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Tag: alcohol
August 22, 2024
William Upton
Election 2024

WATCH: Trump Movingly Discusses Addiction and His Late Brother Fred with Theo Von.

Former President Donald J. Trump sat down with Theo Von—who boasts one of the most listened-to podcasts in the U.S.—to discuss a wide range of issues facing the country. However, one moment stood out: Von—himself in addiction recovery—and Trump discussing the former president‘s late brother Fred, his struggles with alcoholism, and what Trump learned from the man he admired.

The exchange shows a side of Trump few on the political left want to acknowledge: a man sincerely in tune with the struggles faced by countless Americans every day. “I don’t drink or smoke,” Trump told Von after the latter mentioned he had never seen him take a drink at a campaign event. Trump explained: “I had a great brother who taught me a lesson: don’t drink. Don’t drink, and he said don’t smoke.”

Fred Trump, the older brother of former President Trump, struggled with alcoholism and ultimately succumbed to it in 1981. Speaking with Von, Trump explained his love and admiration for his older brother—despite his struggles—describing him as a “great” and “handsome” guy who was full of “wisdom” and had “a great personality.”

“He had a problem with alcohol and smoked a lot,” Trump told Von, adding that he now tells people, “no drugs, no drinking, no cigarettes. I tell that to my kids all of the time.”

‘A VERY COMMON STORY.’

Trump lamented that, like his brother, many Americans struggle with addiction. “You know, this is not unique; this is a very common story, unfortunately,” Trump said. He explained the importance of discussing the issues of substance abuse and addiction publicly as it often serves to help others. Trump added that it is worth the personal pain, even if it brings clarity to just one other person.

Von, thanking Trump for his openness, noted that many of his listeners have or still struggle with addiction and other issues and that his podcast makes it a point to address these problems and bring hope of recovery. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates upwards of 178,000 Americans die from excessive alcohol use each year. Additionally, it estimates nearly 20 percent of Americans aged 12 or older struggle with substance abuse.

WATCH:

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Former President Donald J. Trump sat down with Theo Von—who boasts one of the most listened-to podcasts in the U.S.—to discuss a wide range of issues facing the country. However, one moment stood out: Von—himself in addiction recovery—and Trump discussing the former president's late brother Fred, his struggles with alcoholism, and what Trump learned from the man he admired. show more
August 14, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Culture
Immigration
UK

Woke, Islam-Loving UK Govt Mandates Booze-Free Socials for Govt Workers. Really.

Staff at Britain’s Home Office, roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, have been instructed to make every other social event alcohol-free amid concerns over inclusivity. Sources say senior bureaucrats want to make sure “every other social isn’t the pub” at a time when Muslims—who are forbidden to drink alcohol—are becoming an increasingly large share of the population, particularly in London and other urban centers.

“There is definitely a bit of a culture around inclusivity, and this approach has become systemic within the department,” a source revealed. Officials are encouraging work socials that “revolve around activities” such as bowling and picnicking an alternative to the traditional round of drinks at the pub.

Other departments, including the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), have similarly been encouraging staff to limit drinking during social events. A DCMS insider mentioned that during all-staff meetings, senior leadership consistently advises against heavy drinking at large social gatherings.

WOKE CULTURE.

The Home Office is also encouraging staff to celebrate “diversity” amid ongoing anti-mass migration protests and counter-protests in Britain, many of which are devolving into violence.

“The inclusion, understanding, and celebration of our many faiths and beliefs and diverse cultures and experiences is an important part of how we effectively deliver our services and develop policies to help protect our communities,” said Daniel Hobbs, Director General of the Home Office Migration and Borders Group, in one recent communication, urging staff to “show allyship by learning more about the diversity of our department.”

He added that staff should be “proud” of their work cramming tens of thousands of illegal aliens into hotels across the country—an unpopular policy that has helped sustain the current protests, initially sparked by the mass stabbing of several young girls by a migration-background teenager.

Previously, staff at the Foreign Office—equivalent to the U.S. State Department—have celebrated “World Hijab Day” by encouraging staff to try on Islamic veils, suggesting, “Many find liberation, respect and security through wearing it.”

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Staff at Britain's Home Office, roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, have been instructed to make every other social event alcohol-free amid concerns over inclusivity. Sources say senior bureaucrats want to make sure “every other social isn’t the pub” at a time when Muslims—who are forbidden to drink alcohol—are becoming an increasingly large share of the population, particularly in London and other urban centers. show more
May 23, 2024
Health

Weed Usage Surpasses Booze in Historic First.

Newly released national survey data indicates that daily and near-daily marijuana use has surpassed similar levels of drinking in the United States. While alcohol remains more widely consumed overall, 2022 marked the first year when intensive marijuana use overtook high-frequency drinking, according to Jonathan Caulkins, a cannabis policy researcher at Carnegie Mellon University.

“A good 40% of current cannabis users are using it daily or near daily, a pattern that is more associated with tobacco use than typical alcohol use,” Caulkins, who authored a research study based on the data, said. The survey data estimates that in 2022, approximately 17.7 million people in the U.S. were using marijuana daily or nearly every day. In contrast, about 14.7 million people reported daily or near-daily drinking. The per capita rate of daily or near-daily marijuana use has increased 15-fold from 1992 to 2022.

Caulkins’s study is based on data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health compiled over the past four years and was published Wednesday in the journal Addiction. The survey data is widely considered a reliable estimate of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use in the United States.

LEGAL STATUS DRIVES USE.

The increase in marijuana use appears to be following the drug’s shifting legal status. Most states now permit medical or recreational marijuana, although it remains illegal at the federal level. In November, Florida voters will decide on a constitutional amendment allowing recreational cannabis, and the federal government is moving to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug.

Earlier this week, Joe Biden urged his Department of Justice (DOJ) to begin the process of reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous substance. The DOJ has published a draft regulation in the Federal Register that would place marijuana in Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. This category includes drugs with “a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances” in Schedule I or II, which include highly addictive substances like fentanyl and oxycodone. Marijuana has been classified under Schedule I since the 1970s, following the federal government’s establishment of modern drug regulations.

ADDICTION CONCERNS.

Dr. David A. Gorelick, a psychiatry professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, emphasized the risks associated with high-frequency use. “High-frequency use increases the risk of developing cannabis-associated psychosis, a severe condition where a person loses touch with reality,” said Gorelick.

The number of daily users suggests that more people are at risk for developing problematic cannabis use or addiction, he added.

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Newly released national survey data indicates that daily and near-daily marijuana use has surpassed similar levels of drinking in the United States. While alcohol remains more widely consumed overall, 2022 marked the first year when intensive marijuana use overtook high-frequency drinking, according to Jonathan Caulkins, a cannabis policy researcher at Carnegie Mellon University. show more
May 15, 2024
Health
Science

Bottoms Up! Researchers Invent Alcohol Neutralizing Gel.

In a groundbreaking development at ETH Zurich, scientists have invented a protein gel with the potential to neutralize alcohol before it reaches an individual’s bloodstream, a step towards averting millions of fatalities due to excessive alcohol consumption. The gel, which proved effective in reducing blood alcohol levels by up to 50 percent in mice and safeguarding their bodies from harm, functions by converting alcohol into harmless acetic acid just before it gets metabolized by the body.

Alcohol bypasses normal digestive processes, entering the bloodstream directly through the stomach and intestines. Subsequently, it rapidly affects all body organs. This alcohol is converted into toxic acetaldehyde — which eventually breaks down into harmless acetate — posing potential bodily harm.

Focusing on this harmful acetaldehyde stage, the researchers developed a gel that remedies this by directly moving alcohol to its harmless acetate form. The gel accelerates the alcohol breakdown process from the liver to the digestive tract, eliminating the toxic acetaldehyde intermediate stage.

While initial trials on mice have succeeded, additional testing must occur before the product can be approved for use in humans. As the scientists noted, it remains healthier to avoid alcohol. Yet, the gel provides a promising solution for those seeking moderation rather than abstinence, potentially negating alcohol’s adverse impacts. The research team has filed for a patent and aims to progress with clinical trials to eventually release the product for public use, marking a significant advancement in harm-reduction strategies related to alcohol consumption.

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In a groundbreaking development at ETH Zurich, scientists have invented a protein gel with the potential to neutralize alcohol before it reaches an individual's bloodstream, a step towards averting millions of fatalities due to excessive alcohol consumption. The gel, which proved effective in reducing blood alcohol levels by up to 50 percent in mice and safeguarding their bodies from harm, functions by converting alcohol into harmless acetic acid just before it gets metabolized by the body. show more