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Alcoholics Can Never be Social Drinkers
DR. WALLACE: My father is definitely an alcoholic. He continues to work only because his boss is his best friend. I even heard the boss tell my dad that if he didn't cut down on his alcohol consumption, he might be forced to fire him.
The problem is …Read more.
Wearing a Seat Belt can Save a Life
DR. WALLACE: This letter is directed to teens who travel in a motor vehicle. Please buckle up, regardless of where you sit or how short the trip might be. Several weeks ago, I stopped at the scene of a violent automobile crash. Having medical …Read more.
Vibrating Belts do not Melt Body Fat
DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and have excess fat on my upper legs, commonly known among females as "saddle bags." I've tried every kind of exercise possible to eliminate this fat, but nothing has worked.
A friend told me that her mother got rid of …Read more.
Marijuana Use is Unhealthy and Unwise
DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and have been smoking marijuana for over five years. A close friend introduced me to "pot" and I am thankful that he did. I truly enjoy getting high on "weed." I only use marijuana when I am positive that …Read more.
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Drugs Kill More People than Traffic CrashesTEENS: The use of illegal drugs in the United States continues to expand at an alarming rate. In 16 states and counting, drugs kill more people than automobile crashes, according to data recently released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Experts say this dramatic statistic is because driving is safer and the use of powerful prescription painkillers is on the rise. Traffic crashes have been the biggest cause of injury-related deaths in the U.S. and they still are, but drug deaths are pulling ahead in one state after another. In the past 16 years, drug-related deaths have doubled. The states in which drug-related deaths have overtaken traffic fatalities are: Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Most increases in drug use is attributed to prescription painkillers including methadone, OxyContin and Vicodin. Deaths from methodone increased sevenfold in a seven-year period, according to the CDC. The good news is that the national death rate from traffic crashes fell over 6 percent in the same seven-year period from 15.3 deaths per 100,000 people to 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Teens, this information is not aimed at you, but a "word to the wise is sufficient!" I NEED TO GAIN WEIGHT DR. NAMELESS: Several years ago, at a seminar on healthy living, I heard an M.D. on the teaching faculty at the University of California at Irvine say that, if a person is eating properly, there is no need for concern if he or she happens to be thin. But since you are eating properly and feel you are too thin, I'd advise you to get a checkup with your family doctor to rule out any outside chance that a physical condition of some sort is preventing you from gaining weight. Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM
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