Don't drink the water. At least that is what scientists are starting to say.
Traces of over the counter drugs are turning up in drinking water.
How you ask? A fraction of every dose passes through the human body unmetabolized. The waste product exits the body into the sewer. The sewer water is treated at a plant but even plant officials say the water is only tested for familiar chemicals and toxins, not things like naproxen, Ibuprofen or other sedatives.
The problem is there is not much scientific evidence on the long-term effects of exposure to the drugs in this form.
But scientists say just because there is not enough research to know how if will affect humans, doesn't mean there is not a problem.
Research done on wildlife has found results somewhat unsettling. Pharmaceuticals in river and lake water are being blamed for “feminized” male fish and other changes observed in earthworms and zoo plankton.
Scientists are conducting further research to try to determine it is harmful to humans.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Drunkorexia - Lastest Trend Disorder
Drunkorexia, it is the latest trend eating disorder. This ailment involves consuming little or no food to offset the calories of ingesting an alcoholic beverage.
The illness mainly affects college-age women who are binge drinkers.
“There are women who are afraid to put a grape in their mouth but have no problem drinking a beer,” said Douglas Bunnell, the director of outpatient clinical services for the Renfrew Center, based in Philadelphia.
About 25 to 33 percent of bulimics also struggle with alcohol or drugs, according to a study published last year in the journal Biological Psychiatry. Between 20 and 25 percent of anorexics have substance abuse problems, the study found.
Psychologists say patients with eating disorders usually develop them for a need to numb emotional pain stemming from distress such as sexual abuse or childhood trauma.
Drink Never Eat
Eating Disorders 101
Avoiding Alcohol Abuse
The illness mainly affects college-age women who are binge drinkers.
“There are women who are afraid to put a grape in their mouth but have no problem drinking a beer,” said Douglas Bunnell, the director of outpatient clinical services for the Renfrew Center, based in Philadelphia.
About 25 to 33 percent of bulimics also struggle with alcohol or drugs, according to a study published last year in the journal Biological Psychiatry. Between 20 and 25 percent of anorexics have substance abuse problems, the study found.
Psychologists say patients with eating disorders usually develop them for a need to numb emotional pain stemming from distress such as sexual abuse or childhood trauma.
Drink Never Eat
Eating Disorders 101
Avoiding Alcohol Abuse
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Queens Hero Arrested
New York City police have arrested a cab driver who started out as a hero.
The cab driver turned in an infant to a Corona firehouse, claiming his passenger abandoned the in his back seat. He told cops a male rider asked him the pull over so he could make a phone call and never returned for the child.
Now police say he is lying.
NYPD said the driver never had a passenger in the cab with him. He took the baby to the fire department alone.
It turned out the scheme was to help a Bronx father who said he was not able to take care of the six-month-old.
Police arrested the cab driver, the baby’s aunt and the cab driver’s roommate for all playing a role in abandoning this girl.
Police are still looking for the baby’s parents.
Livery Cab Driver Arrested
More Arrests with Queens Cab Driver
Cab Driver Hero
The cab driver turned in an infant to a Corona firehouse, claiming his passenger abandoned the in his back seat. He told cops a male rider asked him the pull over so he could make a phone call and never returned for the child.
Now police say he is lying.
NYPD said the driver never had a passenger in the cab with him. He took the baby to the fire department alone.
It turned out the scheme was to help a Bronx father who said he was not able to take care of the six-month-old.
Police arrested the cab driver, the baby’s aunt and the cab driver’s roommate for all playing a role in abandoning this girl.
Police are still looking for the baby’s parents.
Livery Cab Driver Arrested
More Arrests with Queens Cab Driver
Cab Driver Hero
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Cheap Cocaine Devastates Argentina
Paco, a highly addictive smokable form of cocaine residue, has flooded the streets of Argentina.
This influx in cocaine flow is due to easily penetrated borders, economic hardship and the weakened restrictions for growing coca.
Brazil is now the second largest consumer of cocaine, preceded only by the United States.
Cocaine flows freely because less than 200 federal police officers patrol Brazil’s 2,100-mile border with Bolivia. Drug traffickers have free rein in Argentina’s airspace; radar only covers 10 percent.
“Cocaine is no longer the drug only of the elite, of high society,” said Luiz Carlos Magno, a Brazilian narcotics officer in the São Paulo State Police Department. “Today kids buy three lines of cocaine for 10 reals,” or about $6. For about $1 in Brazil and about $1.50 in Argentina, users can buy enough of the cocaine for a 15-minute high.
Paco is extremely addictive, especially because the high only lasts a few minutes. The high is so intense some users smoke 20 to 50 cigarettes as day.
Paco is more dangerous than its more natural form. It is composed mainly of chemicals and is usually less than 30 percent pure.
Most of Europe has rejected this cocaine because of the drop in quality; because of this the majority of the drug goes to Argentina and Brazil.
Dealers cut the cocaine with agents such as baking powder, boric acid or lidocaine. This process leads to severe health problems like blood clots and all types of infections.
Cocaine Takes Argentinian Streets
Paco Is No Friend
Paco Devastates Country
This influx in cocaine flow is due to easily penetrated borders, economic hardship and the weakened restrictions for growing coca.
Brazil is now the second largest consumer of cocaine, preceded only by the United States.
Cocaine flows freely because less than 200 federal police officers patrol Brazil’s 2,100-mile border with Bolivia. Drug traffickers have free rein in Argentina’s airspace; radar only covers 10 percent.
“Cocaine is no longer the drug only of the elite, of high society,” said Luiz Carlos Magno, a Brazilian narcotics officer in the São Paulo State Police Department. “Today kids buy three lines of cocaine for 10 reals,” or about $6. For about $1 in Brazil and about $1.50 in Argentina, users can buy enough of the cocaine for a 15-minute high.
Paco is extremely addictive, especially because the high only lasts a few minutes. The high is so intense some users smoke 20 to 50 cigarettes as day.
Paco is more dangerous than its more natural form. It is composed mainly of chemicals and is usually less than 30 percent pure.
Most of Europe has rejected this cocaine because of the drop in quality; because of this the majority of the drug goes to Argentina and Brazil.
Dealers cut the cocaine with agents such as baking powder, boric acid or lidocaine. This process leads to severe health problems like blood clots and all types of infections.
Cocaine Takes Argentinian Streets
Paco Is No Friend
Paco Devastates Country
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Choking "Game" is No Game
Blocking blood and air flow to the body and brain just until passing out in hopes of achieving a "high" is no game. But today, the "choking game" is play to many adolesents.
That is not the biggest problem. Many young people are dying.
"At least 82 children have died in recent years as a result of playing this game," according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The game and it popularity appear to be spreading. Critics say it is because of the internet. It makes information on the game much more accessable.
You Tube has several videos warning against the game but many more on techniques and how to acheive this high.
To spot abusers of this game look for blood shot eyes, marks on the neck, disorientation, and severe headaches.
For the full NY Times story go here.
For the Houston Press story about the chocking game go here.
For more information on games adolesents shouldn't play, visit the GASP site.
What is the choking game?
That is not the biggest problem. Many young people are dying.
"At least 82 children have died in recent years as a result of playing this game," according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The game and it popularity appear to be spreading. Critics say it is because of the internet. It makes information on the game much more accessable.
You Tube has several videos warning against the game but many more on techniques and how to acheive this high.
To spot abusers of this game look for blood shot eyes, marks on the neck, disorientation, and severe headaches.
For the full NY Times story go here.
For the Houston Press story about the chocking game go here.
For more information on games adolesents shouldn't play, visit the GASP site.
What is the choking game?
Monday, February 11, 2008
Huge Art Heist in Europe
What may be the largest art theft in Europe happened Monday, in Zurich.
Three thieves, clad in all black and ski masks strolled into the Emile Bührle Foundation, a private collection just outside of Zurich's city center.
Armed with a gun, one robber ordered staff and visitors to get on the groud. The other two removed four paitings from the walls; Monet’s “Poppy Field at Vetheuil,”
"Ludovic Lepic and his Daughter" by Edgar Degas,
Van Gogh’s “Blooming Chestnut Branches,”
and Cézanne’s “Boy in the Red Waistcoat.”
Their total worth is estimated at $163 million.
The men were seen fleeing in a white car with the trunk open, the paintings there to be seen.
Authorities don't think the theives set out to take these specific paintings. The four that were stolen were all on the same wall. They were also not the most expensive paintings in the gallery.
Last week, two Picasso oils valued at $4.5 million were stolen from a Swiss museum in Pfaeffikon, Agence France-Presse reported.
Authorities do not think these incidents are related.
Three thieves, clad in all black and ski masks strolled into the Emile Bührle Foundation, a private collection just outside of Zurich's city center.
Armed with a gun, one robber ordered staff and visitors to get on the groud. The other two removed four paitings from the walls; Monet’s “Poppy Field at Vetheuil,”
"Ludovic Lepic and his Daughter" by Edgar Degas,
Van Gogh’s “Blooming Chestnut Branches,” and Cézanne’s “Boy in the Red Waistcoat.”Their total worth is estimated at $163 million.
The men were seen fleeing in a white car with the trunk open, the paintings there to be seen.
Authorities don't think the theives set out to take these specific paintings. The four that were stolen were all on the same wall. They were also not the most expensive paintings in the gallery.
Last week, two Picasso oils valued at $4.5 million were stolen from a Swiss museum in Pfaeffikon, Agence France-Presse reported.
Authorities do not think these incidents are related.
Bars are Banning Strollers
Most people don't think of a bar as a place to find children. Obviously they haven't been to many of the trendy pubs in NYC suburbs.
Now so many parents are flocking to the local watering holes, the estabolishments have to post signs: No Strollers.
New York does not have a law keeping minors out of bars. It does say if the person is under 16, they must be accompanied by an adult.
With the recent smoking ban in bars, more parents are lugging their children to the local tavern.
The ususal visitors are flustered by the influx of strollers and babies and the owners are taking notice.
More pubs have posted the sign and the outcry from the parents is getting worse. The nurturers don't see anything wrong with their invasion.
Some inns have been forced to take down the No Strollers sign. Neither side is happy.
For more information on this story and others like it: No Babies in the Bars
Bar Bans Strollers
Lift on the Stroller Ban
Children-Free Pub
Now so many parents are flocking to the local watering holes, the estabolishments have to post signs: No Strollers.
New York does not have a law keeping minors out of bars. It does say if the person is under 16, they must be accompanied by an adult.
With the recent smoking ban in bars, more parents are lugging their children to the local tavern.
The ususal visitors are flustered by the influx of strollers and babies and the owners are taking notice.
More pubs have posted the sign and the outcry from the parents is getting worse. The nurturers don't see anything wrong with their invasion.
Some inns have been forced to take down the No Strollers sign. Neither side is happy.
For more information on this story and others like it: No Babies in the Bars
Bar Bans Strollers
Lift on the Stroller Ban
Children-Free Pub
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