Archive for August 2017
Twenty Questions to Ask Political Candidates
Preparing for Election Season The United States is approaching a new election season. Most people are aware of the opioid crisis and the imperative to solve it. As voters, we are tasked with choosing the people who can make a positive difference. Now is the time to evaluate the ability of each candidate’s potential…
Read MoreAre Alternative Pain Treatments Effective for You?
Alternative Pain Treatments Most doctors want to help people in pain. Ideally, the care would be provided in such a way that there would be little or no risk to our patients. If we could wave a magic wand (or don an enchanted stethoscope), we would be happy to replace opioids with alternative, non-pharmacologic treatments.…
Read MoreIs Consuming Energy Drinks a Predictor of Substance Abuse?
Energy Drinks and Subsequent Drug Abuse A study by the Center on Young Adult Health and Development, University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, found a correlation between energy drink consumption and subsequent drug use during young adulthood. Published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the research showed, “The typical…
Read MoreWhich Contributes More to the Opioid Crisis: Hopelessness or Overprescribing?
Opioids Affect the Workplace The headline of a story on the social network site, LinkedIn, reads, “The opioid crisis is creating a fresh hell for America’s employers.” The story talks about how deeply prescription and illicit painkillers, including fentanyl, have affected the workplace. At an Ohio-based pottery company, the owner no longer requires applicants to…
Read MoreWill Brain Injuries End the Game of Football?
Sports are central to American culture; they teach kids the concepts of hard work, perseverance, and teamwork. Each sport has its own risks for specific injuries, but football is particularly dangerous because it can cause extensive damage to the brain. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that…
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