residential care facilities
11/2/21 Biden Admin Signals Shift to Harm Reduction
11/1/21 Rewarding recovery: how California will pay addicts to give up drugs
10/31/21 Local faith-based recovery center shut down due to safety issues
10/29/21 Two Sentenced for Embezzling over $777,000 from Native American Addiction & Counseling Center (WI)
10/28/21 NJ suspends license of doctor who admitted sexual misconduct with patient, state announces (NJ)
10/28/21 Sacramento sobering center served 457 people in its first year. Most were homeless.
10/26/21 Authorities ID 3 victims found dead in Balboa Island rental home as investigation continues
10/25/21 3 dead at Balboa Island home; illegal drugs suspected’
10/25/21 Pa. is on the brink of regulating recovery homes for the first time. (PA)
10/21/21 A murder on Virginia Street; Neighbors: Group homes adding to risk of violence (MA)
10/17/21 West Virginia lawmakers learn about Parkersburg residential addiction recovery moratorium (WV)
10/12/21 New drug rehab rules call for honest advertising, insurance and naloxone. (CA)
10/11/21 Newport Beach homeowner who shot intruder cleared by Orange County DA
10/10/21 “My life was saved by YSS”: Leaders hope $13 million campus makes Iowa a destination for youth recovery (IA)
10/6/21 Agents investigate California Palms
10/5/21 They preyed on locals searching for addiction recovery help, prosecutors say (MA)
10/5/21 Sober Living Home Returns as Issue in Lakeside Park Meeting (KY)
10/2/21 Addiction Recovery: Too Close to Home in Paradise (AZ)
10/1/21 Detox shooting in Santa Ana Heights has neighbors begging for help (CA)
9/30/21 DOJ announces charges in $1.4 billion healthcare fraud sweep
9/29/21 Fire destroys McMinnville recovery house, displacing 12 (OR) (Oxford House)
9/29/21 New records reveal the cost of Pa.’s failure to clarify rules around addiction treatment and marijuana (PA)
9/28/21 Nashua woman sentenced for selling drugs that led to overdose death (NH)
9/27/21 A leading addiction recovery reformer in Philly was on the payroll of a rehab center now charged with crimes (PA)
9/27/21 Sober living home bursts into flames, fire spreads to grass (CA)
9/26/21 Fire destroys sober living facility in neighborhood off Sharp Road (LA)
9/17/21 Addiction treatment reforms land on governor’s desk
9/15/21 Lakeside Park residents Protest Third Sober-Living Home in City
9/15/21 Sober home files lawsuit against Manchester to continue to operate (NH)
9/13/21 Legislature continues to look at ways to address issues with recovery residences (WV)
9/10/21 Legal win for Costa Mesa zoning rule could mean changes for sober living industry (CA)
9/10/21 Denver man pleads guilty to killing, dismembering man found in 2 suitcases. (CO)
9/9/21 Fire Department battles large fire near Highway 165 and Highway 80 (LA)
9/7/21 Are You Sober If You’re on Suboxone? I Wasn’t. I Was Snorting Suboxone.
9/3/21 Resident who broke rules, didn’t pay rent can be evicted from Manchester sober home, says Supreme Court (NH)
Resident abused prescription medication could not legally be considered a tenant.
Had signed a contract saying he had no tenant rights.
NH law specfically exempts group homes from landlord-tenant laws.
9/2/21 Ex-President and CEO of Long Beach Substance Abuse Treatment Provider Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Health Care Fraud
9/1/21 Pharmacy Operators, Patient Recruiter Charged in a Nearly $800,000 Illegal Opioid Distribution Conspiracy
9/1/21 Laboratory Owner Pleads Guilty to $73 Million Medicare Kickback Scheme (FL)
8/29/21 Meadow Lake lawsuit against addiction ecover center continues (MS)
8/26/21 California looking to pay drug addicts to stay sober
8/25/21 Sober home failed to protect employees, residents from COVID-19, feds say (NJ)
8/23/21 Family opening 13-acre sober-living farm in Warren County (OH)
8/17/21 Addiction rehab CEO, indicted on federal conspiracy charges, dead at 51
Former anesthesiologist whose license was revoked for abusing narcotics, discussed the
monetary value of 19 people and kickbacks. Paid cash. Cause of death unknown.
8/13/21 Identifying Maintenance Doses of Opioids, When They Pose Problems for Patients with History
of Opioid Abuse
"…how pharmacists can respond to the identification of potentially problematic opioid
prescription practices at sober-living facilities."
8/12/21 New legislation to impose stricter rules for Tennessee sober living homes (TN)
NARR convincing TN to adopt the same inadequate standards it tried to get CA to adopt.
8/11/21 Feds: Mass. sober home operator sexually harassed female tenants (MA)
8/11/21 Sober living homes are part of life in the US (CO)
8/9/21 Parole can’t be revoked for refusing faith-based rehab, federal court rules
8/1/21 Drug recovery center CEO “bought” patients with kickbacks, prosecutors say (FL)
7/25/21 Sober Living, Body Brokering
A description of the business structures that allow operators to fraudulently bill for services.
7/24/21 SLO County orders cleanup, relocation of residents at Sunny Acres sober-living ranch
Scummy “sober-living ranch” finally shut down.
7/23/20 AG Tong Announces Settlement with Recovery Network of Programs Over Drug Testing
Overbilling (CT)
7/22/21 Drugs, Death and Denial at a Rehab for the Rich
Despite deaths and revoked license, operators opened subsequent “harm reduction houses,"
where people used drugs and died. California did not prevent them from operating.
7/22/21 Pennsyvlania to take down part of website following Morning Call story on site’s conflicting
data (PA)
7/22/21 Rescue Mission Director Stabbed to Death by Resident (OK)
7/22/21 Nonprofit uses art and more to help transition recovering addicts (TX)
7/21/21 New safety guidelines in the works for sober living homes (AL)
NARR convincing AL to adopt the same inadequate rules it tried to get CA to adopt.
7/21/21 Sober home appeals coming denial; Manchester grapples with definition of “family” (NH)
7/20/21 Lala Kent Calls Out Demi Lovato's "California Sober' Lifestyle: It's "Super Offensive" (CA)
7/13/21 Boca Raton doctor pleads guilty to insurance fraud; losses said to top $17 million (FL)
7/13/21 Allentown church claims city’s denial of plans for sober house was discriminatory (PA)
7/8/21 Local drug addiction activist joins program with apartments and treatment center (OH)
7/7/21 New Pennsylvania law requires notification to emergency contacts if patients leave rehab
centers against medical advice. (PA)
7/3/21 Failure by Pa. officials to clarify rules around medical marijuana, addiction treatment had serious
consequences
7/2/21 California lawmakers push feds to allow a therapy that pays meth users to abstain
Two articles discuss a potential incentive system, paid for with federal funds, to reduce relapse.
7/2/21 Lawmakers renew call for stronger addiction treatment overisght as two Pa. providers
charged (PA)
7/2/21 California lawmakers push feds to allow a therapy that pays meth users to abstain
Works for some.
7/1/21 AG Shapiro Charges More Drug and Alcohol Treatment Providers for Illegal Kickbacks… (PA)
6/30/21 Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada reboots sober living community (NV)
A 44-bed congregate living space and 28 studio apartments, including wrap-around services.
Recovery housing done right.
6/25/21 CT Addiction Medicine Provider Pays $1 Million to Settle Improper Billing Allegations (CT)
6/24/21 SLO County claims “obvious” violations at DeVaul’s Sunny Acres
Rancher caught by county warehousing 48 “elderly, infirm, mentally ill” and in recovery
in unsafe and unpermitted structures.
6/24/21 ZBA denies Orange Street “sober house” variance request (NH)
6/21/21 Pair Plead Guilty to Kickback Scheme (VA)
6/18/21 Oregon’s Pioneering Drug Decrimininalization Experiment Is Now Facing the Hard Test (OR)
6/18/21 Addiction treatment had failed. Could brain surgery save him? (WV)
Deep brain stimulation might be an extreme option.
6/17/21 CLAIM: The Bridge Sober Home Let Client Use Drugs, Die (FL)
6/15/21 President and VP of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs Plead Guilty to Medicaid Fraud (MD)
6/14/21 Recovery center takes over former college campus to transform lives (KY)
Dormitory style residential living for recovering addicts in Kentucky.
6/12/21 Sober Living Homes in Sparta will Leave Residential Neighborhoods, Operator Says (NJ)
6/10/21 Man accused of trying to breach cockpit released to sober living facility (NM)
6/4/21 Fake patient reviews are making it increasingly hard to seek medical help on the internet
Fraudulent rehab marketing has virtually no consequences.
6/3/21 New sober living apartments add rare resource to Dayton recovery infrastructure (OH)
29 Units and 58 beds in transient housing on a campus providing additional services.
5/26/21 Salvation Army Faces Lawsuit for Bupe Discrimination in Its Rehabs (MA)
Organization requires recovering addicts to be drug-free, not on opioid-replacement therapy.
5/24/21 Rehab Center Accused of Unpaid Overtime in Class Action Lawsuit of Former Employees (NY)
5/24/21 California prison doctors fear drug treatment program could create new addicts
138 Doctors object to requirement that they prescribe opioid replacement therapy.
5/21/21 State argues sober home ordinances are illegal, forcing cities to make expensive decisions
Article summarizes state’s attacks on city rights to protect the vulnerable from exploitation.
5/19/21 Overdoses in Volusia County drop after hospitals partner with treatment counselors (FL)
5/18/21 No jail for 62 guilty pleas in body brokering case, sparking anger and questions
No consequences for brokering patients into illegal and experimental surgery in California.
5/18/21 From up to 62 years in prison to zero; plea deal raises anger and questions
An unconscionably lenient sentence proves California courts just don't care about addicts,
unless there's the slightest potential for discrimination with no addict involved. Appalling.
5/18/21 Senate approves “Brandon’s Law” to ban deceptive marketing in rehab industry
Bill makes it past Senate.
5/17/21 Women’s sober living home leaves Clarendon Hills after a month (IL)
5/16/21 Plugging deadly holes in California’s addiction treatment system
Mental health organizations band together and propose more prevention.
Predictably, no improved enforcement or oversight recommended.
5/16/21 Plugging deadly holes in California’s addiction treatment system.
Behavioral health experts propose spending more time and money on prevention, while ignoring
California's current problems with fraud and sham addiction treatment.
5/8/21 Manchester issues fine against sober home; lawyers warn that city has weak case (NH)
5/8/21 Sober-home owner: City should legally treat residents as families (NH)
5/8/21 Roanoke lowers property assessments for neighbors who object to sober-living residence (VA)
“The real estate assessor’s office responded favorably to claims that the special home depressed property values."
5/7/21 Pa. can’t fine addiction treatment facilities that break rules. Some lawmakers want to change that (PA)
5/6/21 Nonprofit receives $7M Project Turnkey grant to open recovery-oriented hotel in east Portland (OR)
5/5/21 NC lawmakers seek to outlaw unethical addiction treatment practices (NC)
5/3/21 3 Florida Men Charged in $46M Health Care Fraud, Kickback, and Money Laundering Conspiracy (FL)
4/30/21 Oversight of Pa. recovery homes stalls as officials, advocates disagree on best approach (PA)
4/29/21 Police: Driver of overturned (addiction recovery) van in fatal Gwinnett Co. crash charged, has outstanding warrant (GA)
4/28/21 Town settles lawsuit involving proposed conversion of (33 bed) Daniels House (DE)
4/26/21 Girlfriend of man charged with killing neighbor gets no contact order changed slightly (AK)
4/23/21 Lindsay Lohan’s father faces patient brokering charges in South Florida (FL)
4/22/21 Convicted NH Bank Robber Accused of Supervised Release Violation (NH)
4/14/21 House bill seeks to redefine sober housing in Vermont (VT)
4/14/21 I-Team Only on 8: Downtown Las Vegas home invasion caught on video (NV)
4/13/21 Richard Girard: Recovery v. neighborhoods: A false choice (NH)
4/9/21 Encinitas City Council to repeal housing ordinances inconsistent with state laws
Encinitas folds in a showdown with the state over multiple types of zoning, including
both Recovery Residences, and low income housing.
4/9/21 Defendant takes fentanyl to insure admission to sober living facility (OH)
4/8/21 Hartford sober living community not a permitted use, special exception needed (MD)
4/6/21 Egg Harbor City plans to regulate some sober living facilities (NJ)
4/5/21 Rep. Mike Levin Introduces Legislation to Analyze Effectiveness of Sober Living Homes
Rep. Levin's bill directs the National Academy of Sciences to study the quantity, quality
and effectiveness of different kinds of recovery housing, attempting to segment
effectiveness by for-profit or nonprofit, occupancy and other factors.
4/5/21 Cañon City man accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting woman pleads not guilty (CO)
4/5/21 County board approves drug court contract for drug testing services (MI)
4/2/21 Pennsylvania drug treatment centers violated regulations by failing to make timely reports in 23 deaths; no fines issued (PA)
4/1/21 One defendant found guilty, another sentenced in 2019 Berkeley County murder (WV)
4/1/21 One defendant found guilty, another sentenced in 2019 Berkeley County murder (WV)
3/30/21 Orange County Man Arrested on Criminal Complaint Alleging He Received Illegal Kickbacks from Corrupt Sober Living Homes
More than $350,000 paid to Patient Broker by "Sober Living Homes."
3/25/21 Sober living home likely first in Utah to use medical cannabis to aid addiction recovery (UT)
3/25/21 CA Dept. of Housing and Community Development Issues Notice of Violation to Encinitas
California cites comments by Encinitas' City Planner as indicative that Encinitas discriminated
against recovering addicts in its ordinances. Says there was no evidence of overconcentration.
By requiring a house to serve only disabled people, the ordinance "targets a protected class
with the intent of creating constraints and barriers to residential uses." It claims, without
reference to state court cases that have established the distinction between 6-and-under and
7-or-more, that distinguishing between 6-and-under or 7-or-more occupants "without regard
to the size of the structure, the number of bedrooms, or occupancy under State law" is
discriminatory. The state, once again, clearly fails to distinguish between requirements
of a business-operated house and how requirements do not apply to a communal living
situation.
3/24/21 Former employee admits embezzling $400K from Rancho Mirage addiction treatment center (CA)
A “probationer” employed by the company stole money. Surprised? Nope.
3/19/21 Recovery programs work to address trend of clients relapsing with stimulus check (WV)
3/17/21 Bills tweaking recovery residence certification law leave subcommittee (WV) NARR
3/15/21 Fires Leaves Sober Home Occupants Homeless (MA)
3/15/21 Derelict motel being being transformed into housing for people recovering from drug, alcohol addiction(WA)
3/14/21 A Seattle-Area Sober Housing Company Promised Respite from Homelessness. Tenant found chaos. (WA)
3/11/21 33-year-old Clarksburg West Virginia man: Had been up 5 days on meth when broke into home, then tried to grab cop’s gun (WV)
3/10/21 Split council allows Blaine sober living home to increase number of residents (MN)
3/10/21 Bills tweaking recovery residence certification law in subcommittee (WV)
WV looks to eliminate a third party certifier monopoly in favor of state provided certification.
Exempts larger facilities.
3/3/21 Why All Treatment and Recovery Should Be Local (SC)
An industry rep argues against the unscientific myth that addicts have to move away
in order to achieve successful treatment.
3/3/21 Wealthy rehab doctor pays $100 a night for ‘boutique’ jail stay as he awaits trial
Implant doctor pays $3k/month to stay in Huntington Beach city jail rather than county jail.
2/21 Admission Practices And Cost of Care for Opioid Use Disorder at Residential Addition Treatment Programs in the US
Study finds: "One-third of callers were offered admission before clinical evaluation…"
2/26/21 Boca Raton Doctor Max Citrin Jailed on Insurance Fraud Charge (FL)
2/23/21 A movie about drug rehab’s dark side sparks pushback, even as legislators seek sweeping changes (CA)
Behavioral Health Directors issue press release saying movie must say it is “fiction."
2/23/21 As Pennsylvania drug overdose deaths surge, lawmaker renews push for more oversight of treatment centers (PA)
2/23/21 Father and son from Inland Empire must pay $26.7 million for drug rehab fraud
Youth minister sentenced to three years for faking 300 people in 12 states.
2/22/21 Kent County man sentenced after stealing vehicle in Norman Twp. (MI)
2/22/21 Figures Show a Growing Number of Rehab Centers Turning to Addiction Treatment Marketing Specialists (CO)
2/20/21 Cigarette Determined to Be Cause of Lynn House Fire (MA)
2/19/21 California Bill Would Mandate Minimum Insurance Coverage at Rehabs (CA)
Bill would require licensed houses carry commercial insurance, report adverse events to insurance companies.
2/17/21 Lawmakers present host of plans to improve addiction treatment (VT)
Includes ending insurance pre-authorization for drug treatment centers, unlike California.
2/15/21 As Addiction Deaths Surge, Profit-Driven Rehab Industry Faces “Severe Ethical Crisis”
Profits before patients: misleading sales tactics, “more like luxury spas”
2/12/21 AG Shapiro Stops Deceptive Marketing by Drug Treatment Center (MA)
2/10/21 Foster dad sentenced to prison for raping foster daughter (MT)
2/9/21 Denver City Council Approves Massive Group Living Zoning Overhaul (CO)
2/3/21 Fear, fraud and “fun felonies:” More allegations from local survivors of teen drug rehab program (GA)
2/1/21 Salem man found dead in Manchester identified (MA)
2/1/21 Secret Addiction Treatment Shoppers Log Hard Sell Tactics at Some Residential Programs
2/1/21 Thousands of drug, alcohol recovery homes in Pa. still operate without state oversight (PA)
2/1/21 Owner of Kansas addiction treatment center accused of drug trafficking (KS)
1/30/21 Police: Youth admits setting fire to Pasadena youth treatment home (CA)
1/27/21 Crews respond to structure fire on Western Ave. in Augusta (ME)
1/27/21 Morristown judge slaps ‘sober living’ home with $25k fines (NJ)
Judge takes side of NJ city in suit in which recovery residence violates muni code
1/25/21 Drug Rehab Counselor Jose Yepes Arrested for Allegedly Stalking, Sexual Assaulting Client (CO)
1/11/21 Attic fire destroys building at residential treatment center in LaVerkin (UT)