Posts belonging to Category 'Addiction And Recovery'

What do you fear?

Question:

One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A.

Response:

One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A.

Hey Mr. A, I try not to watch too much news, and you might do the same.  I just came out of a very deep depression, and while I was fighting it, I would only allow myself to watch positive programs on tv.  I watched one on baby animals on Animal Planet, and I saw an interview with Betty Ford about addiction and recovery..just things that were uplifting and positive.  The news is almost all bad, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.  You can’t help the earthquake victims, or the families of dead U.S. soldiers.. you can just sit there and take it in, and I think too much of that can be detrimental to you, especially if you’re prone to depression and anxiety. When September 11 happened, I was off work on worker’s comp because I had fallen and broken my wrist, and I stayed glued to the tv for a couple of days, and it REALLY affected me.   I finally realized how unhealthy it was to take in that much devastation.  It took me awhile to get over it, I took it very personally.  I cried, I had nightmares, I was just horrified.  It was too much for me.  I finally just turned off the tv and it was the best thing I could have done for myself.  I couldn’t take it anymore. As far as putting a negative spin on things that aren’t even that bad.. you could probably fight that off with CBT.  Gotta watch those negative thought patterns and nip them in the bud.  I know depression makes you see things in a negative context.  If you have a therapist, talk to him/her about this… and if you don’t have one, get one.  It should help. Sara    ^..^< Anxiety, I can’t get nothin done Anxiety destroys all the fun – Pat Benetar

Response:

Thanks, Sara.  I’m doing the CBT thing and do have a therapist.  "Fear" is on my list for my next visit. Thanks again, Mr. A. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A. Hey Mr. A, I try not to watch too much news, and you might do the same.  I just came out of a very deep depression, and while I was fighting it, I would only allow myself to watch positive programs on tv.  I watched one on baby animals on Animal Planet, and I saw an interview with Betty Ford about addiction and recovery..just things that were uplifting and positive.  The news is almost all bad, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.  You can’t help the earthquake victims, or the families of dead U.S. soldiers.. you can just sit there and take it in, and I think too much of that can be detrimental to you, especially if you’re prone to depression and anxiety. When September 11 happened, I was off work on worker’s comp because I had fallen and broken my wrist, and I stayed glued to the tv for a couple of days, and it REALLY affected me.   I finally realized how unhealthy it was to take in that much devastation.  It took me awhile to get over it, I took it very personally.  I cried, I had nightmares, I was just horrified.  It was too much for me.  I finally just turned off the tv and it was the best thing I could have done for myself.  I couldn’t take it anymore. As far as putting a negative spin on things that aren’t even that bad.. you could probably fight that off with CBT.  Gotta watch those negative thought patterns and nip them in the bud.  I know depression makes you see things in a negative context.  If you have a therapist, talk to him/her about this… and if you don’t have one, get one.  It should help. Sara    ^..^< Anxiety, I can’t get nothin done Anxiety destroys all the fun – Pat Benetar

Response:

Well group don’t take this personally  because on top of all my fears, I would hate for you to have to think of me projecting ( love that word) another one to comprehend :  but I must meet head on:  cheesy bread By the way if your scared of heights like me, what would you choose going up in the mountains and standing on a  stone edge 10,000 feet up  or What? Die? I don’t think I would choose the stone, thats how scary fear would get for me.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mr. A. I do the same thing. I seem to take everything personally. I used to wake up with nightmares and an anxiety attack after watching something sad or tragic on the news or even on a t.v. show. I quit watching the news after 9-11. I just read my local paper and briefly skim the headlines on AOL news. The news is way to graphic and detailed for my taste anymore. I am the same way if my family or friends or even strangers tell me something sad that they are dealing with. I feel like it is happening to me too. I do think this is a common thing for anxiety sufferers. we are more sensitive to what others are feeling. As for dealing with it,I havent figured out completely yet how to do that. I can quit watching the news and disturbing t.v. programs but there is still so much sadness and grief and pain all around us that its impossible to completely ignore everything that might upset us. Deb . One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A.

Response:

Is this common and how do you deal with it?

yes it is called overempathizing. One way to stop doing it is to cease reading newspapers and watching the news. The next step is learning to see the world as a less dangerous place and to place yourself higher in the order of your universe so you can create boundries between realistic and rational levels of empathy and overkill of caring more then is appropriate (or rather learning to compartmentalize ones care into proactive packets of doing something to help others or the world in which you live rather then feeling helpless and hopeless about it) LM

Response:

Thanks for all of your responses to my question on fears. It seems that I don’t fear people.  I’ve pretty much gotten along well with virtually everyone all my life and find that I do better now if I interact with people.  It is just everything else that I fear.  DUH! I’m going to talk about the fear thing with my psychologist this week and see what she thinks. :-) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Mr. A. I do the same thing. I seem to take everything personally. I used to wake up with nightmares and an anxiety attack after watching something sad or tragic on the news or even on a t.v. show. I quit watching the news after 9-11. I just read my local paper and briefly skim the headlines on AOL news. The news is way to graphic and detailed for my taste anymore. I am the same way if my family or friends or even strangers tell me something sad that they are dealing with. I feel like it is happening to me too. I do think this is a common thing for anxiety sufferers. we are more sensitive to what others are feeling. As for dealing with it,I havent figured out completely yet how to do that. I can quit watching the news and disturbing t.v. programs but there is still so much sadness and grief and pain all around us that its impossible to completely ignore everything that might upset us. Deb . One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A.

Response:

Huh?  I fear Cheesy bread. Please don’t get too carried away Vicki , sometimes my jokes fly and other times they don’t. Maybe you haven’t seen the Pizza hut commercials for cheesy bread. lol

Response:

HI all..sorry been dealing with the hubby he has been very ill….what affects me…the news really does not bother me that much…but there are other things that do…crowded places, fear of being trampled, crushed, smothered….i also fear failure..being homeless and broke…i fear losing my loved ones…i fear death everytime my hubby has a heart attack i fear rejection from my family at times One of my PA’s deals with the floor collasping underneath me…i am kinda dealing with that one right now…it is on my  list right at the top of ..fears to overcome..cause i get this one a lot… I am changing therapists…at the moment.. i was told to find a psychotherapist..it seems doc wants me to face the fears …the time has come  to do this..i feel ready to go there…i do not know if i will succeed…but i am willing to fight the battle….maybe if  can get the mind straight a little more…i can deal withthe rest of it…sigh….my journey continues… Ya know some nites when i take my meds i think…to myself…another day i made it through with out to much …i take life one day at a time…i face my fears..one at a time…and sometimes when it gets to be to much…i am kind to myself..i take a long hot bath…light a few candles…relax with music…or write poetry….drink some herbal mint tea..and call it a day…sometimes it is best to take that time at least once a day…and just escape the world…no tv, no news shows…just you and some relaxing things…Ya know, Later All, Mel…:)

Response:

HUH?

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well group don’t take this personally  because on top of all my fears, I would hate for you to have to think of me projecting ( love that word) another one to comprehend :  but I must meet head on:  cheesy bread By the way if your scared of heights like me, what would you choose going up in the mountains and standing on a  stone edge 10,000 feet up  or What? Die? I don’t think I would choose the stone, thats how scary fear would get for me. Hi Mr. A. I do the same thing. I seem to take everything personally. I used to wake up with nightmares and an anxiety attack after watching something sad or tragic on the news or even on a t.v. show. I quit watching the news after 9-11. I just read my local paper and briefly skim the headlines on AOL news. The news is way to graphic and detailed for my taste anymore. I am the same way if my family or friends or even strangers tell me something sad that they are dealing with. I feel like it is happening to me too. I do think this is a common thing for anxiety sufferers. we are more sensitive to what others are feeling. As for dealing with it,I havent figured out completely yet how to do that. I can quit watching the news and disturbing t.v. programs but there is still so much sadness and grief and pain all around us that its impossible to completely ignore everything that might upset us. Deb . One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A.

Response:

I just don’t watch the news.  I even have my local weather e-mailed to me so I don’t have to watch the news to get it.  I read the paper online so I can pick and choose which articles to click on.  The news especially makes me anxious and has even made me incapacitated with fear so I can relate. — ~Heidi~

One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A.

Response:

One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A.

I think it’s probably pretty common as I hear this a lot.   I tend to take things to heart as well.  And every little thing is a BIG thing to me when I’m anxious.  I don’t watch the news or any news related programs (like Dateline–talk about paranoia mongering!).  I find it does help to avoid them and try to watch only positive things.  I have some tv shows I watch regularly and they don’t bother me. I am not sure how to block the feelings that are coming from someone else. I’ve never figured it out.  I can be in a good mood, but put me in a room with some people and it only takes one in a bad mood to bring me down.  Or being around other really anxious people who haven’t gotten help or even admitted they have a problem (like my husband’s entire family) is a HUGE stressor for me.  There must be some way to block it.  I seem to recall that someone once told me to check my feelings and ask myself "is this coming from in me, or outside of me?"  That might be one way to start trying. I hope that you find a way to work through this.  I really feel for you. Post if you find somethig that works well. Dawn

Response:

Surprisingly, I don’t think the news makes me all that anxious.  Sometimes when it hits close to home, like we had a bunch of robberies around our neighborhood, that got my anxiety pumping, also whenever I hear of another kid getting the flu and dying, that frightens me but it might be more sympathy than fear, or I remember that the sniper shootings got me anxious, not close to home, but very eerie.  But as far as the Iraq situation goes, I pay more attention to the politics of it, I am very against George Bush, I always have been, and whenever I hear of another death I feel depressed for a moment and anxious, but then I just think if I were president it would be different, very different (but of course I could never be president because I would have a panic attack every time I would have to speak in public).  I think I’ve gotten off topic..  No, what I am more scared of is locally, going to school and having an attack in front of everyone, or not being able to get myself out of bed after people expect me to go because I am crying so much and unable to move like last August.  That is what frightens me.  (as you can tell I still haven’t gone to school, but now people are pushing me more and more to go, especially my psych, which before she said I should just take the whole year off)  Off topic again.  I should just quit this post before I go on a rant about the weather… Robin

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A.

Response:

Hi Mr. A. I do the same thing. I seem to take everything personally. I used to wake up with nightmares and an anxiety attack after watching something sad or tragic on the news or even on a t.v. show. I quit watching the news after 9-11. I just read my local paper and briefly skim the headlines on AOL news. The news is way to graphic and detailed for my taste anymore. I am the same way if my family or friends or even strangers tell me something sad that they are dealing with. I feel like it is happening to me too. I do think this is a common thing for anxiety sufferers. we are more sensitive to what others are feeling. As for dealing with it,I havent figured out completely yet how to do that. I can quit watching the news and disturbing t.v. programs but there is still so much sadness and grief and pain all around us that its impossible to completely ignore everything that might upset us. Deb . – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – One thing I notice with my depression and anxiety is that I sort of take everything personally.  I hear bad news, such as deaths in Iraq, and it, for the lack of a better explanation, scares me.  Any thing I hear on the news that is slightly negative gives me the jitters.  Since 99.9% of the news in the US tends to be bad, listening to any news tends to make me anxious. It even goes beyond the news programs.  It is like I’m feeling everyone else’s pain.  Something doesn’t have to be all that bad and I put a negative spin on it. Is this common and how do you deal with it? Mr. A.

Response:

Sister out of control … advice ?

Question:

I just moved back into the house after being gone for 4 years at college . During that time my younger sister evidently developed anorexia/bulemia  . Its driving my mom (and to a lesser degree me ) up the wall . I have taken to hiding any food that i might want up in my room under my bed, because with my sis in the house it is absolutely no telling what will be left in the morning . I mean she eats absolutely unfathomable amounts of food . Then like clockwork she is in the bathroom with the water running 5 minutes later. I will walk into the kitchen and see her and the whole thing just feels surreal it is so weird. She will be making a jumbo sized stack of pancakes and stuffing her mouth with cereal simultaneously . Ive gotten self-conscious about even walking into the kitchen w/ her in there . It makes me feel to uncomfortable . Then she gets up in the middle of the night and goes downstairs and eats god knows what . Its impossible to go to the bathroom w/o seeing little bits of vomit floating on the top or a bit here that she didnt manage to clean up properly . My mom is depressed from going to the grocery store 5 times a week ( i told her not to go , that we would just eat out ) … Anyways . I know there is really nothing anyone can do to help her change . That she is going to have to do it on her own . But i just wanted an opinion on some things . Would it aggravate the problem if my mom just stopped buying groceries. I mean there is really no reason for her to buy them anyways, no one else but my sister gets any of them anyways. She is just tired of the ritual of buying groceries and pretending like she might get to eat some of them . She too, like me, has taken to hiding her most valued food . But I thought maybee just simply buying a locked cabinet might not be a bad idea . I mean, not out of any malice, but simply as a practical pragmatic way of insuring that we have something to eat . Do you think my sis would take this completely the wrong way ? I mean we mean no harm, we just want some way to ensure we have some groceries w/o having to go out for every meal . We know she cant control herself , so we are just being practical . Thats all it means. Anyways, any suggestions are welcome . cheers, e

Response:

Julia- you couldn’t have said it better!!! :)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi,   I understand your frustration and the akwardness the ED creates in your house. I know that it is hard to be a family member of someone who suffers from the ED, but it is also VERY VERY hard for the sufferer. You and your family can do what you want in reaction to her behaviors, but it will not solve anything (perhaps make things worse), because her bingeing is only outside evidence of how intense her internal struggle/pain is. The amounts she eats are only an expression that she is hurting a lot inside.  Gettng a locked cabit or stopping grocery shopping will only make your sister feel even more alone and guilty. Bulimia is a serious illness and eating disorders can kill. Please see her problem as more than an obstacle in the household. You said that she is going to have to change on her own. While it is true that it is the sufferer who must recover and no one can do it for him/her… without support and help, recovery is very, very difficult. -Julia

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I just moved back into the house after being gone for 4 years at college . During that time my younger sister evidently developed anorexia/bulemia  . Its driving my mom (and to a lesser degree me ) up the wall . I have taken to hiding any food that i might want up in my room under my bed, because with my sis in the house it is absolutely no telling what will be left in the morning . I mean she eats absolutely unfathomable amounts of food . Then like clockwork she is in the bathroom with the water running 5 minutes later. I will walk into the kitchen and see her and the whole thing just feels surreal it is so weird. She will be making a jumbo sized stack of pancakes and stuffing her mouth with cereal simultaneously . Ive gotten self-conscious about even walking into the kitchen w/ her in there . It makes me feel to uncomfortable . Then she gets up in the middle of the night and goes downstairs and eats god knows what . Its impossible to go to the bathroom w/o seeing little bits of vomit floating on the top or a bit here that she didnt manage to clean up properly . My mom is depressed from going to the grocery store 5 times a week ( i told her not to go , that we would just eat out ) … Anyways . I know there is really nothing anyone can do to help her change . That she is going to have to do it on her own . But i just wanted an opinion on some things . Would it aggravate the problem if my mom just stopped buying groceries. I mean there is really no reason for her to buy them anyways, no one else but my sister gets any of them anyways. She is just tired of the ritual of buying groceries and pretending like she might get to eat some of them . She too, like me, has taken to hiding her most valued food . But I thought maybee just simply buying a locked cabinet might not be a bad idea . I mean, not out of any malice, but simply as a practical pragmatic way of insuring that we have something to eat . Do you think my sis would take this completely the wrong way ? I mean we mean no harm, we just want some way to ensure we have some groceries w/o having to go out for every meal . We know she cant control herself , so we are just being practical . Thats all it means. Anyways, any suggestions are welcome . cheers, e

Response:

I’m wondering how you think the family ought to react to food being stolen and vomit being left in the bathroom?  What could the family do to support her sister while still maintaining their right to a household with food available for everyone and basic cleanliness? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Julia- you couldn’t have said it better!!! :) Hi,  I understand your frustration and the akwardness the ED creates in your house. I know that it is hard to be a family member of someone who suffers from the ED, but it is also VERY VERY hard for the sufferer. You and your family can do what you want in reaction to her behaviors, but it will not solve anything (perhaps make things worse), because her bingeing is only outside evidence of how intense her internal struggle/pain is. The amounts she eats are only an expression that she is hurting a lot inside.  Gettng a locked cabit or stopping grocery shopping will only make your sister feel even more alone and guilty. Bulimia is a serious illness and eating disorders can kill. Please see her problem as more than an obstacle in the household. You said that she is going to have to change on her own. While it is true that it is the sufferer who must recover and no one can do it for him/her… without support and help, recovery is very, very difficult. -Julia

Response:

Please go to http://www.something-fishy.org/ and read a little bit about bulimia before you start criticizing your sister again. She is not eating huge amounts of food simply because she wants to. The reasons of bulimia are much more complex. You came to this group

I think you misunderstood me. im not suggesting that this will "fix" her. Im just trying to think of a practical way other members of the family can live in the house without having to go out for every meal. My theory is that if my mom/dad/me spent less time being frustrated because everything in the house was gone, that maybe some of the resentment they feel would subside. This is really more for my mom/dad than me. I have only been home a few weeks and its simple practicality that has led me to keep food up in my room. There is no resentment at all. I am still too amazed and dumbfounded to actually harbor any resentment. But my mom just sits in the chair and stairs at the wall. Or starts crying in the grocery store. Then she gets angry that her life is so upside down. I think this anger comes from her frustration w/ spending all her time grocery shopping and having it all disappear overnight. And feeling like she cant really do anything for my sister ( who is seeing therapy , btw, but i doubt she really cares ) Mom is literally spending hundreds of dollars at the grocery store every week. Im not suggesting this will "fix" my sister. Its just that other members of the family have to learn to live and function too. I just told my mom to forget about the whole concept of "having food around the house to eat". This concept no longer holds. I think if she can get rid of that whole idea, and get used to just hiding what she really wants, then maybe she would be happier. My sister knows all my moms stashes ( fortunately she hasnt come in my room to raid yet ) . Thats why I suggested my mom simply get a locked cabinet or something . We all know my sister cant control herself, that signs on food do no good, that even hiding your food ( an obvious sign that you must really want it ) doesnt work . We dont blame her, and I personally dont have any hard feelings towards her ( i know all too well what feeling empty is like, and what addiction is like ) . I just thought this might be a practical solution . Sort of like trying to keep beer around the house if you live w/ an alcoholic. You know he is going to drink your beer. He knows he is going to drink your beer. He knows you know he us going to drink your beer. Why not just lock up your beer and be done with it ! No hard feelings. My mom thought she would continue to buy groceries for my sister, and put those in the pantry as normal . She would buy the rest of us a few items to eat ( like for lunch and breakfast ) , and hide those upstairs or put them upstairs in a locked cabinet or something . albeit, i do admit this idea was born out of frustration, and that it seems rather drastic. but the situation is drastic. i do not exaggerate when i say there is no boundary my sister wont cross when it comes to food. i dont hold it against her. its just a simple truth. Like the law of gravity or something. so I assume you know what an eating disorder is. Buying a lock for the freezer is like trying to stop a big fire with a spoon of water. Your sister is ruining her health but it doesn

Interesting Junkie Exchange

Question:

As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again.   I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open.  And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

Kind of OT, and tagging on here because I did not see the original post, but isn’t there a law about revealing personal medical information ?  I know the person’s name wasn’t mentionned, so that may not apply here.  I was just wondering if anyone who works in a medical related field can reveal even anecdotal information about a patient.  It sort of makes me wonder what health information my health insurance company can release to my employer, the AMA, or whatever.  Edna, you work in the legal profession.  What say you ? Eddie …a little concerned about what can be confidential or not… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open.  And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

I have been a Medical Technologist since 1988.  Usually this is covered under the employee handbook…under patient confidentiality.  I don’t have a handbook in front of me but I think it’s ok if it’s conducted in a professional manner to other hospital staff.  If it’s to outsiders or to the press, it’s a different story.  Where I used to work, if I was caught disclosing results in an unprofessional manner, I’d be at least be written up. Hospital staff usually talk about different cases and patients, sometimes using names.  It’s normal conversation at break time :)  I don’t see a problem talking within the hospital system about patients, unless it’s untrue, slanderous, or within earshot of others who may exploit the patient. A lot of time this is how a newcomer learns "the ropes" or how we lab techs keep up with new procedures.  Sounds strange but that’s how it is. However, whenever I was a patient, I made damned sure I didn’t go to the hospital I worked at because it wasn’t unusual for coworkers to look up results on each other and gossip.  Terrible, but true. Also, *anyone* with computer access that works at a hospital can find out *anything* about the patient that was admitted (in or outpatient). Normally, staff members just don’t care about your results and have no time to randomly look into results. Looking at the original post from my end…BB didn’t include any names, locations, or anything else to id the patient.  Nothing different that what I would normally hear on break at my old job :)  The stuff she wrote about isn’t personal at all.  I’ve heard a lot more than that on a 15 minute break.   No big whoop. Joy Three months, two weeks, five days, 1 hour, 37 minutes and 21 seconds. 3272 cigarettes not smoked, saving $710.03. Life saved: 1 week, 4 days, 8 hours, 40 minutes.

Kind of OT, and tagging on here because I did not see the original post, but isn’t there a law about revealing personal medical information ?  I know the person’s name wasn’t mentionned, so that may not apply here.  I was just wondering if anyone who works in a medical related field can reveal even anecdotal information about a patient.  It sort of makes me wonder what health information my health insurance company can release to my employer, the AMA, or whatever.  Edna, you work in the legal profession.  What say you ? Eddie …a little concerned about what can be confidential or not…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open. And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

:I know the person’s name wasn’t mentionned, so that may not apply here. <snip Edna, you work in the legal profession.  What say you ? Anonymous anecdote, no problem. No different from writing up an anonymous case in a medical journal. ep  dof

Response:

Ya know, though, I’ve heard Drs telling people it’s OK to smoke 5-10 cigs a day if it’s keeping them from smoking 20-40.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open. And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

Ya know, though, I’ve heard Drs telling people it’s OK to smoke 5-10 cigs a day if it’s keeping them from smoking 20-40.

Now THAT ought to be a felony, Charlene!  Using smoking as a smoking cessation tool.  Interesting advice, isn’t it?  LOL! BB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open. And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business. So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about. They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

Ya know, though, I’ve heard Drs telling people it’s OK to smoke 5-10 cigs a day if it’s keeping them from smoking 20-40.

I have really strong feelings about doctors who are this ignorant about addiction. Would they say the same thing to an alcoholic?  "It’s okay to have one drink a day, as long as it keeps you from getting drunk."  Or to a junkie? These doctors are totally ignorant of the fact that a cigarette addict is no more likely to stop at "5-10" than an alcoholic is to stop at one drink.  As soon as you allow the addictive substance into the picture as a possibility, the addiction is active and you will be sucking it down.  The first time you’re on a deadline, or you stub your toe, or you have any little stress whatsoever — or the first time you go to a party — you’ll suck down a pack and there’s no going back.  Period. Stupid stupid stupid.  These doctors should be disciplined.  Required to attend continuing professional education on addiction and recovery. ep   dof

Response:

As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again.   I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open.  And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

Kind of OT, and tagging on here because I did not see the original post, but isn’t there a law about revealing personal medical information ?  I know the person’s name wasn’t mentionned, so that may not apply here.  I was just wondering if anyone who works in a medical related field can reveal even anecdotal information about a patient.  It sort of makes me wonder what health information my health insurance company can release to my employer, the AMA, or whatever.  Edna, you work in the legal profession.  What say you ? Eddie …a little concerned about what can be confidential or not… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open.  And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

I have been a Medical Technologist since 1988.  Usually this is covered under the employee handbook…under patient confidentiality.  I don’t have a handbook in front of me but I think it’s ok if it’s conducted in a professional manner to other hospital staff.  If it’s to outsiders or to the press, it’s a different story.  Where I used to work, if I was caught disclosing results in an unprofessional manner, I’d be at least be written up. Hospital staff usually talk about different cases and patients, sometimes using names.  It’s normal conversation at break time :)  I don’t see a problem talking within the hospital system about patients, unless it’s untrue, slanderous, or within earshot of others who may exploit the patient. A lot of time this is how a newcomer learns "the ropes" or how we lab techs keep up with new procedures.  Sounds strange but that’s how it is. However, whenever I was a patient, I made damned sure I didn’t go to the hospital I worked at because it wasn’t unusual for coworkers to look up results on each other and gossip.  Terrible, but true. Also, *anyone* with computer access that works at a hospital can find out *anything* about the patient that was admitted (in or outpatient). Normally, staff members just don’t care about your results and have no time to randomly look into results. Looking at the original post from my end…BB didn’t include any names, locations, or anything else to id the patient.  Nothing different that what I would normally hear on break at my old job :)  The stuff she wrote about isn’t personal at all.  I’ve heard a lot more than that on a 15 minute break.   No big whoop. Joy Three months, two weeks, five days, 1 hour, 37 minutes and 21 seconds. 3272 cigarettes not smoked, saving $710.03. Life saved: 1 week, 4 days, 8 hours, 40 minutes.

Kind of OT, and tagging on here because I did not see the original post, but isn’t there a law about revealing personal medical information ?  I know the person’s name wasn’t mentionned, so that may not apply here.  I was just wondering if anyone who works in a medical related field can reveal even anecdotal information about a patient.  It sort of makes me wonder what health information my health insurance company can release to my employer, the AMA, or whatever.  Edna, you work in the legal profession.  What say you ? Eddie …a little concerned about what can be confidential or not…

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open. And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

:I know the person’s name wasn’t mentionned, so that may not apply here. <snip Edna, you work in the legal profession.  What say you ? Anonymous anecdote, no problem. No different from writing up an anonymous case in a medical journal. ep  dof

Response:

Ya know, though, I’ve heard Drs telling people it’s OK to smoke 5-10 cigs a day if it’s keeping them from smoking 20-40.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open. And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business.  So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about.  They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

Ya know, though, I’ve heard Drs telling people it’s OK to smoke 5-10 cigs a day if it’s keeping them from smoking 20-40.

Now THAT ought to be a felony, Charlene!  Using smoking as a smoking cessation tool.  Interesting advice, isn’t it?  LOL! BB – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jeezum pete, that is wild.  Total junkie clinging.  We addicts will hang on in spite of everything, won’t we? Maybe you’re right that the answer is to quit both the Zyban, but I’d be more inclined to tell her to get her ass into a support situation.  If not as3, then some local group.  She needs some help getting her eyes open. And there’s no knowing whether Zyban would help them as much the second time around. What a tale . . . . ep   dof As you may or may not know I work in the health insurance business. So I get deal with a lot of medical problems and also medications while helping people get their medical and pharmacy claims taken care of. This lady called me today to say that she and her husband were both quitting smoking and were both on Zyban.  She said it was a long story, but… at which point I interrupted and told her to go for the long story!  I WAS interested because I, too, had quit smoking nearly 5 months ago now, and I was taking Wellbutrin, the equivalent of Zyban. So by the time she tells me the whole tale this is the TRUTH of her story: She and her husband have not quit smoking. She and her husband have been getting and taking Zyban at least since January. They had increased their dosage to three (instead of the normal two) per day, she SAID at the doctor’s recommendation, but I doubt very seriously that is the case. Now they are doctor-hopping trying to find another source because their pharmacy says the Rx will only cover a certain number of pills for each spouse and what with taking 3 each a day for nearly 3 months each now, they need more because (did you guess it?): They are quitting smoking. She said after smoking a COMBINED total of 3 packs per day for 15 years they are down to only 1/2 pack EACH since taking the Zyban. Okay.  See, I’ve been her before.  I know what this is all about. They don’t have the nerve or determination to either set or stick to a quit date.  So in the meantime they have been on Zyban all this time in preparation of quitting.  But (my guess here) it’s too "hard" to quit so they increase their Zyban (on their own, is my guess) because they can tell it DOES help, but it’s not the miracle they’d hoped for.  So they are still smoking. "Quitting smoking" is apparently not the same thing as quitting smoking.  I was quitting and to me that means I don’t smoke.  This couple has been "quitting" for 3 months (that I know of) now. This Junkie Thinking just screamed out at me over the phone lines.  I could see it as clear as day, but you know what SHE saw?  That her smoking had decreased and that they had to somehow get another source for the Zyban so that they could "plan to quit".  I didn’t tell her what I was thinking, which was:  Just give up taking the Zyban.   And give up on the quit for now.  If you really want to quit you would have done it 2 1/2 months ago.  Wait a while.  Get serious about it.  Then try it again. I’m glad I have AS3 to keep my eyes wide open. —    BinnieBee        %%      (—-)     ( __< )     ^^ ~~ ^^     ~f3as3~

Response:

Ya know, though, I’ve heard Drs telling people it’s OK to smoke 5-10 cigs a day if it’s keeping them from smoking 20-40.

I have really strong feelings about doctors who are this ignorant about addiction. Would they say the same thing to an alcoholic?  "It’s okay to have one drink a day, as long as it keeps you from getting drunk."  Or to a junkie? These doctors are totally ignorant of the fact that a cigarette addict is no more likely to stop at "5-10" than an alcoholic is to stop at one drink.  As soon as you allow the addictive substance into the picture as a possibility, the addiction is active and you will be sucking it down.  The first time you’re on a deadline, or you stub your toe, or you have any little stress whatsoever — or the first time you go to a party — you’ll suck down a pack and there’s no going back.  Period. Stupid stupid stupid.  These doctors should be disciplined.  Required to attend continuing professional education on addiction and recovery. ep   dof

Response:

My heart breaks all over again for the city of New York.

Question:

Faith has sustained me for many years…bombs bursting and not in the air, addiction and recovery, this disease. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear…My grandmother raised me until I was about nine. My thoughts of her are kinder now, filled with love. But she raised me with the idea that if I did one thing wrong(fart backwards), then it would cause God to punish me or someone that I loved. Very scary. Took me years to understand that God is love and kindness and many good things…and He doesn’t care one iota how I fart. Flame retardies are just my way of saying that I am protected and armed so don’t bother me with hateful mail. The old Irish is awake in me after napping so it’s not that no one should cross me, more that the cowards that hurt me so much are warned that I’ll fight back now….am I making sense? Chocolate….just got a Godiva catalog today…sigh…look but don’t eat. I’m trying very hard to lose more weight before the TKR…30 lbs so far….most of it from my ear lobes……I know! I’ll lick the pages and pretend– God I am tired of good food!! GIVE ME JUNK FOOD AND LOTS OF IT. Janers, have a week of trust and comfort and laughter….and gratitude that we have a faith that teaches love for all. Donnah – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Donnah I did not mean God puts things on us..LOL  What I meant was God does not give us more than we can carry…gee is that the same thing…I am not sure.  All I know is faith sustains us….well many of us. Now what I don’t understand is this flame retardent undies you are putting on.. Why in the world would you put any on.   That way less chance of burning off when those email attacks come or any attack (right there in the house tee hee)…Stick like boogers and won’t come off,,,gee ugh… I know well enough never to cross your path. haha Sticky slimy goo goo butts… Oh send that chocolate, I read somewhere that IT actually is proven it is a benefit to people….some way but who care what way..right??? hang loose and have a good week janers

Response:

Yes, the Redneck Times did a wonderful photo session with me and Granny (oops or is it Granny and I, Granny and me….never mind, Granny got busy with the stud muffin and made her own statement, "Come here, boy!") We still haven’t found him…guess we’ll send the hounds out after HeeHaw. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have flameproof undies on Now I bet they make a real fashion statement. Sarah L "Friends are those people who know the words to the song in your heart and sing them back to you when you have forgotten the words."  (unattributed)

Response:

Donnah, I’m so glad you didn’t leave.  I need the laughs you give us. And I’m so glad you unlearned your grandmother’s thoughts on God.  I don’t know what I would have done without Him. Gwen Love

Response:

Thanks, Gwen. My Best Bud is Jesus and He stays with me everyday to keep me out of trouble….and He usually succeeds:) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Donnah, I’m so glad you didn’t leave.  I need the laughs you give us. And I’m so glad you unlearned your grandmother’s thoughts on God.  I don’t know what I would have done without Him. Gwen Love

Response:

I have flameproof undies on

Now I bet they make a real fashion statement. Sarah L "Friends are those people who know the words to the song in your heart and sing them back to you when you have forgotten the words."  (unattributed)

Response:

Donnah I did not mean God puts things on us..LOL  What I meant was God does not give us more than we can carry…gee is that the same thing…I am not sure.  All I know is faith sustains us….well many of us. Now what I don’t understand is this flame retardent undies you are putting on.. Why in the world would you put any on.   That way less chance of burning off when those email attacks come or any attack (right there in the house tee hee)…Stick like boogers and won’t come off,,,gee ugh… I know well enough never to cross your path. haha Sticky slimy goo goo butts… Oh send that chocolate, I read somewhere that IT actually is proven it is a benefit to people….some way but who care what way..right??? hang loose and have a good week janers

Response:

Becky, such a good and honest post! Donnah – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Harv It being human nature to seek a cause for every effect, God gets the blame for a lot of things that happen.  He’s an easy suspect because nobody can prove his guilt or innocence.  In this case, however, it appears that for whatever reason an engine tore itself apart and downed that aircraft. Whether it was a mechanical failure or the act of a saboteur, God had nothing to do with it.  I won’t argue with you about whether or not he was there to welcome the souls of those who lost their lives in the crash, or to comfort those left behind.  That is the essence and the purpose of religious faith.  But as for why these things happen in the first place, I think it’s better to rule out all logical explanations before we start looking for a supernatural cause.  If it does turn out to have been anything other than an accident, let’s place the blame on the saboteur responsible, not on God.  It isn’t far from religion to superstition if we can’t keep our feet on the ground in the middle of all this horror and tragedy. It seems so ironic and tragic and senseless to me that this whole war started over conflicting views about how to worship the same God.  The Taliban is going to be ground into dust, and they’re going to take a lot of innocent people in their country with them, because they insist that they know what God wants and that we are so many infidels.  Never mind that we are an angry, resolved nation hundreds of times their size, never mind that we will survive anything they throw at us and come back more determined than ever to defeat them.  And the people least involved in starting the conflict suffer the most. — Becky http://buckeyebelle.tripod.com Well said and my thoughts also.   One thing a person must accept in this life is that we will never understand the whys and wherefors of the workings of God.  We try to understand our own anger.  I can only say it seems to me that all is being done that can be done without a great deal of loss of life of our boys for now. Harv This morning I went to my first FMS PT session, which turned out to be filling out a bunch of papers and then being "evaluated."  I didn’t know that evaluation was a synonym for torture, but I suppose it must be.  I got out of there hurting as bad as I ever have, everywhere there is to hurt and thinking, OK this is as bad as it gets. Then I got in the car and heard the news about the plane crash. I’m sorry, but if God’s out there, he’s out to lunch and somebody should remind him to wear his pager when he leaves the office.  There is a REASON for this?  Somebody please give me an honest logical answer for what reason there could possibly be, except an accident, or as much as I hope not, the malice of some sick evil person. This isn’t like me, and it isn’t politically correct, and at this point in time I just don’t care.  If this was deliberate, right now my thought is we aren’t sending enough bombs over there and we should try a lot harder. Maybe I won’t be this angry later.  Maybe.  Like everyone else, I just hope it turns out to be accidental. — Becky http://buckeyebelle.tripod.com They tell me God does not put more on people’s shoulders than they can not carry. I asked God  " why are we pack animals right now? His answer was plain and simple…There is a reason for everything, just have faith. janers

Response:

Janers, I actually don’t believe that God puts things on us, but that He gives us the strength and courage to face what happens in our lives, either from our own act or the acts of others. Peace, Donnah I have flameproof undies on (actually I’ll have to put them on) and a fire extinguisher handy for any e-mail sickies and I’ll cover you with slime that will stick like boogers and won’t come off no matter what you  do……even donate chocolate to the Chocolate Deprived Community of ASA – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – They tell me God does not put more on people’s shoulders than they can not carry. I asked God  " why are we pack animals right now? His answer was plain and simple…There is a reason for everything, just have faith. janers

Response:

Becky dear-You have a way with words.  I love to read the stuff you right. Char "Remember, I’m pulling for ya’.  We’re all in this together."  Red Green

Response:

It being human nature to seek a cause for every effect, God gets the blame for

a lot of things that happen.  He’s an easy suspect because nobody can prove his guilt or innocence.  In this case, however, it appears that for whatever reason an engine tore itself apart and downed that aircraft. Whether it was a mechanical failure or the act of a saboteur, God had nothing to do with it.  I won’t argue with you about whether or not he was there to welcome the souls of those who lost their lives in the crash, or to comfort those left behind.  That is the essence and the purpose of religious faith.  But as for why these things happen in the first place, I think it’s

better to rule out all logical explanations before we start looking for a supernatural cause.  If it does turn out to have been anything other than an

accident, let’s place the blame on the saboteur responsible, not on God.  It isn’t far from religion to superstition if we can’t keep our feet on the ground in the middle of all this horror and tragedy.<

Whew, Becky.  Thanks for the reality check.  I tend to keep my disbelieving mouth shut when it comes to other peoples’ views of religion.  As long as they let me go my atheistic way in peace.  Personally, I believe that American Airlines bears a good deal of the responsibility for this one, for a possibly inadequate mechanical review of the plane before take-off.  All the airlines have been cutting costs and cutting corners.  Maybe this will push the Administration into demanding and assuring  that inspections have to be performed scrupulously and passenger screenings must be more than perfunctory. I live in New York City and I was shocked by this latest round of death from the skies.  Still I am trying to get on with my life.  Especially since it’s time to go to the store and get some cat food for Miss Mimi Katt. Joyce

Response:

My heart breaks all over again for the city

 of New York. My initial reaction was "Oh my God. Not

 again." So far they see no terrorist link.  But I dont know how much more tragedy  we take. My heart aches for those  people. I heard that many of the homes  of firefighters lost at the WTC are in that  area where the plane came down.  PLEASE GOD, ENOUGH!! Char Amen, amen, amen!!! Donna G

Response:

Well said and my thoughts also.   One thing a person must accept in this life is that we will never understand the whys and wherefors of the workings of God.  We try to understand our own anger.  I can only say it seems to me that all is being done that can be done without a great deal of loss of life of our boys for now. Harv – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This morning I went to my first FMS PT session, which turned out to be filling out a bunch of papers and then being "evaluated."  I didn’t know that evaluation was a synonym for torture, but I suppose it must be.  I got out of there hurting as bad as I ever have, everywhere there is to hurt and thinking, OK this is as bad as it gets. Then I got in the car and heard the news about the plane crash. I’m sorry, but if God’s out there, he’s out to lunch and somebody should remind him to wear his pager when he leaves the office.  There is a REASON for this?  Somebody please give me an honest logical answer for what reason there could possibly be, except an accident, or as much as I hope not, the malice of some sick evil person. This isn’t like me, and it isn’t politically correct, and at this point in time I just don’t care.  If this was deliberate, right now my thought is we aren’t sending enough bombs over there and we should try a lot harder. Maybe I won’t be this angry later.  Maybe.  Like everyone else, I just hope it turns out to be accidental. — Becky http://buckeyebelle.tripod.com They tell me God does not put more on people’s shoulders than they can not carry. I asked God  " why are we pack animals right now? His answer was plain and simple…There is a reason for everything, just have faith. janers

Response:

Hi, Harv It being human nature to seek a cause for every effect, God gets the blame for a lot of things that happen.  He’s an easy suspect because nobody can prove his guilt or innocence.  In this case, however, it appears that for whatever reason an engine tore itself apart and downed that aircraft. Whether it was a mechanical failure or the act of a saboteur, God had nothing to do with it.  I won’t argue with you about whether or not he was there to welcome the souls of those who lost their lives in the crash, or to comfort those left behind.  That is the essence and the purpose of religious faith.  But as for why these things happen in the first place, I think it’s better to rule out all logical explanations before we start looking for a supernatural cause.  If it does turn out to have been anything other than an accident, let’s place the blame on the saboteur responsible, not on God.  It isn’t far from religion to superstition if we can’t keep our feet on the ground in the middle of all this horror and tragedy. It seems so ironic and tragic and senseless to me that this whole war started over conflicting views about how to worship the same God.  The Taliban is going to be ground into dust, and they’re going to take a lot of innocent people in their country with them, because they insist that they know what God wants and that we are so many infidels.  Never mind that we are an angry, resolved nation hundreds of times their size, never mind that we will survive anything they throw at us and come back more determined than ever to defeat them.  And the people least involved in starting the conflict suffer the most. — Becky http://buckeyebelle.tripod.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Well said and my thoughts also.   One thing a person must accept in this life is that we will never understand the whys and wherefors of the workings of God.  We try to understand our own anger.  I can only say it seems to me that all is being done that can be done without a great deal of loss of life of our boys for now. Harv This morning I went to my first FMS PT session, which turned out to be filling out a bunch of papers and then being "evaluated."  I didn’t know that evaluation was a synonym for torture, but I suppose it must be.  I got out of there hurting as bad as I ever have, everywhere there is to hurt and thinking, OK this is as bad as it gets. Then I got in the car and heard the news about the plane crash. I’m sorry, but if God’s out there, he’s out to lunch and somebody should remind him to wear his pager when he leaves the office.  There is a REASON for this?  Somebody please give me an honest logical answer for what reason there could possibly be, except an accident, or as much as I hope not, the malice of some sick evil person. This isn’t like me, and it isn’t politically correct, and at this point in time I just don’t care.  If this was deliberate, right now my thought is we aren’t sending enough bombs over there and we should try a lot harder. Maybe I won’t be this angry later.  Maybe.  Like everyone else, I just hope it turns out to be accidental. — Becky http://buckeyebelle.tripod.com They tell me God does not put more on people’s shoulders than they can not carry. I asked God  " why are we pack animals right now? His answer was plain and simple…There is a reason for everything, just have faith. janers

Response:

If this was deliberate, right now my thought is we aren’t sending enough bombs over there and we should try a lot harder.

My response as well.  I think probably a pretty normal reaction, nation wide. Char "Remember, I’m pulling for ya’.  We’re all in this together."  Red Green

Response:

     Glad you got outta there…not so glad what condition you got out in. It’s typical for PT to hurt real FM’ers and not stop hurting ya. Question is…are you going back?

Yup.  She promised me we’ll only be doing gentle stretches in a nice warm therapy pool for a few weeks.  I can do that.  I have doctor’s orders to quit if it isn’t helping.  He warned me that sometimes PT does more harm than good for people with FMS.  Sore muscles sure dropped to the bottom of the priority list after I heard the news, though.        My sympathies as well to all involved in the crash. At this time the cause is not known…if an accident, it’s horrid placement. :-(        Good vibes for Becky.        Healing thoughts for those grieving tonite.

More healing thoughts on the way from Ohio.  We’ve been listening to CNN all day, and so far all indications seem to be that it was an accident.  NY has been through more than enough. Becky

Response:

Hiya, Becky,      Glad you got outta there…not so glad what condition you got out in. It’s typical for PT to hurt real FM’ers and not stop hurting ya. Question is…are you going back?        My sympathies as well to all involved in the crash. At this time the cause is not known…if an accident, it’s horrid placement. :-(        Good vibes for Becky.        Healing thoughts for those grieving tonite. Soft Hugs from Rosie — "If you wanna get it done, you gotta fight for yourself." — Meat Loaf, Bat Outta Hell II

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This morning I went to my first FMS PT session, which turned out to be filling out a bunch of papers and then being "evaluated."  I didn’t know that evaluation was a synonym for torture, but I suppose it must be.  I got out of there hurting as bad as I ever have, everywhere there is to hurt and thinking, OK this is as bad as it gets. Then I got in the car and heard the news about the plane crash. I’m sorry, but if God’s out there, he’s out to lunch and somebody should remind him to wear his pager when he leaves the office.  There is a REASON for this?  Somebody please give me an honest logical answer for what reason there could possibly be, except an accident, or as much as I hope not, the malice of some sick evil person. This isn’t like me, and it isn’t politically correct, and at this point in time I just don’t care.  If this was deliberate, right now my thought is we aren’t sending enough bombs over there and we should try a lot harder. Maybe I won’t be this angry later.  Maybe.  Like everyone else, I just hope it turns out to be accidental. — Becky http://buckeyebelle.tripod.com They tell me God does not put more on people’s shoulders than they can not carry. I asked God  " why are we pack animals right now? His answer was plain and simple…There is a reason for everything, just have faith. janers

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They tell me God does not put more on people’s shoulders than they can not carry. I asked God  " why are we pack animals right now? His answer was plain and simple…There is a reason for everything, just have faith. janers

Response:

This morning I went to my first FMS PT session, which turned out to be filling out a bunch of papers and then being "evaluated."  I didn’t know that evaluation was a synonym for torture, but I suppose it must be.  I got out of there hurting as bad as I ever have, everywhere there is to hurt and thinking, OK this is as bad as it gets. Then I got in the car and heard the news about the plane crash. I’m sorry, but if God’s out there, he’s out to lunch and somebody should remind him to wear his pager when he leaves the office.  There is a REASON for this?  Somebody please give me an honest logical answer for what reason there could possibly be, except an accident, or as much as I hope not, the malice of some sick evil person. This isn’t like me, and it isn’t politically correct, and at this point in time I just don’t care.  If this was deliberate, right now my thought is we aren’t sending enough bombs over there and we should try a lot harder. Maybe I won’t be this angry later.  Maybe.  Like everyone else, I just hope it turns out to be accidental. — Becky http://buckeyebelle.tripod.com

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – They tell me God does not put more on people’s shoulders than they can not carry. I asked God  " why are we pack animals right now? His answer was plain and simple…There is a reason for everything, just have faith. janers

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I don’t have religious beliefs but I wanted to say how awful we feel here when the news came on when this just happened  - whatever the cause its so horrible and so soon while New Yorkers and all of us are still so raw with the trauma.  (((((All))))  Maureen  UK

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My initial reaction was "Oh my God.  Not again."  So far they see no terrorist link. But I dont know how much more tragedy we take.  My heart aches for those people.  I heard that many of the homes of firefighters lost at the WTC are in that area where the plane came down.  PLEASE GOD, ENOUGH!! Char "Remember, I’m pulling for ya’.  We’re all in this together."  Red Green

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My initial reaction was "Oh my God.  Not again."  So far they see no terrorist link. But I dont know how much more tragedy we take.  My heart aches for those people.  I heard that many of the homes of firefighters lost at the WTC are in that area where the plane came down.  PLEASE GOD, ENOUGH!! Char "Remember, I’m pulling for ya’.  We’re all in this together."  Red Green

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My initial reaction was "Oh my God.  Not again."  So far they see no terrorist link. But I dont know how much more tragedy we take.  My heart aches for those people.  I heard that many of the homes of firefighters lost at the WTC are in that area where the plane came down.  PLEASE GOD, ENOUGH!! Char "Remember, I’m pulling for ya’.  We’re all in this together."  Red Green

      Hi Char,                     It’s unbelievable that this could happen so soon after the NYC disaster.  I hope to hell it wasn’t a terrorist act. The scenes remind me of the PAN AM  Lockerbie disaster. I hope all those involved have enough strength to get through this .         Ally

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PLEASE GOD, ENOUGH!! Char

Amen!                                             Be well,  Patty *~A friend is someone who reaches out for your hand, and touches your heart.~*

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Feeling things

Question:

Need you ask!  As a Mom of four adult children and a grandmom of 3 teens (great kids), communicating and listening is one of the best gifts you can give to your children.  Sometimes it’s not so easy to listen without the wisdom comment thing, but listen you must.  Sounds like your on the right track.  If we all could try to remember how difficult it was for each of us to be a young person, without the knowledge we have picked up, then and only then, can we reach out and understand youth.  Don’t just keep your kids in sight, sit near them, listen, and you just might hear the words that tell you about life’s real successes.  Smoking, as far as I can see, robbed special hours of spending time with those we truly care for.  Good luck with your family times and your non-smoking. Thank-you AS3 folks.   Six  months, two days, 2 hours, 52 minutes and 35 seconds. 3662 cigarettes not smoked means a new world of freedom from the nicotine chains. I have saved:  $1,006.93. I can extend my life by: 1 week, 5 days, 17 hours, 10 minutes. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last night had a (very brief) argument with my 13 year old.  That catalysed a fairly major emotional crisis for – well, for all four of us I guess.  It lasted a couple of hours – tears, talking, more tears, apologies in all directions, more tears, hugs, more tears, promises, tears …  6 months ago I’d just have gone and smoked as cigarette and it would all have been made better in no time flat.  Which is better? Lemming — Curiosity *may* have killed Schr

Me and my son

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna Hi Anna, I know the pain you feel. It hurt’s me when my son is called a "drug addict" as if that is the whole person. Your son sounds like a wonderful person and you are a wonderful mother (((((hugs))) Lorri

stay away from the heroin. love ya always. Donny Mr. Mensa

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i am new but i too love my son  uncondiionally no one man knows the depths of another mans mind

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Anna, What a beautiful and poignant post!  Your son is VERY lucky to have you has his mother! Thanks for the reminder that we should never generalize ANY group of people.  We should never condescend to anyone, as best we can. And most of all, thank you for the reminder that each person we see in life – be they drug addict, alcoholic, phobic, chronically ill, etc – is someone’s son, brother, father, uncle, daughter, sister, mother, or aunt. Thank you very much, Anna!  (((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))) Love, Kkkkkatie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy  Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna

– "A word to the wise ain’t necessary.  It’s the stupid who need the advice." —Will Rogers Before you buy.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect!

Dear Anna, What a touching post!! Your son is so happy to have you for his mother. I think it is important to remember that people who have problems with drugs and/or alcohol are still very worthy of love and compassion. They are human beings with feelings, just like all of us….. Jackie ~*~I just want to feel safe in my own skin, I just want to be happy again, I

Response:

Hi Anna Thanks for sharing this. I already replyd by email, I can read all the post again, problem fixed. Love Jeannette Toedeloe! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy  Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna

Response:

Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy  Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna

Response:

Anna…what a moving post.  My heart goes out to you and your son.  May he find a way to be free of his addiction.  You made a very valuable point.  We are all WHOLE people, and just as those of us with anx/pan do not wish to be defined by it and have other things going on in our lives, we should grant the same consideration to others who faces such huge struggles in their lives.  I have a few friends and my mother who are addicted to cigarettes – an addiction I cannot relate to since I never smoked.  I am glad I never started, because I know I would not be able to quit.  But if I start to get a little too smug about myself not smoking, drinking in excess or doing drugs, I only have to take a look at my overeating that has lead to overweight, depression, lack of energy, lack of desire to participate in fun activities because of my weight.  We all have weaknesses, just some are more visible than others. Good luck to you and your son, Anna. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy  Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna

– Jeannie "On the other hand….you have different fingers." Before you buy.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna

Hi Anna, I know the pain you feel. It hurt’s me when my son is called a "drug addict" as if that is the whole person. Your son sounds like a wonderful person and you are a wonderful mother (((((hugs))) Lorri

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When I was in high school there were lots of my friends who smoked alot of weed. At the time we would all just laugh, and say shit like "Stoner, get a job you stoner!" And at that time it was funny. But the really sad part is that we are all much older now, some of us have spouses, and kids, houses, careers, but these guys are still smoking this stuff. After 10 years, this IS their life. Thank you Anna for pointing out that these people have parents who love them, and it is not necisarily their fault that their kids have this problem. And that it really hurts when someone shouts "Junkie!" "Dehuamnizing the victim makes things simpler, it’s like breathing through a respirator it eases the conscience of even the most conscious and calculating violator words can reduce a preson to an object no problem to obliterate" (from some song by The Disposable Heroes of Hip-Hop-racy, I forget which) I hope that your son will be able to get clean one day soon. To be honest, I think that most people who have gone through some sort of addiction and recovery are much better as friends. They tend to have a much more realistic outlook on life and value it more. My wife was an alcoholic when she was 13 to 15. She has been sober now for over 11 years. So, I guess I am just trying to illustrate that there can be a happy ending to this. Andy — "Let the fool persist in his folly so that he may become wise." – Blake – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy  Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna

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Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy  Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna

Dear Anna, Good luck to your son. I hope he is eventually able to stop using drugs. I worked in the Haight-Ashbury Drug Detox Clinic in San Francisco  California for about 1 year in 1977-1978. I was a drug rehab counselor.  Those addicts were amoung the most miserable people I have seen in my life. They were under the foot of the drug to which they were addicted. I stopped my addiction to alcohol 22 years ago through AA. Love, Chip Before you buy.

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna Hi Anna, I know the pain you feel. It hurt’s me when my son is called a "drug addict" as if that is the whole person. Your son sounds like a wonderful person and you are a wonderful mother (((((hugs))) Lorri

Hya Lorri, I am sorry to hear this. What is your son using ? Does he live at home ? I would really like to talk to you about it, Maybe in private but as I look at your email you have a no spam filter? If you would like to talk about it please mail me Very Ferm Hug     Anna

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya Lorri, I am sorry to hear this. What is your son using ? Does he live at home ? I would really like to talk to you about it, Maybe in private but as I look at your email you have a no spam filter? If you would like to talk about it please mail me Very Ferm Hug     Anna Hi Anna, I would love to talk to you privately about this. You can always email me at ((((((hugs)))))      lorri  Lorri I tried to mail you but it keeps bouncing

Any idea what the trouble would be? I would like to tlak to you in private as well !!!! Anna

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya Lorri, I am sorry to hear this. What is your son using ? Does he live at home ? I would really like to talk to you about it, Maybe in private but as I look at your email you have a no spam filter? If you would like to talk about it please mail me Very Ferm Hug     Anna Hi Anna, I would love to talk to you privately about this. You can always email me at ((((((hugs)))))      lorri  Lorri I tried to mail you but it keeps bouncing Any idea what the trouble would be? I would like to tlak to you in private as well !!!! Anna Maybe I was to quick the third one did not bounce, will you let me know if

you got it. Thanks      Anna

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Hya Lorri, I am sorry to hear this. What is your son using ? Does he live at home ? I would really like to talk to you about it, Maybe in private but as I look at your email you have a no spam filter? If you would like to talk about it please mail me Very Ferm Hug     Anna

Hi Anna, I would love to talk to you privately about this. You can always email me at ((((((hugs)))))      lorri

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy  Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna

Hi Anna, It is good your son respects you. Not all persons with a addiction can be respectful. The drug rules them and they can lash out and hurt and hurt over and over the people that love them most and are least likely to walk away from them. I think this is where a lot of the stereo typing comes from. The persons most likely to be addicts are low income and less educated. This is stastistics and no way tells the whole picture. Your son is a exception to the rule IMO and though most addicts start out as we all do not all are given the same advantages and must there for find other ways to feed the addiction.It doesnt mean to me to automatically write them off but it does tell me to be more leery and watchful around a person who is a known addict. I wish not to be stereo typed because of a Mental disorder But yet I myself am guilty of it in stereo typing Drug users. Its from past history in my experiences. When the drug rules IMO the person can not always be trusted. I do not know your son Anna but what you write about him makes me think he is truly blessed to have you and you him. Please forgive my generalization.I do not know what it is like to have a son nor daughter that is in the grips of a strong agent and must fight it or give into it daily.I do know that my brothers addiction to a controlled substance has effected my Mom greatly in a negative way.She has expressed hatred at times and other times guilt and yet other times she is very proud.He does treat her well mostly but not always.She has shead many tears for him. I pray for you sons health and well being Anna. Charla Before you buy.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hya all When I was 17 years old I got my only son. He now is 26. Since he is 19 years old he is a heroinaddict. He is on methadon mostly. His usage depends on his moodswings between 2 ml and 10 ml. All these years he was using heroin on the side. Sometimes he wouldn’t do that for months. And sometimes he is in it for months. Thats one side off my son and not the least. But knowing this addiction I can say not all addicts are the same and sometimes it makes me sad to read about "junkies" as if it were a group with all equal charasteristics. My son has a great and weird sense off humor,he can make me laugh till my stomach hurts. He never stole anything from me and despite all the "horrorstories" I can leave him alone in my house. During the time he is on heroin he says so frankly and will not come to my house cause he knows I cannot stand the way he looks than. He is founder off one off the nicest irc chans I know,a very friendly diehard miggielovers chan. All young techies and nerds. I drop in there once in a while and it is great there. Thanks to him and his cyberbuddy Why do I write this? Cause when you ever see a drugaddict dunnot generalize.  It hurts my feelings All drugaddicts have family and they mostly love their child. And all the people who feel they just have to give up there "nasty habbit" ,Icannot even give up smoking wich does nothing for me compared to what heroin does to my son This letter is a hommage to my son whom I love dearly and whom I also respect! With love to you all Anna

Oh Anna, my heart goes out to you now!  Your poor son!  You are very right about not sticking all addicts in the same category.  I wish your son could get Love, Di (kiss on the head for you and your son!)

Response:

Ooooh do I know this topic….another side of it is the friends, girlfriends, family members and so on who TRY to do things with the person and are persecuted as "stoners" also.  My boyfriend in high school was a stoner…no misrepresentation of the word.  I was NOT… I won’t say I never tried it, but I can say it was NOT for me… but I was so much in a co-dependent relationship that I was afraid to leave or he would get worse.  Well I watched his parents morgage their home to send him to rehab, him to come back the same, stayed straight for 63 (I still remember that number oddly) days and then blew it.  Every time I think of it now, I am sad.  Not because I consider him a "junkie"…he is a person, he has serious problems, his drug use increased and crossed over into other, more dangerous drugs, and I know his parents are crushed.  Most of all, not only is he a son, he is a father…to four children (at last count) who will never know the person he is inside because all they will know is the addiction.  He is good to his kids in that he loves them….but he is cheating them out of who he was…and for someone who was around for his personality BEFORE the drugs, I am sad for the whole family. I do know people who got out of that life, and a select few who can still "Party" sometimes, but live their lives without it.  For me, I got out of the whole lifestyle and the only link to it is that exboyfriend who once in a while I just have to make sure he is ok.  We stayed friends, but I couldn’t help him out of where he was.  Thirteen years later, he is still there. Don’t judge people, this is not a person I would chose to be with again because of choices that he made, but at the same time it is a PERSON not a junkie…stoner….or dopehead.  He’s a son, a father, a friend and a human being.  So yeah I take offence to the blanket statements too. When I was in high school there were lots of my friends who smoked alot of weed. At the time we would all just laugh, and say shit like "Stoner, get a job you stoner!" And at that time it was funny. But the really sad part is that we are all much older now, some of us have spouses, and kids, houses, careers, but these guys are still smoking this stuff. After 10 years, this IS their life. Thank you Anna for pointing out that these people have parents who love them, and it is not necisarily their fault that their kids have this problem. And that it really hurts when someone shouts "Junkie!"

YOU….Off my planet~ R

Response:

Trusting the Process (and rebuilding my life)

Question:

(( Kevin ))     Hang in there Kevin, things are going to start getitng better. It is great that you want to make some real life friends that you can turn to. Your always in my thoughts and prayers so hang in there OK? :hugs: all my love, Stephie

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am about 1/3 of the way through a partial hospitalization program. This week I’ve had extreme anxiety.  Today, for the first time, I think it’s getting a little better.  I am taking seriously (and need) some of the things I’m learning in the partial hospitalization program (such as breathing) to deal with the anxiety. Right now, I feel like I’m rebuilding my life from the ground up.  The full extent of my addictiveness was revealed, and it’s humbling. Unfortunately, it was through a few very painful events. I will be off work until either 9/5 or 9/18.  I’ve been keeping in touch with my manager and I think she appreciates that.  I’ve also talked to a co-worker to find out what’s happening when I’ve been gone.  On medical leave I am not paid, so I can go back on 9/5, or I can finish the partial hospitalization program and go back on 9/18. Yes, I will miss the two weeks of pay, but in the longer term I think I’m probably better off getting the help I need and being as strong as possible when I go back to work. I’m trying to reach out for support in "real life" (the non-online world).  One of my challenges is that I live alone.  In the group sessions, most of the people have spouses to go home to.  I need to find friends and other support people (emphasis on the word *need*). It has been good to talk to many of you from a.s.e-d via phone, and I’m trying to build my support network locally.  Sheryl is a good friend, and I also need and want others for mutual support. I appreciate the thoughts, prayers, cards, flowers, e-mails and all the positive caring vibes wishing for me to get well.  They help a lot.  Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers because I will need them. Kevin K rebuilding my life trusting the process going *through*

Response:

Dear Kevin,             There is certainly no need to remind me to keep you in my thoughts. i think of you every single day. Literally, out-of-the-blue, i’ll think, "God, i hope Kevin is feeling stronger. what horrible series of events dragged him down like this?? Please help him. Let him know so many care so much for him." (Often these thoughts hit in Atlanta traffic. i have lots of time to think in Atlanta traffic. . since i’m certainly not *moving*! LOL) anyway. i believe in you. i always have. i hope you’re able to take advantage of the partial hospitalization program through the 18th. take all you can. all my love, kyra-mouseness

Response:

they should be paying you your salary while you’re on medical leave, right? istn’t this federal policy/law to pay people on medical leave under the FMLA?

Nope, FMLA only guarantees that the person will have a job (or equivalent position) to return to when he/she is coming back to work.  Only if an employee has earned and not already used sick leave benefits can he or she be entitled to paid leave.  So if Kevin has already used up his sick leave, he isn’t entitled to be paid by the employer.  If he’s already used up his annual leave, too, then he wouldn’t be able to tap into that resource, either.   In many instances, people have already exhausted their sick leave before going on FMLA.  There are also long-term and short-term disability benefits, which vary with each employer, and some of those may or may not provide part of an employee’s salary during his or her medical leave of absence. –Connie — "Starving the flesh wastes the spirit." –Kandis Elliot

Response:

hang in there kevin we are all pulling for you

Response:

Hey, Kevin, it sounds as though you’re working some really positive steps towards recovery… That’s great you’ve been in the PHP and that you’ve been deriving some benefit from it. Yes, if you can stay in the partial program longer, complete it, and not return to work until September 18th, that would really be to your best advantage (and your employer’s, as you’d be much more stabilized and in a healthier state, far more ready to pick up work responsibilities again).  Stay in the PHP and finish it out… As someone else who lives alone, I can really relate to that challenge of finding support systems.  It’s hard when you’re not walking in the door at night to someone who is already "on your side," and you have to look elsewhere for that support.  It IS possible, though, but it does take a bit of effort…and it takes looking in several places, too.  Sometimes you really need the assistance/support of others who are dealing with the same problems: ED, alcohol, whatever…but at other times, it can be really good to have a support system of people who are not intensely focused upon recovery from some addiction…a support system of people who, while they may have problems and may be dealing with them, are also perceived to be pursuing other interests and activities outside the realm of "recovery." For me, that encompasses being involved with others in my career field, and also others who are photography buffs, so that I’m not 100% enmeshed in the "recovery" syndrome…sometimes I think that that can be another addiction of its own!   While I cherish my friends in real life who are supports and who are also dealing with an ED, I know that I need to extend beyond that in order to enhance my life experiences and support.  Sometimes listening to a fellow photographer discuss f/stops or problems with his/her digital camera can be equally as therapeutic as talking with an ED friend and commiserating over our problems with eating. Perhaps this is a good time for you to extend your own horizons, Kevin, get beyond the "addiction-and-recovery-focused" mode and check out other areas of interest in your life which may not involve those who are dealing with recovery issues.  In past posts, you’ve indicated your interest in computers and other things…perhaps this would be a good avenue to explore as part of your new recovery process? Hang in there… –Connie — "Starving the flesh wastes the spirit." –Kandis Elliot

Response:

Kevin, You are in my thoughts!  It looks like this partial program has been good for you…that would be great if you continue with it as long as possible.  It’s important to make those real life connections.  Scary indeed, but doable.  It sounds like you are making some positive steps Kevin.  Keep up the good work.  (((((Kevin))))) Hang in there, we are all rooting for you.   love to you, becca p.s. Rome wasn’t built in a day….

Response:

I am about 1/3 of the way through a partial hospitalization program. This week I’ve had extreme anxiety.  Today, for the first time, I think it’s getting a little better.  I am taking seriously (and need) some of the things I’m learning in the partial hospitalization program (such as breathing) to deal with the anxiety. Right now, I feel like I’m rebuilding my life from the ground up.  The full extent of my addictiveness was revealed, and it’s humbling. Unfortunately, it was through a few very painful events. I will be off work until either 9/5 or 9/18.  I’ve been keeping in touch with my manager and I think she appreciates that.  I’ve also talked to a co-worker to find out what’s happening when I’ve been gone.  On medical leave I am not paid, so I can go back on 9/5, or I can finish the partial hospitalization program and go back on 9/18. Yes, I will miss the two weeks of pay, but in the longer term I think I’m probably better off getting the help I need and being as strong as possible when I go back to work. I’m trying to reach out for support in "real life" (the non-online world).  One of my challenges is that I live alone.  In the group sessions, most of the people have spouses to go home to.  I need to find friends and other support people (emphasis on the word *need*). It has been good to talk to many of you from a.s.e-d via phone, and I’m trying to build my support network locally.  Sheryl is a good friend, and I also need and want others for mutual support. I appreciate the thoughts, prayers, cards, flowers, e-mails and all the positive caring vibes wishing for me to get well.  They help a lot.  Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers because I will need them. Kevin K rebuilding my life trusting the process going *through*

Response:

You are most definitely in my most special of special thoughts, and own of prayers, ((((Kevin))))!  I am so happy to know that you are tusting the process!  I believe in you my friend, and know that you can keep on growing, learning, and building!  :)     Ears   Lets look closer at the size of our hearts, the width of our souls and the length of our spirits.   -SARK

Response:

12 Step Program!

Question:

My life is better for not being around them nd dealing first hand with their misery. I cried because I had no shoes until I saw a man that had no feet? Believe me.. I am much better off for their problems. I know what I do not want to be like though I struggled shrugging some of their poisons off and may have become successful much earlier in life had i not dragged their miasma around in my baggage.

Oh yes I feel I am better off as well – without my family’s ka-ka hanging about tho it lingers as baggage.  I also think that everyone should have a role model in their life to "not be like".. it helps balance things out.. For me – it’s my step monster (step mother for those of you who cannot read between the lines). Saying that DOES NOT mean I’m making light of your sitation.. I’ve seen my share of drugs, booze, physical abuse, etc.  I pity ANYONE who experiences any part of any type of abuse and I envy those who do not. I am often amazed when I find that people have had very few bad experiences in their

I am too. family.. Even non violent things like an adopted pal of mine who says he remebers one sentence his adoptive dad spoke to him in his life he never raised a finger. He is quite successful and I wonder if this kind of environment where you are always put upon to be better in their eyes though you never will be because their eyes do not work. I note that you as well are an artist of gaining repute.

What a brat he is!  If all he got in his life was a single sentence tongue lashing then sheesh!  I hate him! (ha not really j/k).. Very nicely put (second statement above)… Perhaps THAT’S his abuse though – continually striving to become better and never achieving it — humm??  It’s definitely a possibility..  maybe not abuse exactly – maybe it’s his HELL? Ahh.. dunno about the "gaining repute".. more like epitome of starving.. My problem is:  It’s never good enough for me (my work)…  I don’t remember any family members being non-supportive of my work.. they were always falling all over themselves with praise and support (quite the opposite of any sort of repression or criticism, even healthy criticism).. almost to the point of ridiculous. Although, like both of you, I feel as though I have went through the clothes wringer and back quite a few times… And it wrung all the dross out of me and I know exactly what I live for.

I commend you for that…. and I envy you also.  Not everyone knows what they want or what they live for… I can tell you what I DO NOT want. :) when I DO meet someone (rarity) who has not experienced abuse in their life, I tend to nit pick at THEIR misery – or what they THINK is misery.  Example – I have a friend who complains about being poor… this person lives in a house, has plenty of food, is well provided for but cannot afford expensive things (clothing, electronics, vacations, etc.).  This pisses me off COMPLETELY – when I was young, I remember the only thing in our refrig. was peanut butter – that was ALL. When I lived with the bikers I used to have to steal my food.. I would go for steak and mushrooms. Now that I am older I cannot imagine the ladies at that store not knowing I had a big package under my jacket, but I think they knew I was a waif..The Goddess takes care:)

I’m sure the ladies DID know – how wonderful that they did nothing to stop you!  :)) Now, why does that piss me off?  Because this person sees what she DOES NOT have, not what she actually HAS.  I cannot understand why she isn’t grateful to have the things she does instead of bitching because she cannot have more – she blames the entire world for what she doesn’t have, for her plot in life instead of taking responsibility for her life and changing it. Send her here for some gestalt therapy..heh.

Ha, yeah right. :)  I’ll just stick her "worst way to be" in front of her and say, you wanna end up like THAT when yer 46 yrs old? – keep it up baby and that’ll be YOU! (her mother)   And, as I said, I refuse to take that shit from anyone. BirdTribe’s experience may have been bad, but mine was no picnic either! You seem to like rubbing our noses in it.. I never said mine was worse  than anybody’s, I said that I have enough experience in the area to be able to say. I didn’t see where you said that either. This was one of my reasons for the apparent over reaction. By accusing me of one upmanship on that basis he was in fact trying for one upmanship and I was going to knock him down a peg..

His insecurities are showing?  Hey, mine are always showing so I’m constantly hiking up my wall to hide them again… it happens to the best of us.. I’m sure he just read what you wrote wrong… interpreted it as if you were pulling a ‘one manup’ .. All other steps are extraneous. Do not damage your children in the process or they may disown you for life. I have. It’s a chance all parents take… along with all sorts of other chances. oops, fell offa my soapbox. You oughta get one of these Teflon Coated Surgical Steel Soap Transport Casings with the IronGrip tread platform on it.. I never slip off it and many people have busted their big toe trying to kick it out from under me:)

LOL… yes, yours seems to hold up quite nicely under fire… maybe I’ll borrow it sometime. Rebekah

Response:

My life is better for not being around them nd dealing first hand with their misery. I cried because I had no shoes until I saw a man that had no feet?

Believe me.. I am much better off for their problems. I know what I do not want to be like though I struggled shrugging some of their poisons off and may have become successful much earlier in life had i not dragged their miasma around in my baggage. Saying that DOES NOT mean I’m making light of your sitation.. I’ve seen my share of drugs, booze, physical abuse, etc.  I pity ANYONE who experiences any part of any type of abuse and I envy those who do not.

I am often amazed when I find that people have had very few bad experiences in their family.. Even non violent things like an adopted pal of mine who says he remebers one sentence his adoptive dad spoke to him in his life he never raised a finger. He is quite successful and I wonder if this kind of environment where you are always put upon to be better in their eyes though you never will be because their eyes do not work. I note that you as well are an artist of gaining repute. Although, like both of you, I feel as though I have went through the clothes wringer and back quite a few times…

And it wrung all the dross out of me and I know exactly what I live for. when I DO meet someone (rarity) who has not experienced abuse in their life, I tend to nit pick at THEIR misery – or what they THINK is misery.  Example – I have a friend who complains about being poor… this person lives in a house, has plenty of food, is well provided for but cannot afford expensive things (clothing, electronics, vacations, etc.).  This pisses me off COMPLETELY – when I was young, I remember the only thing in our refrig. was peanut butter – that was ALL.

When I lived with the bikers I used to have to steal my food.. I would go for steak and mushrooms. Now that I am older I cannot imagine the ladies at that store not knowing I had a big package under my jacket, but I think they knew I was a waif..The Goddess takes care:) Now, why does that piss me off?  Because this person sees what she DOES NOT have, not what she actually HAS.  I cannot understand why she isn’t grateful to have the things she does instead of bitching because she cannot have more – she blames the entire world for what she doesn’t have, for her plot in life instead of taking responsibility for her life and changing it.

Send her here for some gestalt therapy..heh.   And, as I said, I refuse to take that shit from anyone. BirdTribe’s experience may have been bad, but mine was no picnic either! You seem to like rubbing our noses in it.. I never said mine was worse  than anybody’s, I said that I have enough experience in the area to be able to say. I didn’t see where you said that either.

This was one of my reasons for the apparent over reaction. By accusing me of one upmanship on that basis he was in fact trying for one upmanship and I was going to knock him down a peg.. All other steps are extraneous. Do not damage your children in the process or they may disown you for life. I have. It’s a chance all parents take… along with all sorts of other chances. oops, fell offa my soapbox.

You oughta get one of these Teflon Coated Surgical Steel Soap Transport Casings with the IronGrip tread platform on it.. I never slip off it and many people have busted their big toe trying to kick it out from under me:) Yer Pal BirdTribe Rebekah

– * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

Here is two steps.. 1.Put the frigging bottle down 2.You now have a life..live it. All other steps are superfluous.

How very true….unfortunately, many people become so enratured by their misery and pain, that they end up needing those extra steps as a matter of psychological strengthening…more of a matter of self-affirmation. But there are always those few out there who are able to do steps one and two and live their life. Gods bless them, and gods help those others who need more. Just my humble words…. ~~Sy —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

Response:

Here is two steps.. 1.Put the frigging bottle down 2.You now have a life..live it. All other steps are superfluous. How very true….unfortunately, many people become so enratured by their misery and pain, that they end up needing those extra steps as a matter of psychological strengthening…more of a matter of self-affirmation.

I understand this of course..That still does not make me change my position that it is superfluous. But there are always those few out there who are able to do steps one and two and live their life.

I think I was a substance abuser, or perhaps just a heavy duty partier because I was not living with anyone to inflict my hangover or frustrations on, but the facts are that when I wanted to stop…I did.. and yes i felt like shit and wanted to get high but never any worse than a bad flue. Tough shit if that is so horrible you gotta ruin your life slowly over it.. Gods bless them, and gods help those others who need more. Just my humble words….

And respectfully expressed as well. BT2000XL ~~Sy —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

– * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

BT is right, there is a certain amount of responsibility on both the user and the non user. The abuser cant say they are completely with out sin here. I have only met two abusers in my life who ever refused to take responsibility for their action.  Even when they were active drinkers and druggies, the rest of the folks I know who are in recovery admitted that they were doing it to themselves.

Only 2 Spellsinger?  I came in late on this subject so pardon me (tho I’ve read back in the thread)…  I find it hard to believe – tho I’m not calling you a liar – that there were that FEW addicts/abusers who refused to accept responsibility for their actions. In my experience – any type of abuse – alcohol, drugs, physical (self inflicted or inflicted on others) – can be the outcome of so many things.  Refusal to accept responsibility for one’s pain, trying to numb the pain, to get attention… to inflict pain on others as a vindication. "Tough love" as they call it IMHO is more helpful then lying about it to yourself, friends and family or the addict (any one who may have been in a situation like this can understand that…I think ;) I agree with that.  But BT is trying to one-up everyone else who doesn’t toe the BT line. Kiss my ass Spellsinger. I have very STRONG feeling about this and it ain’t one upmanship. I will not take THAT kind of abuse from you shithead. My mother is dead from this. Her Brothers are dead from this. I have been smashed to the ground and made bloody as a child from this. I was booted to the streets at 14 because of this.. Not me drinking and abusing doctor drugs. My mother and father.

Okay this isn’t MY family is more disfunctional than YOU family game show – Acutally, I may WIN at that game show so there – neener. :) I must disagree with your accusation against BT’s response(s) Spellsinger… I’ve stated things that contradict BT’s opinions and views and he didn’t jump down my throat… I don’t think that BT is saying that you’re situation wasn’t bad or that you didin’t experience the things you did… at least I didn’t get that from reading his posts. A good debate is made with differing opinions.  But you won’t always get the validation of your feelings in a debate. There will ALWAYS be someone in this world that had it worse than you did – that went through WORSE things than you did – BUT – that DOES NOT make your past experiences ANY LESS PAINFULL or any less important. Example:  I thought things that happened to me in my childhood were pretty damned awful until my friend told me what happened to her.  I was molested but SHE was raped by a family member.  Makes my situation look like freakin’ Disneyland but it doesn’t mean it wasn’t awful…  The good thing is we BOTH survived. And I refuse to take that abuse. You high and mighty little fuck.. I will abuse you for being such an ass. I didn’t take that shit from my mother when she was drinking and I refuse to take it from a stranger. My refusal dropped me to the streets and into a speed dealing bike gang. And I never, repeat NEVER made excuses for other family members and their drinking. But I refuse to leave them at the side of the road at the mercy of the cops and creeps, either.

Spellsinger – Isn’t "rescuing" (for lack of a better term) your family members in this way the same thing as making an excuse?  You’re picking up the pieces, (trying to) rescuing them from themselves – basically, not allowing them to experience the result of their actions – how will they learn if you rescue them consistently?   I just left them in the dust of my history and went and made a life of my own that does

Me, too, BT. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – not include them. Sad to say but that is that. When you accuse me of one upmanship it is you who are being abusive. I have 1000 bloody goddamned good reasons to say and stand behind exactly what I say. I do get mad, I get mad at the addicts that want the world to boo hoo for them and yet they have no intention of getting the help they need, there fore making the ones that love them suffer along with them. (I have an uncle like that.) And I had friends like that.  They are, needless to say, no longer my friends. They have lied to me, made false claims to me, even made excuses why they did lousy in Circle, but I refuse to let them do that to me again. If you haven’t had any real experience with a substance abuser or even an addictive personality (i.e. gambling) you wont understand. That’s just what set me off about BirdTribe’s rant.  BT seems to feel that, since my way of replying was different from BT’s, then I have no such experience.  But I do have just such experience. Do not expect me to concur with you about something I have spent 35+ years analyzing and thinking how it could have been different.

You both handle your situations differently… past and probably present situations (included). its not a matter of horror stories and whos life sucked worse growing up, You know that, I know that, but BirdTribe seems to like rubbing our noses in "You have no clue.  My life was worse than yours, therefore you’ve never really been there." Kiss my ass. The entire Walker clan was killed off by booze and suicides from substnce overdose before their mother was dead. My life is better for not being around them nd dealing first hand with their misery.

I cried because I had no shoes until I saw a man that had no feet? Saying that DOES NOT mean I’m making light of your sitation.. I’ve seen my share of drugs, booze, physical abuse, etc.  I pity ANYONE who experiences any part of any type of abuse and I envy those who do not. Although, like both of you, I feel as though I have went through the clothes wringer and back quite a few times… when I DO meet someone (rarity) who has not experienced abuse in their life, I tend to nit pick at THEIR misery – or what they THINK is misery.  Example – I have a friend who complains about being poor… this person lives in a house, has plenty of food, is well provided for but cannot afford expensive things (clothing, electronics, vacations, etc.).  This pisses me off COMPLETELY – when I was young, I remember the only thing in our refrig. was peanut butter – that was ALL. Now, why does that piss me off?  Because this person sees what she DOES NOT have, not what she actually HAS.  I cannot understand why she isn’t grateful to have the things she does instead of bitching because she cannot have more – she blames the entire world for what she doesn’t have, for her plot in life instead of taking responsibility for her life and changing it.   And, as I said, I refuse to take that shit from anyone. BirdTribe’s experience may have been bad, but mine was no picnic either! You seem to like rubbing our noses in it.. I never said mine was worse  than anybody’s, I said that I have enough experience in the area to be able to say.

I didn’t see where you said that either. All other steps are extraneous. Do not damage your children in the process or they may disown you for life. I have.

It’s a chance all parents take… along with all sorts of other chances. oops, fell offa my soapbox. Rebekah

Response:

Don’t make assumptions pal. First off, I am obviously NOT your pal.

You sure ain’t pal.. Yer a whiny little snit. I do not buy into the crap that alky’s or druggies are not responsible for themselves or the pain they inflict on others, And exactly where did I say that they weren’t?  Chapter and verse quote, please!

Where did I say that you said that.. Chapter and verse quote please ass. You don’t have a clue pal.. I have been through it all. I DO have a clue, PAL.  Like I said, I’ve been there.

You don’t have a clue about me.. Stop thinking YOU are so important I was addressing your issues. I was speaking of mine…pal. I did too asshole, Pot, kettle, black.

Asshole. I just don’t believe that giving yourself over to a higher authority as ALL 12 step programs do solves any dependency problems. Did I ever say I was a fan of 12 step programs?????  No.

Idiot. That is what the original request was for and therefore pertinent to the thread. I could give a fuck about YOU. ? I did not.  In fact, I ripped a loved one’s miserable excuse for a therapist several new assholes for stating that this person’s recovery was not valid if they weren’t doing the hair-shirt thing at AA 8 times a week.  And then I invited the asshole to say that to a family member of mine, who was 15 years clean and who would have chewed him up and spit him back out.  So don’t tell me I’m a fan of 12 Step groups.

Good for you.. I have done similar in my day.. I have also watched broke addicts go to NA to score some drugs and a sex partner to give them to them. And came away without a clue or brainwashed.

Yer snipping shit and taking it out of context.. Yer an ass pal. You are so full of shit.

Which part? The real life dramas I had to endure..The family deaths. The forced street living and shoplifting I had to do because i couldn’t work because I wasn’t of age? The fact that anybody can quit something if they wish.. I have been addicted to hydromorphone after bad dental surgery. I went through withdrawals, It was like the flue.. Some junkie can’t take the flue? tough shit..   Yeah, you went through what you went through.  And I went through what I went through.

The you oughta have some level of empathy instead of being a raging ass and attempting to rub my face in the worst experiences of my life. Does your level of misery make my experience any less valid?

Should I have any empathy or you after the way you have treated my referencing to my experiences. i think not. So eat shit and croak pal. No.  You’re just trying to one-up folks, as usual.

Asshole.. You have just made my shitlist. I shall one up you everuy chance I get pal. Do me a favor and don’t bother replying.

Typical cut and run balatron tactics.. Did you have fun bottom feeding and thinking you would get away with it? I could give a shit.

I shall reply to most everything you write now. Yer PAL BT2000XL Spellsinger.

– * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

BT is right, there is a certain amount of responsibility on both the user and the non user. The abuser cant say they are completely with out sin here.

I have only met two abusers in my life who ever refused to take responsibility for their action.  Even when they were active drinkers and druggies, the rest of the folks I know who are in recovery admitted that they were doing it to themselves. "Tough love" as they call it IMHO is more helpful then lying about it to yourself, friends and family or the addict (any one who may have been in a situation like this can understand that…I think ;)

I agree with that.  But BT is trying to one-up everyone else who doesn’t toe the BT line.  And I refuse to take that abuse.  I didn’t take that shit from my mother when she was drinking and I refuse to take it from a stranger.  And I never, repeat NEVER made excuses for other family members and their drinking. But I refuse to leave them at the side of the road at the mercy of the cops and creeps, either. I do get mad, I get mad at the addicts that want the world to boo hoo for them and yet they have no intention of getting the help they need, there fore making the ones that love them suffer along with them. (I have an uncle like that.)

And I had friends like that.  They are, needless to say, no longer my friends. They have lied to me, made false claims to me, even made excuses why they did lousy in Circle, but I refuse to let them do that to me again. If you haven’t had any real experience with a substance abuser or even an addictive personality (i.e. gambling) you wont understand.

That’s just what set me off about BirdTribe’s rant.  BT seems to feel that, since my way of replying was different from BT’s, then I have no such experience.  But I do have just such experience. its not a matter of horror stories and whos life sucked worse growing up,

You know that, I know that, but BirdTribe seems to like rubbing our noses in "You have no clue.  My life was worse than yours, therefore you’ve never really been there."  And, as I said, I refuse to take that shit from anyone. BirdTribe’s experience may have been bad, but mine was no picnic either!

Response:

How did this person happen to become a house guest? BirdTribe: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -.My latest minor success was a crack addicted hooker we had as a houseguest for a few days to let her sleep and then fed her. I talked with her extensively about her goals and she is heading towards resuming her former career now as a construction estimator. She just thought we were so cool because we didn’t make a single sexual advance to her.. Not that I wanted to.. She was good looking but had tracks on her arms and I am only looking for stable lovers to bed down. BT2000XL B*B Kim — * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – BT is right, there is a certain amount of responsibility on both the user and the non user. The abuser cant say they are completely with out sin here. I have only met two abusers in my life who ever refused to take responsibility for their action.  Even when they were active drinkers and druggies, the rest of the folks I know who are in recovery admitted that they were doing it to themselves. "Tough love" as they call it IMHO is more helpful then lying about it to yourself, friends and family or the addict (any one who may have been in a situation like this can understand that…I think ;) I agree with that.  But BT is trying to one-up everyone else who doesn’t toe the BT line.

Kiss my ass Spellsinger. I have very STRONG feeling about this and it ain’t one upmanship. I will not take THAT kind of abuse from you shithead. My mother is dead from this. Her Brothers are dead from this. I have been smashed to the ground and made bloody as a child from this. I was booted to the streets at 14 because of this.. Not me drinking and abusing doctor drugs. My mother and father. And I refuse to take that abuse.

You high and mighty little fuck.. I will abuse you for being such an ass. I didn’t take that shit from my mother when she was drinking and I refuse to take it from a stranger.

My refusal dropped me to the streets and into a speed dealing bike gang. And I never, repeat NEVER made excuses for other family members and their drinking. But I refuse to leave them at the side of the road at the mercy of the cops and creeps, either.

I just left them in the dust of my history and went and made a life of my own that does not include them. Sad to say but that is that. When you accuse me of one upmanship it is you who are being abusive. I have 1000 bloody goddamned good reasons to say and stand behind exactly what I say. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I do get mad, I get mad at the addicts that want the world to boo hoo for them and yet they have no intention of getting the help they need, there fore making the ones that love them suffer along with them. (I have an uncle like that.) And I had friends like that.  They are, needless to say, no longer my friends. They have lied to me, made false claims to me, even made excuses why they did lousy in Circle, but I refuse to let them do that to me again. If you haven’t had any real experience with a substance abuser or even an addictive personality (i.e. gambling) you wont understand. That’s just what set me off about BirdTribe’s rant.  BT seems to feel that, since my way of replying was different from BT’s, then I have no such experience.  But I do have just such experience.

Do not expect me to concur with you about something I have spent 35+ years analyzing and thinking how it could have been different. its not a matter of horror stories and whos life sucked worse growing up, You know that, I know that, but BirdTribe seems to like rubbing our noses in "You have no clue.  My life was worse than yours, therefore you’ve never really been there."

Kiss my ass. The entire Walker clan was killed off by booze and suicides from substnce overdose before their mother was dead. My life is better for not being around them nd dealing first hand with their misery.   And, as I said, I refuse to take that shit from anyone. BirdTribe’s experience may have been bad, but mine was no picnic either!

You seem to like rubbing our noses in it.. I never said mine was worse  than anybody’s, I said that I have enough experience in the area to be able to say. 1.Put the fucking bottle down 2.You have a life now..go live it. All other steps are extraneous. Do not damage your children in the process or they may disown you for life. I have. BT2000XL — * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

I do not believe in handling them with kid gloves. That is how they got there to begin with..

Neither does AA, done properly. Because I do not propagate niceties in this situation does not mean I do not care.. I care about the victims of her abuse.. She can stop the drugs or alcohol by simply using her own willpower

Simply? If only it were. I actually understand completely what you are trying to say, but you will find many with personal experiences that directly contradict what you are saying. I can only write from personal experience on this. Twelve Stepping should not be plain-sailing, but *when* it works it works WELL. Ain’t no-one going to tell me otherwise, as that is *my* experience. and stopping and any coddling of her will only regurgitate the cycle right back into their laps.. If I wanted to get some heroin or speed or a drinking buddy do you know where I could find one easily? At the local AA or NA meetings.. A great meeting and networking place for drug dealers and chronic substance abusers.

A very one sided view. Yes, the meetings can be full of those with no real intention of recovery. As long as they are there though, that is where they need to be. — CURSUSWALKER    …    /|

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I do not believe in handling them with kid gloves. That is how they got there to begin with.. Neither does AA, done properly. Because I do not propagate niceties in this situation does not mean I do not care.. I care about the victims of her abuse.. She can stop the drugs or alcohol by simply using her own willpower Simply? If only it were.

You forgot the adjoinment.."using her own willpower" I actually understand completely what you are trying to say, but you will find many with personal experiences that directly contradict what you are saying.

She is already getting that from the other replies. I am not going to reply with more mothering of what is usually an abysmal situation. The final step for anybody wishing to really quit their bad social habits is to quit them. The 13th step to any 12 step program. Excuse me for pushing the envelope.. Why waste time when you can get right to the heart of the situation. I can only write from personal experience on this. Twelve Stepping should not be plain-sailing, but *when* it works it works WELL. Ain’t no-one going to tell me otherwise, as that is *my* experience.

I ain’t telling you otherwise. The final step though was yours. You were the one that decided enough was enough. and stopping and any coddling of her will only regurgitate the cycle right back into their laps.. If I wanted to get some heroin or speed or a drinking buddy do you know where I could find one easily? At the local AA or NA meetings.. A great meeting and networking place for drug dealers and chronic substance abusers. A very one sided view.

But quite true none-the-less and an excellent balancing point to the dogma that NA removes the temptation when it is quite apparent that they are in a den of wolves. I speak from experience here and know where some of the biggest dealers and users go for biweekly meetings..Drop in on one and ask around for a few kilos of an illegal substance.. It will find you if you don’t smell like a narc. Yes, the meetings can be full of those with no real intention of recovery. As long as they are there though, that is where they need to be.

Heh.. Apparently..and for whatever purpose.. BT2000XL — * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

Don’t make assumptions pal.

First off, I am obviously NOT your pal. I do not buy into the crap that alky’s or druggies are not responsible for themselves or the pain they inflict on others,

And exactly where did I say that they weren’t?  Chapter and verse quote, please! You don’t have a clue pal.. I have been through it all.

I DO have a clue, PAL.  Like I said, I’ve been there. I did too asshole,

Pot, kettle, black. I just don’t believe that giving yourself over to a higher authority as ALL 12 step programs do solves any dependency problems.

Did I ever say I was a fan of 12 step programs?????  No.  I did not.  In fact, I ripped a loved one’s miserable excuse for a therapist several new assholes for stating that this person’s recovery was not valid if they weren’t doing the hair-shirt thing at AA 8 times a week.  And then I invited the asshole to say that to a family member of mine, who was 15 years clean and who would have chewed him up and spit him back out.  So don’t tell me I’m a fan of 12 Step groups. And came away without a clue or brainwashed.

You are so full of shit.  Yeah, you went through what you went through.  And I went through what I went through.  Does your level of misery make my experience any less valid?  No.  You’re just trying to one-up folks, as usual. Do me a favor and don’t bother replying.  I could give a shit. Spellsinger.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Don’t make assumptions pal. I grew up in a household that was alcoholic and there was blood on the walls from it. I stand firmly behind what I said. I do not buy into the crap that alky’s or druggies are not responsible for themselves or the pain they inflict on others, which after all makes the difference between a partier and a person with a substance abuse problem. BT2000XL MM again :)     Ok, now don’t anyone take offense to this (as I am not trying to offend) but I have to agree and disagree. BT is right, there is a certain amount of responsibility on both the user and the non user. The abuser cant say they are completely with out sin here. There is a point when the person is in a state of mind where they can stay or bail, THAT IS, if they want to do it. this is where the conscious choice to hurt comes in (IMO) I am not saying I am insensitive to the addict. I understand completely how hard it can be to try and cleanse yourself of an addition.     I too have grown up in a family of addictive personalities so I can see each side for all that it is worth :) But I have to say even the family unit can help with the continuation of an addiction. (co-dependency) Sympathy will help when the need calls for it, but brutal honesty "Tough love" as they call it IMHO is more helpful then lying about it to yourself, friends and family or the addict (any one who may have been in a situation like this can understand that…I think ;)     I am not bashing the person with the problem, please whom ever you are don’t take it that way. I tend to get really touchy over this subject because I have grown up with it all my life. I do get mad, I get mad at the addicts that want the world to boo hoo for them and yet they have no intention of getting the help they need, there fore making the ones that love them suffer along with them. (I have an uncle like that.) On the other hand my sister, she has been battling the bottle for years and I give her credit, she falls off she gets back on again, some times with the tough love others with encouragement or just the desire to be clean on her behalf. (Inner strength) GAD am I rambling here? LOL anyhow BT made some wonderful points which quite honestly is just brutal honesty.     If you haven’t had any real experience with a substance abuser or even an addictive personality (i.e. gambling) you wont understand… its not a matter of horror stories and whos life sucked worse growing up, its a problem that allot of people have and have to face on a day to day basis, it happens to allot of us. Good luck and love

Thank you for your words reinforcing the picture here that too many of us have had to go through this.. When my mother went to AA she found a guy who conned her into taking 25000 bucks out of my dads account to take off to the Bahamas where she could get drunk without us stopping her. She got caught because though they may think they are sly, a drunk is usually quite blatant. She was coddled by my sister and my father felt too sorry for her to leave her. She was a very beautiful Lucille Ball/Jane Mansfield lady but looked horrible when drunk and was slurringly vicious. I have personally brought many people out of their addiction, my way of paying back for something I was unable to do for her and no several folks who do just fine with their addictions that hurt no one and tend to their lives as well..AFAIC the best thing to do is to be there pal and judge the substance and not them when telling them of reasons they should stop..My latest minor success was a crack addicted hooker we had as a houseguest for a few days to let her sleep and then fed her. I talked with her extensively about her goals and she is heading towards resuming her former career now as a construction estimator. She just thought we were so cool because we didn’t make a single sexual advance to her.. Not that I wanted to.. She was good looking but had tracks on her arms and I am only looking for stable lovers to bed down. BT2000XL B*B Kim

– * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

Here is two steps.. 1.Put the frigging bottle down 2.You now have a life..live it. All other steps are superfluous. You know, that isn’t particularly helpful.

It is the pure essence of helpful. I guess somebody who hasn’t been through it themselves or with a loved one doesn’t know what addiction and recovery are like.

Don’t make assumptions pal. I grew up in a household that was alcoholic and there was blood on the walls from it. I stand firmly behind what I said. I do not buy into the crap that alky’s or druggies are not responsible for themselves or the pain they inflict on others, which after all makes the difference between a partier and a person with a substance abuse problem. I love the types who think "Oh, you can just put it down and get over it like that <snaps fingers", because, when *they* have to go through it, damned if it ain’t tougher than they are.

You don’t have a clue pal.. I have been through it all.. from plaster cracked tenements with needles flowing blood backwards before plunging the garbage into their veins, wretching alcoholics, crack monkeys.. I have been around them all and live around them daily. I am not like that though I have been given ample opportunity and apparently should have the genes necessary. I have pride in myself and goals that I am addicted to. I hope Sorchana finds the help that is needed.  I offer you my encouragement, Sorchana.

I did too asshole, by offering the base truth of the situation. I just don’t believe that giving yourself over to a higher authority as ALL 12 step programs do solves any dependency problems. Spellsinger, who HAS been there, done that.

And came away without a clue or brainwashed. I have been there, watched it, lived through it and decided I wasn’t going to waste my self. All other steps are superfluous. BT2000XL — * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

Don’t make assumptions pal. I grew up in a household that was alcoholic and there was blood on the walls from it. I stand firmly behind what I said. I do not buy into the crap that alky’s or druggies are not responsible for themselves or the pain they inflict on others, which after all makes the difference between a partier and a person with a substance abuse problem. BT2000XL MM again :)     Ok, now don’t anyone take offense to this (as I am not trying to offend) but I have to agree and disagree. BT is right, there is a certain amount of responsibility on both the user and the non user. The abuser cant say they are completely with out sin here. There is a point when the person is in a state of mind where they can stay or bail, THAT IS, if they want to do it. this is where the conscious choice to hurt comes in (IMO) I am not saying I am insensitive to the addict. I understand completely how hard it can be to try and cleanse yourself of an addition.     I too have grown up in a family of addictive personalities so I can see each side for all that it is worth :) But I have to say even the family unit can help with the continuation of an addiction. (co-dependency) Sympathy will help when the need calls for it, but brutal honesty "Tough love" as they call it IMHO is more helpful then lying about it to yourself, friends and family or the addict (any one who may have been in a situation like this can understand that…I think ;)     I am not bashing the person with the problem, please whom ever you are don’t take it that way. I tend to get really touchy over this subject because I have grown up with it all my life. I do get mad, I get mad at the addicts that want the world to boo hoo for them and yet they have no intention of getting the help they need, there fore making the ones that love them suffer along with them. (I have an uncle like that.) On the other hand my sister, she has been battling the bottle for years and I give her credit, she falls off she gets back on again, some times with the tough love others with encouragement or just the desire to be clean on her behalf. (Inner strength) GAD am I rambling here? LOL anyhow BT made some wonderful points which quite honestly is just brutal honesty.     If you haven’t had any real experience with a substance abuser or even an addictive personality (i.e. gambling) you wont understand… its not a matter of horror stories and whos life sucked worse growing up, its a problem that allot of people have and have to face on a day to day basis, it happens to allot of us. Good luck and love B*B Kim

Response:

Thank you Spellsinger for your encouragement. You are apsolutely right, no one knows how difficult it is to get over ANY addiction, unless you have been there yourself, it’s a long hard road.

I know the whooooooooooooole schtick honey. I ain’t talking out of the sides of my mouth. I have lived through others deaths, suicides and physical abuses and I am not going to wrap any advice in swaddling rags. I have seen the damage my friend has done to herself and her family and it’s not a pretty site.  Thanks again to all that showed somewhat of a heart.

I do not believe in handling them with kid gloves. That is how they got there to begin with.. Because I do not propagate niceties in this situation does not mean I do not care.. I care about the victims of her abuse.. She can stop the drugs or alcohol by simply using her own willpower and stopping and any coddling of her will only regurgitate the cycle right back into their laps.. If I wanted to get some heroin or speed or a drinking buddy do you know where I could find one easily? At the local AA or NA meetings.. A great meeting and networking place for drug dealers and chronic substance abusers. BT2000XL – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  Sorchana Here is two steps.. 1.Put the frigging bottle down 2.You now have a life..live it. All other steps are superfluous. You know, that isn’t particularly helpful.  I guess somebody who hasn’t been through it themselves or with a loved one doesn’t know what addiction and recovery are like. I love the types who think "Oh, you can just put it down and get over it like that <snaps fingers", because, when *they* have to go through it, damned if it ain’t tougher than they are. I hope Sorchana finds the help that is needed.  I offer you my encouragement, Sorchana. Spellsinger, who HAS been there, done that.

– * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

Why would you want to quit being pagan?

Not what was meant I feel. Here is two steps.. 1.Put the frigging bottle down 2.You now have a life..live it. All other steps are superfluous.

If only it were so simple Addiction would have been defeated long ago. As it actually is, those are certainly the first and last steps. It’s getting from one to the other that’s the difficult part. I guess we can all only comment from personal experience. — CURSUSWALKER    …    /|

Response:

Reprogramming can often be difficult, but thats exactly what it boils down to.  The best way to do this is to find a substitue for that high. A hobby or craft or business venture, ie anything that will give you back your feeling of self worth.  Reprogramming works best if you do it before you hit rock bottom. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Why would you want to quit being pagan? Not what was meant I feel. Here is two steps.. 1.Put the frigging bottle down 2.You now have a life..live it. All other steps are superfluous. If only it were so simple Addiction would have been defeated long ago. As it actually is, those are certainly the first and last steps. It’s getting from one to the other that’s the difficult part. I guess we can all only comment from personal experience. — CURSUSWALKER    …    /|

Response:

I should have made myself clear, that this book is not for me.  A friend of mine has had a very bad drug problem and is going through the 12 steps as we speak (clean for 6 months) Since she has been talking to me she is very interested in following  my path.  I just thought it would be a nice idea if Id get her this so called book that I have heard about. Oh well, I’ll think of something else. Thanks anyway  Sorchana

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Merry Meet!    I am looking for a book, A 12 Step Recovery book specifically written for Pagans. Would anyone know of such a book, if so where could I get one.?  Blessed Be  Sorchana There is such a thing as Pagan AA groups I believe. The first thing to remember is that you can apply the steps to any religious belief. It is based on "the God of your understanding" — CURSUSWALKER    …    /|

Response:

Here is two steps.. 1.Put the frigging bottle down 2.You now have a life..live it. All other steps are superfluous.

You know, that isn’t particularly helpful.  I guess somebody who hasn’t been through it themselves or with a loved one doesn’t know what addiction and recovery are like. I love the types who think "Oh, you can just put it down and get over it like that <snaps fingers", because, when *they* have to go through it, damned if it ain’t tougher than they are. I hope Sorchana finds the help that is needed.  I offer you my encouragement, Sorchana. Spellsinger, who HAS been there, done that.

Response:

Thank you Spellsinger for your encouragement. You are apsolutely right, no one knows how difficult it is to get over ANY addiction, unless you have been there yourself, it’s a long hard road. I have seen the damage my friend has done to herself and her family and it’s not a pretty site.  Thanks again to all that showed somewhat of a heart.  Sorchana

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here is two steps.. 1.Put the frigging bottle down 2.You now have a life..live it. All other steps are superfluous. You know, that isn’t particularly helpful.  I guess somebody who hasn’t been through it themselves or with a loved one doesn’t know what addiction and recovery are like. I love the types who think "Oh, you can just put it down and get over it like that <snaps fingers", because, when *they* have to go through it, damned if it ain’t tougher than they are. I hope Sorchana finds the help that is needed.  I offer you my encouragement, Sorchana. Spellsinger, who HAS been there, done that.

Response:

Merry Meet!    I am looking for a book, A 12 Step Recovery book specifically written for Pagans. Would anyone know of such a book, if so where could I get one.?  Blessed Be  Sorchana

There is such a thing as Pagan AA groups I believe. The first thing to remember is that you can apply the steps to any religious belief. It is based on "the God of your understanding" — CURSUSWALKER    …    /|

Response:

Merry Meet!    I am looking for a book, A 12 Step Recovery book specifically written for Pagans. Would anyone know of such a book, if so where could I get one.?  Blessed Be  Sorchana

Response:

Merry Meet!    I am looking for a book, A 12 Step Recovery book specifically written for Pagans.

Why would you want to quit being pagan? Would anyone know of such a book, if so where could I get one.?  Blessed Be  Sorchana

Here is two steps.. 1.Put the frigging bottle down 2.You now have a life..live it. All other steps are superfluous. HTH BT2000XL — * Change..Ain’t nothin’ stays the same Unchained…Hit the ground running * Visit – http://www.birdtribe.com

Response:

Merry Meet     Hello fellow dysfunctional :) I just wanted to tell you if you are having a problem with drugs/alcohol, the 12 step program will work weather your pagan or not. The work has to be done by you, the 12 steps is basically a guideline, a suggestion on how to help cope with what ever problems you are having. what is written in those 12 steps where not based solely on a certain religion. Its a "generic" help guide for everyone. But I am sure you already know that ;)     Look at each step and study it carefully, apply each one to your life and how it will effect you. Then as it states, "take one day at a time" each day meditate or say a prayer if it helps, and pat yourself on the back at the end of the day when you can sit back and say "I made it!" you should be proud of yourself and take it tomorrow the same way you did today. If you have a sponsor, work closely with them, you have to learn to trust them to help you if you need it.     Have faith in yourself and your family and yes, the Lady and the Lord will help you along the way… just remember, YOU are the one responsible for your actions, no one else. B*B Kim Merry Meet!    I am looking for a book, A 12 Step Recovery book specifically written for Pagans. Would anyone know of such a book, if so where could I get one.?  Blessed Be  Sorchana

Response:

PA/DEPRESSION Help!

Question:

I’m a newbie to this group, any feedback would be helpful. after a ten year addiction to cocaine and booze, i’ve been clean for two years. Things have been going well financially but not socially. I have this constant fear that I will die at any time real soon. I have been healthy throughout my addiction and recovery but I am afraid it’s too late! (35/M) . A had a few PA the first year of being straight, but .5 mg. of Xanax as needed took care of that . I’m going back to Dr.  monday for another checkup -need reassurance that my heart is not going to stop, and I don,t have hidden cancer . From what I am reading Paxil may be what I need , but looks like withdrawls are tough.  Happy New Year all!!!! (ugh.)

Response:

Hi – your story sounds similar to mine.  I have those same feelings and thoughts that I am going to die.  Almost as if I believe that because of my past misuse of substances I’ve wrecked my body and it will shut down soon.  I am in fact, pretty healthy.   Go to the doctor, but when they say you’re fine, try to believe him or her. Try also to start changing your thoughts when they come up – i.e. when you think the dark thoughts about dying soon, replace them with a postivie thought.  There are many books on this.  One I have particularly helpful is "Don’t Panic".  I had to get on an antidepressant, Serzone and ativan as needed before I could begin to have any positive thoughts.  Ask your doctor for a referral to a psychologist who may be able to help you. I am not a doctor (obviously) and the above is just a brief synopsis of what seems to be working for me. Good luck – may yours be a happy new year. Monique

Response:

Marijuana isolates for pain

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

Thanks and well said Harv

Response:

sorry Bill but I’d say you were wrong you seem to feel the the fact of illegality some how makes this a better world and I’m pretty darn sure that this is not true in spite of how the Federal govt & other branches look at it regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.               George M. Carter

Response:

    That possibility doesn’t bother me particularly.  If our govt was all that worried about the business being in the hands of criminals they could make an excellent start by just not defining everyone who uses MJ as such. True, but the fact that rich conservatives now not only OWN America but RULE it as well, and of course they think pain is good for you, which is why they take all our money. <G

uh huh like the guy who owns cnn and gives a billion to support the left and the gov robs you of your money and your childrens children but this is not the place for that discussion and why do it with people that havent figured out the mj makes our young people say huh alot while the left forgets to teach our childred to read.   Sorry to the group– I will not respond or discuss this again. Harv

Response:

Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people BULL SHIT!  I had a friend who was as addicted to Marijuana as any addict of anyother addictive substance!.  He was so hooked and used so much he suffered depression (which is not an unusual side effect of pot).  Marijuana is bad news for you brain!  I do, however think it’s possible medical benifits should be investigated and, if it is infact benifitial, to be made avalible by prescription, under the strictest narcotic guidelines.

        I agree with this.  When regular users consistently make comments like "I’m not Addicted…I just can’t totally relax without smoking up…" I am skeptical!  BTW, the thread was started looking for a reference for using marijuana isolates for pain management.  Look in the front few pages of the Nov. 10, 1997 issue of Time magazine and you’ll find it.  Apparently, the active ingredient in MJ, delta-9-THC may be an effective reliever of arthritis and some other localized types of pain.  Not smoked, however, it is applied topically or through injection.  Steve

Response:

"zzub,zzub. MIAAAAAAAAAOW. Crunch….munch." I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid

you wish to tell me that being driven by someone in an about-to-pass-out sleepy relaxed state is not as dangerous as someone who has consumed alcohol. Ho, ho, ho.

Response:

Hi Frank,    Why do young people who use it alot say "HUH" or Would you repeat the question again????? Harv

Hi Harv Why do young people who do not use it at all say "HUH"? George

Response:

That has been my experience, too.  People that are high/drunk/whatever, have trouble puting their thoughts together.  Back in the "bad old days"; the early ’70s, I recorded a couple of get-togethers that I had.  We all thought we were real witty and profound, but we were unhappy because we could never remember all the brilliant stuff we said the next day.  So, we recorded it. I imagine most of you can guess, we sounded like a bunch of giggling idiotsthe next day when we were not high. An interesting side light to this thread is, I haven’t smoked a joint in years, but this thread has me thinking, "hmmm, maybe that wouldn’t be a bad idea".  Now if just knew where some was. . . —- The Skipper – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Actually, it’s been my experience that most intoxicated people say those phrases, regardless of what intoxicant they are using, beer, wine, dope, speed, etc. –Rich

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people Hi Frank,    Why do young people who use it alot say "HUH" or Would you repeat the question again????? Harv

Actually, it’s been my experience that most intoxicated people say those phrases, regardless of what intoxicant they are using, beer, wine, dope, speed, etc. –Rich

Response:

Did you see the Bumper sticker;  "Dare to keep the CIA off drugs" ?? No, but I want one! George

I second that emotion……. –Rich

Response:

Hi Frank,    Why do young people who use it alot say "HUH" or Would you repeat the question again????? Harv

In my experience many young people who do not use "it" say the same thing maybe they are deaf form some of the music , or just maybe, they don’t want to listen to older people, no matter what the state of their pharmacology is in ken

Response:

Did you see the Bumper sticker;  "Dare to keep the CIA off drugs" ??

No, but I want one! George

Response:

Hi Frank I would tend to agree with you , although it’s role in rx of arthritis is still open to ? rgards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments. Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people

Response:

Hi George very well put , I couldn’t agree with you more I appreciate your support in dealing with Bill , he doesn’t seem to like me very much ( and here I’m such a nice guy) regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!   Yes, but there are not narcotic task forces set up to arrest Xanax distributors. It is an addictive, psychoactive drug. It is legal to prescribe. Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! You may assert that it is a "wrong" decision to take certain substances. Too much fat in the diet can kill, if slowly. Too many antihistamines can impair judgment and cause fatal car accidents. But you are correct that two wrongs don’t make a right. Throwing someone in jail because they abuse substances has not and will not solve the problems. It merely inflames and exacerbates them. I’m not suggesting heroin and cocaine, etc. be available at the local bar or that the Nods brand of heroin should be advertised in TV Guide. I’m not sure what system might be best. But face, those drugs are every bit as much "here to stay" as alcohol and cigarettes. And it’s only getting worse. Putting people in jail for dubious choices has solved absolutely nothing.            George M. Carter

Response:

I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people

Response:

I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people

Hi Frank,    Why do young people who use it alot say "HUH" or Would you repeat the question again????? Harv

Response:

What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  

Yes, but there are not narcotic task forces set up to arrest Xanax distributors. It is an addictive, psychoactive drug. It is legal to prescribe. Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others!

You may assert that it is a "wrong" decision to take certain substances. Too much fat in the diet can kill, if slowly. Too many antihistamines can impair judgment and cause fatal car accidents. But you are correct that two wrongs don’t make a right. Throwing someone in jail because they abuse substances has not and will not solve the problems. It merely inflames and exacerbates them. I’m not suggesting heroin and cocaine, etc. be available at the local bar or that the Nods brand of heroin should be advertised in TV Guide. I’m not sure what system might be best. But face, those drugs are every bit as much "here to stay" as alcohol and cigarettes. And it’s only getting worse. Putting people in jail for dubious choices has solved absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

Response:

Well spoken George I agree 100% might I suggest the Libertarian Party an a rational option to the two present ruling parties that seem to want to jail more Americans for nonviolent acts to "keep us safe" regards ken merriman md

Thanks Ken. I appreciate the comment. Actually, I have some fundamental differences with the Libertarian party. I believe some of their stances and platforms make a great deal of sense. Others I disagree with completely. Of course, I ain’t exactly too thrilled with the Democrats, Republicans, Right-to-Lifers, Conservatives, Communists or Socialists, either!                 George M. Carter

Response:

That was the theory with the Arizona law.  It legalized allowed all drugs to be prescribed by doctors and de-crimanalized simple possession.  It turned what is now a legal problem into what it should be, a health problem. The amount of police man-hours an jail and penal space it would open up is incredible.  the cops and prosecuters don’t like it because it gets rid of all the easy busts and prosecutions, so they have to go after "real" crimnals instead. The other thing I liked about this law is that it would take a lot of the money/power away from the gangbangers.  They’d have to go back to washing cars for a living.  Let’s face it, in a free market situation, the Crips just couldn”t compete with Mirck. —— The Skipper – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, snip Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. snip            George M. Carter

Response:

Free people should be able to make there own choice as to what they put into their bodies. This is a matter of personal freedom, live and let live. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.               George M. Carter

Response:

Did you see the Bumper sticker;  "Dare to keep the CIA off drugs" ?? — The best things in life are free!

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply

What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.            George M. Carter

Response:

Well spoken George I agree 100% might I suggest the Libertarian Party an a rational option to the two present ruling parties that seem to want to jail more Americans for nonviolent acts to "keep us safe" regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.            George M. Carter

Response:

Hi, all– Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference? Thanks very much. Please email me. Katherine Take the zzz out of my address to write to me.

Hi Katherine,   Are you sure this is what you want to do for Arth? If it will cover the pain of cancer, It should work .  Have you tried knoni juice or emuuuu oil?   If someone answers your question are they sure they are not contributing to the local crooks that sell it or are you under 18 or 21–whatever. Harv

Response:

Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference?

    Hmmm.  It doesn’t surprise me that it’s being studied, but *anything* can be studied.  And who knows, maybe there’s something to it – not that it’ll ever make any difference for me while I’m living in a state like Indiana.     Our local legislature here isn’t terribly progressive when it comes to stuff like that, and since federal authorities have been going after doctors who prescribe other pain medications as well I’m not sure the current political climate bodes well for chronic pain sufferers anywhere in the US. Hi Katherine,   Are you sure this is what you want to do for Arth? If it will cover the pain of cancer, It should work .

    Hmmm.  My understanding was that with cancer patients MJ was prescribed to help cope with the inevitable nausea that results from chemotherapy.  From my own experience I’d rate MJ as a good anti-nausea agent, but only fair at pain relief.     I had a bike wreck once years ago while I was in college – tore my chin open and got several stitches.  Unfortunately since I got sewn up at the student health center they didn’t have much in the way of pain relievers to give me so I got myself good and high instead (and stayed that way) for a couple days.  FWIW I’m happy to report that during that time if my chin bothered me I don’t have any recollection of it.  Have you tried knoni juice or emuuuu oil?   If someone answers your question are they sure they are not contributing to the local crooks that sell it or are you under 18 or 21–whatever.

    That possibility doesn’t bother me particularly.  If our govt was all that worried about the business being in the hands of criminals they could make an excellent start by just not defining everyone who uses MJ as such. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

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What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  

Yes, but there are not narcotic task forces set up to arrest Xanax distributors. It is an addictive, psychoactive drug. It is legal to prescribe. Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others!

You may assert that it is a "wrong" decision to take certain substances. Too much fat in the diet can kill, if slowly. Too many antihistamines can impair judgment and cause fatal car accidents. But you are correct that two wrongs don’t make a right. Throwing someone in jail because they abuse substances has not and will not solve the problems. It merely inflames and exacerbates them. I’m not suggesting heroin and cocaine, etc. be available at the local bar or that the Nods brand of heroin should be advertised in TV Guide. I’m not sure what system might be best. But face, those drugs are every bit as much "here to stay" as alcohol and cigarettes. And it’s only getting worse. Putting people in jail for dubious choices has solved absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

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I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people

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I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people

Hi Frank,    Why do young people who use it alot say "HUH" or Would you repeat the question again????? Harv

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It has come to my attention that merriman wrote in article I believe the hysteria kind of started in the 50’s ( reefer maddness) you know all the "black jazz musicians"  used it so to white 50’s establishment it was very evil but signifigant legal/police moves against  "devil weed" didn’t start until the Nixon era  ( the guy was a bit paranoid so they say ) it could be eaten in various ways / the buyers clubs in california distribute information so I’m told regards ken merriman md I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. It’s a plant that has medicinal properties, but because of its illicit use, it gets snubbed in terms of its potential benefits.

[snip] Ken, I respect your opinion, but I feel you need to get your facts down better in support of it.  Here are a few highlights of the anti-marijuana and drug-control movements I picked up in a short Web search (they match and expand what I posted from memory a few days ago). [Begin cited material] {Historical background} (From the High Times Web page) 1766 – Abstract from a Treatise on Hemp An effort to encourage Colonial Americans to grow hemp, it describes recreational, industrial and medical uses along with some interesting historical background. 1815 – Jefferson’s Hemp Break Thomas Jefferson provides a good argument for hemp cultivation in a letter which describes his idea for a device for breaking hemp – a most difficult but necessary step in preparing hemp stalks for fiber production. 1883 – A Hashish-House in New York The curious adventures of an individual who indulged in a few pipefuls of the narcotic hemp. 1895 – Orgies of the Hemp Eaters This article from the long-defunct New York Herald newspaper describes the exotic rituals of the Nosairiyeh tribesmen of northern Syria, whose ceremonies involved consuming vast quantities of hashish. 1917 – The Decorticating Machine George Schlichten perfected a machine which revolutionized the processing of hemp … and then both he and his machine disappeared from the pages of history. 1926 – Science and Invention: Our Home Hasheesh Crop The opinion of government plant-scientists given in response to an inquiry from Science Service. 1937 – Marijuana: Assassin of Youth Harry J. Anslinger’s alarmist study of adolescent cannabis use. -Anslinger’s views were included in the 1930s movie "Reefer Madness" [Specific legislation] {From http://www.ums.edu/~rkeel/180/narcotic.html} Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914 – Primarily focussed on opiates Outlaws sale and distribution: Heavy tax penalty. Leads to creation of the Bureau of Narcotics (tax collection agency) Other rulings effectively eliminate the medical use and prescription of heroin. By 1920, distinctive shift in the addict population, the Image of the drug, and use patterns. 1925: Linder Case successfully challenges the regulations prohibiting doctors from "maintaining" an addict. Due to the recent history of harassment (as many as 25,000 physicians were arrested over a total of 25 years, 3,000 served prison sentences and thousands had their licenses suspended), few doctors would. 1962 ruling: Robinson v. California, reaffirms ruling in "Linder" and suggests present legal policies concerning the use of opiates in medical settings is unconstitutional Even during the 1920’s a number of publicly funded "heroin clinics" were opened, but administrative problems and public stereotypes led to their closing. The Harrison Act of 1914 is seen by many (Alfred Lindsmith) as being the source of our modern problems, it: Created a criminal class that had not existed previously (being an addict was criminal, by definition by 1920; and their involvement led to a variety of criminal behaviors- Economic/Compulsive, increasing price of heroin. Was essential in the development of the "addict subculture" (Lindsmith, one of the first to study its formation and suggest the link to our social and legal policies, was attacked by Anslinger who attempted to have Lindsmith fired from his university position) The number of addicts remained rather small and non-problematic through the 1940’s (approximately 20,000 known) Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s there was dramatic growth; Preble and Casey: The recruitment power of the Subculture of Addicts The significance of the "career" and the group interaction. Addiction as a socio-cultural rather than a pharmacological reality Motivation for remaining in the subculture: It’s a Meaningful life! Networks and satisfaction of accomplishment: Meeting the challenge- survival and economics. {End quoted material} This is an extremely important topic for our society and for those who need drugs, but it is off topic in these newsgroups.  I’ll be glad to continue via email if anybody wishes to, but I do not plan to post on — Don          

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Free people should be able to make there own choice as to what they put into their bodies. This is a matter of personal freedom, live and let live. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.               George M. Carter

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That was the theory with the Arizona law.  It legalized allowed all drugs to be prescribed by doctors and de-crimanalized simple possession.  It turned what is now a legal problem into what it should be, a health problem. The amount of police man-hours an jail and penal space it would open up is incredible.  the cops and prosecuters don’t like it because it gets rid of all the easy busts and prosecutions, so they have to go after "real" crimnals instead. The other thing I liked about this law is that it would take a lot of the money/power away from the gangbangers.  They’d have to go back to washing cars for a living.  Let’s face it, in a free market situation, the Crips just couldn”t compete with Mirck. —— The Skipper – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, snip Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. snip            George M. Carter

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Did you see the Bumper sticker;  "Dare to keep the CIA off drugs" ?? — The best things in life are free!

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I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. I believe the hysteria started during the REA-GUN years and  his war on drugs.

    Actually technically the roots of the hysteria lie in the British East India Company’s conquest and annexation of Punjab in 1848.  In order to recoup the costs of administering that territory British trade officials looked at the Punjab’s locally produced resources for something with good export value, and what they saw were fields and fields of pretty red poppies. So, as part of a campaign to mind their own pockets and boost the local economy the seeds of the Opium War were sown.     Our American revulsion at drugs is very heavily based on an inherited Anglo guilt complex over that episode.  The justifiably self-righteous political power base that arose out of movements like Women’s Suffrage and the WCTU couldn’t help but notice the excesses involved in our own internal sale and use of drugs after the turn of the century.  It’s just that the prohibition and criminalization of other drugs stuck a lot more firmly than similar efforts did vs alcohol.  I don’t consider Cannabis a drug, I consider it medication.

    Well, let’s be fair.  I consider it to be both, and if it was fully decriminalized as NORML promotes I suspect that 99% of the ensuing resurgence of pot use would be recreatational rather than medicinal.  But getting back to the post that started this thread, clearly some of it *would* be medicinal because the plant isn’t totally devoid of useful virtues.     I guess it’s just unfortunate for nausea sufferers (as well as for people interested in studying other possible benefits) that making that point to our Body Politic would be sadly lost in hysteria.  It’s easier for them to leave us to suffer than it would be for them to examine their own beliefs and motives. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply

What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.            George M. Carter

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. I believe the hysteria started during the REA-GUN years and  his war on drugs.     Actually technically the roots of the hysteria lie in the British East India Company’s conquest and annexation of Punjab in 1848.  In order to recoup the costs of administering that territory British trade officials looked at the Punjab’s locally produced resources for something with good export value, and what they saw were fields and fields of pretty red poppies. So, as part of a campaign to mind their own pockets and boost the local economy the seeds of the Opium War were sown.     Our American revulsion at drugs is very heavily based on an inherited Anglo guilt complex over that episode.  The justifiably self-righteous political power base that arose out of movements like Women’s Suffrage and the WCTU couldn’t help but notice the excesses involved in our own internal sale and use of drugs after the turn of the century.  It’s just that the prohibition and criminalization of other drugs stuck a lot more firmly than similar efforts did vs alcohol.  I don’t consider Cannabis a drug, I consider it medication.     Well, let’s be fair.  I consider it to be both, and if it was fully decriminalized as NORML promotes I suspect that 99% of the ensuing resurgence of pot use would be recreatational rather than medicinal.  But getting back to the post that started this thread, clearly some of it *would* be medicinal because the plant isn’t totally devoid of useful virtues.     I guess it’s just unfortunate for nausea sufferers (as well as for people interested in studying other possible benefits) that making that point to our Body Politic would be sadly lost in hysteria.  It’s easier for them to leave us to suffer than it would be for them to examine their own beliefs and motives. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

Hi Nat,   You are a very well informed and interesting person.  I have enjoyed your posting often.  Them Brits started all this huh.  lol just kidding. Harv

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hi check with the Libertarian Party but I’m pretty sure that the # of people lockedup by Slick Willie for cannibas "violations" surpasses the # under regan & Bush + a few others added togeather

Hi Merriman,    How can this be.   They must not grow mj in Ark. Harv

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hi check with the Libertarian Party but I’m pretty sure that the # of people lockedup by Slick Willie for cannibas "violations" surpasses the # under regan & Bush + a few others added togeather regards ken merriman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. I also wonder the same thing.  I inject methotrexate on a weekly basis, have  been for two years.  There was a time when I did this and took medication  prescribed by my doctor to ward off the nausea from the injection.  Then a  friend gave me Cannabis which relieved the nausea.  All I know is what works  for me, it works so I use it. I believe the hysteria started during the REA-GUN years and his war on drugs.  I don’t consider Cannabis a drug, I consider it medication. JAC Portland, OR

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Hi, all– Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference? Thanks very much. Please email me. Katherine Take the zzz out of my address to write to me.

Hi Katherine,   Are you sure this is what you want to do for Arth? If it will cover the pain of cancer, It should work .  Have you tried knoni juice or emuuuu oil?   If someone answers your question are they sure they are not contributing to the local crooks that sell it or are you under 18 or 21–whatever. Harv

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Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference?

    Hmmm.  It doesn’t surprise me that it’s being studied, but *anything* can be studied.  And who knows, maybe there’s something to it – not that it’ll ever make any difference for me while I’m living in a state like Indiana.     Our local legislature here isn’t terribly progressive when it comes to stuff like that, and since federal authorities have been going after doctors who prescribe other pain medications as well I’m not sure the current political climate bodes well for chronic pain sufferers anywhere in the US. Hi Katherine,   Are you sure this is what you want to do for Arth? If it will cover the pain of cancer, It should work .

    Hmmm.  My understanding was that with cancer patients MJ was prescribed to help cope with the inevitable nausea that results from chemotherapy.  From my own experience I’d rate MJ as a good anti-nausea agent, but only fair at pain relief.     I had a bike wreck once years ago while I was in college – tore my chin open and got several stitches.  Unfortunately since I got sewn up at the student health center they didn’t have much in the way of pain relievers to give me so I got myself good and high instead (and stayed that way) for a couple days.  FWIW I’m happy to report that during that time if my chin bothered me I don’t have any recollection of it.  Have you tried knoni juice or emuuuu oil?   If someone answers your question are they sure they are not contributing to the local crooks that sell it or are you under 18 or 21–whatever.

    That possibility doesn’t bother me particularly.  If our govt was all that worried about the business being in the hands of criminals they could make an excellent start by just not defining everyone who uses MJ as such. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

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I believe the hysteria kind of started in the 50’s ( reefer maddness) you know all the "black jazz musicians"  used it so to white 50’s establishment it was very evil but signifigant legal/police moves against  "devil weed" didn’t start until the Nixon era  ( the guy was a bit paranoid so they say ) it could be eaten in various ways / the buyers clubs in california distribute information so I’m told regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. It’s a plant that has medicinal properties, but because of its illicit use, it gets snubbed in terms of its potential benefits. Personally, I would use it if it were legal and beneficial, and if it were dispensed in a form you didn’t have to smoke.  The thought of sucking burning plant matter into my lungs – *shudder*. Anita

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Well spoken George I agree 100% might I suggest the Libertarian Party an a rational option to the two present ruling parties that seem to want to jail more Americans for nonviolent acts to "keep us safe" regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.            George M. Carter

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    That possibility doesn’t bother me particularly.  If our govt was all that worried about the business being in the hands of criminals they could make an excellent start by just not defining everyone who uses MJ as such. True, but the fact that rich conservatives now not only OWN America but RULE it as well, and of course they think pain is good for you, which is why they take all our money. <G

uh huh like the guy who owns cnn and gives a billion to support the left and the gov robs you of your money and your childrens children but this is not the place for that discussion and why do it with people that havent figured out the mj makes our young people say huh alot while the left forgets to teach our childred to read.   Sorry to the group– I will not respond or discuss this again. Harv

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference? Not long ago, I saw a portion of a newsclip that mentioned some- thing to the effect that marijuana had been found to be useful, or potentially useful, in the control of pain and inflammation. However, I was unable to track down any specific article. Searches on Medline have turned up a couple of old refs for experimentation into the control of induced seizures in mice using artificial cannibinoid, but these don’t appear to have much bearing on the herb’s potential for treating the pain and inflammation of human arthritis.  There are, however, plenty of refs for the use of marijuana to control drug-induced nausea, and also to reduce interocular pressure. Run a DejaNews search for my post a week or so ago; it has a number of links.  I’ve checked these again recently, but no study as mentioned in the newsclip has shown up yet. Stacy Scott

The article was in the San Francisco Chronicle some time in the past couple of weeks. It said injections of cannabinoids into joints appeared to reduce inflammation. You should be able to find it at www.sfgate.com, the Chronicle’s web site.

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That’s where I saw it first, but they didn’t have it on sfgate. Sfgate says it only has articles written by Chronicle staff, so it must have been a national news story. If anyone finds the ref, can you write me, please? Thanks! Katherine The article was in the San Francisco Chronicle some time in the past couple of weeks. It said injections of cannabinoids into joints appeared to reduce inflammation. You should be able to find it at www.sfgate.com, the Chronicle’s web site.

Take the zzz out of my address to write to me.

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I still happened to have the article … it’s by Robert Lee Hotz of the Los Angeles Times. In summary, it says new animal studies by research groups at the University of California San Francisco, the University of Michigan and Brown University show that cannabinoids, which include the active ingredient in marijuana, relieve several kinds of pain, including the kind of inflammation associated with arthritis when injected directly in the site of the injury.  It says this new class of chemicals is not addictive, and does not appear to carry the risk that patients may develop tolerance for it. It was a paper presented at a meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in New Orleans. The story was in the 10/27 SF Chronicle.

I also found a site of interest: the text of the NIH’s Workshop on the Medical Utility of Marijuana’s report to the director.  It’s at:     http://www.nih.gov/news/medmarijuana/MedicalMarijuana.htm There are extensive refs in the article. Stacy Scott

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I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. It’s a plant that has medicinal properties, but because of its illicit use, it gets snubbed in terms of its potential benefits. Personally, I would use it if it were legal and beneficial, and if it were dispensed in a form you didn’t have to smoke.  The thought of sucking burning plant matter into my lungs – *shudder*. Anita

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Does the article indicate if the beneficial effect after injection is permanent  or temporary? Thanks for info Kate    Send in the clowns

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Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

Thanks and well said Harv

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sorry Bill but I’d say you were wrong you seem to feel the the fact of illegality some how makes this a better world and I’m pretty darn sure that this is not true in spite of how the Federal govt & other branches look at it regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.               George M. Carter

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What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  

Yes, but there are not narcotic task forces set up to arrest Xanax distributors. It is an addictive, psychoactive drug. It is legal to prescribe. Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others!

You may assert that it is a "wrong" decision to take certain substances. Too much fat in the diet can kill, if slowly. Too many antihistamines can impair judgment and cause fatal car accidents. But you are correct that two wrongs don’t make a right. Throwing someone in jail because they abuse substances has not and will not solve the problems. It merely inflames and exacerbates them. I’m not suggesting heroin and cocaine, etc. be available at the local bar or that the Nods brand of heroin should be advertised in TV Guide. I’m not sure what system might be best. But face, those drugs are every bit as much "here to stay" as alcohol and cigarettes. And it’s only getting worse. Putting people in jail for dubious choices has solved absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

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I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people

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I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people

Hi Frank,    Why do young people who use it alot say "HUH" or Would you repeat the question again????? Harv

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It has come to my attention that merriman wrote in article I believe the hysteria kind of started in the 50’s ( reefer maddness) you know all the "black jazz musicians"  used it so to white 50’s establishment it was very evil but signifigant legal/police moves against  "devil weed" didn’t start until the Nixon era  ( the guy was a bit paranoid so they say ) it could be eaten in various ways / the buyers clubs in california distribute information so I’m told regards ken merriman md I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. It’s a plant that has medicinal properties, but because of its illicit use, it gets snubbed in terms of its potential benefits.

[snip] Ken, I respect your opinion, but I feel you need to get your facts down better in support of it.  Here are a few highlights of the anti-marijuana and drug-control movements I picked up in a short Web search (they match and expand what I posted from memory a few days ago). [Begin cited material] {Historical background} (From the High Times Web page) 1766 – Abstract from a Treatise on Hemp An effort to encourage Colonial Americans to grow hemp, it describes recreational, industrial and medical uses along with some interesting historical background. 1815 – Jefferson’s Hemp Break Thomas Jefferson provides a good argument for hemp cultivation in a letter which describes his idea for a device for breaking hemp – a most difficult but necessary step in preparing hemp stalks for fiber production. 1883 – A Hashish-House in New York The curious adventures of an individual who indulged in a few pipefuls of the narcotic hemp. 1895 – Orgies of the Hemp Eaters This article from the long-defunct New York Herald newspaper describes the exotic rituals of the Nosairiyeh tribesmen of northern Syria, whose ceremonies involved consuming vast quantities of hashish. 1917 – The Decorticating Machine George Schlichten perfected a machine which revolutionized the processing of hemp … and then both he and his machine disappeared from the pages of history. 1926 – Science and Invention: Our Home Hasheesh Crop The opinion of government plant-scientists given in response to an inquiry from Science Service. 1937 – Marijuana: Assassin of Youth Harry J. Anslinger’s alarmist study of adolescent cannabis use. -Anslinger’s views were included in the 1930s movie "Reefer Madness" [Specific legislation] {From http://www.ums.edu/~rkeel/180/narcotic.html} Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914 – Primarily focussed on opiates Outlaws sale and distribution: Heavy tax penalty. Leads to creation of the Bureau of Narcotics (tax collection agency) Other rulings effectively eliminate the medical use and prescription of heroin. By 1920, distinctive shift in the addict population, the Image of the drug, and use patterns. 1925: Linder Case successfully challenges the regulations prohibiting doctors from "maintaining" an addict. Due to the recent history of harassment (as many as 25,000 physicians were arrested over a total of 25 years, 3,000 served prison sentences and thousands had their licenses suspended), few doctors would. 1962 ruling: Robinson v. California, reaffirms ruling in "Linder" and suggests present legal policies concerning the use of opiates in medical settings is unconstitutional Even during the 1920’s a number of publicly funded "heroin clinics" were opened, but administrative problems and public stereotypes led to their closing. The Harrison Act of 1914 is seen by many (Alfred Lindsmith) as being the source of our modern problems, it: Created a criminal class that had not existed previously (being an addict was criminal, by definition by 1920; and their involvement led to a variety of criminal behaviors- Economic/Compulsive, increasing price of heroin. Was essential in the development of the "addict subculture" (Lindsmith, one of the first to study its formation and suggest the link to our social and legal policies, was attacked by Anslinger who attempted to have Lindsmith fired from his university position) The number of addicts remained rather small and non-problematic through the 1940’s (approximately 20,000 known) Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s there was dramatic growth; Preble and Casey: The recruitment power of the Subculture of Addicts The significance of the "career" and the group interaction. Addiction as a socio-cultural rather than a pharmacological reality Motivation for remaining in the subculture: It’s a Meaningful life! Networks and satisfaction of accomplishment: Meeting the challenge- survival and economics. {End quoted material} This is an extremely important topic for our society and for those who need drugs, but it is off topic in these newsgroups.  I’ll be glad to continue via email if anybody wishes to, but I do not plan to post on — Don          

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Free people should be able to make there own choice as to what they put into their bodies. This is a matter of personal freedom, live and let live. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.               George M. Carter

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That was the theory with the Arizona law.  It legalized allowed all drugs to be prescribed by doctors and de-crimanalized simple possession.  It turned what is now a legal problem into what it should be, a health problem. The amount of police man-hours an jail and penal space it would open up is incredible.  the cops and prosecuters don’t like it because it gets rid of all the easy busts and prosecutions, so they have to go after "real" crimnals instead. The other thing I liked about this law is that it would take a lot of the money/power away from the gangbangers.  They’d have to go back to washing cars for a living.  Let’s face it, in a free market situation, the Crips just couldn”t compete with Mirck. —— The Skipper – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, snip Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. snip            George M. Carter

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Did you see the Bumper sticker;  "Dare to keep the CIA off drugs" ?? — The best things in life are free!

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I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. I believe the hysteria started during the REA-GUN years and  his war on drugs.

    Actually technically the roots of the hysteria lie in the British East India Company’s conquest and annexation of Punjab in 1848.  In order to recoup the costs of administering that territory British trade officials looked at the Punjab’s locally produced resources for something with good export value, and what they saw were fields and fields of pretty red poppies. So, as part of a campaign to mind their own pockets and boost the local economy the seeds of the Opium War were sown.     Our American revulsion at drugs is very heavily based on an inherited Anglo guilt complex over that episode.  The justifiably self-righteous political power base that arose out of movements like Women’s Suffrage and the WCTU couldn’t help but notice the excesses involved in our own internal sale and use of drugs after the turn of the century.  It’s just that the prohibition and criminalization of other drugs stuck a lot more firmly than similar efforts did vs alcohol.  I don’t consider Cannabis a drug, I consider it medication.

    Well, let’s be fair.  I consider it to be both, and if it was fully decriminalized as NORML promotes I suspect that 99% of the ensuing resurgence of pot use would be recreatational rather than medicinal.  But getting back to the post that started this thread, clearly some of it *would* be medicinal because the plant isn’t totally devoid of useful virtues.     I guess it’s just unfortunate for nausea sufferers (as well as for people interested in studying other possible benefits) that making that point to our Body Politic would be sadly lost in hysteria.  It’s easier for them to leave us to suffer than it would be for them to examine their own beliefs and motives. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply

What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.            George M. Carter

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. I believe the hysteria started during the REA-GUN years and  his war on drugs.     Actually technically the roots of the hysteria lie in the British East India Company’s conquest and annexation of Punjab in 1848.  In order to recoup the costs of administering that territory British trade officials looked at the Punjab’s locally produced resources for something with good export value, and what they saw were fields and fields of pretty red poppies. So, as part of a campaign to mind their own pockets and boost the local economy the seeds of the Opium War were sown.     Our American revulsion at drugs is very heavily based on an inherited Anglo guilt complex over that episode.  The justifiably self-righteous political power base that arose out of movements like Women’s Suffrage and the WCTU couldn’t help but notice the excesses involved in our own internal sale and use of drugs after the turn of the century.  It’s just that the prohibition and criminalization of other drugs stuck a lot more firmly than similar efforts did vs alcohol.  I don’t consider Cannabis a drug, I consider it medication.     Well, let’s be fair.  I consider it to be both, and if it was fully decriminalized as NORML promotes I suspect that 99% of the ensuing resurgence of pot use would be recreatational rather than medicinal.  But getting back to the post that started this thread, clearly some of it *would* be medicinal because the plant isn’t totally devoid of useful virtues.     I guess it’s just unfortunate for nausea sufferers (as well as for people interested in studying other possible benefits) that making that point to our Body Politic would be sadly lost in hysteria.  It’s easier for them to leave us to suffer than it would be for them to examine their own beliefs and motives. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

Hi Nat,   You are a very well informed and interesting person.  I have enjoyed your posting often.  Them Brits started all this huh.  lol just kidding. Harv

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hi check with the Libertarian Party but I’m pretty sure that the # of people lockedup by Slick Willie for cannibas "violations" surpasses the # under regan & Bush + a few others added togeather

Hi Merriman,    How can this be.   They must not grow mj in Ark. Harv

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hi check with the Libertarian Party but I’m pretty sure that the # of people lockedup by Slick Willie for cannibas "violations" surpasses the # under regan & Bush + a few others added togeather regards ken merriman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. I also wonder the same thing.  I inject methotrexate on a weekly basis, have  been for two years.  There was a time when I did this and took medication  prescribed by my doctor to ward off the nausea from the injection.  Then a  friend gave me Cannabis which relieved the nausea.  All I know is what works  for me, it works so I use it. I believe the hysteria started during the REA-GUN years and his war on drugs.  I don’t consider Cannabis a drug, I consider it medication. JAC Portland, OR

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Hi, all– Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference? Thanks very much. Please email me. Katherine Take the zzz out of my address to write to me.

Hi Katherine,   Are you sure this is what you want to do for Arth? If it will cover the pain of cancer, It should work .  Have you tried knoni juice or emuuuu oil?   If someone answers your question are they sure they are not contributing to the local crooks that sell it or are you under 18 or 21–whatever. Harv

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Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference?

    Hmmm.  It doesn’t surprise me that it’s being studied, but *anything* can be studied.  And who knows, maybe there’s something to it – not that it’ll ever make any difference for me while I’m living in a state like Indiana.     Our local legislature here isn’t terribly progressive when it comes to stuff like that, and since federal authorities have been going after doctors who prescribe other pain medications as well I’m not sure the current political climate bodes well for chronic pain sufferers anywhere in the US. Hi Katherine,   Are you sure this is what you want to do for Arth? If it will cover the pain of cancer, It should work .

    Hmmm.  My understanding was that with cancer patients MJ was prescribed to help cope with the inevitable nausea that results from chemotherapy.  From my own experience I’d rate MJ as a good anti-nausea agent, but only fair at pain relief.     I had a bike wreck once years ago while I was in college – tore my chin open and got several stitches.  Unfortunately since I got sewn up at the student health center they didn’t have much in the way of pain relievers to give me so I got myself good and high instead (and stayed that way) for a couple days.  FWIW I’m happy to report that during that time if my chin bothered me I don’t have any recollection of it.  Have you tried knoni juice or emuuuu oil?   If someone answers your question are they sure they are not contributing to the local crooks that sell it or are you under 18 or 21–whatever.

    That possibility doesn’t bother me particularly.  If our govt was all that worried about the business being in the hands of criminals they could make an excellent start by just not defining everyone who uses MJ as such. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

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I believe the hysteria kind of started in the 50’s ( reefer maddness) you know all the "black jazz musicians"  used it so to white 50’s establishment it was very evil but signifigant legal/police moves against  "devil weed" didn’t start until the Nixon era  ( the guy was a bit paranoid so they say ) it could be eaten in various ways / the buyers clubs in california distribute information so I’m told regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. It’s a plant that has medicinal properties, but because of its illicit use, it gets snubbed in terms of its potential benefits. Personally, I would use it if it were legal and beneficial, and if it were dispensed in a form you didn’t have to smoke.  The thought of sucking burning plant matter into my lungs – *shudder*. Anita

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Well spoken George I agree 100% might I suggest the Libertarian Party an a rational option to the two present ruling parties that seem to want to jail more Americans for nonviolent acts to "keep us safe" regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.            George M. Carter

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    That possibility doesn’t bother me particularly.  If our govt was all that worried about the business being in the hands of criminals they could make an excellent start by just not defining everyone who uses MJ as such. True, but the fact that rich conservatives now not only OWN America but RULE it as well, and of course they think pain is good for you, which is why they take all our money. <G

uh huh like the guy who owns cnn and gives a billion to support the left and the gov robs you of your money and your childrens children but this is not the place for that discussion and why do it with people that havent figured out the mj makes our young people say huh alot while the left forgets to teach our childred to read.   Sorry to the group– I will not respond or discuss this again. Harv

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference? Not long ago, I saw a portion of a newsclip that mentioned some- thing to the effect that marijuana had been found to be useful, or potentially useful, in the control of pain and inflammation. However, I was unable to track down any specific article. Searches on Medline have turned up a couple of old refs for experimentation into the control of induced seizures in mice using artificial cannibinoid, but these don’t appear to have much bearing on the herb’s potential for treating the pain and inflammation of human arthritis.  There are, however, plenty of refs for the use of marijuana to control drug-induced nausea, and also to reduce interocular pressure. Run a DejaNews search for my post a week or so ago; it has a number of links.  I’ve checked these again recently, but no study as mentioned in the newsclip has shown up yet. Stacy Scott

The article was in the San Francisco Chronicle some time in the past couple of weeks. It said injections of cannabinoids into joints appeared to reduce inflammation. You should be able to find it at www.sfgate.com, the Chronicle’s web site.

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That’s where I saw it first, but they didn’t have it on sfgate. Sfgate says it only has articles written by Chronicle staff, so it must have been a national news story. If anyone finds the ref, can you write me, please? Thanks! Katherine The article was in the San Francisco Chronicle some time in the past couple of weeks. It said injections of cannabinoids into joints appeared to reduce inflammation. You should be able to find it at www.sfgate.com, the Chronicle’s web site.

Take the zzz out of my address to write to me.

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I still happened to have the article … it’s by Robert Lee Hotz of the Los Angeles Times. In summary, it says new animal studies by research groups at the University of California San Francisco, the University of Michigan and Brown University show that cannabinoids, which include the active ingredient in marijuana, relieve several kinds of pain, including the kind of inflammation associated with arthritis when injected directly in the site of the injury.  It says this new class of chemicals is not addictive, and does not appear to carry the risk that patients may develop tolerance for it. It was a paper presented at a meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in New Orleans. The story was in the 10/27 SF Chronicle.

I also found a site of interest: the text of the NIH’s Workshop on the Medical Utility of Marijuana’s report to the director.  It’s at:     http://www.nih.gov/news/medmarijuana/MedicalMarijuana.htm There are extensive refs in the article. Stacy Scott

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I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. It’s a plant that has medicinal properties, but because of its illicit use, it gets snubbed in terms of its potential benefits. Personally, I would use it if it were legal and beneficial, and if it were dispensed in a form you didn’t have to smoke.  The thought of sucking burning plant matter into my lungs – *shudder*. Anita

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Does the article indicate if the beneficial effect after injection is permanent  or temporary? Thanks for info Kate    Send in the clowns

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Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

Thanks and well said Harv

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sorry Bill but I’d say you were wrong you seem to feel the the fact of illegality some how makes this a better world and I’m pretty darn sure that this is not true in spite of how the Federal govt & other branches look at it regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.               George M. Carter

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What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  

Yes, but there are not narcotic task forces set up to arrest Xanax distributors. It is an addictive, psychoactive drug. It is legal to prescribe. Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others!

You may assert that it is a "wrong" decision to take certain substances. Too much fat in the diet can kill, if slowly. Too many antihistamines can impair judgment and cause fatal car accidents. But you are correct that two wrongs don’t make a right. Throwing someone in jail because they abuse substances has not and will not solve the problems. It merely inflames and exacerbates them. I’m not suggesting heroin and cocaine, etc. be available at the local bar or that the Nods brand of heroin should be advertised in TV Guide. I’m not sure what system might be best. But face, those drugs are every bit as much "here to stay" as alcohol and cigarettes. And it’s only getting worse. Putting people in jail for dubious choices has solved absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

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I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people

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I think you make a mistake in assuming a relationship between marijuana and tobacco or nicotine.  Marijuana, unlike the other two, is essentially non-addictive, does not cause major health problems (so far as we know), and has been shown not to pose any where near a comparable risk (to alcohol) when someone is behind the wheel.  Aside from that there are several valid clinical uses for marijuana in which it surpasses current treatments.  Also it makes a good adjunct to many standard treatments. I think it’s a shame to let dogma like ‘just say no’ to stop an herb from helping people

Hi Frank,    Why do young people who use it alot say "HUH" or Would you repeat the question again????? Harv

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It has come to my attention that merriman wrote in article I believe the hysteria kind of started in the 50’s ( reefer maddness) you know all the "black jazz musicians"  used it so to white 50’s establishment it was very evil but signifigant legal/police moves against  "devil weed" didn’t start until the Nixon era  ( the guy was a bit paranoid so they say ) it could be eaten in various ways / the buyers clubs in california distribute information so I’m told regards ken merriman md I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. It’s a plant that has medicinal properties, but because of its illicit use, it gets snubbed in terms of its potential benefits.

[snip] Ken, I respect your opinion, but I feel you need to get your facts down better in support of it.  Here are a few highlights of the anti-marijuana and drug-control movements I picked up in a short Web search (they match and expand what I posted from memory a few days ago). [Begin cited material] {Historical background} (From the High Times Web page) 1766 – Abstract from a Treatise on Hemp An effort to encourage Colonial Americans to grow hemp, it describes recreational, industrial and medical uses along with some interesting historical background. 1815 – Jefferson’s Hemp Break Thomas Jefferson provides a good argument for hemp cultivation in a letter which describes his idea for a device for breaking hemp – a most difficult but necessary step in preparing hemp stalks for fiber production. 1883 – A Hashish-House in New York The curious adventures of an individual who indulged in a few pipefuls of the narcotic hemp. 1895 – Orgies of the Hemp Eaters This article from the long-defunct New York Herald newspaper describes the exotic rituals of the Nosairiyeh tribesmen of northern Syria, whose ceremonies involved consuming vast quantities of hashish. 1917 – The Decorticating Machine George Schlichten perfected a machine which revolutionized the processing of hemp … and then both he and his machine disappeared from the pages of history. 1926 – Science and Invention: Our Home Hasheesh Crop The opinion of government plant-scientists given in response to an inquiry from Science Service. 1937 – Marijuana: Assassin of Youth Harry J. Anslinger’s alarmist study of adolescent cannabis use. -Anslinger’s views were included in the 1930s movie "Reefer Madness" [Specific legislation] {From http://www.ums.edu/~rkeel/180/narcotic.html} Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914 – Primarily focussed on opiates Outlaws sale and distribution: Heavy tax penalty. Leads to creation of the Bureau of Narcotics (tax collection agency) Other rulings effectively eliminate the medical use and prescription of heroin. By 1920, distinctive shift in the addict population, the Image of the drug, and use patterns. 1925: Linder Case successfully challenges the regulations prohibiting doctors from "maintaining" an addict. Due to the recent history of harassment (as many as 25,000 physicians were arrested over a total of 25 years, 3,000 served prison sentences and thousands had their licenses suspended), few doctors would. 1962 ruling: Robinson v. California, reaffirms ruling in "Linder" and suggests present legal policies concerning the use of opiates in medical settings is unconstitutional Even during the 1920’s a number of publicly funded "heroin clinics" were opened, but administrative problems and public stereotypes led to their closing. The Harrison Act of 1914 is seen by many (Alfred Lindsmith) as being the source of our modern problems, it: Created a criminal class that had not existed previously (being an addict was criminal, by definition by 1920; and their involvement led to a variety of criminal behaviors- Economic/Compulsive, increasing price of heroin. Was essential in the development of the "addict subculture" (Lindsmith, one of the first to study its formation and suggest the link to our social and legal policies, was attacked by Anslinger who attempted to have Lindsmith fired from his university position) The number of addicts remained rather small and non-problematic through the 1940’s (approximately 20,000 known) Throughout the 1950’s and 1960’s there was dramatic growth; Preble and Casey: The recruitment power of the Subculture of Addicts The significance of the "career" and the group interaction. Addiction as a socio-cultural rather than a pharmacological reality Motivation for remaining in the subculture: It’s a Meaningful life! Networks and satisfaction of accomplishment: Meeting the challenge- survival and economics. {End quoted material} This is an extremely important topic for our society and for those who need drugs, but it is off topic in these newsgroups.  I’ll be glad to continue via email if anybody wishes to, but I do not plan to post on — Don          

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Free people should be able to make there own choice as to what they put into their bodies. This is a matter of personal freedom, live and let live. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.               George M. Carter

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That was the theory with the Arizona law.  It legalized allowed all drugs to be prescribed by doctors and de-crimanalized simple possession.  It turned what is now a legal problem into what it should be, a health problem. The amount of police man-hours an jail and penal space it would open up is incredible.  the cops and prosecuters don’t like it because it gets rid of all the easy busts and prosecutions, so they have to go after "real" crimnals instead. The other thing I liked about this law is that it would take a lot of the money/power away from the gangbangers.  They’d have to go back to washing cars for a living.  Let’s face it, in a free market situation, the Crips just couldn”t compete with Mirck. —— The Skipper – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, snip Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. snip            George M. Carter

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Did you see the Bumper sticker;  "Dare to keep the CIA off drugs" ?? — The best things in life are free!

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I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. I believe the hysteria started during the REA-GUN years and  his war on drugs.

    Actually technically the roots of the hysteria lie in the British East India Company’s conquest and annexation of Punjab in 1848.  In order to recoup the costs of administering that territory British trade officials looked at the Punjab’s locally produced resources for something with good export value, and what they saw were fields and fields of pretty red poppies. So, as part of a campaign to mind their own pockets and boost the local economy the seeds of the Opium War were sown.     Our American revulsion at drugs is very heavily based on an inherited Anglo guilt complex over that episode.  The justifiably self-righteous political power base that arose out of movements like Women’s Suffrage and the WCTU couldn’t help but notice the excesses involved in our own internal sale and use of drugs after the turn of the century.  It’s just that the prohibition and criminalization of other drugs stuck a lot more firmly than similar efforts did vs alcohol.  I don’t consider Cannabis a drug, I consider it medication.

    Well, let’s be fair.  I consider it to be both, and if it was fully decriminalized as NORML promotes I suspect that 99% of the ensuing resurgence of pot use would be recreatational rather than medicinal.  But getting back to the post that started this thread, clearly some of it *would* be medicinal because the plant isn’t totally devoid of useful virtues.     I guess it’s just unfortunate for nausea sufferers (as well as for people interested in studying other possible benefits) that making that point to our Body Politic would be sadly lost in hysteria.  It’s easier for them to leave us to suffer than it would be for them to examine their own beliefs and motives. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply

What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.            George M. Carter

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. I believe the hysteria started during the REA-GUN years and  his war on drugs.     Actually technically the roots of the hysteria lie in the British East India Company’s conquest and annexation of Punjab in 1848.  In order to recoup the costs of administering that territory British trade officials looked at the Punjab’s locally produced resources for something with good export value, and what they saw were fields and fields of pretty red poppies. So, as part of a campaign to mind their own pockets and boost the local economy the seeds of the Opium War were sown.     Our American revulsion at drugs is very heavily based on an inherited Anglo guilt complex over that episode.  The justifiably self-righteous political power base that arose out of movements like Women’s Suffrage and the WCTU couldn’t help but notice the excesses involved in our own internal sale and use of drugs after the turn of the century.  It’s just that the prohibition and criminalization of other drugs stuck a lot more firmly than similar efforts did vs alcohol.  I don’t consider Cannabis a drug, I consider it medication.     Well, let’s be fair.  I consider it to be both, and if it was fully decriminalized as NORML promotes I suspect that 99% of the ensuing resurgence of pot use would be recreatational rather than medicinal.  But getting back to the post that started this thread, clearly some of it *would* be medicinal because the plant isn’t totally devoid of useful virtues.     I guess it’s just unfortunate for nausea sufferers (as well as for people interested in studying other possible benefits) that making that point to our Body Politic would be sadly lost in hysteria.  It’s easier for them to leave us to suffer than it would be for them to examine their own beliefs and motives. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

Hi Nat,   You are a very well informed and interesting person.  I have enjoyed your posting often.  Them Brits started all this huh.  lol just kidding. Harv

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hi check with the Libertarian Party but I’m pretty sure that the # of people lockedup by Slick Willie for cannibas "violations" surpasses the # under regan & Bush + a few others added togeather

Hi Merriman,    How can this be.   They must not grow mj in Ark. Harv

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hi check with the Libertarian Party but I’m pretty sure that the # of people lockedup by Slick Willie for cannibas "violations" surpasses the # under regan & Bush + a few others added togeather regards ken merriman – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. I also wonder the same thing.  I inject methotrexate on a weekly basis, have  been for two years.  There was a time when I did this and took medication  prescribed by my doctor to ward off the nausea from the injection.  Then a  friend gave me Cannabis which relieved the nausea.  All I know is what works  for me, it works so I use it. I believe the hysteria started during the REA-GUN years and his war on drugs.  I don’t consider Cannabis a drug, I consider it medication. JAC Portland, OR

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Hi, all– Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference? Thanks very much. Please email me. Katherine Take the zzz out of my address to write to me.

Hi Katherine,   Are you sure this is what you want to do for Arth? If it will cover the pain of cancer, It should work .  Have you tried knoni juice or emuuuu oil?   If someone answers your question are they sure they are not contributing to the local crooks that sell it or are you under 18 or 21–whatever. Harv

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Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference?

    Hmmm.  It doesn’t surprise me that it’s being studied, but *anything* can be studied.  And who knows, maybe there’s something to it – not that it’ll ever make any difference for me while I’m living in a state like Indiana.     Our local legislature here isn’t terribly progressive when it comes to stuff like that, and since federal authorities have been going after doctors who prescribe other pain medications as well I’m not sure the current political climate bodes well for chronic pain sufferers anywhere in the US. Hi Katherine,   Are you sure this is what you want to do for Arth? If it will cover the pain of cancer, It should work .

    Hmmm.  My understanding was that with cancer patients MJ was prescribed to help cope with the inevitable nausea that results from chemotherapy.  From my own experience I’d rate MJ as a good anti-nausea agent, but only fair at pain relief.     I had a bike wreck once years ago while I was in college – tore my chin open and got several stitches.  Unfortunately since I got sewn up at the student health center they didn’t have much in the way of pain relievers to give me so I got myself good and high instead (and stayed that way) for a couple days.  FWIW I’m happy to report that during that time if my chin bothered me I don’t have any recollection of it.  Have you tried knoni juice or emuuuu oil?   If someone answers your question are they sure they are not contributing to the local crooks that sell it or are you under 18 or 21–whatever.

    That possibility doesn’t bother me particularly.  If our govt was all that worried about the business being in the hands of criminals they could make an excellent start by just not defining everyone who uses MJ as such. — Nathan Engle               Electron Juggler Indiana University         Dept of Psychology "Some Assembly Required"

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I believe the hysteria kind of started in the 50’s ( reefer maddness) you know all the "black jazz musicians"  used it so to white 50’s establishment it was very evil but signifigant legal/police moves against  "devil weed" didn’t start until the Nixon era  ( the guy was a bit paranoid so they say ) it could be eaten in various ways / the buyers clubs in california distribute information so I’m told regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. It’s a plant that has medicinal properties, but because of its illicit use, it gets snubbed in terms of its potential benefits. Personally, I would use it if it were legal and beneficial, and if it were dispensed in a form you didn’t have to smoke.  The thought of sucking burning plant matter into my lungs – *shudder*. Anita

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Well spoken George I agree 100% might I suggest the Libertarian Party an a rational option to the two present ruling parties that seem to want to jail more Americans for nonviolent acts to "keep us safe" regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.            George M. Carter

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    That possibility doesn’t bother me particularly.  If our govt was all that worried about the business being in the hands of criminals they could make an excellent start by just not defining everyone who uses MJ as such. True, but the fact that rich conservatives now not only OWN America but RULE it as well, and of course they think pain is good for you, which is why they take all our money. <G

uh huh like the guy who owns cnn and gives a billion to support the left and the gov robs you of your money and your childrens children but this is not the place for that discussion and why do it with people that havent figured out the mj makes our young people say huh alot while the left forgets to teach our childred to read.   Sorry to the group– I will not respond or discuss this again. Harv

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Recently I read a newspaper article about isolates from marijuana being studied as pain relievers, but I lost the reference. Has anyone heard anything about this? Can you send me the reference? Not long ago, I saw a portion of a newsclip that mentioned some- thing to the effect that marijuana had been found to be useful, or potentially useful, in the control of pain and inflammation. However, I was unable to track down any specific article. Searches on Medline have turned up a couple of old refs for experimentation into the control of induced seizures in mice using artificial cannibinoid, but these don’t appear to have much bearing on the herb’s potential for treating the pain and inflammation of human arthritis.  There are, however, plenty of refs for the use of marijuana to control drug-induced nausea, and also to reduce interocular pressure. Run a DejaNews search for my post a week or so ago; it has a number of links.  I’ve checked these again recently, but no study as mentioned in the newsclip has shown up yet. Stacy Scott

The article was in the San Francisco Chronicle some time in the past couple of weeks. It said injections of cannabinoids into joints appeared to reduce inflammation. You should be able to find it at www.sfgate.com, the Chronicle’s web site.

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That’s where I saw it first, but they didn’t have it on sfgate. Sfgate says it only has articles written by Chronicle staff, so it must have been a national news story. If anyone finds the ref, can you write me, please? Thanks! Katherine The article was in the San Francisco Chronicle some time in the past couple of weeks. It said injections of cannabinoids into joints appeared to reduce inflammation. You should be able to find it at www.sfgate.com, the Chronicle’s web site.

Take the zzz out of my address to write to me.

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I still happened to have the article … it’s by Robert Lee Hotz of the Los Angeles Times. In summary, it says new animal studies by research groups at the University of California San Francisco, the University of Michigan and Brown University show that cannabinoids, which include the active ingredient in marijuana, relieve several kinds of pain, including the kind of inflammation associated with arthritis when injected directly in the site of the injury.  It says this new class of chemicals is not addictive, and does not appear to carry the risk that patients may develop tolerance for it. It was a paper presented at a meeting of the Society for Neuroscience in New Orleans. The story was in the 10/27 SF Chronicle.

I also found a site of interest: the text of the NIH’s Workshop on the Medical Utility of Marijuana’s report to the director.  It’s at:     http://www.nih.gov/news/medmarijuana/MedicalMarijuana.htm There are extensive refs in the article. Stacy Scott

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I always wonder about the hysteria surrounding marijuana. It’s a plant that has medicinal properties, but because of its illicit use, it gets snubbed in terms of its potential benefits. Personally, I would use it if it were legal and beneficial, and if it were dispensed in a form you didn’t have to smoke.  The thought of sucking burning plant matter into my lungs – *shudder*. Anita

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Does the article indicate if the beneficial effect after injection is permanent  or temporary? Thanks for info Kate    Send in the clowns

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Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.                 George M. Carter

Thanks and well said Harv

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sorry Bill but I’d say you were wrong you seem to feel the the fact of illegality some how makes this a better world and I’m pretty darn sure that this is not true in spite of how the Federal govt & other branches look at it regards ken merriman md – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, There are two important strides with regard to marijuana research. One: there is indeed a prescribable chemical derivative, dronnabinol, that represents one of the cannabinoids found in marijuana. Used to treat nausea and stimulate appetite. Some have found it very helpful; others prefer the herb. It has side effects. Two: Dr. Donald Abrams has been given the go ahead to test marijuana itself in a clinical setting in people with HIV. Partly to see if it has any effects on drugs (protease inhibitors) used to treat HIV. Putting people in jail for using some substances (marijuana, heroin, LSD, etc.) while not others (tobacco, alcohol, Xanax) is simply What a ridicules argument!  For one thing, Xanax is a prescription drug….  I assure you, if you are cought possessing it without a prescription, you WILL be in trouble!  Tobacco and alcohol are here.. period!  Making them legal was, without a doubt, a mistake!  This argument that somehow two or three or four wrongs will some how turn into a right is stupid!  Making more dangerous and/or addictive substances legal is not an answer.  As far as alcohol and tobacco go, the "genie is out of the bottle," so to speak, and we will have to live with the mistake, but that does not justify compounding the mistake with others! hypocritical. It costs our economy enormous amounts of money and people power and resources. It sustains an black market trade that results in enormous amounts of bloodshed and funds gun running and covert operations. Those resources could be better applied to research into addiction and recovery research–from the physical/biological/chemical to the psychological to addressing housing, child care, job skills training and other needs. I.e., treatment for people with undesired addictions and prevention efforts to assure that people find options to avoid addiction. Meantime, people WILL decide, rightly or wrongly, to become addicted to all kinds of things from coffee to crack. Putting them in jail because of that choice solves absolutely nothing.               George M. Carter

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