Waupun Wisconsin Locks Child With Autism in Plywood Box

School officials say that the box is actually a 'room' and the student was only locked inside for 'a few minutes' and it was for everyone's protection.  I don't think it protects people from lawsuits, though.

Link: http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/mother-says-autistic-son-put-in-locked-unventilated-plywood-box/article_696c98b6-a020-11e1-b95b-001a4bcf887a.html

New Study Finds Marijuana Eases Pain and Cramping due to Multiple Sclerosis

Granted, this is a relatively small study which did not look at the harms associated with marijuana use... But the findings may offer some hope to folks with MS in treating pain from muscle spasticity.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/14/us-marijuana-sclerosis-idUSBRE84D0RS20120514

National Association of Drug Court Professionals Cross Country Motorcycle Tour

Drug courts rule!



http://www.nadcp.org/all-rise-america-blog/

New Addiction Terminology to Present Future Challenges

I think this is really fascinating - we are not seeing the DSM-5 (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - version 5) coming closer to publication, and with it are more and more changes to the definitions and in some cases the names of a wide variety of substance abuse related disorders.  These changes, if accepted, may add thousands of people to populations of individuals who need and will depend on treatment services.  Since the DSM is only published once every 10-15 years, I hope the new terminology is as clear and exact as possible.

Linkhttp://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/12/us/dsm-revisions-may-sharply-increase-addiction-diagnoses.html 

Madison Announces Breastfeeding Awards

Someone I know on Facebook has brought to my attention the recent cover of TIME magazine, which shows a young mother breastfeeding her son, who is age three (he will turn four next month).  The article wasn't really about breastfeeding so much as it was about attachment parenting.  Late weaning is just practice of attachment parenting, and the article mentioned that the mom had actually nursed until she was six I think.

Anyway...  The comments that resulted on my friend's Facebook wall were pretty disturbing considering that it's 2012 and the lack of breastfeeding causes death, illness, and other long term health effects not just in this country, but worldwide.

Breastfeeding, in fact has been the target of Facebook itself, as well as a number of municipalities and legislatures who have determined breastfeeding to be gross, weird, profane, or even obscene.  It is a fact that children can breastfeed until any age, and there is no evidence that it is harmful psychologically or developmentally.

I think the moral to this story for me, is that being judgmental about breastfeeding doesn't do anyone any good.  Until you consider that perhaps someone was educated in the process, and then began to see things differently.  In any case, mothers should not be stigmatized for breastfeeding while their children are growing.  Breastfeeding is natural, healthy, and good for both moms and kids.  Period.

I'm glad that my city supports breastfeeding.  Here is a link Madison's Community Breastfeeding Award recipients: http://www.cityofmadison.com/news/view.cfm?news_id=3207

Link for more info about breastfeeding: http://www.llli.org/

Obesity in America: By the Numbers

A PBS NewsHour story looks at obesity in America in conjunction with new data from the Centers for Disease Control and the Institute of Medicine (IOM).  There also is a new HBO special out. Visit Obesity in America: By the Numbers for more information.  Here's some of the findings below from the PBS NewsHour site.



There's also an interactive map and more information via http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/05/obesity-in-america-by-the-numbers-1.html

New Website on MDMA and PTSD; New Study Approved by FDA

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelics Studies (MAPS) has launched a new website on MDMA (commonly known as Ecstacy) research with regard to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  Here's a clip of a study location in Canada as they go through the Canadian government approval process:

There is also word that MAPS has been approved to start clinical tests in Boulder, Colorado, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which would be the first step toward approval of the drug's use in treatment.

Links:  http://www.mdmaptsd.org/ and http://www.maps.org/media/update/

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Did you know that 1 in 4 people have a diagnosable, and thus treatable mental illness?  Don't let mental illness get in the way of you reaching for your full human potential, or that of a loved one.  Please help raise awareness about mental health issues, which in turn will decrease stigmatization and help people get more and better treatment.

Link: http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/may

DEA Arrestee Languished in Holding Cell for Days

A man in California nearly died while being detained for several days in a holding cell without food or water by the Drug Enforcement Agency.  The man, a college student who was not charged with any crimes, was picked up during a drug raid at a friend's house.  He apparently survived by drinking his own urine, and is currently recovering after spending three days in an Intensive Care Unit.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime_and_courts/student-nearly-dies-when-dea-leaves-him-in-cell-for/article_0ed9cdca-9520-11e1-b772-001a4bcf887a.html