bioneural.net » smoking

The medicalisation of (anti-)social behaviour

Bruce — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:28:00 +0000

I'm overdue for a rant, damn it—I've got intermittent explosive disorder (IED) don't you know? Oh, and while we're on the subject of your knowledge, you do realize it's your fault, doctor, that since you won't give me codeine I have to steal to do drugs? I know I smoke doc, but what are you going to do about my chest? But I don't eat too much. I hit her because I was having some sort of seizure—can you give me something for it? Well, it's like this: I can't afford to keep my house tidy. I've had a bad day; can I have Prozac? Familiar? When are people going to wake up and take responsibility for their own actions (or lack thereof)? The BBC is reporting a study suggesting that the entity formerly known as "bad behaviour" be re-classified as a mental illness called "intermittent explosive disorder". This is the latest effort to transmogrify something traditionally considered "non-disease" into something for which you can receive absolution from your doctor. The suggestion is hot on the heels of the rise to stardom of CKD (chronic kidney disease) which, although measuring eGFR is undoubtedly useful, also seems to be about attaching a new medical term to "getting on a bit" (think of eGFR as a percentage measure of kidney function; the percentage naturally gets less as you get older). What is medicalisation? I discovered a useful presentation by Richard Smith, a former Editor of the BMJ, given in September 2003 asking "Where are the limits ...

Smoking in public places

Bruce — Thu, 01 Jul 2004 07:00:00 +0000

From http://www.bioneural.net :

There's a debate going on at the moment about banning smoking in public places. The evidence for the harmful effects of smoking (actively or "passively") appears to be irrefutable and the case for implementing a ban seems watertight—so why are we having a debate? Kick it in the butt (Photo: FreeFoto) It is quite literally refreshing that many airlines—whatever their motive—offer patrons the choice of traveling without inhaling carcinogens. But what a shame we have to suffer the stench and smoke from the moment we enter the airport until to moment we board the plane. We all know that smoking is a harmful addiction. It's not the only example of an activity where people make a free choice to inflict self-harm. But it is surely in a class of its own when it comes to inflicting harm upon others at the expense of their own choice (and right) not to take part. This is not to say people who smoke in public are deliberately spiteful; there are a number of reasons why people smoke. Although smoking is linked with deprivation, and deprivation in turn with low educational achievement, you don't need a formal education to understand the concept of consideration for others. The well-off and highly-educated can be just as egocentric and selfish as their fellow addicts at the other end of the social spectrum. In 2001, nearly one third of adults in the UK smoked. This means there were/ are also a lot of "passive" smokers out there (half of the country's ...