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  • Can Pet Ownership Alleviate Depression Symptoms?

    Can Pet Ownership Alleviate Depression Symptoms?

    A new study examined the impact of pet ownership on people with treatment-resistant depression.

    It’s no secret that animals can bring people joy, but a new study indicates that adopting a pet could prove particularly beneficial for those with severe depression. 

    The study, published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, found that for those with severe depression that was not easily treatable, adopting a pet could help lessen symptoms. 

    Jorge Mota Pereira and Daniela Fonte, two Portuguese researchers, recruited 80 study participants who had “treatment-resistant major depressive disorder.” They encouraged each one to adopt a pet. Of the 80 participants, 33 agreed to adopt, with 20 individuals choosing a dog and seven choosing a cat.  

    According to The Independent, over the following 12 weeks, the participant’s depression symptoms were studied during checkups at four and eight weeks.  

    The results at the end of the study implied that adopting the pet had been beneficial for some. More than 33% of the group, according to the Independent, had higher scores on depression rating systems like the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale, and the scores were considered mild rather than severe.

    According to the study’s authors, one reason for this may be that the level of care a pet requires could impact depression symptoms positively. 

    “By having the responsibility of taking care of an animal, people have to get up in the morning to take care of the animal, namely pet them and feeding them,” the researchers wrote, according to Bustle. “In the specific case of dogs, the need of taking a dog for a walk, hike and run promotes the increase of physical activity and could help its owner to meet new people that also have pets, sharing experiences and improving their social skills.”

    The researchers concluded that owning a pet could be an “effective adjuvant” to more traditional depression treatments.  

    However, writer Christian Jarrett pointed out in a blog for the British Psychological Society Research Digest that the improvement in patient’s scores and symptoms could have to do with more than adopting a pet.

    “So, although pet-adopters and the controls were matched for baseline depression symptoms, there may have been other ways that they differed,” he writes. “For instance, perhaps there was something different about the personalities or social circumstances of the pet adopters that contributed to their willingness to adopt a pet and to their higher remission rates (raising the possibility that the pet adoption itself was not the main ‘active ingredient’ in their recovery).”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Michael Bloomberg To Spend $50 Million to Fight Addiction

    Michael Bloomberg To Spend $50 Million to Fight Addiction

    Michael Bloomberg wrote about his intentions to fight the opioid epidemic in the 10 states hit hardest by it in a recent op-ed. 

    Former New York City mayor and billionaire Michael Bloomberg announced that he will spend $50 million to fight the opioid epidemic, focusing on 10 states that are hardest-hit by drug overdoses. 

    “The opioid epidemic is a national health crisis of historic proportion. Yet the federal government is still not tackling it with the urgency it requires,” Bloomberg wrote in an op-ed for USA Today.  “What’s truly needed is a comprehensive strategy that includes the policy changes necessary to stem the epidemic and overcome barriers to treatment. We are not waiting around for the federal government to provide that strategy.”

    Grants will be made through Bloomberg Philanthropies, beginning with a three-year grant to Pennsylvania, which is expected to be about $10 million, according to The Washington Post. Pennsylvania has an overdose rate of about twice the national average but also has an innovative approach to fighting drug addiction, including an Opioid Command Center that meets weekly. The Bloomberg grant will help support that and similar programs aimed at reducing the overdose death rate. 

    “States have already been leading in ways Washington hasn’t, and foundations can offer resources and expertise that can help them accelerate their work now,” Bloomberg wrote. 

    Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said that his state was chosen because they’re already doing good work in fighting the opioid epidemic but still have lots of problems to confront. 

    “I think Bloomberg Philanthropies was looking for a commonwealth or a state that was actually doing something,” Wolf told The Washington Post. “What I would hope is we can use the $10 million as a really generous add-on to the kinds of things we’re already doing.”

    Bloomberg hopes to fund initiatives that can be replicated and help solve the overdose epidemic nationally. 

    “What we think we can do with $50 million is show the way in these 10 states,” Bloomberg said. “If they do things that we think make sense, then we will help fund it.”

    It was not immediately clear which other states would benefit from Bloomberg’s grant money. However, the philanthropist hopes that the funds will make a difference to families across the nation.

    “The pain, suffering, and death from opioid abuse is truly a national emergency. In just the time it took to read this commentary, another child has been removed from his or her parents’ care because of a parent’s opioid use,” he wrote. “Solving this crisis will not be easy. But states have a chance to show the federal government that bolder actions can save lives. And with so many communities crying out for leadership, there is no time to waste.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Is Vaping Pot More Powerful Than Smoking It?

    Is Vaping Pot More Powerful Than Smoking It?

    Researchers explored whether vaping marijuana produced a stronger high than smoking it in a recent study.

    Researchers have published a new study that suggests inhaling vaporized marijuana will result in a stronger high than smoking it. Their conclusion was drawn from six, eight-and-a-half-hour double-blind sessions in which participants consumed marijuana, via smoking or vaping, in one of three possible dosages – between 0 and 25 mg of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis – and then reported their reactions while scientists conducted physical and cognitive tests.

    The results suggested that vaping produced more significant physical and mental effects, as well as higher blood concentrations of THC, than the same doses ingested via smoking.

    The study, conducted by scientists at the Johns Hopkins Pharmacology Research Unit in Baltimore, Maryland, utilized 17 healthy adult participants – eight women and nine men – all of whom had smoked marijuana at least once in the previous year but not in the 30 days before the first day of the study.

    Over the course of the six outpatient sessions, each lasting 8.5 hours and conducted between June 2016 and January 2017, patients smoked or vaped a dose of marijuana containing either 0, 10 or 25 milligrams of THC.

    Dosage order was randomized within each session, and while each participant smoked or vaped all three possible dosages over the course of the six sessions, they were unaware of how much THC they were consuming during each test.

    After ingesting a dose, participants then filled out a drug-impairment questionnaire and underwent physical and cognitive tests, including heart rate and blood pressure; they were also asked to complete tasks on a computer, such as simple addition and replicating shapes on a screen. 

    What the researchers found was that vaping marijuana resulted in more significant impairment than marijuana ingested via smoking. Both the high and low doses produced greater concentrations of THC in the test subjects’ blood and at least twice as many errors on the cognitive tests. 

    Vaping and smoking did produce similar results in regard to the highest dosage – two participants reportedly vomited after ingesting the 25mg dosage, and one experienced hallucinations – and both methods produced side effects commonly associated with cannabis use, including dry mouth, increased hunger and feelings of paranoia, though participants who vaped reported greater levels of these effects than those who smoked.

    Most significantly, the researchers also noted that the dosage with the highest level of THC – 25mg of THC, or 13.4%  — was “substantially smaller and has a lower THC concentration that what is typically contained in pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes available for purchase in cannabis dispensaries.” According to the study, these typically contain THC concentrations that exceed 18%.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Rodrigo Duterte "Jokes" About Using Marijuana To Stay Awake

    Rodrigo Duterte "Jokes" About Using Marijuana To Stay Awake

    Duterte’s off-color remarks about marijuana use fell flat against the backdrop of a bloody crackdown on drugs in the Philippines.

    Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who has led a violent anti-drug campaign that killed thousands of people, said he uses marijuana, but almost immediately reversed his statement, saying that he was joking. 

    Duterte was talking about his hectic schedule, particularly the meetings during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit held in Singapore last month, according to Al Jazeera. 

    “Don’t say I told you but [Brunei Sultan Hassanal] Bolkiah always falls asleep, but he has a talent … and you don’t notice,” Duterte said during a speech. “Me, [I don’t fall asleep] as much because I was taking marijuana to stay awake. For others, it’s not possible.”

    After the speech, Duterte told reporters that he was just joking and that he doesn’t use pot. However, regardless of whether Duterte was telling the truth or making an off-color joke, the remarks fell flat against the backdrop of a bloody crackdown on drugs in the Philippines.

    “This will definitely anger the families [of victims of the violence] even more,” Carlos Conde, a Philippines researcher with the New York-based Human Rights Watch, told Reuters. “There is a disconnect between what the president admitted to do and what the president said he will do to those who use drugs. Now, if the president admitted probably in jest … then that demolishes the credibility of this whole thing.”

    Duterte kicked off his violent campaign in 2016, vowing to clear the Philippines of drug trafficking and drug abuse. Some agencies estimate that as many as 5,000 people were killed as a result.

    “Please feel free to call us, the police, or do it yourself if you have the gun — you have my support. Shoot [them] and I’ll give you a medal,” he said. 

    Duterte went so far as to say that he would hypothetically order the execution of his son Paolo, who allegedly took bribes to allow the import of crystal meth, if the man was found guilty. 

    “I said before my order was: ‘If I have children who are into drugs, kill them so people will not have anything to say,’” Duterte said in Sept. 2017. “So I told [Paolo]: ‘My order is to kill you if you are caught. And I will protect the police who kill you, if it is true.’”

    On a day when federal police killed 32 people reportedly associated with drug abuse, Duterte praised the actions.

    “Let’s kill another 32 every day. Maybe we can reduce what ails this country,” he said. 

    However, in Oct. 2017 Duterte called off the war on drugs after public outcry about the murder of three teenagers. 

    “This is better for the bleeding hearts and the media,” Duterte said at the time. “I hope I will satisfy you.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Melania Trump Discusses Opioid Epidemic

    Melania Trump Discusses Opioid Epidemic

    During her speech, Trump detailed startling statistics about the opioid epidemic but urged students to look beyond those numbers. 

    First Lady Melania Trump spoke with college students about the opioid epidemic last week, calling the current situation the “worst drug crisis in American history.”

    Trump appeared at a town hall meeting at Liberty University, a Christian university in Lynchburg, Virginia. She appeared on a panel hosted by former Fox News personality Eric Bolling, whose son died of an accidental drug overdose last year. 

    During the panel, Trump said she has seen how deeply the country has been affected by opioid abuse as she explores the issue as part of her “Be Best” campaign to emphasize emotional wellbeing. 

    “When I took on opioid abuse as one of the pillars of my initiative ‘Be Best,’ I did it with the goal of helping children of all ages. I have visited several hospitals and facilities that are dedicated to helping all who have been affected by this disease — including people who are addicted, babies born addicted and families coping with addiction of a loved one,” she said to the students at Liberty University, according to CNN. “What has struck me with each visit is how this epidemic has touched so many people — whether it is because of personal use, or that of family members, friends, coworkers or neighbors — opioid addiction is an illness that has truly taken hold of our country.” 

    During her speech, Trump detailed the statistics about the opioid epidemic but urged students to look beyond those numbers. 

    “I also believe you have the capacity to not think of this in terms of statistics, but to think of this as a human story and an opportunity to save lives,” she said.

    She added that everyone needs to be aware of the danger of opioids and of how to support someone who is struggling with substance use disorder. 

    “While you may never personally become addicted, the chances of you knowing someone who struggles with it are very high,” she said. “And if you, or someone you know needs help, you need to be brave enough to ask, or strong enough to stand with them as they fight through the disease.”

    Trump also told students that through her “Be Best” campaign she hopes to help kids realize that the actions they take now can affect them for years to come.

    “I saw it as an opportunity to speak with all of you as you enter a critical stage of your lives,” she told students, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. “The independence that comes with being a young adult is exciting but overwhelming… I know college is a time of independence. I am here to remind you some of those decisions, though they may seem minor at the time, could negatively impact you for the rest of your lives.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • The Challenges Of Dating With Depression

    The Challenges Of Dating With Depression

    Experts explain the challenges people with depression face in the dating world.

    Depression can often be a full-time fight, and it can make practically every aspect of life difficult, including dating. While dating is still possible when battling depression, it can often require extra effort and care.

    In a new look at depression and dating, Ask Men spoke to several experts about the specific difficulties and challenges people who are struggling with depression can face when they’re looking for the right soul mate.

    As Lindsey Pratt, a relationship therapist, explains, “Depression may impact your relationship as it reduces general feelings of wellbeing, as well as overall energy. If you struggle with depression, you may notice that it prevents you from feeling excitement over special moments with your partner, that you have trouble finding energy to spend time with that person, or that your ability to imagine a happy future with your partner feels limited.”

    If you suffer from depression and want to try online dating, Pratt recommends that you “practice patience and compassion with yourself that your speed in replying or interacting with potential dates may be limited. Battling depression can be physically and emotionally taxing, so make sure you’re going at your own pace and being kind with yourself in the process.”

    Yet Dr. Paulette Sherman, a psychologist who has written several books on dating, also recommends pushing yourself a bit to get out there, even if you feel down in the dumps. “It is healthy to take action to forge new connections, to have fun and to remain hopeful that something good could come from your efforts,” she explains.

    Pratt also recommends being aware of what triggers your depression and to work around those triggers when dating, like scheduling a date around the hours of the day you feel best. Once the date is happening, it’s important to be in the moment and to not bring your depressive thoughts and feelings with you. “Try to focus on what there is to enjoy and what you appreciate about your experience,” Sherman says.

    Another difficult aspect of dating when you’re depressed is when to disclose to someone that you suffer from depression. “You’ll need to determine the best time to discuss your depression with a date,” Sherman explains. “Often this conversation happens a month or two into dating.”

    Psychology professor Amanda Rose recommended to US News that when it’s time to disclose that you’re dealing with depression, “Be brief and to the point. I don’t know if it’s always relevant to go into too many details.”

    As Dr. Gary Brown, a marriage and family therapist, also explained to Elite Daily, “I really like to encourage people to say, ‘You know what? I suffer from a condition that’s pretty common in the population. I have this sadness sometimes about me.’ You don’t even have to use the word depression.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Does Climate Affect Alcohol Intake?

    Does Climate Affect Alcohol Intake?

    Researchers investigated whether there was a connection between alcohol intake and climate for a new study.

    Could the climate where you live be leading you to drink more?

    Recent research says yes. 

    According to The Independent, a new study determined that across the country and the world, alcohol intake and related diseases increased as temperatures and hours of sunlight decreased. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and published in the journal Hepatology, looked at data from 193 countries. 

    Ramon Bataller, the senior author and chief of hepatology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, says the study is the first to make the connection between climate and alcohol intake and disease. 

    “It’s something that everyone has assumed for decades,” Bataller told The Independent. “Why do people in Russia drink so much? Why in Wisconsin? Everybody assumes that’s because it’s cold. But we could not find a single paper linking climate to alcoholic intake or alcoholic cirrhosis. This is the first study that systematically demonstrates that worldwide and in America, in colder areas and areas with less sun, you have more drinking and more alcoholic cirrhosis.”

    More specifically, the study found that as the hours of sunlight and the average temperature fell, the intake of alcohol per individual, the percentage of the population drinking alcohol, and binge-drinking levels each increased. 

    According to study author Meritxell Ventura-Cots, people living in Ukraine consumed 13.9 liters of alcohol per capita each year in comparison to 6.7 liters in Italy, which has a warmer climate. The same was true in the US, where in Montana the average was 11.7 liters, compared to 7.8 liters in North Carolina.

    Bataller said the results of the study could help officials focus on colder climates and add resources there accordingly. He also, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, said the results could help an individual with a history of family alcohol use disorder to keep the climate in mind when thinking about moving.

    There are a variety of possible explanations for the link, Bataller stated. One is that people who live in colder areas may drink more because it could lead to feeling warmer. In contrast, those who live in warm areas may be more likely to feel light-headed or unwell if they drink.

    Additionally, Bataller said, cold and dark climates can make depression worse for some people, which may lead to alcohol use. 

    Peter McCann, a medical adviser to Castle Craig Hospital in Scotland, told The Independent that these findings mean stricter laws on winter alcohol prices and advertising are justified. 

    “This weather-related alcohol consumption is directly linked to our chances of developing the most dangerous form of liver disease – cirrhosis – which can ultimately end in liver failure and death,” he said. “Stricter laws on alcohol pricing are surely justified when we consider the devastating combined effect of low sunlight and cheaper alcohol on consumption.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • New Initiative Helps Make Workplaces Recovery Friendly

    New Initiative Helps Make Workplaces Recovery Friendly

    More than 70 businesses are participating in the Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative. 

    Many people who struggle with substance use disorder find that while getting sober is one challenge, reintegrating into society and finding a job can be another huge barrier to long-term recovery. In New Hampshire, a statewide initiative is aiming to make holding down a job a little easier for people in recovery. 

    The Recovery Friendly Workplace initiative, which has more than 70 participating businesses, provides employers with resources and support to help employees in recovery succeed. Hypertherm, a tool manufacturer based in Lebanon, New Hampshire, is one of the most enthusiastic adopters of the program. 

    “We’re here. We understand,” Jenny Levy, Hypertherm’s vice president of people, community and environment, told The Washington Post. “If you’re seeking recovery, we’re here for you.”

    Employers in the initiative are more open to employees with criminal records or gaps in employment. They also may provide services like training in how to use naloxone. Overall, having an open commitment to supporting employees in recovery can help cut down on stigma. In turn, employment can help build the self-worth of people in early recovery. 

    “There’s not a whole lot of pride that goes into being a user,” said Kenny Sawyer, who has worked at Hypertherm for eight years, following years of drug abuse and homelessness. 

    David Mara, New Hampshire’s drug czar, said that holding down a job is an important accomplishment for people in recovery, not just because it is sometimes part of probation conditions. 

    “One of the most important things that people in recovery talk about is how it feels, with their self-worth and identity, getting employed again,” Mara said. 

    Of course, the program also has benefits for the companies that participate. New Hampshire has the third-highest overdose rate in the nation but also one of the lowest unemployment rates, at just 2.7%. 

    “Basically, everyone in New Hampshire is employed,” Mara said. 

    In that environment, opening employment opportunities to people who may otherwise be seen as less desirable candidates can help companies get ahead, and helping employees stay sober — and employed — keeps the businesses rolling. 

    Kevin Flynn, director of communications and public policy for New Hampshire’s Business and Industry Association, said that in a state where addiction is prevalent, employers have had to deal with the toll addiction takes on their employees. 

    “Most thoughtful business leaders want to do the right thing by their employees when it comes to addiction, and to [addiction in] their families,” he said.

    Levy, of Hypertherm, said that that commitment is returned. Employees “who are supported through their recovery are incredibly loyal,” he said. “They make great workers.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Long-Lost '90s Drug Drama "Crackdown" Makes Blu-Ray Debut

    Long-Lost '90s Drug Drama "Crackdown" Makes Blu-Ray Debut

    Crackdown: Big City Blues follows community activists as they battle drug dealers for the soul of their neighborhood.

    Unseen for more than three decades, the New York-lensed independent crime drama Crackdown: Big City Blues has made its debut on Blu-ray from The Film Detective.

    The film, about community activists battling drug dealers for the soul of their neighborhood, was produced during the height of the crack epidemic in the early 1990s, which provided a documentary-style atmosphere of authenticity.

    Distribution problems prevented Crackdown from being seen by audiences in the United States, but the discovery of a rare 35mm print by producer Frazier Prince led to its restoration and home video release by The Film Detective. For Prince, the revival of Crackdown also provides him with a new opportunity to “get the message out and talk to people” about the perils of the drug trade.

    photo courtesy of Prince Henry Entertainment Group

    In a conversation with The Fix, Prince – a former actor and New York Police Department veteran who also served as a technical advisor for America’s Most Wanted – recalls that Crackdown began as a series of conversations with his former partner, writer/producer/director Paul DeSilva, while driving across the Brooklyn Bridge.

    “We would go back to his house, and we would sketch out ideas, and I would provide technical advice,” says Prince, who also served as the film’s producer.

    photo courtesy of Prince Henry Entertainment Group

    After crafting a script and raising a “shoestring” budget of approximately $200,000 from local investors, DeSilva and Prince cast the film with a mix of name and local talent, including Rhonda Ross Kendrick – daughter of Diana Ross and Motown founder Berry Gordy – and character actors Stu “Large” Riley (Gotham) and Apache Ramos (The Warriors) and “called in a lot of favors,” according to Prince, to complete the film.

    Crackdown writer/producer/director Paul DeSilva photo courtesy of Prince Henry Entertainment Group

    Their hope for the finished product was a film that showed “how people were dealing with the drug issue in their neighborhood. [DeSilva] wanted to show what couldn’t work, like vigilantism, and what could work, which was community activism to drive the dealers out. And [in the film], the activists won.”

    DeSilva and Prince found a distributor to handle the film’s release but discovered that the company “worked in mainly foreign markets” and sold the picture to a few territories before essentially shelving it. DeSilva attempted to regain the rights to the film, but he died before the six-year lease had run out.

    Crackdown would enter a state of limbo for decades until DeSilva’s brother contacted Prince after discovering a 35mm print of Crackdown – one of only two in existence – in a closet. Film Detective founder Philip Hopkins expressed an interest in spearheading a restoration, which resulted in the new Blu-ray as well as several screenings across the country.

    A portion of ticket and home video sales benefit two non-profits – the Bronx chapter of the civil rights organization National Action Network and the drug and alcohol recovery network Phoenix House.

    For Prince, the renewed attention for Crackdown is a chance to give something back to the community, which, he says, “is what Paul would have liked.” He adds that the time is right for the film to reach a new audience, having been launched during a drug epidemic that parallels the current opioid crisis. “Each period has its own problems to deal with,” he notes. As for a solution, “education and public awareness – to let people know about the ill effects of drugs – that will make a big difference.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Ben Foster’s “Leave No Trace” Tackles PTSD, Mental Health

    Ben Foster’s “Leave No Trace” Tackles PTSD, Mental Health

    In the critically-acclaimed movie, Foster plays a veteran coping with post-traumatic stress disorder.

    Ben Foster, star of X-Men: The Last Stand and 3:10 to Yuma, has received rave reviews and early Oscar buzz this year for his role Leave No Trace where he plays a veteran dealing with PTSD.

    Foster hopes the film will help reduce the public stigma around mental health, and as the actor told People, “Some wounds and illnesses are invisible to the naked eye. By sharing stories about our own unique experiences, we can allow a safe identification and hopefully a conversation. Any time we look past a bias or perceived stigma, for ourselves or others, we strengthen our own humanity. Practicing empathy is the first mighty step towards healing.”

    When Leave No Trace was coming together, Foster told Indie Wire that “the unseen scars of war” and how veterans cope with them “are things that have touched my life by having friends in the military, and I felt like I could ask these questions in an emotional way that I haven’t before, so that was exciting … Further than that, trauma is trauma, and war doesn’t get to own PTSD. Understanding that if you live long enough on this planet and you make it to a certain age we’re gonna experience things that go unresolved, leave a mark. We need to find ways to cope.”

    To prepare for the role, Foster consulted with Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a renowned psychologist who helps veterans. (In 2012, Van Dahlen made Time’s Most Influential People List.) Foster previously worked with Dr. Van Dahlen when he starred in the Chris Stapleton video for “Fire Away,” which also raised awareness for mental health awareness.

    Foster called Van Dahlen “one of [the] most beautiful compassionate humans I’ve had the good fortune of meeting. She helped guide us towards a more authentic expression of how depression manifests itself and affects loved ones, while at the same time suggesting hope and ways to connect.”

    Van Dahlen created a foundation for vets called Give an Hour, where therapists donate an hour of their time for free to help veterans cope after serving. (Since forming in 2005, the organization, through the work of 7,000 therapists, has reportedly given 250,000 hours of free help to vets.)

    With Leave No Trace, Van Dahlen feels it’s important “to tell authentic, accurate stories. We’ve had way too many in our history of sensationalized stories so, sadly, people think all veterans are broken, they all have post-traumatic stress. And that’s not true. ‘Leave No Trace’ is such a beautiful and compelling film … Ben really is such a student and was meticulous about getting it right and being authentic.”

    View the original article at thefix.com