Posts Tagged ‘Drugs’

8 items.

Self-Medication

by Seraphine Khorana on November 2nd, 2010
Posted In: Comics
Self-Medication

I’m going to concentrate only on positive influences. Starting tomorrow. I’m going to burn sage and eat chocolate.

People are just fed up with the Obama administration – that ‘hope and change’ thing, said retail manager Nadine Leder in Milwaukee, Wisconson.
Quotation from Republicans poised for big gains by Andy Smith, Reuters.
(Yes, people are fed up with that “hope” thing. It’s horribly tiring.)

Participants who tested positive for depression consumed an average of 8.4 servings of chocolate per month.
Quotation from Depression and Chocolate: Self-Medication or Perpetuation? by Charles Bankhead
(Only 8.4 servings per month? That surely must be a misprint.)

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Raise the Stakes

by Seraphine Khorana on March 18th, 2010
Posted In: Comics
Raise the Stakes

I hear people say we should raise the stakes in Afghanistan. Or we need to raise the stakes in the War on Drugs. But you rarely hear talk of raising the stakes in the war on poverty. Why is that? If we are going to “raise the stakes,” we should do so for jobs, women’s rights, the environment, health care, financial reform and schools.

Drug cartels exploit illegal immigrants by forcing them into economic bondage or prostitution. “Drugs are only sold once,” Rep. Loretta Sanchez, the chairwoman of the House Homeland Security border subcommittee, said in an interview. “But people can be sold over and over. And they use these people over and over until they are too broken to be used anymore.”
Quotation from Josh Meyer, Drug cartels raise the stakes on human smuggling
(The Los Angeles Times)

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Name Brand Placebo

by Seraphine Khorana on February 10th, 2010
Posted In: Comics
Name Brand Placebo

Placebos are scientifically shown to be effective 40% of the time against pain and depression. However, I haven’t found any studies that specifically compare the beneficial effects of a “name brand” Placebo versus a generic sugar pill. I suspect that this is one case where the name brand drug would be more effective than the generic version, despite both having the same “active ingredient.” Yes, I will accept a research grant to prove the point.

Reportedly, patients have even become “addicted” to placebos: According to an Internet paper by Ben Z. Krentzman, M.D., one patient ingested 10,000 placebo units in one year; another had a compulsive desire to take placebo tablets, tended to increase the “dose,” couldn’t stop taking the “medicine” without psychiatric help, and suffered “abstinence syndrome” when deprived of it—classic characteristics of drug addiction.
Quotation from Kenneth E. Legins, Is Prescribing Placebos Ethical?, American Council on Science and Health

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Swine Flu Vaccine

by Seraphine Khorana on January 5th, 2010
Posted In: Comics
Swine Flu Vaccine

This really happened to me. I won’t mention the name of the pharmacy, but it rhymes with Fright-Aid. The pharmacist said the best way to avoid getting the flu is “don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.” I’ll assume I can still use my mouth for eating as long as I wash my hands beforehand?

So the C.D.C. says 50 million [Americans] have been infected so far. Another 50 million have been vaccinated. And maybe 20 million have got innate immunity because of their age. You do the math — that’s 120 million who are immune out of 320 million, so two-thirds of the population is still not immune. It’s amazing how many people are acting as if this is all wrapped up. The numbers could still go up dramatically.
Quotation from Michael T. Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota

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35 Comments

What am I supposed to do?

by Seraphine Khorana on September 3rd, 2009
Posted In: Comics
What am I supposed to do?

You may have noticed fewer updates to Encore Seraphine lately. I’m lethargic, exhausted, depressed. My chest hurts and my throat burns. I dread turning off the lights at night to (try to) sleep. My blood, urine and xrays are all normal. The doctor thinks it’s likely stress, so he’s given me the antianxiety drug Ativan. I’ve given up coffee and chocolate. I’m not visiting my friend’s blogs like I should. I feel like I’m letting everyone down: my readers, my friends, my spouse, even (especially) myself. I’d like my life back. Haven’t you felt that way too?

Stress is nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness.
Quotation from Richard Carlson

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Tough Love/Dose of a Necessary Habit

by Seraphine Khorana on April 13th, 2009
Posted In: Comics
Tough Love/Dose of a Necessary Habit

Major banks are buying more of the toxic assets that have gotten them in trouble. Normally, I don’t care how other people invest their money, but it’s frightening that these banks are using taxpayers money to “double down” on losing bets while raising the interest rates and fees charged to their customers.

Bailed-Out Banks Eye Toxic Asset Buys (Financial Times)
Bailed-Out Banks Face Probe Over Fee Hikes (The Australian News) “Unhappy customers can cancel their accounts.”

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The unHappy Hookah

by Seraphine Khorana on August 22nd, 2008
Posted In: Comics
The unHappy Hookah

I hate being ignored, and I hate being treated as an object.

“Until memory is allocated, an object does not exist.”
A rule defining an Object in computer programming

The Devil’s Circus came to town. We watched the freaks arrive en masse.
When they paraded through our streets, we turned a blind eye as they passed.
Safe in the comfort of our homes, we all forget the need to fear.
Lyrics from Skyclad, Gammadion Seed

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Starbucks: Who Pooped in the Bread Basket?

by Seraphine Khorana on July 3rd, 2008
Posted In: Comics
Starbucks: Who Pooped in the Bread Basket?

Somebody thought “Let’s open more stores
so people don’t have to stand in line.” But
instead they should have added more easy
chairs, because nobody likes to drink alone.

Monitoring America’s Favorite Drug Dealer (Starbuck’s Gossip)
Starbucks Goes Skinny as Froth Withers (Financial Times)

“I’m so spoiled. I must have a Starbucks vanilla latte
every day. Otherwise, it’s going to be a bad day.
I also love Jelly Bellies. But that’s bad. Don’t tell my mom.”
Quotation from Katie Holmes

“Starbucks says they are going to start putting religious quotes
on cups. The very first one will say, ‘Jesus! This cup is expensive!’”
Quotation from Conan O’Brien

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