White House releases hopeful 2013 Drug Control Strategy

The new policies include 4 main points:  Promote Education, Support treatment options, Reform the criminal justice system, Reduce stigma and support people in recovery.  Very cool!

Link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/2013-national-drug-control-strategy

Heart disease linked to bacteria, not just fat, from meat

Recent evidence has found that a chemical called TMAO, which is released into the blood after meat consumption, is linked to heart disease.  The chemical is found at much lower levels among vegans or vegetarians.  The research shows that fat is not the only risk factor for heart problems related to eating meat.

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/health/study-points-to-new-culprit-in-heart-disease.html and http://www.npr.org/2013/04/12/177029247/red-meats-heart-risk-goes-beyond-the-fat

Research shows justifiable homicides less than 3% of all gun deaths

The facts are that guns are rarely used for self-defense.  They are almost always used accidentally, to commit suicide, or to commit a crime.

Link: http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2013/04/charts-debunking-myth-guns-self-defense

Music Video: The War on Drugs isn't Working

Article about this video in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/19/opinion/gregory-brothers-the-war-on-drugs-is-a-failure.html

Millions to become eligible for addiction treatment in 2014

This is great news for both people who want to engage in their own recovery or addiction treatment, as well as for those in the field who have been hoping for more support for at least a generation.

Link: http://www.medicaldaily.com/articles/14694/20130416/millions-eligible-addiction-treatment-medicaid-expands-worry-affordable-care-act.htm

Hundreds shot and dozens killed by guns in the U.S. every day

It is disappointing to hear that Republicans and the National Rifle Association are continuing to block legislation on common sense background checks for gun purchases, despite evidence that (1) they work, and (2) they are supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans.

It's amazing that so many people are being injured and killed by guns and that even a simple solution like a background check cannot be agreed on.

Here are some basic facts about gun violence from the Brady Campaign...

2nd Annual Moving for Mental Health Run/Walk Benefit in Madison this Sunday

Join me in supporting Chrysalis, a Madison non-profit working to improve employment outcomes for people living with mental illness in our community, by taking part in a 5k Run or 1 Mile Walk this Sunday, April 21st!

Sponsorships are available, as are other ways to help out.  The race start is right by Batch Bakehouse, Willaby's and Lazy Jane's, so be sure to stop by one of these businesses too!  Registration is online or at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday

More information at http://m4mh.eventbrite.com 

Fasting and Interval Training: the future of weight loss and management?

I saw a great program on PBS tonight called the Truth about Exercise with Michael Mosely tonight.  The research presented in the video match some of the recommendations in the book, the First 20 Minutes by Gretchen Reynolds.

To find out more and watch a preview, visit: http://www.nextavenue.org/blog/3-minutes-exercise-and-two-fasts-week-future-fitness

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

The focus of Alcohol Awareness Month this year is women's health and binge drinking.  Some of the risks are as follows:

• Binge drinking is defined as consuming 4 or more drinks per occasion for women and 5 or more drinks per occasion for men. It is a common and dangerous behavior that contributes to more than 11,500 deaths among women in the U.S. each year—approximately 32 deaths per day.
• In 2009, more than 1 out of every 10 women reported binge drinking during the past 30 days. On average, women who binge drink said they engaged in this risky behavior at least three times per month. Among women binge drinkers, they consume, on average, almost six drinks per drinking occasion, which exceeds the threshold for binge drinking.
• Binge drinking usually leads to impairment, and women who binge drink with greater frequency and intensity put themselves and those around them at increased risk of experiencing alcohol-related harms, particularly if they are pregnant or may become pregnant.
• Binge drinking increases the risk for breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke, all of which are leading causes of death in women.
• Cancer: Alcohol consumption increases the risk for breast cancer and cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and colon.
• Liver Disease: The risk for cirrhosis and other alcohol-related liver diseases is higher for women than for men.
• Heart Problems: Studies have shown that women who drink excessively are at increased risk for damage to the heart muscle than men. Binge drinking can lead to high blood pressure and increase the risk for heart attack and stroke.

- From http://www.cdc.gov/features/alcoholawareness/

More information:  http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/for-the-media/press-releases-a-news-articles/318-ncadd-alcohol-awareness-month and http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ending-addiction-good/201304/alcohol-awareness-month

The House I Live In: A documentary on the failed (and failing) war on drugs

Bravo to PBS' Independent Lens for showing Eugene Jarecki's impressive and thorough documentary on the war on drugs.

Watch The House I Live In Takes a Hard Look at The War on Drugs on PBS. See more from Independent Lens.

Link: http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/house-i-live-in/

Here's to hoping for an end to stigma for people in recovery

I learned today that Roger Ebert, the film critic who recently passed away, was in long term recovery from drinking.  This shouldn't surprise me, or anyone.  What I mean is, that abstinence from drinking shouldn't be abnormal or stigmatizing.

I don't know if Ebert was affected by stigmatization, but it is my personal observation that many people are. It is one of those things that is hard to describe, but you know it when you see it.

The result of stigma is the same. People avoid asking for help, or searching for it themselves. People do not talk about their problem with their closest confidants, nor with their health practitioners.  Often, their problem becomes worse.

The cause of stigma, I believe, comes from several places: the fear of losing a job opportunity or health benefits, or from having insurance rates increased due to having a 'health condition.'  Hopefully, the Affordable Care Act will do something to minimize this since it both ensures more parity for mental health and substance abuse treatment, reduces the costs of coverage, and eliminates discrimination based on previous medical conditions.

Another source of stigma is cultural. The idea that someone who can't control their drinking is someone who is weak in body and mind. They are a failure who must be less of a person because they can't do what 'most people' can do.  The fallacy here is that 'most people' do not overdrink.  Most people do not drink at all, and if they do they drink moderately.  There are some groups of people (college students, for example) who are at greater risk of excessive drinking, but even they move on to moderation or abstinence later on. Still, many people in recovery must plan ahead before weddings, birthdays, and sporting events and think about how they will explain the fact that they are not drinking.

Advertising and media can also play a part in making drinking an option for each and every occasion.   In Wisconsin, where I live, there are few prohibitions against the sale or advertising of alcohol.  I don't think there is anything other than sports logos which receive as much advertising time and money as beer and spirits.

There are many promising signs of change. New groups like Faces and Voices of Recovery are beginning to come out of the shadows and are advocating for their rights and interests. NAMI and other health groups are more inclusive of people with substance abuse issues.  There is more and more information and attention of alcohol use as a public health issue every day.  Behavioral health services and support groups like SMART Recovery are expanding.

Roger Ebert shared his struggles with alcohol in 2009 on his blog (see below).  Being a private matter, I fully support his (and everyone's) decision to disclose personal stories if and when they choose - as well as not to disclose anything at all. But one can only imagine how many people he helped in sharing his struggle and decision to pursue the path of recovery.

Link: http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/08/my_name_is_roger_and_im_an_alc.html

UW-Madison to host free family-friendly Wellness Expo Saturday, April 6th

Check out the Wellness Expo at the UW-Madison this Saturday, April 6th, from 10 a.m. -1 p.m.  More information here: http://recsports.wisc.edu/fitnesswellness-wellness-wisconsinwellnessexpo.html

Healthy Fast Food? Yes, it exists!

My favorite healthy fast food is the all-vegan 'Veggie Grill.' (this is not a paid endorsement...in fact, I am not paid for anything I endorse here) What's yours?

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/07/magazine/yes-healthful-fast-food-is-possible-but-edible.html
 

Refusing to apologize has benefits, in addition to disadvantages

There is a story on NPR today looking at research into the science of apologizing.

Link: http://www.npr.org/2013/04/01/175714511/why-not-apologizing-makes-you-feel-better