The poem by Brenna Dorsey (“Youth poet dares adults to do the right thing,” July 8, His Voice) is very beautiful and appropriate for D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) and AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) students and graduates. However, Steve Abercrombie’s endorsement may give the mistaken impression that it is true for all. In fact, these students and graduates are exhorted never to use these substances because of addiction. The abstinence rule, however, doesn’t apply to parents who know to stop when they have had enough.
Take alcohol: What is bad for the health is not its use, but the abuse or overuse. It is not the alcohol itself but an underlying problem that leads to excessive drinking and addiction. Moderate drinking, especially of red wine, is good for the health. Independent studies have shown that those who regularly have a drink or two a day live longer than teetotalers do.
The French generally eat more fat, cholesterol and calories than Americans; however, autopsy results show their arteries to have less plaque and fewer obstructions than ours. Why the paradox — more fat but cleaner arteries? Scientists determined that the French’s practice of drinking wine with their meals, instead of water or soda, is the reason for their clean blood vessels.
The Bible even emphasizes that J. Christ’s very first miracle was to make wine from water in Cana. Wine was that important to him.
Even marijuana is found not to cause physical addiction. California law allows it for medicinal use. On the other hand, heroin, cocaine, tobacco, meth and the like are physically addictive and very injurious to health. Nobody should try them, and users should immediately stop.
I hope this will rectify any mistaken notion that the commentary may have caused.
Joints and baggies sold at California's medical marijuana dispensaries will soon carry a new warning label. Next to tags like "Purple Haze" and "White Widow" will be the advisory: Contents may cause cancer when smoked.
California added marijuana smoke to its official list of known carcinogens, joining the ranks of arsenic, asbestos and DDT. Pot brownies, lollipops and other non-inhalables are not affected by the new ruling.
Scientists found the pungent smoke shares many of the same harmful properties as tobacco smoke, warranting its inclusion on the Proposition 65 warning list.
http://www.marininstitute.org/alcohol_policy/french_drinking.htm
"One of his countrymen, whose work helped make famous the paradox of having a high saturated fat diet and lower than expected death rate from heart disease nearly a decade ago on "60 Minutes," says that attributing a low rate of heart disease to daily consumption of wine or other forms of alcohol is wrong.
A growing number of French health researchers have news for the rest of the world: It is myth that the French are healthier than most everyone else because they drink. In truth, the French are drowning in the grape and paying a hefty price for it.
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"American's eat too much cheese".
They don't slather their food with cheese and drink wine by the bucket. They also typically eat more fresh fruits and vegetables than Americans, and use olive oil. Olive oil is lower in saturated fat.
A serving of cheese in France is about the size of a thumb.
My European friends are horrified by our grocery stores. "No wonder Americans are so fat".
While mariuajana may not cause physical addiction it is certainly NOT true that it cannot create an addiction.
The French have laws about drinking and driving?
DARE is a wonderful program. They have made an efforts that cannot be measured in terms of dollars. Our children's live because of D.A.R.E. Ask some of them, or their parents, and tell us if you can put a price on that? I applaud D.A.R.E. in Tracy!