alexdmorgan30

[alexdmorgan30]

Surfer Sunny Garcia Hospitalized Amid Depression Battle

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).Professional surfer Sunny Garcia, who has been open about his battle with depression, has been hospitalized following a suicide attempt. “With heavy hearts we confirm that Sunny Garcia is in the ICU in the hospital,” the World Surf League confirmed on Twitter on Monday. “Sunny has always been a great champion of surfing, both in and out of the water. Our prayers are with him and his loved ones at this deeply challenging time.”Garcia—whose real name is Vincent Sennen Garcia—posted a picture of himself as a teenager on Sunday, prior to his hospitalization. “If I told this kid the things he would go through and things he would achieve he would tell me I’m crazy,” Garcia, 49, wrote. “Wow it’s been a crazy ride since this photo was taken.”On March 20, Garcia opened up about his depression on Instagram, something he had done in the past as well. “Doesn’t matter what kind of mental illness you suffer from, we all suffer in silence and deal with it best we can and most people that don’t suffer can’t understand the pain and frustration that we go through,” he wrote. “I have a incredible life surrounded by people that love and care for me, and I get to travel to beautiful places to surf and meet different people from all over the world but I can tell you when I get down that none of that matters,” he said. Garcia wrote that he “spent the morning curled in my dark closet feeling like I just didn’t want to be here anymore”—but said that he knew that ultimately things would get better and he was determined to speak out.  “I just feel like nothing or anyone can help me at the particular time so I just keep sharing my feelings hoping that it helps any of you out there that suffers from anything and encourage you to reach out and talk to others like yourself because this life can really be beautiful. If we all just talk and let it out so others see that it’s ok to share and we are not alone in this suffering.”Garcia first posted about his depression in December 2014, when he asked his followers for advice. “Depression is no joke waking up feeling like you’re ready to take on the world then a couple hours later feeling down on life and wondering what’s wrong with you,” he wrote at the time. “Well I know I’m not alone and I’m not sure what’s wrong with me because I have no reason to feel the way I do. It’s been happening for about two years and would love to hear from any of you who suffer these feelings so I can figure out what I should do.”

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[alexdmorgan30]

NYC Bans Alcohol Ads on City Properties to Reduce Problem Drinking

Alcohol advertising will no longer be displayed on New York City-owned property such as bus shelters, newsstands, phone booths and wifi kiosks.Mayor Bill de Blasio issued the alcohol advertising ban via Executive Order, effective immediately. The ban will affect most city-owned properties except for venues that serve alcohol like Citi Field.Despite a foreseeable loss of advertising revenue of around $3 million each year, city officials say it’s worth it to try and reduce the effects of problem drinking. In the 2018 fiscal year, alcohol advertising generated $2.7 million for the city. These advertisements occupy about 3% of city-owned advertising space.“There’s no doubt that far too many New Yorkers struggle with serious substance misuse issues, among them excessive drinking,” said de Blasio in a statement Tuesday.In 2016, NYC counted 110,000 alcohol-related ER visits, and 2,000 alcohol-related fatalities from car accidents, liver disease, etc.“In New York City, we see far too many deaths related to alcohol,” said city health commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “We know exposure to alcohol advertising can lead to drinking more alcohol, more often behavior that can be harmful and even fatal.”City officials cite research that have linked exposure to alcohol advertisements with drinking behavior. By minimizing New Yorkers’ exposure to alcohol advertising, they are hoping to reduce problem drinking in the city.There is plenty of research on the subject.“Parents and peers have a large impact on youth decisions to drink. However, research clearly indicates that alcohol advertising and marketing also have a significant effect by influencing youth and adult expectations and attitudes, and helping to create an environment that promotes underage drinking,” according to the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Johns Hopkins University.Eighteen months ago, the city’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) banned alcohol advertisements on NYC buses, subway cars and stations.Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Francisco have also banned alcohol ads on city property.“Too many people in our city struggle with excessive drinking, and irresponsible advertisements for alcohol make the problem worse―especially when they target communities of color,” said NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray. “Today, New York City is taking a stand to protect the health and well-being of all of our communities.”

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[alexdmorgan30]

Lower Prices Contributed to Opioid Crisis, According to White House Report

A drop in out-of-pocket expenses for prescription opioids helped drive the first wave of the opioid epidemic, according to a new report released by the White House.The report, written by the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, found that increased insurance coverage for opioids resulted in lower costs on the legal market and the black market.“Out-of-pocket prices for prescription opioids declined by an estimated 81 percent between 2001 and 2010,” report authors wrote. “The falling prices were a consequence of the expansion of government health care coverage, which increased access to all prescription drugs—including opioids. We argue that these falling out-of-pocket prices effectively reduced the price of opioid use not only in the primary market but also in the secondary (black) market for diverted opioids, from which most people who misuse prescription opioids obtain their drugs.���During this time, more people had their prescription drugs covered by government insurance programs through Medicare and Medicaid. In 2001, 17 percent of prescription opioids were covered using government insurance. That rose to 63 percent by 2015.This increased access made opioid use more affordable.“A person on Medicare would only pay $9.78 per gram, or between $1,785 and $3,570 per year (in 2007 dollars), to fund an opioid addiction," the report authors note.The authors estimate that lower prices can account for between 31 and 83 percent of the rise in opioid deaths between 2001 and 2010, but other factors were also at play during this first wave of the opioid epidemic.“Falling out-of-pocket prices could not have led to a major rise in opioid misuse and overdose deaths without the increased availability of prescription opioids resulting from changes in pain-management practice guidelines that encouraged liberalized dispensing practices by doctors, illicit ‘pill mills,’ increased marketing and promotion efforts from industry, and inadequate monitoring or control against drug diversion,” they wrote.Cost also played a part in the second wave of the epidemic, when people who had become hooked on pills turned to even less expensive street drugs, including heroin and fentanyl, to get their fix.“The reduction in prescription opioid misuse had the unintended consequence of raising demand for cheaper, more readily available substitutes in the illicit market and thus opened a market opportunity for illicit drug suppliers to fill,” report authors wrote.Today, access to opioids is tightly controlled for people on Medicare, following legislation passed in 2018. 

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[alexdmorgan30]

Lead Found in Michigan Vape Cartridges

Officials in Michigan are urging the state's medicinal cannabis retailers to test their vape cartridges for heavy metals after several brands were found to have been contaminated with lead.A safety bulletin issued by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) revealed that the Bureau of Marijuana Regulation (BMR) had identified and destroyed the contaminated cartridges, and encouraged retailers, as well as patients and caregivers, to have their products tested.Studies have shown that lead and other heavy metals, which have been detected in vapors from e-cigarette products, pose significant health risks to users.According to the LARA press release, the contaminated cartridges were discovered when the BMR entered the test results in the statewide monitoring system, per Michigan regulations that, as High Times noted, require samples from vape cartridges to be submitted for testing at state labs. The bulletin also noted that lead was not discovered in any ceramic vape products.As a result of the test findings, the BMR requested that licensed provisioning centers have their cartridges tested. Medical marijuana patients and caregivers that dispense medical marijuana could also have their cartridges tested for a fee at a licensed safety compliance facility.The bulletin also noted that while federal regulations have eliminated the need to add lead to brass or copper products as was done in the past, manufacturers outside of the United States may still use lead to create their e-cigarette and vape cartridge products. Lead and other metal contaminates can leak into the products' e-liquids when they are exposed to the heating coils. The metals are present in the aerosols produced by heating the liquids, which are then inhaled by the user.Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found lead and other metals, including chromium, manganese and nickel, in vapors produced by some e-cigarette products. High Times quoted an interview in Forbes with medical device marketing consultant Rich Able, who said that chronic exposure to these chemicals could have a serious and detrimental effect on users' health."Neurotoxins such as lead are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular and kidney disease," said Able. "The other metals listed are even more nefarious to human organs."Able also noted that federal regulation of such products is key to preventing similar incidents of exposure. "To continue manufacturing these devices to the smoking population without further diligence and clinical review is unethical and unconscionable," he said.

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[alexdmorgan30]

PSAs Feature Kids With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

A new public service announcement campaign features children and young adults with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, questioning the assumption that light or moderate drinking during pregnancy is safe.The campaign was put together by the Proof Alliance, an organization that aims to educate people about the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy, which can lead to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. The disorder causes a host of cognitive delays and other health issues.While the health effects of heavy drinking while pregnant are widely acknowledged, the Proof Alliance wants to challenge the idea that light drinking — like having a glass of wine or a beer — is safe. The campaign highlights articles and social media posts that argue that drinking small amounts during pregnancy is safe, and then shows actors with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder pushing back on the idea.“Alcohol is alcohol,” a boy says in one of the campaign’s videos.“Drinking any amount during pregnancy is dangerous,” another boys says. “We have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, and we are proof.”The campaign points to research that indicates 1 in 20 American children may have fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.In addition to the public service announcement videos, the Proof Alliance is also running billboard ads with blunt messages like “Placentas aren’t magical booze blockers,” “Drinking during pregnancy is the leading cause of preventable brain injury in the U.S.” and “Even a little red wine can give baby brain damage.”The Proof Alliance also launched a website — DrinkingWhilePregnant.org — with strong images and messages designed to make a lasting impression.“All major medical organizations advise abstaining completely from alcohol during pregnancy — from conception through birth,” the site reads.“The problem with drinking alcohol during your pregnancy is that there is no amount that has been proven to be safe,” said Dr. Jacques Moritz, according to the website.Although experts believe that the rate of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder might be underestimated, it is very difficult to accurately measure the condition.“It's impossible to know what proportion of these deficits were caused by fetal alcohol exposure,” authors of a study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found."We have long thought and believed that estimates that we had previously in the U.S. were pretty gross underestimates," Christina Chambers, a study author and a professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, told CNN at the time. "It's not an easy disorder to recognize."

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[alexdmorgan30]

Morning Roundup: May 2, 2019

Thousands of Teens March in Rally Against Drug Abuse [WVXU]The "We Are The Majority" rally against drug abuse kicked off in Columbus, Ohio, with thousands of teenagers marching. Governor Mike DeWine was also there. "They're carrying a message that... a majority of kids do not do drugs, I think that's a pretty powerful message." New York Bans Alcohol Ads on Most City Property [NY Times]The City of New York has banned alcohol advertising on most city-owned properties including bus shelters, newsstands, recycling bins and wifi kiosks. City officials say the loss of ad revenue is offset by lessening the burden of problem drinking.Former Inmate Now Rutgers Peer Health Navigator for Opioid Use Disorder Recovery [Daily Targum]Joseph Hughes has been through substance abuse, drug dealing, violence, and multiple prison stints. But he's now on the other end of it all, as a peer health navigator for people like him going through a prison treatment program.Texas Lawmakers Approve Marijuana Decriminalization Bill [Forbes]A bill that would decriminalize marijuana possession—by giving out fines instead of arresting people—has passed the Texas House of Representatives. It's now headed to the state Senate.Mary Lambert, Royce da 5'9" Added to MusiCares Concert Honoring Macklemore [Recording Academy]Two more artists join the lineup for the upcoming MusiCares concert in LA, where rapper Macklemore will be honored for his addiction-recovery advocacy. They join Kesha and Fitz and the Tantrums. Disney Full-Park Smoking Ban Goes Into Effect [WPVI]As of Wednesday, smoking is no longer allowed anywhere inside a Disney theme park. This includes water parks and the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.Manhattan Doc Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Careless Opioid Prescribing, Patient Death [SILive.com]Dr. Martin Tesher prescribed opioids to patients while having reason to believe they were addicted to drugs, according to authorities. The doctor was sentenced to 20 years in prison. One of his patients, a 27-year-old Staten Island man, suffered a fatal overdose three years ago.Perspective: I'm Embarrassed by my Prenatal Depression [NY Times]A mom reflects on her experience with prenatal depression. For her, the decision to take medication for it was not a question. She examines her feelings of embarrassment for taking antidepressants throughout her pregnancy.

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Finding Treatment for Lorazepam Addiction

Table of Contents1. What is Lorazepam and What is it Used For? 2. Other Names for Lorazepam 3. Lorazepam Side Effects 4. Lorazepam Overdose 5. Lorazepam Addiction 6. Symptoms of Lorazepam Addiction 7. Lorazepam Withdrawal Effects and Detox 8. Lorazepam Addiction TreatmentLorazepam is a prescription drug that doctors prescribe primarily as a treatment for anxiety. Its purpose is to provide relaxation. While this drug can be beneficial, it also comes with risk. The problem is that it can be habit-forming, which creates a high risk that it will lead to lorazepam abuse and addiction.This drug can cause withdrawal symptoms, so it’s a good idea to stop its use with the help of medical professionals. If you need assistance, a detox and rehab program can help your body and mind adjust to no longer receiving the drug. A high-quality, customized treatment program may help you recover and change your life for the better.What is Lorazepam and What is it Used For?Lorazepam is in the drug class of benzodiazepines, commonly known as benzos. These drugs are tranquilizers that provide a sedative effect. Like other benzodiazepines, Lorazepam depresses the central nervous system. It slows the brain’s activity to provide a calming effect, with the intention of relieving anxiety. Lorazepam comes in tablet, injection and liquid concentrate forms.This medication is used to help the various difficult symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which features a higher than normal level of anxiety or worry for six months or longer. This disorder is also characterized by irritability, fatigue, trouble concentrating and other symptoms.While this drug is mainly prescribed to treat anxiety, it is also used for other health conditions and situations. These include:EpilepsyInsomnia or other sleep difficultiesIrritable bowel syndromeAlcohol withdrawalNausea and vomiting associated with cancer treatmentPre-anesthesia medicationBenzodiazepines are commonly prescribed to people, and Lorazepam is included in the top five most prescribed of this type of drug.Other Names for LorazepamLorazepam is the generic name for this drug. The main brand names are Ativan and Lorazepam Intensol. Nonetheless, Lorazepam is also sold illicitly and is not always referred to as its generic or brand names. You might instead hear Lorazepam called by its street names, which include:BenzosDownersTranqs/tranksNerve pillsLorazepam Side EffectsThe use of Lorazepam may come with a long list of potential side effects. Some of the most serious side effects are cause for seeking immediate medical attention. These include:FeverTrouble breathingTrouble swallowingIrregular heartbeatA consistent tremorInability to sit stillA shuffling walkYellowing of the skin and eyesA severe skin rashThis drug can also cause other side effects that are considered serious if you experience them at a severe level or if they persist. These include:Feeling dizzy, drowsy, tired or weakFeeling restlessExperiencing changes in appetite or sex driveDifficult or frequent urinationNausea or diarrheaDry mouthConstipationBlurred visionIf you experience any of these or other side effects while taking Lorazepam, you should talk to your doctor.In addition, various dangerous side effects can occur from taking Lorazepam along with other types of prescription medicines or other substances. Combining Lorazepam with various medications has the potential to cause sedation, coma or breathing problems that can become life-threatening. You should discuss any other medications you’re taking with your doctor before you take Lorazepam. Also, combining this drug with alcohol or other street drugs can lead to dangerous side effects.Lorazepam OverdoseTaking Lorazepam also has the potential for overdose. A Lorazepam overdose comes with signs such as:SeizuresCollapsingDifficulty breathingNot waking upIf signs of overdose happen, call 911 immediately.Lorazepam AddictionAn addiction to Lorazepam can start by first taking the drug legally according to a doctor’s prescription. Then you can become dependent on it and turn to illegal sources of obtaining more of the drug. It’s also possible to use this drug illicitly from the start. It’s sold illicitly for different purposes, including for the euphoric feeling it creates and for the intention of drugging someone to perform a sexual assault. Also, people often take Lorazepam with other substances either to enhance the effects or to counteract unwanted side effects, such as agitation that can come from using cocaine.Lorazepam has a high risk of abuse. Its use can turn into drug misuse or Lorazepam abuse, meaning that you use the drug differently than its prescription use. For example, you might take higher doses than intended or continue finding the drug and using it after your prescription runs out.Short-term use of up to four weeks has less of a risk of dependence, while ongoing use of this addictive drug can cause both physical and psychological dependence. One problem that can contribute to dependence is that the conditions this drug is used for, such as anxiety, tend to be ongoing rather than short-term. This may cause people to continue using the drug as a long-term way to manage their symptoms, encouraging the risk of dependence. In many cases, doctors extend the prescription and contribute to the risk.When you continue to take lorazepam, your body can develop a tolerance to it. This results in needing to use more of the drug to continue getting the same effects. Your body can become accustomed to the prolonged use and high doses, so it becomes dependent on the drug. Once your body has adjusted to having the drug continuously in its system, you can experience withdrawal symptoms when you try to take it away. This means you are physically dependent on the drug, and you can also develop a psychological dependence. When you become addicted, your behaviors change as your life becomes centered on the drug use.Symptoms of Lorazepam AddictionIt’s not always easy to tell if you’ve become addicted to a substance. The process can happen without you realizing it. Since this is a legal prescription drug, people don’t always take the addiction risk seriously. A main characteristic of addiction is continuing to use the drug even though it’s causing problems in your life.You can determine whether you have become addicted if you’re noticing signs and symptoms of Lorazepam addiction. These include:Being unable or unwilling to cut back or stop using LorazepamNeeding higher doses to achieve the same effectsFeeling like you need Lorazepam to functionExperiencing withdrawal symptoms when you try to cut back or stop the drug useHaving difficulty keeping up with work, family and other responsibilitiesExperiencing problems from the drug use, such as legal trouble and relationship strainUsing more of the drug than you intendedFocusing your life on the drug, using it and how to get moreWithdrawing from people and activities that you previously engaged inYou can also experience changes to your mental and physical health from the addiction. For example, you could experience quick weight, appetite and mood changes.Lorazepam Withdrawal Effects and DetoxEven if you’re taking Lorazepam as directed by your prescription, stopping its use can cause withdrawal symptoms. Because of this, it’s not recommended that you stop using it suddenly but instead that you work with your doctor.Lorazepam withdrawal symptoms include:DizzinessIrritabilityTremorsQuick heart rateSeizuresNauseaChanges in blood pressureA detox program can help you safely and more comfortably get through the withdrawal period. Detox often acts as the first step of treatment before you enter a rehab program. During inpatient detox, you stay in a facility with round-the-clock monitoring and support. In many cases, you will also receive medication to manage symptoms of withdrawal. As an added benefit, staying in a detox facility keeps you away from the substance and triggers, to improve your chances of success with quitting.Lorazepam Addiction TreatmentWhen you are ready for treatment for an addiction to lorazepam, you first need to stop using the medication. This is when entering a detox program or tapering down with your doctor is beneficial. Once the drug is out of your system and you have gotten past acute withdrawal symptoms, you can continue with rehab treatment. This type of treatment focuses on psychological dependence and the unhealthy behaviors you may have developed as part of the addiction.Through individual therapy, group therapy and other approaches within rehab programs, you can explore how you became addicted and learn to change your thoughts, habits and behaviors. The goal of rehab is to help you change your lifestyle from one that’s focused on drug use to one that is healthy and sober.Rehab can also help with co-occurring mental disorders, relationship problems that developed from the addiction and other associated concerns. Focusing on a mental disorder is particularly important in this case, because people with certain ones, such as anxiety and sleep disorders, are more likely to become addicted to benzodiazepines like Lorazepam. Also, it will be harder to stick with recovery if you treat the addiction but continue to have difficulty managing the mental disorder.A customized treatment plan designed to fit your specific needs will be the most helpful. Also, many treatment programs include an aftercare component aimed to keep you on track with recovery. This can help prevent relapse.There are different types of addiction treatment programs you can explore to find the right fit. Some people enter partial hospitalization or outpatient programs, which provide some flexibility and free time while guiding and supporting you to overcome the addiction. An intensive outpatient program (IOP) provides a more comprehensive treatment program that is likely to be more effective than a regular outpatient program. An IOP provides a similar level of support as an inpatient program, which is different because it involves living on-site during treatment.Inpatient programs are generally the most supportive and comprehensive forms of treatment. By living at the facility, your full focus is on recovering, and you are separated from the substance and the triggers of your daily life. You also receive around-the-clock support and care. These facilities tend to include a broad range of services to support your mind, body and spirit, and you also gain a deeper level of peer support from the people living on-site and sharing the experience with you.There are also less intensive forms of treatment, such as office visits with a professional or attending 12-step meetings. Many people need more support than what these and regular outpatient treatment offer. A common approach is to start with an intensive outpatient program or inpatient program and then to continue with one of the less-intensive forms of treatment. This can provide a better transition from rehab back to regular life, helping you prevent relapse and continue with recovery.Lorazepam is an addictive drug, so the risk is high that you’ll become addicted, even if you are following your prescription. If your life has become focused on Ativan or other forms of Lorazepam, treatment can help you undo your dependence and change your behaviors to have a life free of addiction.

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[alexdmorgan30]

Virgin Islands Struggle With Mental Health Crisis After 2017 Hurricanes

The U.S. Virgin Islands are still struggling to recover from the two devastating hurricanes that hit them along with Puerto Rico and the Southeastern continental U.S. in 2017, according to a report by NPR.While they slowly rebuild their island’s infrastructure, schools, homes and businesses, the population is also dealing with a mental health crisis fueled by the stress of disrupted government services, lost jobs and severely damaged homes.Children appear to be having a particularly difficult time. The hurricanes damaged many of the island’s school buildings, forcing them to resort to two four-hour school sessions each school day in order to house and continue education for the kids with half the classrooms.This change appears to have severely disrupted the typical education process for the children of the Virgin Islands, resulting in behavioral problems and widespread mental health issues. The educational disruption comes on top of the initial trauma of surviving two Category 5 hurricanes."We see... regression in behaviors, especially with our little ones who had been potty-trained, reverted to using diapers," says mental health counselor Vincentia Paul-Constantin. "We see a lot of frustration, cognitive impairment, hopelessness and despair” among older children, she added.Researchers have found that 60 percent of adults on the island now suffer from depressive symptoms and/or PTSD, as well as 40 percent of children. According to the report, over 20 percent of students in grades 7-12 reported suicidal thoughts and 1 in 12 had attempted suicide.According to Virgin Islands educators, the past two years have seen a large spike in children acting up in the classroom and an increase in defiant behavior. This has continued even after the schools finally returned to their normal schedule in October 2018."They show up in defiance, actual defiance to authority. We have children who are sleeping in the middle of the day,” said Cancryn Junior High School Principal Lisa Ford. “You try to wake them up, they become angry. And maybe that's what we're seeing — a lot of anger and defiance."The culture on the U.S. Virgin Islands places a lot of shame on mental illness, making people reluctant to seek help. At the same time, there were already very few mental health professionals available. The local government only employed one full-time and one part-time psychiatrist for the entire island, and they and private mental health professionals have reportedly been overwhelmed by a new demand for care.To help combat this problem, Governor Albert Bryan recently declared a mental health state of emergency in order to expedite the recruitment of psychological experts."This is a kind of 'cry in the dark' kind of community," Bryan told NPR. "A lot of that is driven by the stigma. You wouldn't ostracize somebody who had high blood pressure. Why would you ostracize somebody who has some kind of personality disorder?"

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[alexdmorgan30]

Workers Challenge Japanese Tradition of Drinking With Bosses

Younger generation shaking up tradition in the Japanese workplace.These days, “millennials” in the US are drinking less and more venues are catering to sober patrons, according to recent headlines. Apparently, this younger generation―those between the ages 22-37―is generally more mindful of drinking habits than their parents’ generation.There seems to be a similar trend happening in Japan as well. According to a recent Bloomberg report, young people in Japan are shaking things up in the workplace, in particular by skipping out on drinks with the boss and co-workers―a practice called “nominication" that is ingrained in Japanese culture. (Nomu, the Japanese word for drink, plus communication.)Some say that getting after-work drinks with the boss is a great way to de-stress and break the ice between managers and employees. But to others, nominication is unproductive and excludes parents of young children, especially mothers.As Bloomberg reports, “Some women in particular often resent having to entertain their superiors after a long working day.”Saiko Nanri, a banking unit executive at Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. and mother of two teenage daughters, decided to ditch the tradition altogether. She notified her team that she will not participate in nominication. So far, she says, she’s gotten positive feedback from her employees. Parents in particular expressed their appreciation. “It’s not as if I have any special knowledge to share with my staff by drinking with them every day,” she told Bloomberg.Bloomberg observed that “bonenkai”―office parties at the end of the year that are often many employers’ “biggest and booziest” events―is also falling out of favor among millennial workers. A survey from last November showed that more than half of 20-somethings have little interest in these parties.Here at The Fix, we’ve also observed the growing popularity of mindful drinking. It’s easier than ever to live a sober lifestyle. Alcohol-free “mocktails” are becoming more sophisticated, “sober bars” offer a place to socialize, and the market for low- or no-alcohol beverages is growing.It will be interesting to see how this trend progresses and how drinking culture―abroad and stateside―will evolve over time.

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[alexdmorgan30]

Mexico May Legalize Marijuana by Fall of 2019

Mexico may join a growing list of countries with full legalized access to marijuana when lawmakers convene in May to draft a regulation bill that may take effect in late 2019.A key committee member of the country's Senate Justice Committee, which has been tasked with reworking existing marijuana laws in the wake of the 2018 Supreme Court decision to strike down a ban on cannabis consumption, was quoted in a newsletter posted by the Senate that the committee will use an upcoming recess in May to finalize the bill prior to the Supreme Court's deadline of October 2019.Polls currently show that 80% of the public in Mexico support legalization efforts.Senate Justice Committee chairman Ramon Menchaca Salazar said that his group will "take advantage of the recess period," which takes place May 1 to May 30, to finalize legislation, and has already met with Mexico's attorney general to discuss the proposed bill."Canada already decriminalized, and marijuana is decriminalized in several states of the United States," said former senator Olga Sanchez Cordero, who now serves as Mexico's interior minister. "What are we thinking? We are going to try to move forward."Mexico legalized medical marijuana in 2017, but broad legalization efforts were stymied until the Supreme Court decision, which was the fifth such ruling against the recreational pot ban since 2015. Five amparos, or federal injunctions, must be successfully filed before national law can be changed in Mexico, and the Supreme Court ruled on the fifth and final such effort on October 31, 2018, which declared the ban unconstitutional.Marijuana Moment stated that the Senate Health Commission held a hearing on marijuana law reform earlier this month, where lawmakers testified about the realities of regulating such a market. Among the benefits cited were improvements to public health through improvements to production and distribution of cannabis. Regulation could also help curb the violence which, according to legalization supporters, claimed more than 230,000 lives in the country's fight against drug cartels.Maria McFarland Sanchez-Moreno, who serves as executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, issued a press release which stated that "Mexico will demonstrate regional leadership and take an important step towards reforming the misguided policies that have caused such devastating harm in recent decades."As the Motley Fool noted, legalization in Mexico could make the country the largest marijuana market in the world. Population numbers currently hover around 132 million – more than triple that of Canada, which in 2018, reported that one in six adults used marijuana.The Motley Fool also noted that if a similar number of adults in Mexico bought legal cannabis, the country could not only pass sales figures in Canada but also California, the fifth largest economy in the world.

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[alexdmorgan30]

Programs Aim to Bridge Addiction Treatment Gap After Jail

Programs are popping up around the country aiming to help people with substance use disorder stay sober after they are released from jail—a time that can be especially dangerous for those who have been in forced sobriety while behind bars but were not given the necessary treatment to stay sober on the outside.“A lot of people come out of prison, and they don’t have anything, and it’s really hard to be successful,” Judge Linda Bell, who presides over an opioid court in Las Vegas, Nevada, told News3 Las Vegas.The program that Bell oversees helps people released on parole stay sober by connecting them with medication-assisted treatment, housing, counseling and other supports.“If it's still available, I’d like to stay an extra month and continue to stay in sober living,” parolee Clayton Dempster told Bell during a recent court hearing.Bell does her best to help people like Dempster stay sober, but also imposes consequences if they’re not adhering to the terms of their release by staying in recovery.“I have frequent status checks to make sure all of that is going well. If it’s not, I might impose community service or even a short jail sanction,” she said.While programs like the one Bell runs, which is grant funded, are part of the criminal justice system, other programs outside the system are also trying to help newly-released inmates stay sober.In Baltimore, a privately-funded van parked outside the city jail helps people connect with many of the same services provided in Bell’s courtroom, like medication-assisted treatment—bridging the gap that opens when people are released from jail but not put in touch with ongoing services.“This program works,” Michael Rice, a client of the van, told Vox.  Without a functioning government system to help people, especially in cities like Baltimore, private organizations and foundations are left providing lifesaving treatment to people at risk.“There are plenty of high-threshold options, but not enough low-threshold options,” said Natanya Robinowitz, executive director of Charm City Care Connection, which provides treatment services in Baltimore. “If you had a functioning system, it would be very low-threshold.”Because access to treatment can be prohibitively expensive, especially for people who don’t have insurance, jails have become the default detox and treatment facilities for people with substance use disorder.Because of that, there has been more recent support for evidence-driven treatment options like medication-assisted treatment, but still only about 12 percent of jails provide it. Fewer still provide services after a client leaves. However, even in the law enforcement community people are beginning to realize that treatment provided in jails and after release can be lifesaving."We know if you are an opiate user you come in here, you detox, and you go out—it's a 40% chance of OD-ing," said Carlos Morales, the director of correctional health services for California's San Mateo County. "And we have the potential to do something about it.”

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[alexdmorgan30]

U.S. Reps Say Stop Classifying Marijuana as a Dangerous Drug

U.S. Representatives Earl L. Carter and Earl Blumenauer published a call for the government to remove marijuana from the list of Schedule I drugs in NBC News’ opinion section Monday. They argue that marijuana's current classification, which labels cannabis as dangerous and without any medical benefits, has prevented researchers from studying a substance that is being legalized on a medical and recreational basis across the country.Carter, a Georgia Republican, and Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat, believe that it’s past time to remove many of the hoops researchers must go through to even begin to study the effects and medical benefits of cannabis.“[R]esearchers seeking to conduct clinical research must jump through several hoops to submit an application to the FDA and get approval from the DEA before starting their work,” they wrote. “Furthermore, all research efforts must go through the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the cannabis used must be sourced from their authorized facility. In 2016, the DEA announced that it would create a process to license additional manufacturers for research, but it has yet to approve a single application despite bipartisan congressional pressure.”The representatives support their argument by pointing out that over 90 percent of U.S. residents approve of legalizing cannabis for medical purposes and the FDA approved oral cannabidiol (CBD) solution for the treatment of two forms of epilepsy in 2018. They also express concern that not only could the current red tape prevent people from getting treatment that could help them, it could be preventing some from realizing that they “need to pursue a different treatment.”An increasing number of federal U.S. legislators have been getting on board in terms of cannabis decriminalization or full legalization. Recent business deals between large cannabis companies have caused speculation that legalization could be right around the corner in spite of the DEA’s continued refusal to take the drug off of the list of the most tightly-controlled substances.As more states legalize cannabis and more people try it for treatment of physical and psychological illnesses, there has been increasing concern that research has fallen too far behind. As the opioid epidemic has raised questions about what to do about the millions of people who need regular pain relief, U.S. researchers have been unable to quickly and effectively research how well cannabis could act as a full or partial replacement for drugs that are physically addictive and carry the risk of overdose.“The chemistry found only in cannabis plants can provide relief across an incredible array of adverse health states. It does this with minimal side effects and with the prospect of being eminently cost-effective in its use,” said ANANDA Scientific CEO Dr. Mark Rosenfeld.“The medicinal use of cannabis today has its roots in the 1960s, when Israeli scientists began studies on its unique chemistry. A government program for administering medical cannabis has been in place there for 12 years, and doctors do not hesitate to encourage its use as an effective pharmaceutical alternative. Meanwhile, the United States remains regrettably behind because of its draconian and antiquated anti-cannabis laws.”

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[alexdmorgan30]

Parkland Students Find Ways to Cope with Trauma of School Shooting

In the aftermath of the Parkland school shooting, some survivors have created unique outlets to channel their pain.Many are still haunted by what happened on February 14, 2018 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.The impact of the horrific event lives in each survivor, many of whom are struggling to cope with the trauma of what they witnessed. This year, two Parkland survivors died by suicide—16-year-old Calvin Desir and 19-year-old Sydney Aiello, who graduated last year. To bring awareness to the mental health challenges of trauma survivors, People magazine recently caught up with six Parkland students. While they are each battling the trauma within, some have transformed their pain to help others.Carlos Rodriguez, 18, created Stories Untold, a Twitter-based platform for victims of gun violence to share their stories. The platform has created a community of support and activism for not only Parkland survivors, but anyone affected by gun violence.Eden Hebron, 16, is processing the trauma with a therapist. It has helped her, but unfortunately, she says, not everyone is open to therapy. “Some families still consider it, like, ‘Oh, it’s a shrink. Are you going to talk your feelings out?’”Hebron has created a mobile app to help people find ways to cope with stress, anxiety and depression. With her app, people can learn ways to address these symptoms.“So many kids have anxiety,” Hebron told People. “This shooting impacted people all over the country. This app is a way to give them the tools to help themselves.”Kai Koerber, 18, launched Societal Reform Corp, a non-profit organization working to establish mental health programs in schools. “We need to put mental health on equal standing with gun control,” said Koerber.Today, the need for mental, emotional, and trauma support is greater than ever. These young people are leading the charge and doing the work to provide themselves and others with effective coping strategies.“I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget what I saw in that classroom,” said Hebron. “You can try to imagine, you can try to sympathize… but nobody understands how it feels to be in a room and literally feel, ‘These are the last moments of life.’”

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[alexdmorgan30]

Morning Roundup: May 1, 2019

My Life as a Closet Smoker: How I Hid the Truth from the Ones I Loved [CBC]Cigarettes became a source of comfort for this writer—but anxiety and fear came with it. "Twenty years ago, my dad had his last cigarette. That was also the day he had his first heart attack."Profound Experiences Linked to Mental Health Benefits [Johns Hopkins University]Encounters with God or other spiritual epiphanies and their impact on well-being are the subject of this Johns Hopkins study. The survey respondents included people who experienced God with/without taking psychedelic substances.Alcohol Ads in Sport Fuel Drinking Culture [Monash University]The global alcohol industry accounts for roughly 20% of all sports sponsorships. How does this impact attitudes toward drinking? 'What Do You Say to Parents Whose Children Died Taking Your Drugs?' [60 Minutes]On last Sunday's 60 Minutes, producer Bob Anderson is seen in Shanghai "ambushing" a man accused of distributing fentanyl to the U.S. This report gives a more in-depth look at the drug maker "Gordon Jin."Teen Drug-Dealing Convictions Up Two-Thirds in Five Years in England and Wales [Guardian]The number of teens 14-18 years old convicted for possession with intent to sell drugs in England and Wales rose by more than two-thirds in five years, according to a new report. Advocates say that criminalizing young people is not the answer.Amy Klobuchar Has a Plan to Reverse the Drug War—And Doesn't Need Congress To Do It [Vox]U.S. Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Amy Klobuchar laid out her criminal justice reform plan in a recent op-ed. Establishing a clemency advisory board and a White House criminal justice reform adviser are included in her plan.What Happens to the Drugs That Get Taken from 'Drug Take Back' Events? [WTMJ]Last Saturday was another DEA Drug Take Back Day. What happens after your drop off your unused drugs? A New Movement Aims to Vastly Deregulate an Addiction Treatment [STAT News]Why can't doctors who prescribe opioids also prescribe drugs to treat opioid addiction? That's the question fueling a movement to expand access to addiction medicine.

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[alexdmorgan30]

How to Manage Depression: 6 Simple Reminders

Depression is not easy.If depression is new to you, or coming back after a long absence, you need to give yourself time and patience to adjust to new ways of being. I’ve had depression most of my life, but I am learning to live differently than I once expected myself to. Even though it may feel strange and uncomfortable, try to be kind to yourself and give yourself space to take things slowly.1. Dealing with FatigueI can see it begin to creep up on me. Depression, self-consciousness, low self-esteem, loneliness, tiptoeing towards me. I'm cornered and I don't see an exit plan. At the moment, I'm still using fancy footwork to confuse and tire out those demons. Behind me, on the other side of the wall, is joy. I want to turn to that entirely, but a wall separates us. It’s exhausting.A feeling of deep tiring sorrow is just one possible symptom you may experience with depression. For me, fatigue is a debilitating part of my daily life. It's constant and powerful. Even when everything else is good on a particular day and my symptoms are minimal and I feel joyful, I will still be tired. My heavy fatigue makes everything more difficult to do.Part of practicing self-care is that I don’t fight the fatigue; I accept it and adapt. Instead of trying to force myself to do what my body cannot, I adjust my tasks and expectations of myself to better suit my abilities.2. Occupy Your TimeAnd now I'm stuck here, me and depression. I can't look directly at it. But it senses my weakness and fear. My defenses are down. I want to go on the attack and Charlie's Angels my way out of here. But fear keeps that thought bubbling just below the surface, it remains ideation and not action. I turn every which way, eyes darting here and there. Nothing stays in focus longer than a few seconds.To deal with the short attention span, I find it helpful to occupy myself with a variety of distractions. Find things to do that can take up your time, whether that's sleeping a bit more or watching television or playing a game on your phone. Maybe pick up a book, or work on something with your hands. Music can be very soothing. There are times when I'm experiencing sensory overload and have to stop completely, but usually even then if it has the right tempo and volume and no words, music can help.3. BreatheDepression is growing bigger, having eaten Alice's fantasies. It's the demon in Spirited Away, gluttonous for pain. Now my head hurts and I can't remember what I did in the past to get out of this corner. I sink to the floor, close my eyes and take several deliberate breaths. In and out, focusing only on that breath. When I open my eyes, I can see a sinister troll cackling behind Depression.Depression’s troll tells me that I don't know who the girl smiling in my photos is. That the joyful image I sometimes portray isn't me. Depression tells me, “You don't know where that joy is, what a facade. What a phony getup.”When the anxiety that often accompanies depression rushes in, what helps me (even when it helps only a little) is to take a few seconds to just remember how to breathe. In and out, deep and slow. If I can close my eyes for those few seconds, even better; thinking just about the breath. Sometimes it helps a lot, sometimes it provides only those few seconds of relief; either way, it presses pause on everything else and lets my body relax for a moment.4. Accept YourselfWhen I get closer, not to examine but because I am no longer running away from it, I can see my depression for what it really is. It looks ridiculous, rubbing its hands together like a cartoon villain. I push myself up off the ground and walk up to Depression. I want to make it cower in terror, but when I stand up it shrinks down and the costume falls to the floor in a heap. I can see the air pump in the back that was blowing it up to such a size. Then I notice the heart of the facade is not a demon or a monster. It's a sad little girl who looks just like me, maybe she is me. Her armor has been taken away and she is vulnerable. She looks at me with fear. I swear one of the most common inspirational phrases in a Pinterest black hole is “Let it go.” When it comes to depression, I don't know if letting go is as useful of a strategy as acceptance. They’re distinct routes to finding contentment. Moving on from a painful feeling or experience requires the ability to process memories and have healthy emotional control. Letting go implies that you can “get over it” and move forward. Someone who has depression cannot just “let it go.” Depression is a diagnosable medical condition. It affects many more aspects of life than just emotional. Some symptoms can severely impact quality of life.Acceptance, on the other hand, is a powerful tool that people with depression can actually use. My negative feelings are recognized and the sad thoughts that come in are not to be trusted as the whole truth, they’re just there because I have this condition. Acceptance takes away some of depression’s power. Resisting depression is exhausting and doesn’t make it disappear. But practicing acceptance changes the lens through which we see our depression, making it more manageable.5. Practice Self-CompassionShould I destroy her, now that I've emerged the victor? No, I won't do that. She needs love. I don't embrace her in a hug, not yet, but I do walk up to her and bend down to her height. I want to tell her something, but no words come, so I just give her a small kind smile. We will get to know each other. She will see that everything will be okay, and I will see pain at its correct size, not in its monstrous manifestations.Be compassionate with yourself. Without self-compassion we can spiral so quickly and we only prolong our own suffering. Self-compassion is a continual process that can be started over at any moment. It simply means being nice to yourself. Treat yourself with gentleness and forgiveness. With every negative thought about yourself, throw in a dose of self-love (even when you don’t believe it). Dis-identify from your thoughts.Self-compassion can reduce the severity of anxiety disorders, depression, and improve success rates of sobriety. Researchers have found that self-compassion lowers how harshly we judge and criticize ourselves. Mindfulness inspired the notion that self-compassion may be an effective therapeutic tool and self-compassion is like a stepping stone for practicing mindfulness. This is critical for people who blame themselves for their own suffering, since a lack of self-compassion perpetuates an unhealthy cycle of self-hate and aversion to treatment (i.e.; why get treatment when you don’t think you deserve it?).6. Love Yourself and Your DepressionThis isn’t some emo quote on MySpace, it’s a simple piece of advice that can bring around positive results. Loving your depression doesn’t mean you love feeling this way, but it means you accept your current reality and are willing to feel it. Feel what you feel. Accept what you feel. Love yourself and your feelings. I know firsthand the changes that can come when you stop fighting yourself and start loving yourself, in all your manifestations.Please share your tips for dealing with depression in the comments.

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[alexdmorgan30]

Fewer Employers Screening For Marijuana Use

As marijuana becomes legal in more places, fewer employers are screening potential applicants for cannabis use."We’ve seen that companies have to adapt with what happens with legislation within the country," Lauren Lewis, a recruiter in Buffalo, New York, told WKBW News.According to WKBW’s report, about 21 percent of the U.S. workforce uses cannabis regularly, defined as once or twice per month. That means that employers who disqualify people who use the drug can really reduce their pool of applicants."You can limit yourself from a lot of potential employees by not allowing it,” Lewis said.While employers are more likely to disregard cannabis use outside of work hours, being intoxicated on the job is still unacceptable. However, certain industries take a harder line toward any cannabis use. Federal contractors and the federal government, for example, are required to maintain a cannabis-free workplace.Certain jobs, like those in which people are operating heavy machinery, may be more likely to care about cannabis use, Lewis said. "Because they have really need their cognitive function to perform the position,” she added."Really a lot of companies are really walking a thin line. There is still a lot of gray area regarding marijuana use in the workplace and drug testing for it,” Lewis said.This is especially complicated when a person is using medical marijuana. People who use medical cannabis have argued that denying them for a job or firing them over use violates the Americans With Disabilities Act.In New Jersey a judge recently ruled that employers cannot fire people who test positive for medical marijuana. “The sweeping effect is you can no longer say, 'You (tested) positive — you are outta here,'” Maxine Neuhauser, an employment expert, told NJ.com.The ruling shows that the issue of cannabis use is not black and white, even though marijuana remains entirely illegal at the federal level.“There had been a general belief that since marijuana is illegal under federal law, employers would not have to accommodate its use by employees, even if they had a prescription for it and using it legally under state law,” Neuhauser said. “This appellate case very strongly came down in the opposite direction following the lead of other states confronted with the same issue.”Lewis said that employers are realizing they need to have a more in-depth conversation about cannabis."We have to make sure they are aware and start thinking about thinking a little more open mindedly,” she said.

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[alexdmorgan30]

In UK, Opioids Will Carry Addiction Warning

Prescription opioids in the United Kingdom will carry a prominent warning about the risk of addiction following new recommendations from an opioid policy group.“I have been incredibly concerned by the recent increase in people addicted to opioid drugs,” health secretary Matt Hancock said in announcing the change, according to The Guardian.He continued, “Painkillers were a major breakthrough in modern medicine and are hugely important to help people manage pain alongside their busy lives – but they must be treated with caution. We know that too much of any painkiller can damage your health, and some opioids are highly addictive and can ruin lives like an illegal drug.”The policy decision is based on a recommendation from the United Kingdom’s Commission on Human Medicines, a group that makes recommendations in regards to opioids. The group recommended that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency require manufacturers to label opioids with the warning. “This is an important first step to help minimize the risks of addiction associated with opioid medicines, while supporting patients to get the right information at the right time to support their care,” said Dr. June Rain, director of the agency.In the UK, the prescription rates for opioids have risen 60 percent in ten years. The labeling effort is a way to get ahead of opioid abuse, Hancock said.“Things are not as bad here as in America, but we must act now to protect people from the darker side of painkillers,” he said. “We need to place a greater focus on making sure that these medicines are used appropriately and for pain management alone, and make sure people are fully aware of the risks.”England’s chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, said the warnings are an important way for patients to learn about the dangers of opioid pills.“We know that long-term use of painkillers can lead to life-altering and sometimes fatal addictions – so I am delighted to see measures put in place to raise awareness of the risks of codeine and prescribed drugs,” she said. “It is vital that anyone who is prescribed strong painkillers takes them only as long as they are suffering from serious pain. As soon as the pain starts to alleviate, the drugs have done their job, and it is important to switch to over-the-counter medications which do not carry the same risk of addiction.”In the United States, U.S. senators introduced legislation last fall that would require opioids to be labelled with a warning about their addictive nature. “The path from one bottle of pills for patients who have had their wisdom teeth removed or experienced lower back pain to addiction needs as many roadblocks as possible, and a warning label could help save lives,” said Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts, who sponsored the bill. “In the same way we put warning labels on cigarettes for being addictive and causing death, we need labels to caution patients about the dangers of prescription opioids. It is important that everyone who receives an opioid prescription understand the potential risks, and a sticker on an opioid pill bottle is a consistent reminder.”

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