Thursday, September 17, 2009
Issue #1: Drugs and Alcohol
Welcome. You are now reading the premiere issue of 309: The Online Magazine. The theme of this first issue is drugs and alcohol. Happy reading, and please be sure to bookmark us!
Alcohol and Drugs: A College Staple
By Rob W. Mason
From the downtown bar scene to fraternity and sorority parties, it’s evident that alcohol and drugs play a large role in the lives of many college students in America today. Some may have an occasional drink or two on the weekend and perhaps smoke a joint once in awhile, while others finish off a case of beer, an eighth of marijuana or an 8-ball of cocaine on a nightly basis. Either way, drugs have become synonymous with college life.
“I recently came across a study that found almost half of all college students in the United States abuse drugs or alcohol at least once every month,” Sherrie Gillette, Director of Clinton County Addiction Services, said. “That’s nearly 3 million students across this country using illegal drugs or binge drinking on a regular basis. Those numbers are really quite alarming”
While the percentage of students who abuse drugs and alcohol is very high, it doesn’t seem to shock many students when they find out. “I’m actually surprised the numbers aren’t higher,” Plattsburgh State senior Ross McCallister said. “Drugs and alcohol are everywhere across campus; especially alcohol. I can’t think of a single person off the top of my head that I know here who doesn’t drink.”
Statistics compiled by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse seem to back-up McCallister’s statement. According to NCASA, alcohol is the favored substance of abuse on college campuses by far. They do state, however, that marijuana and prescription drug use has dramatically increased since the mid-’90s.
When speaking with students on campus, the number one response as to why they use drugs or alcohol was simply, “to have a good time.” When asked whether or not they worried about repercussions or consequences that might come about from their substance abuse most said it never really crosses their mind.
“When you’re out on a Saturday night boozing it up and having a good time with your friends, what ‘might’ happen is usually not something you’re thinking about,” said McCallister.”
What might happen from abusing alcohol and drugs usually isn’t at the forefront of the users thoughts, but perhaps it should be. According to Plattsburgh State University Police Officer Jon Bombard, “Somewhere around 80% of all arrests that we make on campus involve drugs or alcohol in one way or another.”
Alcohol and other mind altering substances are a part of everyday life on college campuses, and most likely always will be. The use of alcohol and drugs is often followed by negative lingering effects on students, the schools, and the community in general. “Students are using these substances and not worrying about the consequences,” Gillette said. “We need to educate them on the risks of engaging in these behaviors so hopefully they will be able to make smarter decisions which will benefit everyone in the end.”
From the downtown bar scene to fraternity and sorority parties, it’s evident that alcohol and drugs play a large role in the lives of many college students in America today. Some may have an occasional drink or two on the weekend and perhaps smoke a joint once in awhile, while others finish off a case of beer, an eighth of marijuana or an 8-ball of cocaine on a nightly basis. Either way, drugs have become synonymous with college life.
“I recently came across a study that found almost half of all college students in the United States abuse drugs or alcohol at least once every month,” Sherrie Gillette, Director of Clinton County Addiction Services, said. “That’s nearly 3 million students across this country using illegal drugs or binge drinking on a regular basis. Those numbers are really quite alarming”
While the percentage of students who abuse drugs and alcohol is very high, it doesn’t seem to shock many students when they find out. “I’m actually surprised the numbers aren’t higher,” Plattsburgh State senior Ross McCallister said. “Drugs and alcohol are everywhere across campus; especially alcohol. I can’t think of a single person off the top of my head that I know here who doesn’t drink.”
Statistics compiled by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse seem to back-up McCallister’s statement. According to NCASA, alcohol is the favored substance of abuse on college campuses by far. They do state, however, that marijuana and prescription drug use has dramatically increased since the mid-’90s.
When speaking with students on campus, the number one response as to why they use drugs or alcohol was simply, “to have a good time.” When asked whether or not they worried about repercussions or consequences that might come about from their substance abuse most said it never really crosses their mind.
“When you’re out on a Saturday night boozing it up and having a good time with your friends, what ‘might’ happen is usually not something you’re thinking about,” said McCallister.”
What might happen from abusing alcohol and drugs usually isn’t at the forefront of the users thoughts, but perhaps it should be. According to Plattsburgh State University Police Officer Jon Bombard, “Somewhere around 80% of all arrests that we make on campus involve drugs or alcohol in one way or another.”
Alcohol and other mind altering substances are a part of everyday life on college campuses, and most likely always will be. The use of alcohol and drugs is often followed by negative lingering effects on students, the schools, and the community in general. “Students are using these substances and not worrying about the consequences,” Gillette said. “We need to educate them on the risks of engaging in these behaviors so hopefully they will be able to make smarter decisions which will benefit everyone in the end.”
Drug Charticle
By Charlie Peppers
Psychedelic zombies, better known as “flower children,” spring to life in Giltz Auditorium. Clad in dead fashion trends, these zombies curl around the aisles and flank audience members. Twisting and swerving, their surprisingly nimble bodies move in what could be misread as gestures of a dark ritual. All migrate to the stage, a temporary bone yard. However, no audience member’s brain is being inhaled through a voodoo bong. The zombies are simply belting lyrics about their precious era: the Age of Aquarius. The zombies are here to rock.
The zombies are SUNY Plattsburgh students, byproduct of the theater program.
Christian Amato, 21, chose to breathe life into Hair, a musical encapsulating the rebellion of “flower children.” He said he originally thought it would be “great for students, especially freshmen, to have a musical waiting for them, to kick off the year.”
“It’s such a high energy show,” Amato said. “It’s also the 40th anniversary of Wood Stock. It had to be Hair.”
Although Amato has performed “musical CPR” on Hair, the characters in the show use drugs more frequently than they sing and dance. The fictionalized characters are mostly American teenagers, experiencing the Vietnam War through the lens of indifference. Amato suggested drugs were an outlet for the characters’ unwavering energy.
Unsurprisingly, the counter-culture of drugs left a deep impression on future generations and the college scene.
Dr. Olivia O’Donnell, professor in the political science department, gives her two cents on the role different drugs played in the Age of Aquarius and ultimately the 2000s.
LSD
“The use of LSD and Marijuana (was big in the late 1960s). It became a mind-expanding drug. It was used as a drug to treat psychosis and mental health. It became part of the psychedelic era. There was this notion that dropping acid would alter your mind, see things you normally wouldn’t.
Marijuana
“At the same time there was a move to legalize marijuana. Marijuana wasn’t addictive as tobacco was. It became life blood of the hippie movement, the anti-war movement. Students still use it now.”
Psychedelic zombies, better known as “flower children,” spring to life in Giltz Auditorium. Clad in dead fashion trends, these zombies curl around the aisles and flank audience members. Twisting and swerving, their surprisingly nimble bodies move in what could be misread as gestures of a dark ritual. All migrate to the stage, a temporary bone yard. However, no audience member’s brain is being inhaled through a voodoo bong. The zombies are simply belting lyrics about their precious era: the Age of Aquarius. The zombies are here to rock.
The zombies are SUNY Plattsburgh students, byproduct of the theater program.
Christian Amato, 21, chose to breathe life into Hair, a musical encapsulating the rebellion of “flower children.” He said he originally thought it would be “great for students, especially freshmen, to have a musical waiting for them, to kick off the year.”
“It’s such a high energy show,” Amato said. “It’s also the 40th anniversary of Wood Stock. It had to be Hair.”
Although Amato has performed “musical CPR” on Hair, the characters in the show use drugs more frequently than they sing and dance. The fictionalized characters are mostly American teenagers, experiencing the Vietnam War through the lens of indifference. Amato suggested drugs were an outlet for the characters’ unwavering energy.
Unsurprisingly, the counter-culture of drugs left a deep impression on future generations and the college scene.
Dr. Olivia O’Donnell, professor in the political science department, gives her two cents on the role different drugs played in the Age of Aquarius and ultimately the 2000s.
LSD
“The use of LSD and Marijuana (was big in the late 1960s). It became a mind-expanding drug. It was used as a drug to treat psychosis and mental health. It became part of the psychedelic era. There was this notion that dropping acid would alter your mind, see things you normally wouldn’t.
Marijuana
“At the same time there was a move to legalize marijuana. Marijuana wasn’t addictive as tobacco was. It became life blood of the hippie movement, the anti-war movement. Students still use it now.”
How to throw a great and cost efficient College Party
By Ronald Mello
Every student who has been to a college with on-campus housing has at one time in their lives been to either a lame or boring college party and in turn have thought about throwing their own parties in either rented or bought apartments or houses. For those who have turned those thoughts into actions and are currently living off-campus and looking to throw great, cost efficient party this article is for you. .
What day should you have your party on?
First and foremost you have to pick a day of the week and keep that day consistent. If you know a lot of people who don’t have early classes on Friday then have your party on Thursday night. If a lot of people have classes early Friday morning then by all means have it Friday night. Pick a night and stick with it to ensure the party-going masses don’t get confused as to when your party is. Having your party on the same day each and every week ensures the same people are going to come back week after week.
How should I advertise?
The most important aspect of advertising is publicity. You want people talking about your house and the parties thrown in it. Just make sure that everything is off paper and online sites such as Facebook and Myspace. This is because it could warrant unwanted attention by the authorities who will not balk at putting a stop to your party. It’s much better to have people talk about your party and let it be known you’re throwing one through word of mouth.
Kegs Vs. Cans and how much should you charge?
How much you charge will depend entirely on what method of serving drinks at your party. There are two ways of selling beer at parties. One is by having the host charge each guest $5 dollars to enter their house. This includes a refillable plastic cup which can be filled at one of the kegs that can be found within the house.
“To fill a keg costs around $45 dollars,” says Webb Travis, 22, a graduate student of SUNY Plattsburgh who was host to last year’s parties at 92 Court Street. “So basically nine kids buying a $5 cup allows you to break even on a keg, and since your going to have more than nine people at your party you can afford more kegs and still maintain a high profit.”
The second and less commonly seen option is allowing people in for free and selling actual beer cans for $1. Letting in people for free and only selling cans isn’t as efficient as kegs because people will bring either their own beer or liquor and will only purchase from you if they are in need. Still by buying a 30 pack of Keystone or Milwaukee’s best for $15 dollars ensures that as long as you sell half the box you at least break even. Great parties can be thrown using this method and be may be profitable, but just not a nearly as profitable as kegs.
Crystal Gropper, 21, who owns an off-campus apartment, does something out of the norm. She will either charge a small fee to get in or will have people give her money in advance to go out and get beverages. Though not as big as other house parties in the area she stills sees a fair amount of people because of how she conducts herself. She said, “Friends will bring other friends because they know they will have a good time at my place.” She then went on to say that, “interacting with the guests is just as important as not running out of beer and drinks.”
What extra incentives should you have at your parties?
Shots in general are an additional way to drink for those who don’t like the taste of beer and is a quicker way to get drunk for most. Selling shots alongside beer, from either kegs or cans, can be an additional source of revenue.
“We’ve sold shots for $1 each, and depending on the brand of liquor, often make a good $30 to $50 dollars on every bottle,” says Travis.
Roughly 100 Jello shots can be made in under an hour since it won’t be just you doing all the work. By having your room mates help out you can a lot made up quickly and the girls love them. Another thing to have is games whether its beer pong, quarters, or cards. Music and dancing is another crowd pleaser which everyone seems to enjoy.
What do you do about the cops?
One of the most irritating and annoying aspects of off-campus parties is the eventual breakup by police. This occurs nearly every weekend to at least one party and by following these tips you can be sure to keep your party under the radar. Make sure to keep all light in. This means covering your windows with blinds, drapes, blankets, or card board. Another dead give away to a party happening in your domain is people hanging out around your house. Get everyone inside as quickly as possible and when they leave make sure they are on their way far from your house. Fines from the police can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 and can double for each successive offense.
How much money should you begin with?
Throwing a great party doesn’t just happen. It takes time, organization, and planning. A good estimate to begin would be $300. This pays the cost for cups, 4-5 kegs, liquor, or 30-packs. The most important thing to remember is to have fun with it and learn from your past experiences. If 4-5 kegs are too much, get less for the next party. As long as people show up and drink your party will be a success.
Every student who has been to a college with on-campus housing has at one time in their lives been to either a lame or boring college party and in turn have thought about throwing their own parties in either rented or bought apartments or houses. For those who have turned those thoughts into actions and are currently living off-campus and looking to throw great, cost efficient party this article is for you. .
What day should you have your party on?
First and foremost you have to pick a day of the week and keep that day consistent. If you know a lot of people who don’t have early classes on Friday then have your party on Thursday night. If a lot of people have classes early Friday morning then by all means have it Friday night. Pick a night and stick with it to ensure the party-going masses don’t get confused as to when your party is. Having your party on the same day each and every week ensures the same people are going to come back week after week.
How should I advertise?
The most important aspect of advertising is publicity. You want people talking about your house and the parties thrown in it. Just make sure that everything is off paper and online sites such as Facebook and Myspace. This is because it could warrant unwanted attention by the authorities who will not balk at putting a stop to your party. It’s much better to have people talk about your party and let it be known you’re throwing one through word of mouth.
Kegs Vs. Cans and how much should you charge?
How much you charge will depend entirely on what method of serving drinks at your party. There are two ways of selling beer at parties. One is by having the host charge each guest $5 dollars to enter their house. This includes a refillable plastic cup which can be filled at one of the kegs that can be found within the house.
“To fill a keg costs around $45 dollars,” says Webb Travis, 22, a graduate student of SUNY Plattsburgh who was host to last year’s parties at 92 Court Street. “So basically nine kids buying a $5 cup allows you to break even on a keg, and since your going to have more than nine people at your party you can afford more kegs and still maintain a high profit.”
The second and less commonly seen option is allowing people in for free and selling actual beer cans for $1. Letting in people for free and only selling cans isn’t as efficient as kegs because people will bring either their own beer or liquor and will only purchase from you if they are in need. Still by buying a 30 pack of Keystone or Milwaukee’s best for $15 dollars ensures that as long as you sell half the box you at least break even. Great parties can be thrown using this method and be may be profitable, but just not a nearly as profitable as kegs.
Crystal Gropper, 21, who owns an off-campus apartment, does something out of the norm. She will either charge a small fee to get in or will have people give her money in advance to go out and get beverages. Though not as big as other house parties in the area she stills sees a fair amount of people because of how she conducts herself. She said, “Friends will bring other friends because they know they will have a good time at my place.” She then went on to say that, “interacting with the guests is just as important as not running out of beer and drinks.”
What extra incentives should you have at your parties?
Shots in general are an additional way to drink for those who don’t like the taste of beer and is a quicker way to get drunk for most. Selling shots alongside beer, from either kegs or cans, can be an additional source of revenue.
“We’ve sold shots for $1 each, and depending on the brand of liquor, often make a good $30 to $50 dollars on every bottle,” says Travis.
Roughly 100 Jello shots can be made in under an hour since it won’t be just you doing all the work. By having your room mates help out you can a lot made up quickly and the girls love them. Another thing to have is games whether its beer pong, quarters, or cards. Music and dancing is another crowd pleaser which everyone seems to enjoy.
What do you do about the cops?
One of the most irritating and annoying aspects of off-campus parties is the eventual breakup by police. This occurs nearly every weekend to at least one party and by following these tips you can be sure to keep your party under the radar. Make sure to keep all light in. This means covering your windows with blinds, drapes, blankets, or card board. Another dead give away to a party happening in your domain is people hanging out around your house. Get everyone inside as quickly as possible and when they leave make sure they are on their way far from your house. Fines from the police can cost anywhere from $50 to $200 and can double for each successive offense.
How much money should you begin with?
Throwing a great party doesn’t just happen. It takes time, organization, and planning. A good estimate to begin would be $300. This pays the cost for cups, 4-5 kegs, liquor, or 30-packs. The most important thing to remember is to have fun with it and learn from your past experiences. If 4-5 kegs are too much, get less for the next party. As long as people show up and drink your party will be a success.
The worst HANGOVER … and how to get over it
By Katherine Clark
In a chemically altered sense of euphoria, you have a permanent grin on your face, feeling like god’s gift to man/woman, even though you are a bad dancer you shake your ass on the dance floor and feel damn sexy. Your friends encourage the shots to keep on dropping, one more game of beer pong you’ve been kicking ass all night, no need to stop now.
You start to feel a little less than yourself; even though you don’t smoke you walk outside and light up for some fresh air with your cigarette smoke. Even though you have a significant other, you can’t find them and the brown haired beauty with the green eyes makes for an exciting stand in, at least you think his eyes are green.
You might tell a friend an awful truth in a moment of drunken clarity feeling bulletproof and then not understand why they took it so bad. Stumble into someone, knocking over their drink and then stand in fight or flight stance as a fist is being shaken in your face.
You start to feel a little less than yourself; even though you don’t smoke you walk outside and light up for some fresh air with your cigarette smoke. Even though you have a significant other, you can’t find them and the brown haired beauty with the green eyes makes for an exciting stand in, at least you think his eyes are green.
You might tell a friend an awful truth in a moment of drunken clarity feeling bulletproof and then not understand why they took it so bad. Stumble into someone, knocking over their drink and then stand in fight or flight stance as a fist is being shaken in your face.
The next morning, the excitement from the night before has turned into a dark hole in the back of your mind that is beating like the heart of a humming bird in your ears, that pizza you ate on your stumble home is turning in your stomach like a boulder being liquefied, and the taste in the back of your throat mimics what you think road kill would taste like, this is what medical journals and old wives call a hangover.
People choose to drink for many reasons, to relieve stress, celebrate special events in their lives or their friends and families lives, or simply just recreation for others.
For as many different reasons people have for drinking there are as many different ways that people can react to drinking alcohol.
The Mayo Clinic states that the more alcohol you drink the more likely you are to have a hangover. But there is still no magic formula to tell you how much you can safely drink and still avoid a hangover.
The answer then is all about the individual, how much you weigh how often you drink, and even your age, can determine how your body reacts to detoxing after a night of drinking.
Of course your body is dehydrated so drink some water. But not ever one solution fixes every one person hang over.
Five different people were asked what their “go to” hangover remedy is, for five different people there were five different hangover remedies.
Andrew Keating, 18: “Drink a lot of lemonade and nap every 5 minutes.”
Meghan Donohue, 22: “I pound lots of water, sleep all day and eat McDonalds.”
Tim Fink, 28: Marijuana is the best cure for a hangover.”
Shaun Cotton, 29: “Before going to bed drink a lot of water to prevent a hangover or have a beer or two the next day.”
Debra Nash, 52: “Tums, Advil, and Special K cereal.”
According the Mayoclinic.com drinking causes the blood vessels to expand which causes headaches, dehydrates the body by stimulating it to produce more urine, irritates the lining of your stomach causing nausea or vomiting, and makes you sleepy doesn’t allow you to sleep well. All in all it makes your head and stomach hurt because you’re dehydrated and you haven’t sleep fully.
So Cotton’s suggestion of hydrating with water before going to bed is a great hangover preventative measure as well as not drinking on an empty stomach which can further irritate the stomach lining. But drinking another beer or alcoholic beverage will make you feel worst.
Fink’s hangover remedy of smoking marijuana, the Mayo Clinic says that taking drugs, which includes nicotine, with alcohol makes a hangover worst than doing nothing but wait it out.
Keating’s remedy of drinking lemonade or carbonated drinks will also make a hangover worse as well because it will increase dehydration.
Meghan Donohue and Debra Nash are the winners with the best hangover remedies. Drinking water will prevent dehydration, eating bland foods such as Special K may boost your blood sugar and help you feel better and settle your stomach. Taking an over the counter pain reliever will help a headache but could also irritate the lining of the stomach if not taken with food. Lastly, sleep, if your asleep long enough you will wake up and your hangover will be gone.
Credits: Lucas Martin, Renee Paquette, and Mike Kyle, taken by Katherine Clark, 2008; Lucas Martin, taken by Katherine Clark, 2008; Emily Lacey, taken by Katherine Clark, 2009
Racial & Social Equality are tested by the unfair treatment of illicit drugs
By Antonia Forbes
Meet James White. James is an up and coming executive at Pompous & Snooterson advertising agency. He is highly regarded socially around the office so no one pays any attention to his extra long lunches. James walks briskly a few blocks down to his favorite upscale dining spot and without any assistance finds his reserved booth and sits. He orders, cuts his powder and takes a long inhale through one nostril. James is a cocaine user. He will finish lunch late as usual and scurry back to his corner office passing Joe, the new temp, without a glance.
Meet Joe Black. Joe is starting his first day at his third job in a month. He’s in the mailroom (no drug test required) and is about to leave for his lunch break. He makes haste towards the door and scampers from the business district to the urine stained streets fifteen blocks away. He meets his comrade Jacky Blue, makes a hasty transaction and they both head into the apartment building behind them. It’s condemned- or it should be, and the paint peels as they sit on the threadbare couch and fill the pipe. Lighter at the end Joe takes a long inhale through his lips. He is a crack cocaine user. He will rush back to his new building without a clue that his superior shares an ache for the more refined twin sister of his crystalline love.
The girls, Crack and Cocaine are both byproducts of the South American plant Erythroxylon coca with “Crack” being labeled after the cracking sound it makes when it is burnt. Both are extremely potent and habit forming stimulants. Both result in feelings of immeasurable euphoria and when the caught in possession of a citizen results in law enforcement involvement. However there is a strong social and some may say racial difference in the users and punishment they receive.
James and Joe are obviously from varying ends of the socioeconomic pool. James is affluent making him more likely to purchase and use cocaine because of its higher sale value and luxurious aftertaste. Because crack cocaine is relatively cheaper to produce and purchase, Joe is more likely to fall under her girl next door guise. The girl next door (crack) does have a quicker high however: according to streetdrugs.org “because crack is smoked, the user experiences a high in less than 10 seconds. This rather immediate and euphoric effect is one of the reasons that crack became enormously popular in the mid 1980s”, - putting Joe at the forefront of the race.
Race, now there’s an interesting term. “Historically, the majority of crack cocaine offenders are black; powder cocaine offenders are now predominantly Hispanic. In 2006, African-Americans accounted for 82 percent of crack cocaine-related arrests, while white and Hispanic offenders accounted for 72 percent of powder cocaine-related arrests.” according to a report compiled by U.S News and World Report library staff.
The racial makeup of crack cocaine users would not be incredibly significant if there didn’t exist an alarming disproportion in the U.S law between sentencing for crack possession and sentencing for powdered cocaine possession. Currently, the penalty of a five year prison sentence is doled out for possession of five grams of crack cocaine. The same amount needed of powdered cocaine to garner that kind of punishment: 500 grams.
Many conspiracy theories have arisen alluding to the fact that crack cocaine was introduced to the African American and lower middle class population because of it’s extremely addictive and destructive properties as a way to “keep them down.” You can decide what’s possible and what’s paranoia. However, as new legislature (the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act, or HR3245) is being passed to eradicate the disparity between Crack cocaine and powdered cocaine charges a closer look at other facets of this “equal” society may be necessary.
On September 14th, Thesentencingproject.org published a quote about new attention being brought to the inequality of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. “The Crack the Disparity Coalition has produced a short documentary that hopes to propel movement to completely eliminate the federal crack cocaine sentencing disparity -- once and for all. The film, "Crack the Disparity: It's Not Fair. It's Not Working.," was directed by Howard University film professor Alonzo Crawford and highlights the history of the legislation in Congress, and its effect on low-income and African-American communities”.
Interested people in the Washington D.C area can check out the film on September 27th at the infamous Busboys and Poets restaurant. It will be followed by a panel discussion with social and societal standouts.
Meet James White. James is an up and coming executive at Pompous & Snooterson advertising agency. He is highly regarded socially around the office so no one pays any attention to his extra long lunches. James walks briskly a few blocks down to his favorite upscale dining spot and without any assistance finds his reserved booth and sits. He orders, cuts his powder and takes a long inhale through one nostril. James is a cocaine user. He will finish lunch late as usual and scurry back to his corner office passing Joe, the new temp, without a glance.
Meet Joe Black. Joe is starting his first day at his third job in a month. He’s in the mailroom (no drug test required) and is about to leave for his lunch break. He makes haste towards the door and scampers from the business district to the urine stained streets fifteen blocks away. He meets his comrade Jacky Blue, makes a hasty transaction and they both head into the apartment building behind them. It’s condemned- or it should be, and the paint peels as they sit on the threadbare couch and fill the pipe. Lighter at the end Joe takes a long inhale through his lips. He is a crack cocaine user. He will rush back to his new building without a clue that his superior shares an ache for the more refined twin sister of his crystalline love.
The girls, Crack and Cocaine are both byproducts of the South American plant Erythroxylon coca with “Crack” being labeled after the cracking sound it makes when it is burnt. Both are extremely potent and habit forming stimulants. Both result in feelings of immeasurable euphoria and when the caught in possession of a citizen results in law enforcement involvement. However there is a strong social and some may say racial difference in the users and punishment they receive.
James and Joe are obviously from varying ends of the socioeconomic pool. James is affluent making him more likely to purchase and use cocaine because of its higher sale value and luxurious aftertaste. Because crack cocaine is relatively cheaper to produce and purchase, Joe is more likely to fall under her girl next door guise. The girl next door (crack) does have a quicker high however: according to streetdrugs.org “because crack is smoked, the user experiences a high in less than 10 seconds. This rather immediate and euphoric effect is one of the reasons that crack became enormously popular in the mid 1980s”, - putting Joe at the forefront of the race.
Race, now there’s an interesting term. “Historically, the majority of crack cocaine offenders are black; powder cocaine offenders are now predominantly Hispanic. In 2006, African-Americans accounted for 82 percent of crack cocaine-related arrests, while white and Hispanic offenders accounted for 72 percent of powder cocaine-related arrests.” according to a report compiled by U.S News and World Report library staff.
The racial makeup of crack cocaine users would not be incredibly significant if there didn’t exist an alarming disproportion in the U.S law between sentencing for crack possession and sentencing for powdered cocaine possession. Currently, the penalty of a five year prison sentence is doled out for possession of five grams of crack cocaine. The same amount needed of powdered cocaine to garner that kind of punishment: 500 grams.
Many conspiracy theories have arisen alluding to the fact that crack cocaine was introduced to the African American and lower middle class population because of it’s extremely addictive and destructive properties as a way to “keep them down.” You can decide what’s possible and what’s paranoia. However, as new legislature (the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act, or HR3245) is being passed to eradicate the disparity between Crack cocaine and powdered cocaine charges a closer look at other facets of this “equal” society may be necessary.
On September 14th, Thesentencingproject.org published a quote about new attention being brought to the inequality of the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. “The Crack the Disparity Coalition has produced a short documentary that hopes to propel movement to completely eliminate the federal crack cocaine sentencing disparity -- once and for all. The film, "Crack the Disparity: It's Not Fair. It's Not Working.," was directed by Howard University film professor Alonzo Crawford and highlights the history of the legislation in Congress, and its effect on low-income and African-American communities”.
Interested people in the Washington D.C area can check out the film on September 27th at the infamous Busboys and Poets restaurant. It will be followed by a panel discussion with social and societal standouts.
Why quit the addiction?
By Jenna Burleigh
Too buzzed to work, drive, or function in general? Face it, you need help. Your family and friends aren’t intervening, perhaps because you are a good actor and don’t let on that you are a drunkard, or because they are afraid that you’ve crossed over to the dark side. Either way, you need help, and you are the only one to take the initiative and DO IT!
What can you do about that little pill-popping habit? Well, reading this is a good start. There are many clinics and rehabilitation centers in the area; that’s the first step. However, many facilities in the region appear to be inadequate and may not be able to treat a patient to the best of their ability.
For the teen with too many joints under his/her mattress: If one were an adolescent, seeking help parting with their wicked ways, one might be tempted to check into Conifer Park Inc. in Plattsburgh. Looking at the website, one would see a lovely, ghostly-pale page with terrible formatting. According to the site, they offer “residential chemical dependency treatment for adults and adolescents, including aftercare in the local community.” Also, CPI is family friendly, and they offer “outpatient clinic services… available for those individuals seeking help with any alcohol and substance abuse problem and their families.” So drug addiction can now be fun for the whole family! However, if one were to call to make an appointment, they would not even reach an answering machine. Considering that the web page has not been modified since Feb. 2004, one could assume that this place has long since been out of business. Perhaps, that is because no one does drugs anymore? Fat chance.
Behavioral Health Services North may be able to help if one were to go to their clinic in Plattsburgh; however, they are not very efficient on returning e-mails, so don’t bother doing that.
For the alcoholic parent: For someone who is used to snippy remarks and cold shoulders, getting by only with a glass of scotch (on the rocks with a twist), Howard Center might be a good match. With an unwelcoming tone and unfriendly staff, anyone could use a drink after making an appointment here. As far as the services they provide, “Call 488-7711 and ask whoever answers,” Dana Poverman, outpatient programs director said. Certainly, this is not how patients are treated, but the impolite attitude didn’t help anything. She finally did mention Howard Center has “adolescent, adult, methadone, outpatient counseling in two counties, a harm reduction program and drug treatment court programs.” So if that’s something you’re into, call the number listed above. Don’t send an e-mail. E-mailing is not advised.
For the mother-to-be without nicotine: The UVM Substance Abuse program is specifically for those smokin’ ladies out there that got pregnant but couldn’t give up their slender, daily dose of cancer. Choosing this program, ladies will be provided with incentives (like food stamps and discounts) for giving up their addiction. Many women have been received treatment through this program, which has been running for over 20 years with a success rate of 40 percent. This is the “most successful of all treatments,” said the Post Doc who oversees the program. She was eager enough to help, but her thick accent and refusal to say her name was a deterrent. However, this program may prove to be very helpful to all the pregnant ladies out there. The staff is friendly and keen to help, and they provide incentives to continue with their treatment.
For the underachiever: Looking for the bare minimum? St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment is for you! They will be more than happy to respond to all of your questions… in half a sentence or less! According to Robin Gay, spokesperson at SJAT, “337 people entered treatment in 2008.” Of those patients, “56% completed” their treatment, and “44 percent did not complete,” their treatment. So there’s even more than a 50/50 chance that you will pay them a ton of money and actually get something out of it! Really, it’s a win/win all the way around.
So when all is said and done, the Plattsburgh area is not very helpful for drug users. Users in the area are advised to look elsewhere for treatment. Burlington has a slew of treatment centers, including the UVM Substance Abuse program mentioned above. So hop on the ferry or take a long drive through the islands, but don’t forget about that New Year’s resolution to break the habit!
Too buzzed to work, drive, or function in general? Face it, you need help. Your family and friends aren’t intervening, perhaps because you are a good actor and don’t let on that you are a drunkard, or because they are afraid that you’ve crossed over to the dark side. Either way, you need help, and you are the only one to take the initiative and DO IT!
What can you do about that little pill-popping habit? Well, reading this is a good start. There are many clinics and rehabilitation centers in the area; that’s the first step. However, many facilities in the region appear to be inadequate and may not be able to treat a patient to the best of their ability.
For the teen with too many joints under his/her mattress: If one were an adolescent, seeking help parting with their wicked ways, one might be tempted to check into Conifer Park Inc. in Plattsburgh. Looking at the website, one would see a lovely, ghostly-pale page with terrible formatting. According to the site, they offer “residential chemical dependency treatment for adults and adolescents, including aftercare in the local community.” Also, CPI is family friendly, and they offer “outpatient clinic services… available for those individuals seeking help with any alcohol and substance abuse problem and their families.” So drug addiction can now be fun for the whole family! However, if one were to call to make an appointment, they would not even reach an answering machine. Considering that the web page has not been modified since Feb. 2004, one could assume that this place has long since been out of business. Perhaps, that is because no one does drugs anymore? Fat chance.
Behavioral Health Services North may be able to help if one were to go to their clinic in Plattsburgh; however, they are not very efficient on returning e-mails, so don’t bother doing that.
For the alcoholic parent: For someone who is used to snippy remarks and cold shoulders, getting by only with a glass of scotch (on the rocks with a twist), Howard Center might be a good match. With an unwelcoming tone and unfriendly staff, anyone could use a drink after making an appointment here. As far as the services they provide, “Call 488-7711 and ask whoever answers,” Dana Poverman, outpatient programs director said. Certainly, this is not how patients are treated, but the impolite attitude didn’t help anything. She finally did mention Howard Center has “adolescent, adult, methadone, outpatient counseling in two counties, a harm reduction program and drug treatment court programs.” So if that’s something you’re into, call the number listed above. Don’t send an e-mail. E-mailing is not advised.
For the mother-to-be without nicotine: The UVM Substance Abuse program is specifically for those smokin’ ladies out there that got pregnant but couldn’t give up their slender, daily dose of cancer. Choosing this program, ladies will be provided with incentives (like food stamps and discounts) for giving up their addiction. Many women have been received treatment through this program, which has been running for over 20 years with a success rate of 40 percent. This is the “most successful of all treatments,” said the Post Doc who oversees the program. She was eager enough to help, but her thick accent and refusal to say her name was a deterrent. However, this program may prove to be very helpful to all the pregnant ladies out there. The staff is friendly and keen to help, and they provide incentives to continue with their treatment.
For the underachiever: Looking for the bare minimum? St. Joseph’s Addiction Treatment is for you! They will be more than happy to respond to all of your questions… in half a sentence or less! According to Robin Gay, spokesperson at SJAT, “337 people entered treatment in 2008.” Of those patients, “56% completed” their treatment, and “44 percent did not complete,” their treatment. So there’s even more than a 50/50 chance that you will pay them a ton of money and actually get something out of it! Really, it’s a win/win all the way around.
So when all is said and done, the Plattsburgh area is not very helpful for drug users. Users in the area are advised to look elsewhere for treatment. Burlington has a slew of treatment centers, including the UVM Substance Abuse program mentioned above. So hop on the ferry or take a long drive through the islands, but don’t forget about that New Year’s resolution to break the habit!
Marijuana: Should It Be Legal?
By Veronica Wainman
Imagine a society where the use of marijuana is not only socially acceptable, but legal. A society where it is not out of the ordinary to be standing on a street corner and bum a joint like you would a cigarette. If marijuana is legalized in the United States, instead of being a far-fetched fantasy, this could become reality.
While this may be an idyllic situation for those who support the legalization of marijuana, not everyone shares those feelings. Thomas Malinski is concerned that the legalization of marijuana will incite situations where people who do not use the drug will be forced to feel its effects in the same way people must deal with second hand smoke from cigarette smokers. “I don’t smoke, and I really don’t want to be ok for someone to just smoke pot anywhere they want and I am just forced to deal with it,” Malinski said.
One of the reasons Amber Raymond does not agree with the legalization of marijuana, is because she fears that legalizing the drug will cause an increase in people driving and engaging in other dangerous activities while under the influence. “I think that if people don’t have to worry about being arrested for possession or smoking pot, that they won’t be as worried about being caught doing something high,” Raymond said.
According to Jerimy Blowers, Director of Health at Plattsburgh State, the ability to function normally is impaired when under the influence of marijuana. “Users may experience a lack of judgment, loss of peripheral vision, loss of coordination, and cognitive impairments,” Blowers said. People who try to carry out everyday tasks while high pose a risk to themselves, and to those affected by their actions.
The second hand smoke from marijuana use will also pose a health to risk to those exposed to people smoking, much like second hand smoke from cigarettes cause’s health problems. According to Crista McGraw, a registered nurse, the smoke produced by marijuana gives off seven times as much tar as cigarette smoke. “Individuals who choose to smoke marijuana can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as respiratory problems, and increase their risk of getting cancer,” McGraw said. Second hand smoke extends these risks beyond those who make the choice to smoke to those who are exposed to it through others use.
Another reason Malinski opposes the legalization of marijuana is because she feels that even if regulations are set forth to prevent the use of the drug by underage kids, they will still gain access to it. “Being underage doesn’t stop kids from buying cigarettes, so I doubt that it’s going to stop kids from finding someone to buy pot for them,” Malinski said.
Raymond agrees and does not think that legalizing the drug is going to put a stop to teen drug use. “Underage kids who are finding a way to buy the drug now when it is legal are going to have an even easier time buying it when all the have to do is find someone over eighteen who is willing to go into a store and buy it for them,” Raymond said.
McGraw believes that while the drug is still illegal it is acting as a stepping stone towards other drugs, and the legalization will only increase that pattern. “I think legalizing marijuana and making it easy accessible is only going to lead to the more frequent usage of marijuana and eventually harder drugs with worse effects on the body.”
Imagine a society where the use of marijuana is not only socially acceptable, but legal. A society where it is not out of the ordinary to be standing on a street corner and bum a joint like you would a cigarette. If marijuana is legalized in the United States, instead of being a far-fetched fantasy, this could become reality.
While this may be an idyllic situation for those who support the legalization of marijuana, not everyone shares those feelings. Thomas Malinski is concerned that the legalization of marijuana will incite situations where people who do not use the drug will be forced to feel its effects in the same way people must deal with second hand smoke from cigarette smokers. “I don’t smoke, and I really don’t want to be ok for someone to just smoke pot anywhere they want and I am just forced to deal with it,” Malinski said.
One of the reasons Amber Raymond does not agree with the legalization of marijuana, is because she fears that legalizing the drug will cause an increase in people driving and engaging in other dangerous activities while under the influence. “I think that if people don’t have to worry about being arrested for possession or smoking pot, that they won’t be as worried about being caught doing something high,” Raymond said.
According to Jerimy Blowers, Director of Health at Plattsburgh State, the ability to function normally is impaired when under the influence of marijuana. “Users may experience a lack of judgment, loss of peripheral vision, loss of coordination, and cognitive impairments,” Blowers said. People who try to carry out everyday tasks while high pose a risk to themselves, and to those affected by their actions.
The second hand smoke from marijuana use will also pose a health to risk to those exposed to people smoking, much like second hand smoke from cigarettes cause’s health problems. According to Crista McGraw, a registered nurse, the smoke produced by marijuana gives off seven times as much tar as cigarette smoke. “Individuals who choose to smoke marijuana can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as respiratory problems, and increase their risk of getting cancer,” McGraw said. Second hand smoke extends these risks beyond those who make the choice to smoke to those who are exposed to it through others use.
Another reason Malinski opposes the legalization of marijuana is because she feels that even if regulations are set forth to prevent the use of the drug by underage kids, they will still gain access to it. “Being underage doesn’t stop kids from buying cigarettes, so I doubt that it’s going to stop kids from finding someone to buy pot for them,” Malinski said.
Raymond agrees and does not think that legalizing the drug is going to put a stop to teen drug use. “Underage kids who are finding a way to buy the drug now when it is legal are going to have an even easier time buying it when all the have to do is find someone over eighteen who is willing to go into a store and buy it for them,” Raymond said.
McGraw believes that while the drug is still illegal it is acting as a stepping stone towards other drugs, and the legalization will only increase that pattern. “I think legalizing marijuana and making it easy accessible is only going to lead to the more frequent usage of marijuana and eventually harder drugs with worse effects on the body.”
The Hangover
By Jessica Eason
Chris Hart a student at SUNY Plattsburgh has tried a few methods to relieve his hangover. His craziest would be the time he jumped into a river. Hart was lying in bed and had gotten rather warm. He thought jumping into the river would cool him down. The worst part was his choice to jump in during the middle of the winter. “I thought it would help, but I still I had my hangover when I left the water,” said Hart.
The morning after a hard night of partying has to be the worst ending to a great night. When you wake up in the morning your head is pounding, your stomach is aching, and you’re barely able to stand your hangover. Oh, what a night you must have had, but now it’s time to face the consequences of having that extra beer. The hangover has kicked in, and you need a solution, helping you get on your feet and out of bed fast.
Many people have weird random quirky ways to relieve that morning after feeling.
Some people believe that if you just start drinking again you’ll bypass the hangover. Melissa Smith a student, tried that one after a hard night of partying. Smith went to the bars one Friday night. There was a 13 dollar cover fee for all the beer you could drink from eight to twelve that night. “I was really excited, I planned on getting my money’s worth,” said Smith. After entering the bar the rest of her night is a blur, “all I remember was coming home,” said Smith. The next morning, she woke up with two slices of bread, a vitamin, and a bottle of water on her bed side table. Smith downed the water ate, the bread and took the vitamin, and laid in bed for an hour. Her pain didn’t subside so she headed towards her kitchen to see if she could find some relief. In her fridge she found a 40 oz bottle of Bud Light, opened the top and began drinking again. “I got drunk again, and stayed drunk for the rest of the day,” said Smith. Smith’s hangover never came, even though she woke up the next morning feeling fine.
Many people do random things to cure their hangovers. Other random ones were, after a night of whisky sours, Sarah Huvane was told that she would need something sour to cure her hangover pain. The next morning she mixed a glass of orange juice with a sour warhead. To prevent his hangover pain in the morning a student told of a guy friend who relies on the menstrual pill Midal to give him relief. Others believe a scope of peanut butter before bed, and you’ll wake up feeling fine.
Another method Chris Hart’s uses to treat his hangover is greasy food. Hart told a story of a long night of partying where he drank half a table keg overflowing with vodka, red bull, and cranberry juice. “I can’t remember two hours of that night” said Hart. Hart’s problem though was he was having lunch with his mother the next morning. “I woke up with the worst hangover I have ever had.” At lunch that day, with his mother, he ordered the biggest, greasiest cheese burger he could find. “I believe the grease helps to soak up all the alcohol left in your stomach,” said Hart, when asked why he eats grease foods. “It’s not that easy to get it down but it does the trick for me.”
Many will do anything to prevent that morning after feeling, after one hell of a night.
How to Deal With a Hangover
Chris Hart a student at SUNY Plattsburgh has tried a few methods to relieve his hangover. His craziest would be the time he jumped into a river. Hart was lying in bed and had gotten rather warm. He thought jumping into the river would cool him down. The worst part was his choice to jump in during the middle of the winter. “I thought it would help, but I still I had my hangover when I left the water,” said Hart.
The morning after a hard night of partying has to be the worst ending to a great night. When you wake up in the morning your head is pounding, your stomach is aching, and you’re barely able to stand your hangover. Oh, what a night you must have had, but now it’s time to face the consequences of having that extra beer. The hangover has kicked in, and you need a solution, helping you get on your feet and out of bed fast.
Many people have weird random quirky ways to relieve that morning after feeling.
Some people believe that if you just start drinking again you’ll bypass the hangover. Melissa Smith a student, tried that one after a hard night of partying. Smith went to the bars one Friday night. There was a 13 dollar cover fee for all the beer you could drink from eight to twelve that night. “I was really excited, I planned on getting my money’s worth,” said Smith. After entering the bar the rest of her night is a blur, “all I remember was coming home,” said Smith. The next morning, she woke up with two slices of bread, a vitamin, and a bottle of water on her bed side table. Smith downed the water ate, the bread and took the vitamin, and laid in bed for an hour. Her pain didn’t subside so she headed towards her kitchen to see if she could find some relief. In her fridge she found a 40 oz bottle of Bud Light, opened the top and began drinking again. “I got drunk again, and stayed drunk for the rest of the day,” said Smith. Smith’s hangover never came, even though she woke up the next morning feeling fine.
Many people do random things to cure their hangovers. Other random ones were, after a night of whisky sours, Sarah Huvane was told that she would need something sour to cure her hangover pain. The next morning she mixed a glass of orange juice with a sour warhead. To prevent his hangover pain in the morning a student told of a guy friend who relies on the menstrual pill Midal to give him relief. Others believe a scope of peanut butter before bed, and you’ll wake up feeling fine.
Another method Chris Hart’s uses to treat his hangover is greasy food. Hart told a story of a long night of partying where he drank half a table keg overflowing with vodka, red bull, and cranberry juice. “I can’t remember two hours of that night” said Hart. Hart’s problem though was he was having lunch with his mother the next morning. “I woke up with the worst hangover I have ever had.” At lunch that day, with his mother, he ordered the biggest, greasiest cheese burger he could find. “I believe the grease helps to soak up all the alcohol left in your stomach,” said Hart, when asked why he eats grease foods. “It’s not that easy to get it down but it does the trick for me.”
Many will do anything to prevent that morning after feeling, after one hell of a night.
How to Deal With a Hangover
- Drink plenty of water
- Taking a bit of a sports drink like Gatorade and mixing it with water
- Banana; the potassium will help balance electrolytes
- Stager drinks
- Alternate between alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic
- Make sure you eat something before drinking (if you don’t eat yes you’ll get drunk quicker but you’ll get sick and have a hangover.)
Straight Edge
By Nicole Weber
"I'm a person just like you But I've got better things to do Than sit around and f*** my head Hang out with the living dead Snort white s***up my nose Pass out at the shows I don't even think about speed That's something I just don't need I've got the straight edge,” are lyrics from the song “Straight Edge,” by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat.
No smoking, no drugs, no alcohol, that’s is the lifestyle of those who are “Straight Edge”. The “Straight Edge” lifestyle is claimed to have started around the late 70s, and early 80s with the birth of punk and hardcore, though many do not associate the term “Straight Edge” with any type of music.
American culture and society plays into substances as thrill seekers as the only things that can allow you to have a good time. Music, magazines, advertisements -substances can be seen everywhere and for a reason –people act a certain way and attract certain people when ‘under the influence’ of such substances. People exposed in the media are shown having a good time when being under the influence. Celebrities are known for who can party the hardest and we all try to be like them. So why would people not want to do drugs?
“Basically [drugs] have a lot of influence on people’s mind,” Kristofer Fiore says. “My mind is something that no one can take away unless under the influence,” Fiore says.
Straight Edge” is not to be confused with Buddhism, though people who live a “Straight Edge” lifestyle may also live a Buddhist lifestyle. Buddhism is a lifestyle, as well as a religion to some people. Buddhism is the pursuit to prevent suffering from one’s life, whether that means taking steps like cutting drugs and alcohol out of your own life or not. People who are straight edge can be any religion or not religious at all.
Oluwatobi Balogun-Kuku, says she did not decide to live a “Straight Edge” lifestyle because of religion, but decided to do so as a moral decision of her own. “[Experimenting with drugs] doesn’t fascinate me at all,” Balogun-Kuku says.
XXX, or sXe are actually abbreviations for “Straight Edge”. As “Straight Edge” was starting to be ‘born’ people started to wear X’s on the top of their hands. “Straight Edge” going against society took a symbol used to mark people who are under aged as a symbol of their own.
As all concepts do, “Straight Edge” has grown into more than a sterile lifestyle. Some people decided to partner music and fashion with the lifestyle. Other people decide to be vegetarian or even vegans. According to toefur-straightedge’s website, “Straight edge ethics are a choice made on a personal level, for instance some people choose a vegan life style aswell, some choose to not ingest caffeine, some abstain from as many legal medicalized drugs as possible, ie, Asprin”. People have taken the concept and molded it into something of their own.
Many people have different reasons for being “Straight Edge”, but here are just a few people’s personal reasons:
Family influence & learning from other people’s mistakes
“A few people in my family grew up in a pretty bad condition. Their parents were big users and alcoholics, so knowing people in those conditions I didn’t want to remind them [of their past], or become one [a user],” Ronnie Garcia says.
Personal expense
Katie Shepard says, “I didn’t want to waste money, and a lot of people in my family are alcoholics. Also it’s not healthy to smoke.”
Keeping focus and Environment
“It came to me on the right track and it keeps me focused,” says Patrick Stewart about being “Straight Edge”. “Most of my friends and people around me are too,” Stewart says.
The “Straight Edge” lifestyle is not a cult though, and it should not be confused with one. People who are “Straight Edge” don’t go around preaching that other people should be “Straight Edge”. [Being “Straight Edge”] “is not successful unless you’re already feeling it,” Fiore says.
“It’s people’s personal choice, but if I had my way I would want more people to be [“Straight Edge]. Why not, so many bad things happen and are blamed on drugs and alcohol,” says Balogun-Kuku.
“It would be ignorant to say other people should be it. People should do what ever works for them,” Garcia says.
"I'm a person just like you But I've got better things to do Than sit around and f*** my head Hang out with the living dead Snort white s***up my nose Pass out at the shows I don't even think about speed That's something I just don't need I've got the straight edge,” are lyrics from the song “Straight Edge,” by the hardcore punk band Minor Threat.
No smoking, no drugs, no alcohol, that’s is the lifestyle of those who are “Straight Edge”. The “Straight Edge” lifestyle is claimed to have started around the late 70s, and early 80s with the birth of punk and hardcore, though many do not associate the term “Straight Edge” with any type of music.
American culture and society plays into substances as thrill seekers as the only things that can allow you to have a good time. Music, magazines, advertisements -substances can be seen everywhere and for a reason –people act a certain way and attract certain people when ‘under the influence’ of such substances. People exposed in the media are shown having a good time when being under the influence. Celebrities are known for who can party the hardest and we all try to be like them. So why would people not want to do drugs?
“Basically [drugs] have a lot of influence on people’s mind,” Kristofer Fiore says. “My mind is something that no one can take away unless under the influence,” Fiore says.
Straight Edge” is not to be confused with Buddhism, though people who live a “Straight Edge” lifestyle may also live a Buddhist lifestyle. Buddhism is a lifestyle, as well as a religion to some people. Buddhism is the pursuit to prevent suffering from one’s life, whether that means taking steps like cutting drugs and alcohol out of your own life or not. People who are straight edge can be any religion or not religious at all.
Oluwatobi Balogun-Kuku, says she did not decide to live a “Straight Edge” lifestyle because of religion, but decided to do so as a moral decision of her own. “[Experimenting with drugs] doesn’t fascinate me at all,” Balogun-Kuku says.
XXX, or sXe are actually abbreviations for “Straight Edge”. As “Straight Edge” was starting to be ‘born’ people started to wear X’s on the top of their hands. “Straight Edge” going against society took a symbol used to mark people who are under aged as a symbol of their own.
As all concepts do, “Straight Edge” has grown into more than a sterile lifestyle. Some people decided to partner music and fashion with the lifestyle. Other people decide to be vegetarian or even vegans. According to toefur-straightedge’s website, “Straight edge ethics are a choice made on a personal level, for instance some people choose a vegan life style aswell, some choose to not ingest caffeine, some abstain from as many legal medicalized drugs as possible, ie, Asprin”. People have taken the concept and molded it into something of their own.
Many people have different reasons for being “Straight Edge”, but here are just a few people’s personal reasons:
Family influence & learning from other people’s mistakes
“A few people in my family grew up in a pretty bad condition. Their parents were big users and alcoholics, so knowing people in those conditions I didn’t want to remind them [of their past], or become one [a user],” Ronnie Garcia says.
Personal expense
Katie Shepard says, “I didn’t want to waste money, and a lot of people in my family are alcoholics. Also it’s not healthy to smoke.”
Keeping focus and Environment
“It came to me on the right track and it keeps me focused,” says Patrick Stewart about being “Straight Edge”. “Most of my friends and people around me are too,” Stewart says.
The “Straight Edge” lifestyle is not a cult though, and it should not be confused with one. People who are “Straight Edge” don’t go around preaching that other people should be “Straight Edge”. [Being “Straight Edge”] “is not successful unless you’re already feeling it,” Fiore says.
“It’s people’s personal choice, but if I had my way I would want more people to be [“Straight Edge]. Why not, so many bad things happen and are blamed on drugs and alcohol,” says Balogun-Kuku.
“It would be ignorant to say other people should be it. People should do what ever works for them,” Garcia says.
The thrill of 21, lost to underage drinking?
By Nicodia Williams
Reaching the ripe old age of twenty-one has lost its edge as the most anticipated birthday for underage drinkers. While underage party-goers stow bottles of vodka and cans of ‘Bud Light’ for late-night rendezvous at deafeningly loud house parties, cops unknowingly patrol the streets. The initial exposure to the forbidden substance alcohol has been said to lead to the undeniable thrill of the hunt wondering who is going to buy tonight, will our fake ID be confiscated, or will we able to sneak into the bar?
Whether we choose to believe it or not, alcohol is one of the most popular drugs of choice among the youth. Underage drinking has become one of those problems that seem impossible to eradicate for one very simple reason - young people love the thrill of doing something they are not allowed to do, especially if that something is equated with adulthood.
In 2005, about 10.8 million people from 12 to 20 years old reported drinking alcohol in the past month, and nearly 7.2 million called themselves "binge drinkers," according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
But does that thrill of downing eight shots of tequila, three bottles of Heineken and who knows what else, extend to the highly anticipated 21st birthday?
Twenty-year-old sophomore Marc Punnette says no. He believes drinking alcohol is so easy to do and so accessible that turning twenty-one has lost its magic and really does not seem like a big deal anymore.
“I feel responsible enough to drink at my age so turning 21 is not something I’m really looking forward to. If you’re aware of the consequences of drinking, more power to you.”
Most college students count down the years, days and even hours before the big 2-1. But many underage SUNY Plattsburgh students share Marc’s view. They admitted to drinking in more dangerous places in order to avoid law enforcement. The pleasure one feels while consuming incredible amounts of alcohol in unsupervised settings, has a rebellious quality that drives underage drinking.
Nightly, SUNY Plattsburgh University Police respond to complaints citing loud music coming from pitch black college apartments and fraternity houses. They know the routine. Jam-packed basements with underage college students consuming alcohol before that dreaded knock from the cops. However, SUNY Plattsburgh UP officers have a problem documenting underage drinking at these houses because most of these party hosts are of age to consume alcohol.
Campus police, however, can only book underage drinkers in response to a call where illegal students are in possession of an open container of alcohol.
“Most students living off campus are twenty-one so our statistics are a bit skewed in terms of how many underage drinkers are in attendance at these parties,” said Jerry Lottie, Assistant Chief of University Police at SUNY Plattsburgh.
The college handbook states that “The Alcohol Policy of the College is in compliance with New York State Law, which prohibits the sale or giving of any alcoholic beverage to any person under the age of 21 and which prohibits the purchase of any alcoholic beverage or possession of, with intent to consume, any alcoholic beverage by any person under the age of 21,” but this rule is broken without authorities knowing.
Twenty-year-old junior Sasha Dow-Kitson says she gets a kick out of doing something “bad” without getting caught, adding a new dimension to underage consumption.
“It makes drinking more of an act than just a shot of the strongest vodka.”
Similarly, twenty-year-old junior Renice George agrees that drinking underage—even in excess—is culturally accepted and turning twenty-one has a “been there, done that” aftertaste.
“Most of my friends are 21 and I don’t see the fun in that. I think the risk factor will be completely gone.”
Turning twenty-one is such a rite of passage in America; however it has become an uneventful experience to say the least. The transition from illegal to legal is said to be synonymous with adulthood and signifies responsible use. This approach basically suggests that a large part of the appeal of drinking alcohol underage is because it is illegal.
Twenty-one-year-old sophomore Rory Wallace said that since reaching the legal drinking age, it is no longer fun and exciting to drink.
“It’s really boring for me now, so I’m kind of over it. It’s definitely not all it’s made out to be.”
Naturally, it is commonplace for people who are underage, especially college students, to naturally feel like they are missing out on a big social aspect of their college experience, and this notion has been instilled in them by all of their friends who are of age.
Twenty-one-year-old junior Rowena Remy says that the “buzz” in sneaking around those who forbid alcohol was her main reason for drinking before she turned 21.
“Since I turned 21, I only have a social desire to drink. I think the thrill decreases with age. When you’re legal, you can’t overindulge, it’s just so…blah.”
Contrary to popular belief, not every twenty-one-year-old is taking advantage of their newly found freedom. For some, their reason for drinking is not for thrill purposes but simply because they want a drink. Of course, underage students still drink and some even drink in bars; but one student said it is far less nerve-racking and a lot more entertaining to go to a bar legally, not having to worry about being caught.
Twenty-one-year-old junior Ebony Brown asserts that underage drinking is inevitable despite numerous attempts to raise awareness of alcohol’s damning effects if abused.
“A lot of underage drinkers drink because it’s restricted and there is an excitement that comes with the idea of not getting caught but that wasn’t very intriguing for me. I don’t run around like I’m crazy when I drink, I enjoy a drink in the company of my friends.”
However, most underage drinkers argue that alcohol is already accessible to those who want it, and putting a higher age restriction only makes it more appealing. Once a prided milestone with much power, the twenty-first birthday is now just another year of Monday night Chug-a-mug and Thirsty Thursdays for college students. Underage drinkers consume alcohol because it is the “forbidden fruit” and it is usually the sweetest because it is forbidden.
Credit: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Reaching the ripe old age of twenty-one has lost its edge as the most anticipated birthday for underage drinkers. While underage party-goers stow bottles of vodka and cans of ‘Bud Light’ for late-night rendezvous at deafeningly loud house parties, cops unknowingly patrol the streets. The initial exposure to the forbidden substance alcohol has been said to lead to the undeniable thrill of the hunt wondering who is going to buy tonight, will our fake ID be confiscated, or will we able to sneak into the bar?
Whether we choose to believe it or not, alcohol is one of the most popular drugs of choice among the youth. Underage drinking has become one of those problems that seem impossible to eradicate for one very simple reason - young people love the thrill of doing something they are not allowed to do, especially if that something is equated with adulthood.
In 2005, about 10.8 million people from 12 to 20 years old reported drinking alcohol in the past month, and nearly 7.2 million called themselves "binge drinkers," according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
But does that thrill of downing eight shots of tequila, three bottles of Heineken and who knows what else, extend to the highly anticipated 21st birthday?
Twenty-year-old sophomore Marc Punnette says no. He believes drinking alcohol is so easy to do and so accessible that turning twenty-one has lost its magic and really does not seem like a big deal anymore.
“I feel responsible enough to drink at my age so turning 21 is not something I’m really looking forward to. If you’re aware of the consequences of drinking, more power to you.”
Most college students count down the years, days and even hours before the big 2-1. But many underage SUNY Plattsburgh students share Marc’s view. They admitted to drinking in more dangerous places in order to avoid law enforcement. The pleasure one feels while consuming incredible amounts of alcohol in unsupervised settings, has a rebellious quality that drives underage drinking.
Nightly, SUNY Plattsburgh University Police respond to complaints citing loud music coming from pitch black college apartments and fraternity houses. They know the routine. Jam-packed basements with underage college students consuming alcohol before that dreaded knock from the cops. However, SUNY Plattsburgh UP officers have a problem documenting underage drinking at these houses because most of these party hosts are of age to consume alcohol.
Campus police, however, can only book underage drinkers in response to a call where illegal students are in possession of an open container of alcohol.
“Most students living off campus are twenty-one so our statistics are a bit skewed in terms of how many underage drinkers are in attendance at these parties,” said Jerry Lottie, Assistant Chief of University Police at SUNY Plattsburgh.
The college handbook states that “The Alcohol Policy of the College is in compliance with New York State Law, which prohibits the sale or giving of any alcoholic beverage to any person under the age of 21 and which prohibits the purchase of any alcoholic beverage or possession of, with intent to consume, any alcoholic beverage by any person under the age of 21,” but this rule is broken without authorities knowing.
Twenty-year-old junior Sasha Dow-Kitson says she gets a kick out of doing something “bad” without getting caught, adding a new dimension to underage consumption.
“It makes drinking more of an act than just a shot of the strongest vodka.”
Similarly, twenty-year-old junior Renice George agrees that drinking underage—even in excess—is culturally accepted and turning twenty-one has a “been there, done that” aftertaste.
“Most of my friends are 21 and I don’t see the fun in that. I think the risk factor will be completely gone.”
Turning twenty-one is such a rite of passage in America; however it has become an uneventful experience to say the least. The transition from illegal to legal is said to be synonymous with adulthood and signifies responsible use. This approach basically suggests that a large part of the appeal of drinking alcohol underage is because it is illegal.
Twenty-one-year-old sophomore Rory Wallace said that since reaching the legal drinking age, it is no longer fun and exciting to drink.
“It’s really boring for me now, so I’m kind of over it. It’s definitely not all it’s made out to be.”
Naturally, it is commonplace for people who are underage, especially college students, to naturally feel like they are missing out on a big social aspect of their college experience, and this notion has been instilled in them by all of their friends who are of age.
Twenty-one-year-old junior Rowena Remy says that the “buzz” in sneaking around those who forbid alcohol was her main reason for drinking before she turned 21.
“Since I turned 21, I only have a social desire to drink. I think the thrill decreases with age. When you’re legal, you can’t overindulge, it’s just so…blah.”
Contrary to popular belief, not every twenty-one-year-old is taking advantage of their newly found freedom. For some, their reason for drinking is not for thrill purposes but simply because they want a drink. Of course, underage students still drink and some even drink in bars; but one student said it is far less nerve-racking and a lot more entertaining to go to a bar legally, not having to worry about being caught.
Twenty-one-year-old junior Ebony Brown asserts that underage drinking is inevitable despite numerous attempts to raise awareness of alcohol’s damning effects if abused.
“A lot of underage drinkers drink because it’s restricted and there is an excitement that comes with the idea of not getting caught but that wasn’t very intriguing for me. I don’t run around like I’m crazy when I drink, I enjoy a drink in the company of my friends.”
However, most underage drinkers argue that alcohol is already accessible to those who want it, and putting a higher age restriction only makes it more appealing. Once a prided milestone with much power, the twenty-first birthday is now just another year of Monday night Chug-a-mug and Thirsty Thursdays for college students. Underage drinkers consume alcohol because it is the “forbidden fruit” and it is usually the sweetest because it is forbidden.
Credit: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
How to Make the Most Vivacious of Alcohols, Wine
By Anthony Magliulo
Throughout the ages, people have partaken in sampling this veritable nectar of the gods. Wine has been an ever present facet of society through much of our past. It is used in religious ceremonies, social gatherings, and there are even gatherings that center on the tasting and sampling different kinds of wine. It is the perfect complement to many a dinner meal. And then there’s the sheer variety of it. You may walk into many wine and liquor stores and find a huge selection of wines, all of them having a different and unique composition.
But, what if you would like to make your own?
“There’s a process to it, and it takes a lot of patience,” says Ciro Magliulo, who opened and was the first proprietor of Ciro’s Restaurant in Lake Luzerne, NY. Magliulo said his father used to make his own wine. “Once, a batch of wine my father made exploded in the living room, and we had to paint the whole room,” he said. From then on they always stored it outside.
Now, there are many different ways of making wine, but the basics of it remain the same. To start, choose a recipe and a fruit. Then wash your equipment and be sure that it is sanitary. Next, extract the flavor. This is done through boiling, chopping, crushing, pressing, or soaking (It depends on the fruit). After that, blend the different additives. Some common ones are sugar, wine yeast, campden, and pectic enzyme. The forth step is transferring the wine to secondary fermentation containers. Once the initial fermentation process has stopped, pour the wine through a funnel into the containers while straining out the pulp. Next, rack the wine: this involves siphoning the wine off into a different container to free it from any large particles. This is usually done several times. When the wine is clear enough and the fermentation process is over, bottle it. The wine should be kept upright for the first three days, and then put it on its side and aged for at least 6 months (white wine) to a year (red wine).
To get the equipment and supplies, unless you live nearby a wine making specialty shop, search and shop online. There is a plethora of internet sites that sell equipment, supplies, and recipe books that contain instructions on how to make many different kinds of wine. Some of them even have recipes right on the site. Many sites also sell kits that will contain almost everything needed to make a few batches of wine. They could easily be looked up in any search engine, but here are a few sites listed for convenience: eckraus howtomakehomemadewine easy-wine
The Art of Glass
The Art of Glass
By Justin Schultz
Hundreds of carefully crafted glass pipes line the shelves and display cases at the Head Shop, in downtown Plattsburgh, NY. Light reflects off of the smooth pieces, and the different colors demand your eyes attention as you look at each pipe. Each piece has a unique color, appearance, and style, which seems to give them their own personalities. These personalities are created by artists who have invested their time and patience to the craft of glass blowing.
“I got in to blowing glass in high school in the late 90s, as a hobby.” said Phil Sanders of Haiku Glass, in Troy, NY. “I began investing a lot of time into creating different pieces, ornaments, decorations, you know?” said Sanders, “Then I began going to conventions and felt it was time to open a shop.”
Sanders’ shop is located in the first floor of a quaint old building on top of a hill overlooking the Hudson River. The store’s shelves are filled with glass ornaments, pipes, decorations, plates, angels, and sex toys. All of the products sold are blown by Sanders on the premises in his workshop behind the main counter. The workshop is cluttered with a number of unfinished projects, in addition to the small kiln, furnaces, and glass blowing tools. It is in small workshops like Sander’s, that many of the glass pipes sold in stores are crafted.
“I work on a number of pieces a day,” said Sanders, “It’s a fun process. It’s an old art and I feel like I am keeping in touch with a tradition. Owning my own shop has made creating art much easier, and I make a profit.”
Selling glass pipes provides glass blowers with an income and an artistic outlet. Unfortunately, owning a “head” shop also makes the shopkeepers targets of the law. Glass pipes are made for smoking tobacco, but they are also applied to marijuana use. The latter is the reason shop owners have been scrutinized by the law. “I’ve had my store visited by agents twice since I opened last year.” says Chris Shawn, owner of the Head Shop. “I’ve had everything in order. They just told me I had to move a display of lighters behind the counter, because supposedly 16 year olds are allowed in the store because we sell T-shirts.”
Small shopkeepers are not the only targets of the law. Actor Tommy Chong was the target of a Federal Investigation for his part in creating and selling glass pipes in 2003. Chong plead guilty to charges and was fined $20,000, sentenced to nine months in prison, forfeited $103,514 in seized cash, and gave up the rights to his domain name.
“I think it’s unfair for head shops to be targeted.” said Michelle Mason, of Plattsburgh.
Mason doesn’t blow pipes or sell them, but she does collect them. “I like to buy pipes at the different shows I go to,” said Mason, “They’re important to me. They’re souvenirs, reminders, you know, of the concert.” It doesn’t take an artists eye to appreciate the talent put into crafting pipes. “I think many people, regardless if they’re using pipes to smoke pot or tobacco, appreciate the differences between pipes,” said Mason.
“I’ve owned my shop for over five years, and I haven’t had any problems with the police, and I hope I never do. If the government outlawed pipes, what would be next? I can’t blow vases or angels anymore?” said Sanders.
“I only sell locally blown pieces,” said Shawn, “If I was shut down, it would affect the local glass artists and the consumers. There are customers for these products, which shows there is a demand. And I’m sure that many customers are using their pipes legally.”
Despite increased pressure from police agencies, glass blowers and head shops continue to succeed. Glass blowers continue to work in the old tradition and find niche markets. “I put my time, my vision, my money, and my breath into my art,” said Sanders, “It’s something I’m going to do for the rest of my life.”
Credit: http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y28/drunkmoth/S7000457.jpg
Marijuana 101
By Bryan Bergeron
Marijuana, often called, pot, bud, ganja, or grass is the most commonly used drug in the United States. In a 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), it was reported that around 100 million Americans ages 12 and older have tried the drug at least once in their lifetime. Due to this evidence, it can be concluded that around 40% of Americans in that age group have tried the drug at least once, yet surprisingly, not many Americans know anything about marijuana other then the fact that it gets you high.
“Marijuana is a very popular drug, and a lot of people use it, but it is amazing that so many users, and informed people, no nothing about it,” said Scott Swartzwelder, Ph.D, professor of psychiatry at Duke University, and co-author of the book “Buzzed: The straight facts about the most used and abused drugs from alcohol to ecstasy”.
With the leafy green substance being trafficked through college campuses all over the country, Swartzwelder said it is important for young people to know exactly what they are doing to their body, while it is also important for them to understand what exactly the drug does to them and why.
No one wants to do something that they will later regret; therefore, they need to be informed, so here are some facts about marijuana that most people are probably unaware of.
What Marijuana does and Why it makes you “High”
The affects of marijuana are widely known. Put in simple terms, marijuana calms ones aggressive behavior, stimulates appetite, and in the words of Donald Slish, a Biology professor at Plattsburgh State University, puts the smoker in “a dream like state” for a couple hours after smoking.
Most people, however, do not know exactly why marijuana makes you high, yet the answer to this question is very simple. Marijuana produces these effects by triggering cannaboid receptors throughout the body. These receptors are most commonly found in the brain, and also in the spinal cord, Slish said.
Furthermore, marijuana contains psychoactive chemicals, most notably Tetrahydrocannabino (THC), which is responsible for activating the cannboid receptors throughout the body.
Once marijuana is smoked, the blood supply within the lungs soaks up the THC that is inhaled. After this, the THC is moved to the user’s heart, and next to the user’s brain, causing the effects of marijuana to occur in a matter of minutes.
According to Slish, the “high” state that someone experiences after smoking weed also is caused by the effects the drug has on the cerebral cortex of the brain. This part of the brain is responsible for an individual’s sensory perception. Thus, when receptors in this section of the brain are affected, it distorts a person’s sense of time, sound, color and taste. It also distorts the smokers sense of reality, and puts them into a state of “higher thinking”, Slish said.
Put in simple terms, marijuana makes you high simply because it alters the physical and chemical balance of the it alters the physical and chemical balance of the brain.
Why do you become paranoid after smoking marijuana?
Basically everyone is aware of the fact that smoking marijuana has the ability to make one scared and paranoid. There’s even a Greenday song, entitled “Paranoid”, which revolves around the paranoia that can come with smoking marijuana. What most people don’t know, however, is why this drug has the ability to make one so skittish and scared.
According to Swartzwelder, the inhalation of marijuana, and its main chemical, THC, has the effect of “mellowing” someone out. At the same time, though, it increases both the blood pressure, and the heart rate of the smoker. The increase of these two things is what causes one to become paranoid when smoking weed.
“It (smoking weed) increases heart rate and blood pressure, and this causes your body to go into a state of arousal,” Swartzwelder said. “ Increases in blood pressure and heart rate are associated with being threatened, and that is what makes you become paranoid.”
In essence, it is the same effect as if someone came up on the street and tried to fight you, Swartzwelder said.
While increases in blood pressure and heart rate are the scientific reasons for why one becomes paranoid, there is also one very simply factor that comes into play when smoking marijuana that could make a user nervous- its illegal.
“It’s illegal so there is a realistic base to feel a little nervous or jittering when your smoking weed,” Swartzwelder said.
It is important to note that the potency of the marijuana, and the amount of marijuana smoked affect the side effect of paranoia. Furthermore, according to Swartzwelder, long-time users are less susceptible to this side effect then a new user.
What’s more dangerous- cigarettes or marijuana smoke?
In reality, marijuana smoke and tobacco smoke are very similar. Both contain a mass amount of chemicals and carcinogens, and both have the ability to cause chronic lung damage to long time smokers. In fact, comparable levels of the toxins cyanide, carbon monoxide, and tar are found in both types of smoke. One carcinogen, benzopyrene, even has a higher concentration in marijuana smoke then in tobacco smoke. Despite these statements, marijuana smokers and tobacco smokers are two different breeds, due to the fact that cigarette smokers inhale in much more smoke then marijuana smokers do over the course of a day. Due to this, Swartzwelder believes marijuana smokers run a far less risk then tobacco smokers when it comes to getting lung cancer.
“Pot smokers take a lot less smoke into their lungs over time then cigarette smokers do, so unless the pot smoker also smoke tobacco I’d say that the chances of getting lung cancer is far less of a risk for marijuana smokers when compared to cigarette smokers,” Swartzwelder said.
Donald Slish, the biology teacher at Plattsburgh State University, agrees with the idea that there is a difference between a cigarette smoker and a pot smoker. At the same time, however, Slish points out the fact that two unhealthy habits do not produce a healthy one.
“Whenever you burn something it produces carcinogens, so smoking anything is going to be unhealthy,” Slish said. “ At the same time, though, when people smoke cigarettes they do so on a regular basis as opposed to smoking weed a few times for recreation.”
With that being said, one inhales two-thirds more marijuana smoke per puff than one does on a typical drag of a cigarette. Furthermore, marijuana smoke is typically inhaled farther into the lungs, while it is also held in the lungs longer so users can get “more high” when they use the drug. Regardless of these facts, however, Swartzwelder believes that cigarette smokers are taking more of a risk.
“Most marijuana smokers don’t smoke every day. Let’s say an average pot smoker smokes once or twice a week; therefore, even if you’re holding in the smoke four times as long as a drag out of cigarette, there is still far less exposure of carcinogens to the lungs,” Swartzwelder said.
Recent studies, however, have shown that measures of carbon monoxide in the blood are five times higher after one smokes a marijuana cigarette than after smoking a tobacco cigarette of the same size. It has also been discovered that marijuana smoke contains three times the amount of tar as cigarette smoke.
Nonetheless, as of today, there has been no scientific research that links marijuana smoke to lung cancer, but such a link will most likely occur at some point, said Swartzwelder.
Bottom line: Both of these substances contain deadly chemicals, and the use of these substances causes substantial health risks. Regardless if one is worse than the other, both marijuana smoke and tobacco smoke have the ability to kill you.
What’s worse: Marijuana or Alcohol?
This question is much easier to answer then whether or not marijuana smoke is more toxic then tobacco smoke.
Put simply, alcohol is far more dangerous than marijuana.
“It is clearly obvious that alcohol is much worse than marijuana, without a doubt,” said Slisher. “The only danger of marijuana is doing something stupid while you’re stoned, but with alcohol, if you drink too much it could kill you.”
As stated earlier, one might feel anxious or scared after smoking marijuana, yet a lethal overdose on the drug is pretty much impossible, Swartzwelder said. Alcohol, on the other hand is another story.
While the chances of overdosing on alcohol are still very low, it is entirely possible for someone to die from drinking too much. This occurs most often when someone drinks too much alcohol at too fast a pace-whether it is by playing drinking games or taking shots.
According to an article, entitled, “The toxicity of recreational drugs”, written by Robert S Gable, the toxicity of alcohol is “far greater” than most other recreational drugs. According to Gable, if alcohol was created today, “its high toxicity and addiction potential would surely prevent it from being marketed as a food or drug.”
In addition, Gables report states that one can overdose on alcohol by simply consuming ten times the recommended amount. In the same study, Gable concluded that someone would have to consume 1,000 times the recommended amount of marijuana in order to overdose.
Furthermore, according to Swartzwelder, there is no substantial evidence that smoking marijuana kills brain cells. This statement does not apply to alcohol.
After long term use of alcohol, researchers have discovered that shrinkage of brain tissue occurs, while chronic drinking also has the ability to damage the frontal lobes of the brain, which are known as the “executive directors” of the brain since they control many of its functions. Yes, it is true that marijuana does effect the brain in numerous ways (these effects will be explained later), but the effects from alcohol are more significant, while an overdose on alcohol is entirely possible.
It is also true that people who are drunk are more susceptible to doing dangerous things, Slish said.
In other words, people who are drunk are aggressive, and people who are high are relaxed. Therefore, there is much greater chance of someone doing something that they will regret when they are drunk, as opposed to being high, Slish said.
How long does THC stay in the body, and how long does it have effects on the body?
When THC enters the body, significant concentrations of the drug accumulate in organs such as the kidneys, liver, spleen and testes. Furthermore, depending on the smoker, THC can remain in the blood for up to 20 hours after inhalation. It also can stay absorbed in fatty deposits within the body for a much longer time period since the drug is very lipid-soluble.
While it is impossible to determine exactly how long marijuana stays in your system, it has been concluded that 30 per cent of ingested THC has the ability to remain in the body for a full week after smoking. At the same time, however, a single large dose of marijuana has been detected up to three weeks after inhalation; therefore, it is safe to say that marijuana stays in the body for a significant amount of time, due to its ability to accumulate in different organs within the body. According to Swartzwelder, it is estimated that traces of marijuana can be found in the body anywhere from two-four weeks after inhalation.
“THC metabolites stay in the body for a long time no matter how long you have been smoking,” Swartzwelder said.
Nevertheless, it takes marijuana a longer time to leave the body in chronic smokers when compared to recreational users. This is due to the fact that accumulating levels of THC will add up in the body everyday marijuana is smoked, Swartzwelder said.
“If you already have levels of THC in your body and you add more too it, it’s kind of like restarting the clock on getting the substance out of your body,” Swartzwelder said. “It comes to a point where traces of marijuana are just always there if you’re smoking regularly.”
How does marijuana affect the brain?
As stated before, there is no scientific research that says marijuana kills brain cells, but this does not mean that the drug does not affect the brain. According to Swartzwelder, smoking marijuana drastically affects ones cognitive functions, and it also has been proven to harm the brains hippocampus, which is responsible for forming new memories.
The brains hippocampus is affected by marijuana, for this section of the brain contains a high concentration of cannabinoid receptors, which are the receptors that are responsive to THC. Furthermore, this section of the brain controls ones memory, which is why a person’s short term memory is impaired when someone smokes marijuana. Due to damaging this section of the brain, smoking marijuana can also lead to learning disabilities, since ones inability to make or maintain certain memories is impaired.
“THC has a very powerful effect on learning abilities and memory,” Swartzwelder said. “When people say let’s go get stupid, they mean it.”
Ones learning ability is further impaired due to the fact that marijuana greatly affects the cognitive functions in the brain, which controls the brains ability to process information correctly and efficiently, Swartzwelder said.
Obviously, these functions are greatly impaired when one is under the influence of the drug, but the affects do not end once the high does. Instead, ones cognitive functions are impaired for up to 48 hours after smoking marijuana, Swartzenwelder said.
“This is an important fact, because if someone smokes weed three times a week then there is absolutely no time throughout the week that they are not cognitively impaired,” Swartzenwelder said. “ It doesn’t mean that no one should ever smoke pot, but it shows that it’s important for people to know what’s going on because there are hidden affects that no one really knows about.”
So while marijuana smoke may not kill brain cells directly, it is obvious that the drug does have some effect on the brain.
“Right now there is no compelling evidence that says recreational smoking kills any brain cells, but with that said, pot does have some serious affects on the brain, and on someone’s learning abilities and memory,” Swartzenwelder said.
Credit: http://media.photobucket.com/image/weed/cadebrdgs/weed-cigarettes.jpg,
Credit: http://weedneeds.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/glass-bong2.jpg
Credit: http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/marijuana-leaf.jpg
Marijuana, often called, pot, bud, ganja, or grass is the most commonly used drug in the United States. In a 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), it was reported that around 100 million Americans ages 12 and older have tried the drug at least once in their lifetime. Due to this evidence, it can be concluded that around 40% of Americans in that age group have tried the drug at least once, yet surprisingly, not many Americans know anything about marijuana other then the fact that it gets you high.
“Marijuana is a very popular drug, and a lot of people use it, but it is amazing that so many users, and informed people, no nothing about it,” said Scott Swartzwelder, Ph.D, professor of psychiatry at Duke University, and co-author of the book “Buzzed: The straight facts about the most used and abused drugs from alcohol to ecstasy”.
With the leafy green substance being trafficked through college campuses all over the country, Swartzwelder said it is important for young people to know exactly what they are doing to their body, while it is also important for them to understand what exactly the drug does to them and why.
No one wants to do something that they will later regret; therefore, they need to be informed, so here are some facts about marijuana that most people are probably unaware of.
What Marijuana does and Why it makes you “High”
The affects of marijuana are widely known. Put in simple terms, marijuana calms ones aggressive behavior, stimulates appetite, and in the words of Donald Slish, a Biology professor at Plattsburgh State University, puts the smoker in “a dream like state” for a couple hours after smoking.
Most people, however, do not know exactly why marijuana makes you high, yet the answer to this question is very simple. Marijuana produces these effects by triggering cannaboid receptors throughout the body. These receptors are most commonly found in the brain, and also in the spinal cord, Slish said.
Furthermore, marijuana contains psychoactive chemicals, most notably Tetrahydrocannabino (THC), which is responsible for activating the cannboid receptors throughout the body.
Once marijuana is smoked, the blood supply within the lungs soaks up the THC that is inhaled. After this, the THC is moved to the user’s heart, and next to the user’s brain, causing the effects of marijuana to occur in a matter of minutes.
According to Slish, the “high” state that someone experiences after smoking weed also is caused by the effects the drug has on the cerebral cortex of the brain. This part of the brain is responsible for an individual’s sensory perception. Thus, when receptors in this section of the brain are affected, it distorts a person’s sense of time, sound, color and taste. It also distorts the smokers sense of reality, and puts them into a state of “higher thinking”, Slish said.
Put in simple terms, marijuana makes you high simply because it alters the physical and chemical balance of the it alters the physical and chemical balance of the brain.
Why do you become paranoid after smoking marijuana?
Basically everyone is aware of the fact that smoking marijuana has the ability to make one scared and paranoid. There’s even a Greenday song, entitled “Paranoid”, which revolves around the paranoia that can come with smoking marijuana. What most people don’t know, however, is why this drug has the ability to make one so skittish and scared.
According to Swartzwelder, the inhalation of marijuana, and its main chemical, THC, has the effect of “mellowing” someone out. At the same time, though, it increases both the blood pressure, and the heart rate of the smoker. The increase of these two things is what causes one to become paranoid when smoking weed.
“It (smoking weed) increases heart rate and blood pressure, and this causes your body to go into a state of arousal,” Swartzwelder said. “ Increases in blood pressure and heart rate are associated with being threatened, and that is what makes you become paranoid.”
In essence, it is the same effect as if someone came up on the street and tried to fight you, Swartzwelder said.
While increases in blood pressure and heart rate are the scientific reasons for why one becomes paranoid, there is also one very simply factor that comes into play when smoking marijuana that could make a user nervous- its illegal.
“It’s illegal so there is a realistic base to feel a little nervous or jittering when your smoking weed,” Swartzwelder said.
It is important to note that the potency of the marijuana, and the amount of marijuana smoked affect the side effect of paranoia. Furthermore, according to Swartzwelder, long-time users are less susceptible to this side effect then a new user.
What’s more dangerous- cigarettes or marijuana smoke?
In reality, marijuana smoke and tobacco smoke are very similar. Both contain a mass amount of chemicals and carcinogens, and both have the ability to cause chronic lung damage to long time smokers. In fact, comparable levels of the toxins cyanide, carbon monoxide, and tar are found in both types of smoke. One carcinogen, benzopyrene, even has a higher concentration in marijuana smoke then in tobacco smoke. Despite these statements, marijuana smokers and tobacco smokers are two different breeds, due to the fact that cigarette smokers inhale in much more smoke then marijuana smokers do over the course of a day. Due to this, Swartzwelder believes marijuana smokers run a far less risk then tobacco smokers when it comes to getting lung cancer.
“Pot smokers take a lot less smoke into their lungs over time then cigarette smokers do, so unless the pot smoker also smoke tobacco I’d say that the chances of getting lung cancer is far less of a risk for marijuana smokers when compared to cigarette smokers,” Swartzwelder said.
Donald Slish, the biology teacher at Plattsburgh State University, agrees with the idea that there is a difference between a cigarette smoker and a pot smoker. At the same time, however, Slish points out the fact that two unhealthy habits do not produce a healthy one.
“Whenever you burn something it produces carcinogens, so smoking anything is going to be unhealthy,” Slish said. “ At the same time, though, when people smoke cigarettes they do so on a regular basis as opposed to smoking weed a few times for recreation.”
With that being said, one inhales two-thirds more marijuana smoke per puff than one does on a typical drag of a cigarette. Furthermore, marijuana smoke is typically inhaled farther into the lungs, while it is also held in the lungs longer so users can get “more high” when they use the drug. Regardless of these facts, however, Swartzwelder believes that cigarette smokers are taking more of a risk.
“Most marijuana smokers don’t smoke every day. Let’s say an average pot smoker smokes once or twice a week; therefore, even if you’re holding in the smoke four times as long as a drag out of cigarette, there is still far less exposure of carcinogens to the lungs,” Swartzwelder said.
Recent studies, however, have shown that measures of carbon monoxide in the blood are five times higher after one smokes a marijuana cigarette than after smoking a tobacco cigarette of the same size. It has also been discovered that marijuana smoke contains three times the amount of tar as cigarette smoke.
Nonetheless, as of today, there has been no scientific research that links marijuana smoke to lung cancer, but such a link will most likely occur at some point, said Swartzwelder.
Bottom line: Both of these substances contain deadly chemicals, and the use of these substances causes substantial health risks. Regardless if one is worse than the other, both marijuana smoke and tobacco smoke have the ability to kill you.
What’s worse: Marijuana or Alcohol?
This question is much easier to answer then whether or not marijuana smoke is more toxic then tobacco smoke.
Put simply, alcohol is far more dangerous than marijuana.
“It is clearly obvious that alcohol is much worse than marijuana, without a doubt,” said Slisher. “The only danger of marijuana is doing something stupid while you’re stoned, but with alcohol, if you drink too much it could kill you.”
As stated earlier, one might feel anxious or scared after smoking marijuana, yet a lethal overdose on the drug is pretty much impossible, Swartzwelder said. Alcohol, on the other hand is another story.
While the chances of overdosing on alcohol are still very low, it is entirely possible for someone to die from drinking too much. This occurs most often when someone drinks too much alcohol at too fast a pace-whether it is by playing drinking games or taking shots.
According to an article, entitled, “The toxicity of recreational drugs”, written by Robert S Gable, the toxicity of alcohol is “far greater” than most other recreational drugs. According to Gable, if alcohol was created today, “its high toxicity and addiction potential would surely prevent it from being marketed as a food or drug.”
In addition, Gables report states that one can overdose on alcohol by simply consuming ten times the recommended amount. In the same study, Gable concluded that someone would have to consume 1,000 times the recommended amount of marijuana in order to overdose.
Furthermore, according to Swartzwelder, there is no substantial evidence that smoking marijuana kills brain cells. This statement does not apply to alcohol.
After long term use of alcohol, researchers have discovered that shrinkage of brain tissue occurs, while chronic drinking also has the ability to damage the frontal lobes of the brain, which are known as the “executive directors” of the brain since they control many of its functions. Yes, it is true that marijuana does effect the brain in numerous ways (these effects will be explained later), but the effects from alcohol are more significant, while an overdose on alcohol is entirely possible.
It is also true that people who are drunk are more susceptible to doing dangerous things, Slish said.
In other words, people who are drunk are aggressive, and people who are high are relaxed. Therefore, there is much greater chance of someone doing something that they will regret when they are drunk, as opposed to being high, Slish said.
How long does THC stay in the body, and how long does it have effects on the body?
When THC enters the body, significant concentrations of the drug accumulate in organs such as the kidneys, liver, spleen and testes. Furthermore, depending on the smoker, THC can remain in the blood for up to 20 hours after inhalation. It also can stay absorbed in fatty deposits within the body for a much longer time period since the drug is very lipid-soluble.
While it is impossible to determine exactly how long marijuana stays in your system, it has been concluded that 30 per cent of ingested THC has the ability to remain in the body for a full week after smoking. At the same time, however, a single large dose of marijuana has been detected up to three weeks after inhalation; therefore, it is safe to say that marijuana stays in the body for a significant amount of time, due to its ability to accumulate in different organs within the body. According to Swartzwelder, it is estimated that traces of marijuana can be found in the body anywhere from two-four weeks after inhalation.
“THC metabolites stay in the body for a long time no matter how long you have been smoking,” Swartzwelder said.
Nevertheless, it takes marijuana a longer time to leave the body in chronic smokers when compared to recreational users. This is due to the fact that accumulating levels of THC will add up in the body everyday marijuana is smoked, Swartzwelder said.
“If you already have levels of THC in your body and you add more too it, it’s kind of like restarting the clock on getting the substance out of your body,” Swartzwelder said. “It comes to a point where traces of marijuana are just always there if you’re smoking regularly.”
How does marijuana affect the brain?
As stated before, there is no scientific research that says marijuana kills brain cells, but this does not mean that the drug does not affect the brain. According to Swartzwelder, smoking marijuana drastically affects ones cognitive functions, and it also has been proven to harm the brains hippocampus, which is responsible for forming new memories.
The brains hippocampus is affected by marijuana, for this section of the brain contains a high concentration of cannabinoid receptors, which are the receptors that are responsive to THC. Furthermore, this section of the brain controls ones memory, which is why a person’s short term memory is impaired when someone smokes marijuana. Due to damaging this section of the brain, smoking marijuana can also lead to learning disabilities, since ones inability to make or maintain certain memories is impaired.
“THC has a very powerful effect on learning abilities and memory,” Swartzwelder said. “When people say let’s go get stupid, they mean it.”
Ones learning ability is further impaired due to the fact that marijuana greatly affects the cognitive functions in the brain, which controls the brains ability to process information correctly and efficiently, Swartzwelder said.
Obviously, these functions are greatly impaired when one is under the influence of the drug, but the affects do not end once the high does. Instead, ones cognitive functions are impaired for up to 48 hours after smoking marijuana, Swartzenwelder said.
“This is an important fact, because if someone smokes weed three times a week then there is absolutely no time throughout the week that they are not cognitively impaired,” Swartzenwelder said. “ It doesn’t mean that no one should ever smoke pot, but it shows that it’s important for people to know what’s going on because there are hidden affects that no one really knows about.”
So while marijuana smoke may not kill brain cells directly, it is obvious that the drug does have some effect on the brain.
“Right now there is no compelling evidence that says recreational smoking kills any brain cells, but with that said, pot does have some serious affects on the brain, and on someone’s learning abilities and memory,” Swartzenwelder said.
Credit: http://media.photobucket.com/image/weed/cadebrdgs/weed-cigarettes.jpg,
Credit: http://weedneeds.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/glass-bong2.jpg
Credit: http://prospect.rsc.org/blogs/cw/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/marijuana-leaf.jpg
Cocaine Chic
By Lindsay Blair
Kate Moss has been modeling since she was fourteen. In 2005, Kate Moss, then aged 35, was pictured taking cocaine. More recently, Lindsay Lohan was allegedly found to be in possession of the same drug. In September 2008, George Michael was arrested for having crack cocaine in a public lavatory. The list goes on…
Kate Moss has been modeling since she was fourteen. In 2005, Kate Moss, then aged 35, was pictured taking cocaine. More recently, Lindsay Lohan was allegedly found to be in possession of the same drug. In September 2008, George Michael was arrested for having crack cocaine in a public lavatory. The list goes on…
‘Cocaine Kate’ (Moss) as she was dubbed by British newspaper, The Mirror, lost modeling contracts with international companies, such as Chanel and Burberry. Months later she was back on top of the model industry, scandal forgotten where she remains today. And in 2007 she made it onto the Forbes richest supermodels list, with an estimated worth of $74m. Not bad.
Young people are influenced by what they see in the media, studies show. Celebrities are often pictured in compromising positions, but no real consequences seem to be faced by those involved. The question is to what extent does ‘cocaine chic’ influence the young people engulfed in the world of celeb.
Celebrities can play an important part in the development of adolescent identity and certain young people may use celebrity drug use as a means or an explanation of their own actions, depending on whether the idols report positively or negatively on the experience, according to a study of celebrity culture and its influences, by Karl Witty, an NCCDP Researcher.
“When young people have a weak attachment to peers or parents, or they may have a chaotic home life, the celebrity may be adopted in an almost surrogate role.” Says Witty.
“In recent years the issue of celebrity drug use has come to the forefront of public thinking due to some high profile stories, such as Kate Moss’ alleged cocaine use” adds Witty, who put together the study The Effects of Drug Use by Celebrities upon Young People’s Drug Use and Perception of Use in 2006.
The issue of celebrity culture and the way it affects society is a widely discussed topic shown in many studies.
Dr John Maltby, of the University of Leicester, told The Independent newspaper: "Psychological theory suggests that people can make attachments to a number of different people as well as their parents. A hundred years ago, the range of people to influence adolescent socialisation was restricted to peers, relatives, neighbours and teachers. Today, young people are exposed to influential figures through popular culture." This may include celebrities and attachments to images seen in the media says Maltby.
The use of drugs, such as Class A cocaine, by celebrities tends to glamorize drug use, according to a BBC news report. The report states that dealing too leniently with celebrity drug users, sends out the wrong message to young people. In the UK, celebrities charged with possession of drugs often face lighter charges including rehab stints or fines, which don’t regularly cause problems for multi-millionaire celebrities. But in the United States, probation sentences can last years and offenders face harsher and more specific community service charges. A music artist may have to donate revenue from a concert to drug rehabilitation centres or even to the courts.
Legal limitations may not stop certain celebrities from taking drugs, but the consequences for ‘ordinary’ people may be very different.
“Celebrities have an amazing power. They can make anything look intriguing. They set trends we never thought of. We want to be them. We may even wish we were.” Said Laura Leigh Fields, a student in Virginia.
Psychology professors, Susan Boon and Christine Lomore studied celebrity perceptions. The study investigated young adults’ judgement and the degree to which celebrity idols influence their sense of identity and feeling of self-worth. The study looked into the perceptions of drug use and found that 75 percent of young people had, at some time in their lives, had a strong attraction to a celebrity and that 59 percent would have been influenced by some aspect of their attitude or beliefs. The national rate of people age twelve and over who used cocaine in the last year was measured at 2.4 percent, the percentage of people aged twelve and over in New York State who used drugs is recent months lies at 9.08 percent, according to data in the New York Times.
But despite extensive research into how far celebrities affect people in the sense that celebrities are idolized, there is less evidence suggesting a direct link with celebrity drug allegations and people taking drugs, just because their favourite celeb was seen doing so, according to Witty.
He said: “The influence of celebrities must not be overstated. Young people do not just form opinions on drugs and drug use solely from media personalities. Young people are informed about drugs and drug use from a variety of sources.”
Further in Witty’s study he mentions: ‘While it is easy to dismiss such behaviour (celebrity drug taking) as provisions for our voyeuristic pleasure, a distraction from the dissatisfactions and pressures of contemporary life, it is unclear as to what effect the reporting of the subject has on young people’s drug related problems’.
‘It may be that the more young people see positive depictions of drugs and drug use, the more likely they are to internalize these values.’
And with Amy Winehouse still allegedly battling addictions and popping up in gossip columns everywhere, the debate continues.
Credits: Image #1: Daily Mirror, 2005, Image #2: The Sun, 2005
Brewing Tour
By Mike O’Keefe
Somewhere amongst the Adirondacks, people are sitting down to dinner, opening up their menus and glancing over the drinks selection. Budweiser, Coors, Sam Adams…all the usual suspects are there. But looking at the list again, one would notice that some of the drinks have names that you’ve never seen anywhere else.
Brown Ales, IPAs, wheat, and blueberry beer?
Everything that is old is new again,” says Rick Davidson, part-time owner of the Davidson Pub and Brewery in Lake George, NY.
Davidson says that after the ‘80s “brewing revolution” all the local breweries that were lost after prohibition are making a comeback, and people are looking for a local alternative to domestic beer.
All throughout the North Country, it is easy to find the home-grown breweries, all of them dispersing delicious, locally brewed ale.
There are also some large scale, but still homegrown breweries, that dot the landscape around Plattsburgh as well.
All you have to do is find them…
1. Magic Hat Brewery
One of the biggest in the area. Located in Vermont, just about an hour away, Magic Hat started in 1994 and can already out-brew almost any of the local, and older, breweries in the area. “We really embody the spirit of Vermont, says Steve Hill, the Social Networking Voice for Magic Hat Brewery. With the No. 9 being their “flagship beer” as Hill put it, they have a whole selection of ales that continues to grow larger every year. Most recently, a summer beat red ale called “Wacko” was brewed for the summer season. “We appeal to a certain type of drinker,” Hill says. “The music and art lover particularly.”
2. Lake Placid Brewery
Another large locally owned brewery, the Lake Placid Brewery is located about an hour away from Plattsburgh, and distributes to a very large area throughout New York State.
3. Davidson Pub and Brewery
Located in Lake George, Davidson Pub and Brewery was established about a decade ago to compliment an already popular restaurant. Specializing in brewing IPAs and Brown Ales, this “British style” pub has a wide selection of brews to choose from, as well as fine dining on the side.
4. Great Adirondack Brewing Company
Also located in Lake Placid, the GABC is another small time, but locally crafted brewery that caters to the greater Lake Placid Area. In direct competition with Lake Placid Brewery, the small brewer has managed to stay afloat despite the economic downturn.
“Just because it’s locally brewed doesn’t mean it’s good,” says Davidson.
Hopefully these selections will light a path through the vast expanses of the Adirondacks and land you at a place where you can sit down and enjoy a beer…or two.
Somewhere amongst the Adirondacks, people are sitting down to dinner, opening up their menus and glancing over the drinks selection. Budweiser, Coors, Sam Adams…all the usual suspects are there. But looking at the list again, one would notice that some of the drinks have names that you’ve never seen anywhere else.
Brown Ales, IPAs, wheat, and blueberry beer?
Everything that is old is new again,” says Rick Davidson, part-time owner of the Davidson Pub and Brewery in Lake George, NY.
Davidson says that after the ‘80s “brewing revolution” all the local breweries that were lost after prohibition are making a comeback, and people are looking for a local alternative to domestic beer.
All throughout the North Country, it is easy to find the home-grown breweries, all of them dispersing delicious, locally brewed ale.
There are also some large scale, but still homegrown breweries, that dot the landscape around Plattsburgh as well.
All you have to do is find them…
1. Magic Hat Brewery
One of the biggest in the area. Located in Vermont, just about an hour away, Magic Hat started in 1994 and can already out-brew almost any of the local, and older, breweries in the area. “We really embody the spirit of Vermont, says Steve Hill, the Social Networking Voice for Magic Hat Brewery. With the No. 9 being their “flagship beer” as Hill put it, they have a whole selection of ales that continues to grow larger every year. Most recently, a summer beat red ale called “Wacko” was brewed for the summer season. “We appeal to a certain type of drinker,” Hill says. “The music and art lover particularly.”
2. Lake Placid Brewery
Another large locally owned brewery, the Lake Placid Brewery is located about an hour away from Plattsburgh, and distributes to a very large area throughout New York State.
3. Davidson Pub and Brewery
Located in Lake George, Davidson Pub and Brewery was established about a decade ago to compliment an already popular restaurant. Specializing in brewing IPAs and Brown Ales, this “British style” pub has a wide selection of brews to choose from, as well as fine dining on the side.
4. Great Adirondack Brewing Company
Also located in Lake Placid, the GABC is another small time, but locally crafted brewery that caters to the greater Lake Placid Area. In direct competition with Lake Placid Brewery, the small brewer has managed to stay afloat despite the economic downturn.
“Just because it’s locally brewed doesn’t mean it’s good,” says Davidson.
Hopefully these selections will light a path through the vast expanses of the Adirondacks and land you at a place where you can sit down and enjoy a beer…or two.
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