THE PONCHATOULA TIMES. DECEMBER 16, 2010, PAGE B-4
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By DR. RANDOLPWHOW-ES M.D., PhD
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Longtime medical columnist for The Ponchatoula Times. the
author is an accomplished surgeon, medical inventor, and Country music recording
artist. Dr. Howes grew up on his parents' Ponchatoula strawberry farm. He is a
graduate of St. Joseph, Ponchatoula High School, Tulane - two doctorates, followed
by a residency at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in plastic surgery. He says he is "re-
tired" now in Kentwood.)
A government report indicates that, for the first time, abuse of
painkillers and other medication is sending as many people to the
emergency room as the use of illegal drugs.
In 2008, emergency room .....
visits from people abusing pre-
scription or over-the-counter
medicines, mostly painkillers
and sedatives, totaled about 1
million. That equaled the num-
ber of visits from those overdos-
ing on heroin, cocaine and other
illegal drugs.
The number of drug-related
visits have about doubled over
the past five years and it seems
to 15e still increasing. The trend
was clearly led by painkillers.
such as oxycodone and hydo-
codone and sedatives, with
tranquilizers bringing up the
rear. Some cases are from mix-
ing or combining (stacking) of
drugs or combining them with
alcohol. Actually, the number
of prescriptions for these drugs
have also been increasing and
many may have legally obtained
their drugs.
In 2009, a CDC report found
that, "The rate of drug-related
deaths roughly doubled from
the late 1990s to 2006, and
most of the increase was at-
tributed to prescription opiates
such as the painkillers metha-
done, Oxycontin and Vicodin."
Dr. Howes
Gil Kerlikowske, director of the
Office of National Drug Control
Policy, said, "The abuse of pre-
scription drugs is our nation's
fastest-growing drug problem."
In recent years, drug com-
panies have fired up the mar-
keting of pain medications,
anti-depressants, sleep aids
and tranquilizers. Experts say,
"People believe that legally ob-
tained drugs are safer because
they are prescribed by doctors
and approved by the FDA." Rest
assured, they can still kill you.
Now, there is a startling
federal report that 30 million
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Americans are driving drunk
and another 10 million are
driving drugged. Although it
varies, in some states, drunk
and drugged drivers are over
20 percent, according to the
Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administra-
tion (SAMHSA). Unfortunately,
younger drivers are more likely
to drive while impaired. Sadly,
over ten thousand were killed
by drunk drivers in 2009 and
drugged drivers caused one in
three car accident deaths.
In the America that I love,
this is an outrage and we will
not tolerate it. These injuries
and deaths are preventable and
guilty parties should be pros-
ecuted to the fullest extent of
the law (no deals, no excuses). If
someone is going to drink, then
do not drive. Do not risk the life
and limb of innocent people be-
cause of stupidity and irrespon-
sibility.
l applaud parents, commu-
nity leaders, MADD, police and
the judicial system who fight
against driving while drunk or
drugged. Personally, I would put
a bounty on drunk or drugged
drivers and give law enforce-
ment officers a bonus for every-
one they apprehend. Remember,
no deals, no excuses. For repeat
offenders, throw away the key!
Alcohol and
Cancer: know
your limit
HOUSTON - When raising
your glass at this year's holi-
day toast, choose your beverage
wisely, say experts at The Uni-
versity of Texas MD Anderson
Cancer Center.
If adults wish to drink alco-
hol, they should select drinks
low in calories and alcohol con-
tent to limit cancer risk.
"Research shows that drink-
ing even a small amount of al-
cohol increases your chances
of developing cancer, including
oral cancer, breast cancer and
liver cancer," says Clare McK-
indley, clinical dietitian in MD
Anderson's Cancer Prevention
Center.
Yet, other research shows
that drinking small amounts
of alcohol may protect the body
against coronary heart disease
and type 2 diabetes. Some evi-
dence even suggests that red
wine may help prevent cancer.
"Researchers are still trying
to learn more about how alcohol
links to cancer," says McKind:
ley. "But, convincing evidence
does support the fact that heavy
drinking damages cells and in-
creases the risk for cancer de-
velopment."
Until we know more, MD An-
derson offers the beverage guide
below to help adults choose al-
coholic drinks and drink limits
with the lowest health risk:
Stick to the recommended
serving size. Alcoholic drinks
come in three choices: beer,
wine and liquor.
A drink is defined as 12 ounc-
es of beer, five ounces of wine or
1.5 ounces of liquor.
The National Cancer Insti-
tute recommends that women
have no more than one drink
per day and men have no more
than two drinks per day.
"Women don't have as much
flexibility as men when it comes
to alcohol consumption because
women generally have less total
body water to dilute the effects
of alcohol," says McKindley.
This means alcohol stays in'a
woman's body longer than in a
man's.
And, the longer large
amounts of alcohol stay in the
body, the higher the risk for
brain and organ damage, mo-
tor vehicle crashes, high blood
pressure, stroke, violence, sui-
cide, and other injury.
"How much you drink over
time matters more than what
you drink," says McKindley.
Select low-calorie options
Many of us get way too many
calories from all drinks, not
just alcoholic ones about 460
calories a day, according to a re-
cent study.
"That can lead to a grow-
ing waistline and an increased
cancer risk associated with be-
ing overweight or obese," says
McKindley.
Before taking a sip of alco-
hol, check the bottle label and
look at the calories per serving,
if listed. Many popular drinks
are loaded with empty calories
- especially drinks mixed with
soda, fruit juice or cream.
Eggnog is one of the largest
holiday offenders with about
340 calories per one-cup serv-
ing.
Stay away from 100-proof li-
quor It's the ethanol or alcohol
in beer, wine and liquor that
researchers believe increases
cancer risk.
"So while you're checking the
bottle label, check the ethanol
percentage or number as well,"
McKindley says. ' rou'll find
either an alcohol by volume
(ABV) percentage or an alcohol
proof number."
ABV and alcohol proof are
standard measures used world-
wide to show how much alcohol
or ethanol is in a beverage. In
the United States, the alcohol
proof number is twice the ABV
percentage.
Beer, wine and liquor contain
the same amount of alcohol per
serving about half an ounce.
That equals to about: 40% ABV
or 80-proof in liquor2 - 12%
ABV in beer 9 - 18% ABV in
wine.
"Avoid anything with even
more alcohol, like 100-proof
liquor," McKindley says. Non-
alcoholic drinks are probably
best.
Avoiding alcohol, or limiting
the amount you drink, is your
best bet to ringing in a healthy
New Year. If you're looking for
a non-alcoholic drink with a
"cocktail-like" feel, try club soda
and lime. It has minimal calo-
ries and health risks.
"Remember, alcoholic bever-
ages offer few nutritional ben-
efits," McKindley says. "Look
for healthier food sources and
practice portion control during
the holidays."
For more information, visit
www.mdanderson.org/focused
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Fire chief on parade
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Councilwoman
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