so as I thought about this idea worth spreading that I decided to talk about
spreading that I decided to talk about
spreading that I decided to talk about today I came up with several different
today I came up with several different
today I came up with several different titles along the way one was addiction
titles along the way one was addiction
titles along the way one was addiction for sale the other was I’m not my
for sale the other was I’m not my
for sale the other was I’m not my brother’s keeper and the other was harm
brother’s keeper and the other was harm
brother’s keeper and the other was harm for hire and I just had to stop with
for hire and I just had to stop with
for hire and I just had to stop with that one because it sounded like a bad
that one because it sounded like a bad
that one because it sounded like a bad James Bond movie so when I really got
James Bond movie so when I really got
James Bond movie so when I really got down to it what I wanted to talk about
down to it what I wanted to talk about
down to it what I wanted to talk about and what I do want to talk about is
and what I do want to talk about is
and what I do want to talk about is expendable people you see when we use a
expendable people you see when we use a
expendable people you see when we use a known addictive substance to generate
known addictive substance to generate
known addictive substance to generate revenue or as an economic development
revenue or as an economic development
revenue or as an economic development strategy we also make a decision that
strategy we also make a decision that
strategy we also make a decision that there must be expendable people and how
there must be expendable people and how
there must be expendable people and how can I say that well what we know is when
can I say that well what we know is when
can I say that well what we know is when there’s more alcohol we have more car
there’s more alcohol we have more car
there’s more alcohol we have more car crashes higher healthcare costs and more
crashes higher healthcare costs and more
crashes higher healthcare costs and more domestic violence when we have more
domestic violence when we have more
domestic violence when we have more marijuana we have more youth who use
marijuana we have more youth who use
marijuana we have more youth who use more workplace injuries and more people
more workplace injuries and more people
more workplace injuries and more people who drive while intoxicated and when we
who drive while intoxicated and when we
who drive while intoxicated and when we have more opioids we have a higher
have more opioids we have a higher
have more opioids we have a higher addiction rate we have more people who
addiction rate we have more people who
addiction rate we have more people who die from overdose and we have a higher
die from overdose and we have a higher
die from overdose and we have a higher crime rate just ask any policeman these
crime rate just ask any policeman these
crime rate just ask any policeman these are the kinds of things that those of us
are the kinds of things that those of us
are the kinds of things that those of us who work in public health talk about all
who work in public health talk about all
who work in public health talk about all the time and today I would like to take
the time and today I would like to take
the time and today I would like to take us on a little meander through my little
us on a little meander through my little
us on a little meander through my little corner of public health while I try
corner of public health while I try
corner of public health while I try really hard to not be the most annoying
really hard to not be the most annoying
really hard to not be the most annoying kind of fun police
the best way to describe it is this when
the best way to describe it is this when we have more of a known addictive
we have more of a known addictive
we have more of a known addictive substance that’s potentially harmful
substance that’s potentially harmful
substance that’s potentially harmful inject it into the marketplace more
inject it into the marketplace more
inject it into the marketplace more people are going to buy it that’s the
people are going to buy it that’s the
people are going to buy it that’s the point right more people are going to
point right more people are going to
point right more people are going to consume it and then more people are
consume it and then more people are
consume it and then more people are going to experience harm that’s an
going to experience harm that’s an
going to experience harm that’s an equation that we had tried to grow out
equation that we had tried to grow out
equation that we had tried to grow out of through millennia we try to evolve
of through millennia we try to evolve
of through millennia we try to evolve out of it we’ve tried to become more
out of it we’ve tried to become more
out of it we’ve tried to become more enlightened but it really is just an
enlightened but it really is just an
enlightened but it really is just an equation that can’t change more of a
equation that can’t change more of a
equation that can’t change more of a harmful thing equals more harm and when
harmful thing equals more harm and when
harmful thing equals more harm and when I talk about harmful substance
I talk about harmful substance
I talk about harmful substance substances I think that most people
substances I think that most people
substances I think that most people would probably expect me to talk about
would probably expect me to talk about
would probably expect me to talk about the opioid crisis that we’re in the
the opioid crisis that we’re in the
the opioid crisis that we’re in the midst of that wouldn’t be a bad
midst of that wouldn’t be a bad
midst of that wouldn’t be a bad expectation the last time that we got
expectation the last time that we got
expectation the last time that we got numbers was about two weeks ago it was
numbers was about two weeks ago it was
numbers was about two weeks ago it was for 2016 for this further from the
for 2016 for this further from the
for 2016 for this further from the Centers for Disease Control and they
Centers for Disease Control and they
Centers for Disease Control and they report that 64 thousand people died in
report that 64 thousand people died in
report that 64 thousand people died in 2016 from drug overdose sixty-four
2016 from drug overdose sixty-four
2016 from drug overdose sixty-four thousand people let that sink in for me
thousand people let that sink in for me
thousand people let that sink in for me that becomes real when I think about my
that becomes real when I think about my
that becomes real when I think about my County that’s about the size of my
County that’s about the size of my
County that’s about the size of my County and a little more it’s like
County and a little more it’s like
County and a little more it’s like someone took a bomb dropped it in the
someone took a bomb dropped it in the
someone took a bomb dropped it in the middle of the county and wiped out the
middle of the county and wiped out the
middle of the county and wiped out the population and then some around the
population and then some around the
population and then some around the edges
edges
edges we’re losing far too many precious
we’re losing far too many precious
we’re losing far too many precious precious people what most folks don’t
precious people what most folks don’t
precious people what most folks don’t know is that alcohol kills more from the
know is that alcohol kills more from the
know is that alcohol kills more from the same Centers for Disease Control we find
same Centers for Disease Control we find
same Centers for Disease Control we find that 88 thousand people die every year
that 88 thousand people die every year
that 88 thousand people die every year from alcohol-related causes
that’s 88,000 people who what just made
that’s 88,000 people who what just made bad choices I don’t think so
bad choices I don’t think so
bad choices I don’t think so I think it might be because we have all
I think it might be because we have all
I think it might be because we have all collectively been sold a fantasy that
collectively been sold a fantasy that
collectively been sold a fantasy that harm related to alcohol only comes to
harm related to alcohol only comes to
harm related to alcohol only comes to those who can’t or won’t drink
those who can’t or won’t drink
those who can’t or won’t drink responsibly and with that in mind I want
responsibly and with that in mind I want
responsibly and with that in mind I want to talk about one specific alcohol
to talk about one specific alcohol
to talk about one specific alcohol related harm that doesn’t require
related harm that doesn’t require
related harm that doesn’t require over-the-top drinking and that’s female
over-the-top drinking and that’s female
over-the-top drinking and that’s female breast cancer the researchers from the
breast cancer the researchers from the
breast cancer the researchers from the Boston University School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine
Boston University School of Medicine took a look at this issue and what they
took a look at this issue and what they
took a look at this issue and what they found was that every year 6000 women die
found was that every year 6000 women die
found was that every year 6000 women die from alcohol-related breast cancer
from alcohol-related breast cancer
from alcohol-related breast cancer alcohol attributed breast cancer 6000
alcohol attributed breast cancer 6000
alcohol attributed breast cancer 6000 women who have probably never been told
women who have probably never been told
women who have probably never been told that there is no known safe amount of
that there is no known safe amount of
that there is no known safe amount of alcohol for females you see alcohol is a
alcohol for females you see alcohol is a
alcohol for females you see alcohol is a group 1 carcinogen that means that it is
group 1 carcinogen that means that it is
group 1 carcinogen that means that it is a known human carcinogen not that it
a known human carcinogen not that it
a known human carcinogen not that it might be not that it could be not that
might be not that it could be not that
might be not that it could be not that it possibly is but it is known to cause
it possibly is but it is known to cause
it possibly is but it is known to cause cancer in humans 7 different kinds of
cancer in humans 7 different kinds of
cancer in humans 7 different kinds of cancer to be specific it’s one of the
cancer to be specific it’s one of the
cancer to be specific it’s one of the most preventable causes of breast cancer
most preventable causes of breast cancer
most preventable causes of breast cancer that we’re aware of
and who talks about prevention who talks
and who talks about prevention who talks to women about prevention as it relates
to women about prevention as it relates
to women about prevention as it relates to alcohol we’re really good in our
to alcohol we’re really good in our
to alcohol we’re really good in our country we’re really good at talking
country we’re really good at talking
country we’re really good at talking about screening early identification
about screening early identification
about screening early identification we’re good at talking about treatment
we’re good at talking about treatment
we’re good at talking about treatment we’re good at talking about cure but why
we’re good at talking about cure but why
we’re good at talking about cure but why don’t we talk about prevention could it
don’t we talk about prevention could it
don’t we talk about prevention could it be that if we did alcohol sales might go
be that if we did alcohol sales might go
be that if we did alcohol sales might go down could it be that if we did it might
down could it be that if we did it might
down could it be that if we did it might expose the companies that make alcohol
expose the companies that make alcohol
expose the companies that make alcohol as companies that see women as
as companies that see women as
as companies that see women as expendable people ladies I hope that
expendable people ladies I hope that
expendable people ladies I hope that your inner feminist will rise to meet me
your inner feminist will rise to meet me
your inner feminist will rise to meet me in this moment and gentlemen if you have
in this moment and gentlemen if you have
in this moment and gentlemen if you have a mom a sister a wife a grandmother an
a mom a sister a wife a grandmother an
a mom a sister a wife a grandmother an aunt a woman that you love you can get
aunt a woman that you love you can get
aunt a woman that you love you can get your feminist on too because what I want
your feminist on too because what I want
your feminist on too because what I want you to know is that the companies that
you to know is that the companies that
you to know is that the companies that make alcohol probably know the research
make alcohol probably know the research
make alcohol probably know the research better than I do they know that there is
better than I do they know that there is
better than I do they know that there is no known safe amount of alcohol for
no known safe amount of alcohol for
no known safe amount of alcohol for female breast tissue and yet we have
female breast tissue and yet we have
female breast tissue and yet we have hard pink lemonade to raise money for
hard pink lemonade to raise money for
hard pink lemonade to raise money for alcohol research we have hard pink cider
alcohol research we have hard pink cider
alcohol research we have hard pink cider that was developed to support the
that was developed to support the
that was developed to support the survivors of breast cancer we have beer
survivors of breast cancer we have beer
survivors of breast cancer we have beer in a really special piece
in a really special piece
in a really special piece can to bring about breast cancer
can to bring about breast cancer
can to bring about breast cancer awareness and during the month of
awareness and during the month of
awareness and during the month of October it’s coming we have countless
October it’s coming we have countless
October it’s coming we have countless pink your drink specials to raise
pink your drink specials to raise
pink your drink specials to raise awareness for breast cancer during
awareness for breast cancer during
awareness for breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month how is it
Breast Cancer Awareness Month how is it
Breast Cancer Awareness Month how is it then in our culture we accept a company
then in our culture we accept a company
then in our culture we accept a company who makes a cancer-causing product using
who makes a cancer-causing product using
who makes a cancer-causing product using that product to raise money for the
that product to raise money for the
that product to raise money for the victims of the cancer it causes I mean
victims of the cancer it causes I mean
victims of the cancer it causes I mean would we would we support a smoked in
would we would we support a smoked in
would we would we support a smoked in for lung cancer let me move that just a
for lung cancer let me move that just a
for lung cancer let me move that just a bit would we support a bake sale for
bit would we support a bake sale for
bit would we support a bake sale for diabetes
diabetes
diabetes let me move way outside the box would we
let me move way outside the box would we
let me move way outside the box would we support a pig roast for PETA I don’t
support a pig roast for PETA I don’t
support a pig roast for PETA I don’t think so
think so
think so I think there might be pickets and
I think there might be pickets and
I think there might be pickets and protests and letters to the editor and
protests and letters to the editor and
protests and letters to the editor and we would stop it now I get it
we would stop it now I get it
we would stop it now I get it alcohol is lucrative it has a very high
alcohol is lucrative it has a very high
alcohol is lucrative it has a very high profit margin and I want to say right
profit margin and I want to say right
profit margin and I want to say right here and right now that most people who
here and right now that most people who
here and right now that most people who buy a product to support a cause do so
buy a product to support a cause do so
buy a product to support a cause do so with the very best of intentions
with the very best of intentions
with the very best of intentions most people who fundraise using the
most people who fundraise using the
most people who fundraise using the product do so with the very best of
product do so with the very best of
product do so with the very best of intentions there is no disparaging here
intentions there is no disparaging here
intentions there is no disparaging here but when we look under the covers just a
but when we look under the covers just a
but when we look under the covers just a little bit we find corporations who use
little bit we find corporations who use
little bit we find corporations who use the product for revenue and we find
the product for revenue and we find
the product for revenue and we find governments who use the product for an
governments who use the product for an
governments who use the product for an for economic development straight
for economic development straight
for economic development straight jeez who know that those strategies and
jeez who know that those strategies and
jeez who know that those strategies and that revenue puts a significant portion
that revenue puts a significant portion
that revenue puts a significant portion of our population at risk now we have
of our population at risk now we have
of our population at risk now we have this conversation in our culture all the
this conversation in our culture all the
this conversation in our culture all the time and we should about the balance
time and we should about the balance
time and we should about the balance between personal rights and public
between personal rights and public
between personal rights and public health I mean who’s to tell you that you
health I mean who’s to tell you that you
health I mean who’s to tell you that you shouldn’t be able to drink the drink of
shouldn’t be able to drink the drink of
shouldn’t be able to drink the drink of your choice because it’s overshadowed by
your choice because it’s overshadowed by
your choice because it’s overshadowed by the harm that it might cause another
the harm that it might cause another
the harm that it might cause another person I’m here to tell you that it
person I’m here to tell you that it
person I’m here to tell you that it shouldn’t I think you should be able to
shouldn’t I think you should be able to
shouldn’t I think you should be able to drink whatever you want to drink see I’m
drink whatever you want to drink see I’m
drink whatever you want to drink see I’m not the fun police I think the bigger
not the fun police I think the bigger
not the fun police I think the bigger question is this should we support a
question is this should we support a
question is this should we support a revenue generating product or an
revenue generating product or an
revenue generating product or an economic development strategy if it puts
economic development strategy if it puts
economic development strategy if it puts a certain population at risk I think not
a certain population at risk I think not
a certain population at risk I think not supporting those things is different
supporting those things is different
supporting those things is different than taking someone’s right away so how
than taking someone’s right away so how
than taking someone’s right away so how do we tip our culture to become a
do we tip our culture to become a
do we tip our culture to become a society that rejects the need for
society that rejects the need for
society that rejects the need for expendable people I have a couple of
expendable people I have a couple of
expendable people I have a couple of ideas first require that all public
ideas first require that all public
ideas first require that all public policy and all public funding pass the
policy and all public funding pass the
policy and all public funding pass the public health test it really has become
public health test it really has become
public health test it really has become all the rage to use gambling alcohol
all the rage to use gambling alcohol
all the rage to use gambling alcohol marijuana as an economic development
marijuana as an economic development
marijuana as an economic development strategy it’s not too much to ask of our
strategy it’s not too much to ask of our
strategy it’s not too much to ask of our leaders that they look at all of the
leaders that they look at all of the
leaders that they look at all of the potential outcomes for those strategies
potential outcomes for those strategies
potential outcomes for those strategies and what we need to know is if a
and what we need to know is if a
and what we need to know is if a strategy puts a
strategy puts a
strategy puts a certain segments of our population at
certain segments of our population at
certain segments of our population at risk does the good so far outweigh the
risk does the good so far outweigh the
risk does the good so far outweigh the potential harm that it’s worth the risk
potential harm that it’s worth the risk
potential harm that it’s worth the risk that’s the public health test ii be
that’s the public health test ii be
that’s the public health test ii be aware of those fundraising strategies
aware of those fundraising strategies
aware of those fundraising strategies that make you scratch your head I have a
that make you scratch your head I have a
that make you scratch your head I have a few in mind I’m not going to give you
few in mind I’m not going to give you
few in mind I’m not going to give you the names I’m just gonna tell you about
the names I’m just gonna tell you about
the names I’m just gonna tell you about them they’re real because I want to
them they’re real because I want to
them they’re real because I want to protect the well-intended so how about a
protect the well-intended so how about a
protect the well-intended so how about a bar crawl to support mental health how
bar crawl to support mental health how
bar crawl to support mental health how about a wine-tasting to support girls
about a wine-tasting to support girls
about a wine-tasting to support girls fitness and how about a christmas-themed
fitness and how about a christmas-themed
fitness and how about a christmas-themed bar crawl to raise money for domestic
bar crawl to raise money for domestic
bar crawl to raise money for domestic violence yeah they’re real and what do
violence yeah they’re real and what do
violence yeah they’re real and what do you do if a fundraiser makes you scratch
you do if a fundraiser makes you scratch
you do if a fundraiser makes you scratch your head well you can use your awesome
your head well you can use your awesome
your head well you can use your awesome power of persuasion to talk to the
power of persuasion to talk to the
power of persuasion to talk to the people who develop the fundraiser and
people who develop the fundraiser and
people who develop the fundraiser and see if you can’t move them from using a
see if you can’t move them from using a
see if you can’t move them from using a product that might harm the population
product that might harm the population
product that might harm the population they hope to help to some other kind of
they hope to help to some other kind of
they hope to help to some other kind of fundraising and if active activism boy
fundraising and if active activism boy
fundraising and if active activism boy that’s redundant isn’t your thing if
that’s redundant isn’t your thing if
that’s redundant isn’t your thing if that’s not the way that you roll I get
that’s not the way that you roll I get
that’s not the way that you roll I get it then you can simply write a check to
it then you can simply write a check to
it then you can simply write a check to your favorite charity where your money
your favorite charity where your money
your favorite charity where your money will go further anyway and finally how
will go further anyway and finally how
will go further anyway and finally how do we become a culture that rejects the
do we become a culture that rejects the
do we become a culture that rejects the need for expendable people
be compassionate toward those that are
be compassionate toward those that are most vulnerable to the harm one of my
most vulnerable to the harm one of my
most vulnerable to the harm one of my favorite sayings when it’s what I’m
favorite sayings when it’s what I’m
favorite sayings when it’s what I’m talking about this topic is from Laurie
talking about this topic is from Laurie
talking about this topic is from Laurie Lieber and it says holding young people
Lieber and it says holding young people
Lieber and it says holding young people responsible for underage drinking is
responsible for underage drinking is
responsible for underage drinking is like blaming fish for dying in the
like blaming fish for dying in the
like blaming fish for dying in the polluted stream and shouldn’t we feel
polluted stream and shouldn’t we feel
polluted stream and shouldn’t we feel that way about everyone I mean if we’re
that way about everyone I mean if we’re
that way about everyone I mean if we’re going to pollute our environment with
going to pollute our environment with
going to pollute our environment with known addictive substances shouldn’t we
known addictive substances shouldn’t we
known addictive substances shouldn’t we show compassion toward those that
show compassion toward those that
show compassion toward those that succumb to the harm I would posit to you
succumb to the harm I would posit to you
succumb to the harm I would posit to you that people who find themselves in the
that people who find themselves in the
that people who find themselves in the expendable pile never intended to be
expendable pile never intended to be
expendable pile never intended to be there I know this because I was an
there I know this because I was an
there I know this because I was an expendable person I grew up in a family
expendable person I grew up in a family
expendable person I grew up in a family that was riddled with alcoholism and I
that was riddled with alcoholism and I
that was riddled with alcoholism and I had no way of knowing the impact that it
had no way of knowing the impact that it
had no way of knowing the impact that it was going to have on my life but at 25
was going to have on my life but at 25
was going to have on my life but at 25 years sober
years sober
years sober I get it
I do I get it my drinking and the
I do I get it my drinking and the drinking of those around me had
drinking of those around me had
drinking of those around me had far-reaching implications for my life
far-reaching implications for my life
far-reaching implications for my life and in my mid 20s I was a fully addicted
and in my mid 20s I was a fully addicted
and in my mid 20s I was a fully addicted human being there is no shame in being
human being there is no shame in being
human being there is no shame in being vulnerable I can’t tell you how many
vulnerable I can’t tell you how many
vulnerable I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that the people who
times I’ve heard that the people who
times I’ve heard that the people who experience harm associated with alcohol
experience harm associated with alcohol
experience harm associated with alcohol and other drugs do so by choice and they
and other drugs do so by choice and they
and other drugs do so by choice and they get what they deserve my answer to that
get what they deserve my answer to that
get what they deserve my answer to that is most vulnerability to harm happens
is most vulnerability to harm happens
is most vulnerability to harm happens either genetically or in childhood long
either genetically or in childhood long
either genetically or in childhood long before an adult choice comes into play
we have the opportunity to make a few
we have the opportunity to make a few small changes that are relatively
small changes that are relatively
small changes that are relatively painless to us in order to protect the
painless to us in order to protect the
painless to us in order to protect the most vulnerable and we must do it
most vulnerable and we must do it
most vulnerable and we must do it together we have the opportunity to be
together we have the opportunity to be
together we have the opportunity to be life savers and we have the opportunity
life savers and we have the opportunity
life savers and we have the opportunity to move people from the expendable
to move people from the expendable
to move people from the expendable column to the you matter column and who
column to the you matter column and who
column to the you matter column and who among us doesn’t want to matter thank
among us doesn’t want to matter thank
among us doesn’t want to matter thank you
you
you you
”
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