| Services needed to break young user cycle
TEENAGERS are dying and families are being torn apart due to a lack of services for adolescent drug addicts, campaigners have claimed. A shortage of detox facilities for teenagers, a lack of mental health beds, no proper aftercare for teen drug users when they come out of treatment along with limited accommodation facilities for recovering addicts are combining to create a crisis within Ireland's adolescent population.
While services for teenage addicts improved in recent years, much of a 2005 government-sponsored report on the problem remains to be implemented.
Professionals have identified the lack of residential detox facilities, specifically earmarked for adolescents, as a key weakness in the State's battle against drug addiction.
Two of the country's main drug treatment centres, Beaumount Hospital and Cuan Dara in Dublin, have no designated detox programmes or beds for under-18s.
Holiday stress can lead to depression
While most people are singing carols and wrapping gifts during the holidays, those who struggle with mental illness often feel increased pain and isolation. Terese Gessler knows, because she's been there. "The bigness of it, how it comes across as being a very extreme holiday," said Gessler, 38, who was diagnosed with major depression and anxiety at age 14. "The stresses that go with it shopping, parties, family gatherings." Although statistics show that suicides in Sheboygan County aren't higher than at other times of the year, mental health professionals and law enforcement officers in Sheboygan see the result of the increased stress and pressure Christmas can bring. "This can be a very lonely, depressing time for people," said Beverly Randall of Mental Health America in Sheboygan County.
Hollywood takes action hero Jesus to India
Casting for suitable Bollywood and Hollywood actors has begun. "The Bible devotes just seven words to the most formative years of Yeshua's life saying: 'The boy grew in wisdom and stature'. The [film] will follow Christ's journey to the east where he encounters other traditions, and discovers the principles that are the bedrock of all the world's great religions," said Drew Heriot, the film's director, whose credits include the cult hit The Secret. The film, which is due for release in 2009, sets out to be a fantasy action adventure account of Jesus's life with the three wise men as his mentors. Although the producers say the film will feature a "young and beautiful" princess, it is not clear whether Jesus is to have a love interest. The producers say they are hoping for commercial and spiritual gains.
Wild Card/Vacation Day 11 of 12
Only two more shopping days until I return to the final days of the City Council campaigns. Then, we'll have fun taking apart the campaigns. Any dirt yet? Any mudslinging. You know, the good stuff. Or is everyone behaving? My wife is now looking over my shoulder -- literally -- so I have to pretend that I'm just checking ball scores. See ya in two days. Here's Wild Card ... .
Science News in Brief
Scientists at Harvard have dramatically expanded the list of potential drug targets for AIDS with an announcement yesterday of the discovery of 273 proteins required for survival of the AIDS virus in humans.
Prior to the study, researchers had identified only a few dozen molecules needed by the virus to infect human cells. Because AIDS progression hinges on their presence, targeting them could slow infection.
The authors found the proteins by using an emerging research method called RNA interference that eliminates individual proteins and elucidates their role by measuring the effect of their absence.
The eight Harvard researchers urged use of the technique for other human pathogens as well, writing that their experiment had demonstrated the “power" of RNA interference to find new forms of treatment.
Ogdensburg convict arrested for Edwardsville robbery attempt
An Ogdensburg man is under arrest for the Thursday evening attempted robbery and shooting at the Edwardsville Grocery.State Police charged 35 year old Patrick R. Ashley of 400 Mansion Avenue with 1st degree attempted robbery. He is a convicted felon for two previous robberies in Ogdensburg in 1998. (see further details below.)Ashley was arraigned in town of Morristown court and remanded to St. Lawrence County Jail with bail set at $50,000.In the Thursday evening incident, a camouflage-clad man went into the store and demanded money.When store owner Jim Snyder chased him out the door, the would-be robber wheeled and fired a shot from a rifle, hitting Mr. Snyder in the ankle.Mr. Snyder was released from Canton-Potsdam Hospital on Friday.In 1999 Ashley pleaded guilty to 2nd degree robbery and was sentenced to 5 years in prison.He admitted trying to rob the Park Street Agway and the Granview Motel the previous year, using a .22 rifle.
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