Government Sets Up Special Website
Our government has set up a special website for those of us effected by the currant resession. It’s called A Guide to Getting Through Tough Economic Times and was set up by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
There is information about recognizing signs of depression and suicide and provides links to help if you have any of those problems. See the site here.
This could be a good resource for those who are overly stressed about losing their homes , cars, and/or jobs.
Housing First for Homeless Alcoholics
A recent study concludes that giving shelter to homeless alcoholics without making them quit drinking can save taxpayers millions of dollars. People staying at the shelter were also found to drink 2% less per month that they stayed with the program.
The study involved 95 people from 2005 to 2007 , those people were compared to those still on the street waiting to get into a program. This program is called Housing First and can help these people to stayout of jails and emergency rooms, which saves a lot of money right there. It’s also found that those with this program drink less and less, the longer they stay in the program.
The researchers say that after only 12 months in the program the 95 people in the study cut costs by more than 4 million dollars, compared to the prior year.
During the prior year they cost more than 4000 dollars each in costs for things like
- detox centers
- jails
- alcohol programs
- emergency room
- hospital costs
and that’s per month. However after they started the program the monthly costs for an individual dropped to $1,492 after about six months, and to $ 958 each after 12 months, for a total of over 4 million. Without the program the average cost per person is about $86,062 compared to a cost of $13,440 each for the program per individual. Add in the factor that these people are drinking less the longer they stay, this sounds like a wonderful type of program all around.
Pistachio’s May Be Contaminatied With Salmonella
A pistachio processor issued a recall due to potential contamination. A few people have become ill and the FDA is with the California Department of Public Health investigating the matter. The name of the company is Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc.
The company says this has nothing to do with the contamination of peanuts we’ve had, and involves about 1 million pounds of the nuts. Also since pistachio’s are used in a lot of other products, there could be more foods recalled because of this. A small amount that was shipped out in 2008 was found to be positive , so who knows how much more is contaminated that wasn’t tested. It’s highly suggested that you avoid all pistachio’s for now as well as any other food products that may have them as an ingredient.
Nursing Home Tragedy
I just wanted to mention the recent shooting that claimed seven lives, one a nurse and the other six residents at a nursing home two days ago.
Thus far as I’ve heard the suspect is in custody however no reason has yet to be provided as to why this happened.
Nursing homes are one of the few places that you don’t expect to see this type of violence. We’re used to it happening in schools. malls, and offices, but nursing homes are of an innocent nature. The elderly and the ill come to these homes to find peace and quiet and make the most of their conditions, either before they die, or before they are made better.
Our sorrow goes out to those who are survivors of this tragedy and we certainly hope this never happens again.
Teens and Depression
A medical panel wants to have all American teens tested routinely for depression. They say over 2 million teens suffer from depression.
I’ve got mixed feelings on this issue. What bothers me mostly is while they’re testing for depression, what if they find something else? What if they only find early symptoms of depression, or another mental disorder. Will they be forced to take meds? Therapy? Other treatments? Also how will this effect future medical or mental problems?
I guess the biggest problem is the fact that it will be government run, it seems. You see how well everything else in our country is run.
Food and Your Health
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the relationship of what you eat to your health and illnesses and I am overwhelmingly convince that if we eat the right foods in the right portions and exercise, we would avoid so many mainstream illnesses.
If you believe in a creator, imagine all the warnings he’s put here in regard to this. You would think we would learn from others mistakes, but human nature is to find out for ourselves, and usually when we are finally convinced, it’s too late.
Try a few days without using sugar, or salt, or red meat and processed and fried foods, and see how strange it is to go back to it, and how easy it was to go without it. It’s like a snowball that rolls down a mountain and winds up a boulder at the bottom. First you gain weight and as you age you may develope diabetes, which brings on kidney failure, loss of vision, and heart problems. All of that needless disease when a proper diet could have avoided all of it. Think about it and if you are a strong person, try it and see how you feel after a couple weeks or a month. It could change your life!
See articles at http://healthylifefoods.blogspot.com and http://dyingforfood.blogspot.com
Clinic Raided by Feds
There is a clinic in San Francisco that gave out free medical marijuana out to poor people. They were operating legally with a temporary permit given to them by the Department of Public Health.
The DEA couldn’t even give the reason for the raid and the removal of virtually all plants, grow lights, and marijuana, just saying that the reason is under “the courts seat”, and that it’s suspected of violating state or federal law.
Maybe the DEA should busy itself trying to stop the crack and coke that flood our neighborhoods and destroy peoples lives. People, get your priorities in order!
When a Medical Test Makes You Sick
This story involves the Veterans Administration Hospitals in several states and colonoscopies done without the tubing on the equipment being properly sterilized.
How would you like to be told that the colonoscopy you had five years ago may have had body fluids from another person on the equipment that was inserted into your body, and that you now have to get tested for HIV, and hepititis.
They are saying that the tubing on the machine was cleaned only at the end of the day and not in between patients, and that some of these machines had wrong valves on them that could promote contamination.
The VA seems none too willing to discuss this but hundreds of people are having to now be tested for diseases they may have picked up from the VA hospitals. If you have had a colonoscopy within the past five years at a Veterans Hospital call and find out if you need to come in for some additional testing. Remember, better safe than sorry.
March is Brain Injury Month
Doctors want people to know that brain injuries can fool you by not having symptoms for hours or a couple days after the injury occurs. Even minor hits to the head can be deadly. Here are some things to look for after an injury occurs
- loss of consciousness
- severe or bad headache
- change in mental status like agitation or confusion
- problems with speech
- numbness or tingling on one side of the body
Doctors say if you experience any of these you should get to the hospital quickly. A hit to the head can cause a blood clot on the brain and must be treated accordingly.
Chinese Pulls Johnson’s & Johnson’s
After all the sickness and deaths that Chinese products have caused over the last few years, they are now up in arms against the cancer causing chemicals said to have been found in some popular baby toiletries.
They have pulled J & J’s products from over 3000 of their stores in one Chinese city so far. J & J’s has said again that they do not add the chemicals, and that the trace amounts found have been deemed acceptable by our FDA.
Is this the new China who is now concerned about the health of their people to the extent that they would pull the products before even finishing their own lab investigations? Or is this vindictive China who is trying to get back at the US for nailing them on the heperin and formula situations? Or maybe a combination of both?