The House I Live In

Drug addiction - it's a terrible problem in America.

I don't profess to have all of the answers as to why people abuse drugs, nor do I have a solution to the problem. There is no simple solution to such a complex problem. But, I do think that many of us agree that how we've been addressing this problem for the past forty-years isn't working very well.

Perhaps it's time we tried approaching the problem from a different point of view?

In theaters this beginning this month the documentary, The House I Live In, examines the economic, as well as the moral and practical, failures of the so-called "war on drugs," and calls on the United States to approach drug abuse not as a "war," but as a matter of public health.

We need "a very changed dialogue in this country that understands drugs as a public health concern and not a criminal justice concern," says the film's director, Eugene Jarecki.

Jarecki also says, "The 'tough on crime' strategy failed. We created a war on drugs, which is a trillion dollars spent over 40 years, 45 million arrests, leading to nothing. Drugs are cheaper, purer, more available than ever before, and used by younger and younger people. Who can stand by that?"

I think a lot of people might agree with him. The House I Live In is showing in Phoenix next month. I'll make sure to see it and report my review in the comments section of this post.


Source: The House I Live In

Wake Up! Get Your Flu Shot

Consider this your flu-fighting wake-up call. That’s right, it’s time to hit that flu with everything you’ve got. Get a flu shot, because it’s your best protection. Keep your hands squeaky clean, and don’t forget to cover those sneezes, people!


Source: Flu Wake Up

Oxyana | A Documentary

A portrait of Oceana, WV, an old coal mining town that has become the epicenter of the Appalachian Oxycontin epidemic, earning the nickname Oxyana.

Set in the middle of unbelievable natural beauty, life persists in Oceana, but it’s a living that few Americans could explain or even believe; closer in kind to the world of a medieval plague. Men and women die epidemically. The addicts— who are the vast majority, and all nice enough people— sell, scramble, and steal in an economy of nigh-endtimes desperation.

Worn down and out by the pills, the mines, or the indignity of both, everyone is easily twice their own age, and unable to imagine an existence outside of coal, subsidies, and prescription narcotics. Things could hardly get darker— or more fucked and implausible— than in this place called Oceana.


Oxyana Teaser from Sean Dunne on Vimeo and Kickstarter

Ricki Lake Thinks I'm Fly

Except for my man, Jerry Fahrni, I don't get much feedback or linkage from other pharmacists, or bloggers who "call" themselves pharmacists. It seems as though they think I'm anti-pharmacy and refuse to acknowledge my existence in hopes that I'll disappear from the blogosphere.

Personally, I think they refuse to acknowledge me and my blog because I speak the truth about the profession, they're afraid I'm right about my views and opinions, and what I have to say scares them.

It seems to me that they prefer pharmacy bloggers who sit around the campfire in a circle-jerk while singing Kumbaya and telling each other how great they are, and how much their patients suck, while their profession is slowly being stolen away from them. But, that's just my opinion.

So, I wasn't fully caught off guard when I received a video email this Octoberfest from the anonymous blogger who calls himself "The Redheaded" pharmacist, telling me what he/she thinks of my efforts.

Luckily for me, both Ricki Lake and the Plan-B girls (Camila, Cryselle, Errin, Jolivette, Kariva, Levora, Seasonique, Trinessa, and Yasmin) still think I'm fly.

Back To The Gym

Being a pharmacist has carried over into my personal life at the gym. I always feel like I'm under the gun to do things faster and faster to accomplish more and more. Unfortunately, I pushed myself too hard, started twice-a-day workouts, and then hurt myself.

But, after taking almost one full month off to heal, I'm back to the gym.

Although I'm not fully healed, I've learned to take it a little easier this time, accept the slower results, and to be satisfied with just showing off my Bat-package to the Jokers in my Zumba class.


Batman aerobics from SuperHeroineLinks.com on Vimeo.

CPR For Zombies | The Undeading

Do you know how to perform CPR in a life-saving situation? If not, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is here to help - if it doesn't scare you to death first.


Source: Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation

Philips HeartStart Home Defibrillator & Package - Monitors & (Google Affiliate Ad)

Me And You And A Dog Named Boo

Embrace your black dog. World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health issues. The day promotes open discussion of mental disorders, and investments in prevention, promotion and treatment services. This year's theme for the day is “Depression: A Global Crisis”.


Source: WHO: World Mental Health Day