Secondhand smoke
As a young boy, I remember my grandmother sitting in her recliner with oxygen tubing connected to a canister on one end and two prongs on the end that inserted into her nostrils. My grandmother had smoked daily in her house with her children nearby. As a child, my mother inhaled secondhand smoke with nearly every breath she took. My mother suffers from illnesses associated with the inhalation of secondhand smoke as a child. Cigarette smoke took my grandmother's life, and will ultimately take my mother's life.
According to Economic Costs Associated with Smoking published by the CDC in 2019, secondhand smoke exposure contributes to approximately 41,000 deaths among nonsmoking adults and 400 deaths in infants each year. Secondhand smoke can cause stroke, lung cancer, and coronary heart disease in adults. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth.
Because of the terrible effects that secondhand smoke has had on my family as well as millions of people in the United States, I believe legislation should be passed to ban tobacco manufacturing and processing. Health-care providers should pay for treatment for patients experiencing nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Treatment includes, among other things, nicotine replacement therapy and smoke-free support groups. The cost of treatment is small compared to $300 billion each year paid out in medical expenses for those suffering from smoking-related illnesses.
ETHAN EDELMANN
Benton
Addictive medication
A fine article by David Lazarus appearing in a recent Perspective section of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette dealt with his efforts to stop taking an antidepressant his doctor prescribed, suggesting that antidepressants can be addictive. I can sympathize with Mr. Lazarus.
Nearly two years ago I had a crisis in my life and had to seek treatment for depression. The doctor prescribed Cymbalta and Zyprexa. After about two weeks I was able to return to my normal life. There are side effects to the medication. A man is made impotent, and even moderate use of alcohol is forbidden.
A few months ago I suggested to my nurse practitioner that I get off the medication. She suggested I not do it. Well, several weeks ago I began an effort to get off the medication on my own. The Zyprexa didn't seem to be much of a problem, but the Cymbalta was another matter. Without Cymbalta, the depression was severe and I started taking it again. It truly seems addictive, as Mr. Lazarus suggests.
I had two other episodes in my life, in 1971 and 1981, when I had to take antidepressant medication but, after a while, I was able to stop taking it without any great problem. Are some of the new antidepressants like Cymbalta truly addictive? It seems so to me. I may be in my mid-70s, but I don't want to forfeit the right to have a sex life or to drink a moderate amount of alcohol. Are there not antidepressants out there that are not so addictive, that allow patients to stop taking them?
BILL SAYGER
Brasfield
Propaganda for GOP
Mr. Fred Sawyer wrote a letter to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette last month, and he concluded, "Were it not for Fox, who would be the dissenter?"
I believe the problem is that Fox "News" is not news at all. It is purely Republican propaganda. Propaganda done well is quite sneaky. It consists of half-truths, outright lies, and selective omissions, along with bits of truth to pull people in. It does not seek the truth. It has an agenda that it is promoting. It reduces complex issues into simplistic black/white dichotomies. It constantly repeats falsehoods and stereotyped epithets. It uses emotionally charged words and plays to our biases and fears. It attacks its adversaries.
In my humble opinion, Fox "News" has brainwashed millions of intelligent people and is one of the most deleterious forces in our country today.
JOHN SLATER
Little Rock
On making progress
"Fits and starts" describes my growing-up, now in its 71st year. It also describes the growing-up of our nation, which was born in a fit and took shape with starts, more fits, more starts, on and on.
Respect for human rights was a founding principle, which was a start. But it has been realized gradually and imperfectly with emancipation of slaves; citizenship and voting rights (more or less) for blacks, women and Native Americans; integration of the military, baseball, stores and schools ... Now SCOTUS is trying to decide if people with nonstandard gender identities are human. Fits and starts, on and on.
Pardon my rudeness, but I must state the obvious: Progress mostly comes from progressive movements overcoming conservative resistance. Feel free to capitalize.
The Democratic presidential primary campaigns are a cauldron of progressive ideas. Some may be bad, some ahead of their time, some exactly what's needed now. Regardless of the outcome, the debate is good.
The obvious again: Progressives usually win the wars, but conservatives often win the early battles, which could prove tragic in the case of climate change. We can't afford to play fits and starts on climate change.
Progress is too long delayed in many areas, but climate change is a clear and present danger. President Trump and his Congress have won too many early battles. We must win this one in 2020 to have a chance to win the war. Does anyone believe Republicans will take on the forces causing climate change?
HOWELL MEDDERS
Fayetteville
Studying the formula
Once again, the Arkansas Legislature is considering contracts with out-of-state entities (one with a very brief history of existence) to study the Arkansas Public Education Funding Formula. That's not to develop formulas for consideration; that's to study the present formula.
Right here in Arkansas, a consortium of public universities with research and innovation facilities would be capable of such a task. What a benefit for graduate students and programs. Possible new formulas might be developed for further consideration. Keep the money at home!
KARIS ALDERSON
Hot Springs Village
Gone 'round the bend
Hearing this quote from Donald Trump: "I, in my great and unmatched wisdom," in my viewpoint, one does not need to be a rocket scientist, or even have an M.D. in psychiatry but, to anyone, this president is clearly psychologically delusional and needs to be removed from office.
JOSEPH LOMBARDI
Greenbrier
Editorial on 10/14/2019