By David Berner, Vancouver Sun, July 19, 2013
A report by the B.C. Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS on harm reduction programs and Insite released last month is not science; it's public relations.
Authors Drs. Julio Montaner, Thomas Kerr and Evan Wood have produced nearly two dozen papers on the use of Insite. They boast of good results in connecting addicts to treatment but convincing evidence is lacking.
The current campaign reports significant reductions in drug overdoses, yet the Government of British Columbia Selected Vital Statistics and Health Status Indicators show that the number of deaths from drug overdose in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside has increased each year (with one exception) since the site opened in 2003. In addition, the federal government's Advisory Committee on Drug Injection Sites report only five per cent of drug addicts use the injection site, three per cent were referred for treatment and there was no indication the crime rate has decreased, as well as no indication of a decrease in AIDS and hepatitis C since the injection site was opened.....click "Read More" below to continue....
6/24/13
Parents can help kids stay away from drugs
Published: June 24, 2013
Drs. Oz & Roizen's Tip of the Day:
The list of movies aimed at kids that show (supposedly) loveable stars who use drugs is long and well-known: There's "Cheech and Chong," "Harold & Kumar" and the entire "Hangover" series.
Helping teens stay away from recreational drugs is a big job and one that, unfortunately, some parents don't feel they're up to or don't feel they have the clout to make a difference.
That's info from a new survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration after talking with more than 67,000 Americans over the age of 12.
The upshot: 22 percent of parents don't think what they say about drug use will change how their children act.
But research shows that nothing could be further from the truth. Among kids who feel their parents strongly disapprove of marijuana use, only 5 percent are willing to risk it; but more than 30 percent of kids whose parents don't make their anti-drug message clear are willing to experiment with pot.
Mom and Dad, you are the health guides in all areas - from drugs to doughnuts to sleep.
When you don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk (we love families who get walking together, aiming for 10,000 steps a day), you are amazingly influential.
So gather your kids around (even those teenagers), plan a family meal, schedule regular family walks and set aside time for conversations about the importance of a healthful lifestyle for better grades, higher self-esteem and a brighter future.
Mehmet Oz, M.D., is host of "The Dr. Oz Show," and Mike Roizen, M.D., is chief medical officer at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. To live your healthiest, visit sharecare.com. Distributed by King Features Syndicate.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/06/24/2629040/parents-can-help-kids-stay-away.html#storylink=cpy
Drs. Oz & Roizen's Tip of the Day:
The list of movies aimed at kids that show (supposedly) loveable stars who use drugs is long and well-known: There's "Cheech and Chong," "Harold & Kumar" and the entire "Hangover" series.
Helping teens stay away from recreational drugs is a big job and one that, unfortunately, some parents don't feel they're up to or don't feel they have the clout to make a difference.
That's info from a new survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration after talking with more than 67,000 Americans over the age of 12.
The upshot: 22 percent of parents don't think what they say about drug use will change how their children act.
But research shows that nothing could be further from the truth. Among kids who feel their parents strongly disapprove of marijuana use, only 5 percent are willing to risk it; but more than 30 percent of kids whose parents don't make their anti-drug message clear are willing to experiment with pot.
Mom and Dad, you are the health guides in all areas - from drugs to doughnuts to sleep.
When you don't just talk the talk, but walk the walk (we love families who get walking together, aiming for 10,000 steps a day), you are amazingly influential.
So gather your kids around (even those teenagers), plan a family meal, schedule regular family walks and set aside time for conversations about the importance of a healthful lifestyle for better grades, higher self-esteem and a brighter future.
Mehmet Oz, M.D., is host of "The Dr. Oz Show," and Mike Roizen, M.D., is chief medical officer at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. To live your healthiest, visit sharecare.com. Distributed by King Features Syndicate.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/06/24/2629040/parents-can-help-kids-stay-away.html#storylink=cpy
5/24/13
Amanda Bynes whacked on pot
Amanda Bynes taken away in handcuffs wearing bizarre wig after 'throwing bong out window of high rise apartment during marijuana arrest'
By Daily Mail Reporter, 24 May 2013
Amanda Bynes was taken away by police in handcuffs after being arrested for reckless endangerment after allegedly throwing a foot-long bong out of the window of her 36th floor New York apartment.
The incident came after police arrived to speak to the troubled actress about her alleged marijuana use on Thursday night.
She was then taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation before being booked at the police station for criminal of possession of marijuana, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence.... click "Read More" below to continue....
By Daily Mail Reporter, 24 May 2013
Amanda Bynes was taken away by police in handcuffs after being arrested for reckless endangerment after allegedly throwing a foot-long bong out of the window of her 36th floor New York apartment.
The incident came after police arrived to speak to the troubled actress about her alleged marijuana use on Thursday night.
She was then taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation before being booked at the police station for criminal of possession of marijuana, reckless endangerment and tampering with evidence.... click "Read More" below to continue....
5/20/13
Vancouverites still shocked at results of city's liberal drug culture
(Below are two letters in the Letter section of the Vancouver Sun)...
Downtown Eastside's sad state bad for tourism
Re: Tourism a growing, valuable B.C. industry, May 8
Evan Loveless of the Wilderness Tourism Association of B.C. writes eloquently about the growth of tourism in B.C. and how it was recently overlooked as one of the key economic sectors. He also highlighted issues that need to be addressed by the next government of B.C. such as land rights, tenure access and security, planning, transportation and marketing. But there is one issue that challenges our tourism future that was not mentioned: the condition of the Downtown Eastside.
I returned last week from a two-week European vacation. On my second day in the Netherlands, I turned on the CNN International News channel and was stunned to see they had a feature on Vancouver.
After 20 seconds or so depicting the beauty of B.C. and its people, they got to the core of their story: The Downtown Eastside and its drug culture and homelessness.
Needless to say, my excitement at being featured on such a prominent newscast quickly turned to disappointment and sadness.... click "Read More" below to continue....
Downtown Eastside's sad state bad for tourism
Re: Tourism a growing, valuable B.C. industry, May 8
Evan Loveless of the Wilderness Tourism Association of B.C. writes eloquently about the growth of tourism in B.C. and how it was recently overlooked as one of the key economic sectors. He also highlighted issues that need to be addressed by the next government of B.C. such as land rights, tenure access and security, planning, transportation and marketing. But there is one issue that challenges our tourism future that was not mentioned: the condition of the Downtown Eastside.
I returned last week from a two-week European vacation. On my second day in the Netherlands, I turned on the CNN International News channel and was stunned to see they had a feature on Vancouver.
After 20 seconds or so depicting the beauty of B.C. and its people, they got to the core of their story: The Downtown Eastside and its drug culture and homelessness.
Needless to say, my excitement at being featured on such a prominent newscast quickly turned to disappointment and sadness.... click "Read More" below to continue....
3/24/13
Vancouver's drug addiction industry
Harm reduction just keeps addicts enslaved
By Jon Ferry, The Province, March 13, 2013
The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs is meeting in Vienna this week to recommend measures to combat the world drug problem.
But in Vancouver, the war against illegal drugs appears to have been won already by those who favour "harm reduction," with its publicly funded crackpipe kits, safe-injection rooms and "free" heroin and methadone fixes.
This does little more than apply a Band-Aid — as opposed to abstinence-based treatment, which actually gets people off drugs but is frowned upon by the politically correct powers-that-be.
No, the current mantra among grant-hungry activists, medical researchers and politicians is to feed the need, not starve it — which is why as many addicts as ever roam Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
However, I think abstinence may well be making a comeback. And I'm heartened to see two celebs, one local and one international, giving it a new cachet.....click "Read More" below...
By Jon Ferry, The Province, March 13, 2013
The UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs is meeting in Vienna this week to recommend measures to combat the world drug problem.
But in Vancouver, the war against illegal drugs appears to have been won already by those who favour "harm reduction," with its publicly funded crackpipe kits, safe-injection rooms and "free" heroin and methadone fixes.
This does little more than apply a Band-Aid — as opposed to abstinence-based treatment, which actually gets people off drugs but is frowned upon by the politically correct powers-that-be.
No, the current mantra among grant-hungry activists, medical researchers and politicians is to feed the need, not starve it — which is why as many addicts as ever roam Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
However, I think abstinence may well be making a comeback. And I'm heartened to see two celebs, one local and one international, giving it a new cachet.....click "Read More" below...
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