10 Jan 25 08:39 UTCenhttps://www.freedommag.org/rss.xmlhttps://www.freedommag.org/news/rampant-mental-health-fraud-exploits-arizonas-indigenous-communities-c642b7More than 250 Arizona behavioral health providers have had Medicaid payments suspended because of widespread fraud, throwing patients in the streets and costing taxpayers untold millions. 2025-01-09https://www.freedommag.org/news/white-supremacist-prison-gangs-act-as-crime-vectors-in-almost-every-state-e3aa2cWhile organized from prisons, these gangs cause harm that extends everywhere—with one gang trafficking enough fentanyl to kill everyone in Seattle-Tacoma, plus half a million more.2025-01-08https://www.freedommag.org/news/mckinsey-consulting-agrees-to-pay-usd650-million-for-role-in-opioid-crisis-16e849According to the DOJ, this is the first time a management consulting firm has been held criminally responsible for advice resulting in the commission of a crime by a client—in this case, Purdue.2025-01-07https://www.freedommag.org/news/slavery-up-25-percent-in-three-years-as-the-exploitation-epidemic-grows-2380e2For sexual exploitation or forced labor, slavery continues—not only unabated, but growing to as many as 65 million victims worldwide.2025-01-06https://www.freedommag.org/news/fish-hooked-on-drugs-bodes-ill-for-humans-bb1dac“Red-flag” study shows fentanyl and other drugs are making their way into our water and the creatures that use it… including us. 2025-01-05https://www.freedommag.org/news/so-called-legal-cannabis-often-covered-in-illegal-pesticides-tests-show-05bf02The effect of undeclared pesticides are multiplied when found in dangerous cannabis, which is combusted on use, and burrows deep into human lungs. 2025-01-04https://www.freedommag.org/news/new-usd215-million-victims-fund-will-help-survivors-sex-trafficked-on-backpage-75aee0The owners were jailed and the website assets confiscated, but the role of Tony Ortega—Backpage’s notorious sex trafficking champion—remains to be fully explored. 2025-01-03https://www.freedommag.org/news/anyone-is-vulnerable-as-another-antidepressant-death-touches-the-royal-family-2c7c96Even the coroner specified that the self-inflicted death was an “adverse effect” of the antidepressant the man had been prescribed. Adverse indeed—and all too preventable.2025-01-02https://www.freedommag.org/news/braulio-vargas-fight-for-human-rights-in-costa-rica-is-purpose-in-action-de56deBraulio leads a nationwide movement to teach Costa Ricans about the 30 fundamental rights outlined in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.2025-01-01https://www.freedommag.org/news/the-top-10-religious-freedom-stories-of-2024-0bfa97Throughout a year of conflict: religious inclusion, religious rights and religious diversity were defended around the world. Religion is more important than ever to more people—and these stories are the leading edge of progress.2024-12-31https://www.freedommag.org/news/shocking-child-fentanyl-death-in-day-care-exposes-drug-dealers-indifference-bde4d3One-year-old Nicholas Dominici died from ingesting the deadly opioid fentanyl at a day care center because the owner did not respect the infant’s right to life. It’s not the only example. Fentanyl is killing our kids. 2024-12-30https://www.freedommag.org/news/behavioral-health-provider-fined-2-million-24a8d9North Carolina’s Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare Services was ripping off US taxpayers for more than four years before they got caught. 2024-12-29https://www.freedommag.org/news/five-lawsuits-against-indiana-psychiatric-hospital-point-to-systemic-abuse-980a9cOptions Behavioral Health Hospital stands accused of exaggerating symptoms or adjusting drug dosages to justify prolonged hospitalization.2024-12-28https://www.freedommag.org/news/new-global-scientology-campaign-inspires-connection-and-discovery-c3e453Three stunning new television commercials open a window into Scientology for the curious, showing the religion in action.2024-12-27https://www.freedommag.org/news/religion-ties-us-together-a-holiday-message-of-common-faith-8b5c43With 73 percent of all Americans considering faith an important part of their identity, religion is what unites us. It’s a resonant message for the holidays.2024-12-26https://www.freedommag.org/news/hanukkah-and-christmas-coincide-reflecting-the-shared-light-that-unites-all-114939So rare it happens just once per quarter-century, the holidays remind Christians and Jews of a shared tradition of resilience, hope and miracles. 2024-12-25https://www.freedommag.org/news/religion-humanitys-divine-spark-and-not-so-secret-weapon-eb97bfThe holidays refocus our gaze on the truth that religion is the sole civilizing factor in our lives. Our morality is grounded in our immortality.2024-12-24https://www.freedommag.org/blog/google-ids-alex-barnes-ross-as-a-broke-bigot-a1bae7The internet never forgets—in this case, that Alex Barnes-Ross is best known as a bigot, begging for cash.2024-12-23https://www.freedommag.org/news/winter-wonderlands-fairy-godmother-waves-her-wand-to-create-magic-for-the-holidays-9839b2Pam Ryan-Anderson puts the rest of her life on hold each September to create a beloved holiday tradition in Clearwater, Florida, with a group of fellow Scientologists giving back to their community.2024-12-22https://www.freedommag.org/news/pharmaceutical-mole-aka-va-under-secretary-pushes-ecstasy-on-our-nations-vets-aaa6d7Shereef Elnahal, Under Secretary for Health at the Department of Veterans Affairs, has a history of financial ties to a pharmaceutical company deeply involved in Ecstasy research. No wonder he keeps pushing for wider acceptance of the deadly drug. 2024-12-21https://www.freedommag.org/news/la-county-reports-highest-ever-hate-crimes-with-spikes-in-virtually-every-category-ddd06aAfter three consecutive years of double-digit increases, the number of reported hate crimes in 2023 spiked by 45 percent, from 930 to 1,350, the highest figure since reporting began in 1980.2024-12-20https://www.freedommag.org/news/greek-sex-trafficking-ring-dismantled-but-its-a-drop-in-the-bucket-81cbafOver and over, sex trafficking and blackmail rings traffic women to centrally located Greece for forced prostitution and other sexual exploitation. Why isn’t the government doing more? 2024-12-19https://www.freedommag.org/news/foster-children-on-psychotropic-drugs-are-an-epidemic-requiring-urgent-reform-08c75fAbuses abound in foster care and elsewhere, as over 6 million kids are prescribed powerful psychotropic drugs. Over 400,000 of them are five years old or younger, and no one is tracking the side effects.2024-12-18https://www.freedommag.org/news/icon-of-the-year-elton-john-is-latest-a-lister-to-speak-out-about-the-tyranny-of-drug-abuse-eafc22John recognizes the dangers of marijuana and is speaking out publicly. So are others. Drug abuse is endemic in Hollywood, but the pushback has begun—not a moment too soon. 2024-12-17https://www.freedommag.org/news/sentencing-of-cop-for-drug-trafficking-is-just-the-latest-tip-of-an-under-reported-iceberg-c4176dArrests of law enforcement officers for drug-related crimes are frequent, but the dimensions are unknown because agencies refuse to study the problem in their ranks.2024-12-16https://www.freedommag.org/news/global-nonprofit-a21-launches-new-campaign-to-prevent-human-trafficking-24941dThe “Can You See Me?” campaign raises awareness and encourages reporting of human trafficking to rescue victims.2024-12-15https://www.freedommag.org/news/darknet-drug-gang-selling-heroin-online-delivered-in-stuffed-animals-receive-prison-sentences-14554bPart of an epidemic of online drug sales, the “rickandmortyshop” brought death by mail. Now the leader is in federal prison for eight years—but it’s a drop in the bucket.2024-12-14https://www.freedommag.org/news/new-synthetic-opioid-three-times-stronger-than-fentanyl-causing-another-round-of-mayhem-333751If fentanyl is big trouble, protonitazene is a flat-out monster. Estimated at 150 times stronger than heroin, its effects are only just beginning to be felt—in deaths.2024-12-13https://www.freedommag.org/news/our-prayers-have-been-answered-prisoner-swap-reunites-uyghur-muslim-family-90096fFor the first time in over 20 years, former USCIRF Chair Nury Turkel was reunited with his mother, released—along with two other Uyghurs—as part of a larger prisoner swap.2024-12-12https://www.freedommag.org/news/nimh-scamming-taxpayers-with-multibillion-dollar-con-game-that-accomplishes-nothing-e1d4deNIMH operates by draining our pockets; torturing helpless animals in pointless, useless, ridiculous tests; wasting mountains of money; and doing absolutely nothing to effectively improve our country’s mental health.2024-12-11https://www.freedommag.org/news/criminons-matt-robinson-helps-inmates-rediscover-themselves-a100bcCriminon New Life DC delivers effective rehabilitation to inmates—and up to 80 percent leave their criminal pasts behind. L. Ron Hubbard’s humanitarian discoveries show the way toward a world without crime.2024-12-10https://www.freedommag.org/news/coroners-report-on-latest-death-at-the-hands-of-psychiatry-is-a-condemnation-gross-failure-e2e5c9The multibillion-dollar industry of death that is psychiatry has been unable to cover its bloody tracks this year—which is why public trust in psychiatry is dead.2024-12-09https://www.freedommag.org/news/notre-dame-cathedral-reopens-completing-its-latest-miracle-1e0732The 861-year-old cathedral survived a fire in 2019. A “40-year restoration” was completed in just five—because faith makes everything possible.2024-12-08https://www.freedommag.org/news/statistics-show-intrinsic-racist-bigotry-of-psychiatry-01d7aeFor hundreds of years, the racist principles of psychiatry have manifested in everything from involuntary commitment rates to eugenics. 2024-12-07https://www.freedommag.org/news/big-pharma-seeking-ways-to-bypass-new-rules-about-broadcast-drug-warnings-in-ads-a19590New FDA rules requiring clear warnings of dangerous side effects in drug ads is setting off alarms at drug companies: How do you legally distract from “Antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts and actions and worsen depression in children and young adults”?2024-12-06https://www.freedommag.org/news/we-needed-a-vote-to-abolish-slavery-on-the-resolutions-75th-anniversary-its-skyrocketed-instead-3e3145The United Nations passed an anti-slavery resolution on December 2 in 1949. Since then, humans owned by others have skyrocketed to 50 million worldwide. What will it take to stop this scourge?2024-12-05https://www.freedommag.org/news/daily-beast-ceo-ben-sherwood-is-the-same-kind-of-sexual-predator-a3665cAs The Daily Beast nears oblivion, their CEO’s sordid past is rearing its ugly head. Their use of sources for articles with the same ugly history of which Sherwood stands accused probably isn’t helping. 2024-12-04https://www.freedommag.org/news/pontiac-psychiatric-hospital-the-wages-of-sin-is-bankruptcy-95758fChapter 11 filing comes on the heels of Pontiac’s loss of federal funding after credible charges of abuse, violence and one preventable death. 2024-12-03https://www.freedommag.org/news/a-man-on-a-mission-michael-deleons-24-7-drive-to-create-a-drug-free-world-120efbEverywhere all the time, DeLeon’s quest encompasses everything from vaping to the collateral damage of alcohol abuse. “We’re three years deep into a catastrophe,” he says.2024-12-02https://www.freedommag.org/news/enrollment-to-religious-institutions-skyrockets-proving-young-adults-arent-moving-away-from-faith-8cbc6c Faith-based universities have experienced a whopping increase of young adults attending; the movement spans many religions and indicates that reports of religion’s demise have been greatly exaggerated.  2024-12-01https://www.freedommag.org/news/uscirf-releases-report-on-worldwide-oppression-of-jehovahs-witnesses-612f73From the deprivation of rights to imprisonment, heavy fines, harassment, unemployment, disruption of religious services, forced labor and torture, Jehovah’s Witnesses too often pay a terrible price for their peaceful beliefs.2024-11-30https://www.freedommag.org/news/pontiac-hospital-latest-in-tsunami-of-reports-of-violence-and-abuse-at-psychiatric-institutions-ddb9dfA Michigan psychiatric hospital loses government funding over abuse allegations that include an unwarranted death and coercion to receive dangerous treatment. 2024-11-29https://www.freedommag.org/news/some-1-in-3-americans-harmed-by-loved-ones-use-of-alcohol-or-drugs-db3521A study by the Alcohol Research Group shows 160 million collateral damage victims of substance abuse, including traffic accidents, vandalism, physical harm, financial issues and family or marriage problems.2024-11-28https://www.freedommag.org/news/united-states-scores-a-miserable-d-for-human-rights-record-0b7642 University of Rhode Island’s Global RIghts Project ranked 195 countries; 62 percent failed outright, and only 20 percent scored an "A" or "B." Global respect for people’s fundamental rights is in decline.2024-11-27https://www.freedommag.org/news/mental-health-counselors-continue-to-rip-off-american-taxpayers-e84c6fTwenty billion in annual fraud originates in the mental health industry. In the latest embarrassment, three Connecticut counselors were caught red-handed. 2024-11-26https://www.freedommag.org/news/scottish-police-smash-thai-sex-trafficking-ring-7610b4 Couple trafficked Thai women to Scotland, burdened them with huge debt and forced them into prostitution to “pay it back.” The perpetrators face years in prison.  2024-11-25https://www.freedommag.org/news/martin-scorseses-new-docuseries-on-saints-explores-his-own-spiritual-quest-09be66Martin Scorsese Presents: The Saints is the capstone to a life and career that examines the arc between saint and sinner through the spiritual world of Catholicism.  2024-11-24https://www.freedommag.org/news/largest-ever-operation-against-human-trafficking-interpol-cf3038Operation Liberterra II rescued 3,222 potential human trafficking victims and netted 2,517 arrests as a result of monitoring nearly 24,000 flights.2024-11-23https://www.freedommag.org/news/new-wma-guidelines-authorize-forced-experiments-on-the-mentally-ill-41811aDehumanizing the so-called mentally ill by authorizing coercive experiments is a regression to an ugly past.2024-11-22https://www.freedommag.org/news/psychiatrists-and-corporate-pushers-behind-failed-attempts-to-saturate-us-with-psychedelic-drugs-e505dbThey failed, and despite hundreds of millions in spending, every pro-drug initiative in the US went down to defeat this year. America understands the scourge of drugs better than the pushers. 2024-11-21