Health
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Magic Mushrooms Decriminalization Making Progress, Still Far Behind Cannabis
While marijuana is being decriminalized or legalized in states and municipalities across America, there is a new push to decriminalize psilocybin. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring hallucinogenic substance famously found in more than 200 kinds of mushrooms that are collectively referred to as “magic mushrooms” or “psychedelic mushrooms.” Zane Bader…
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Pet Safety: How Your Furry Friend Can Enjoy Holidays, Too
While it may be tempting to sneak your furry friend a treat during the holidays, be sure to use precautions regarding what you share. Passing your pet foods that may be safe for your consumption, may cause health complications for your pet. Here’s how you can keep your pet out…
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Longer Ragweed Pollen Season Creates Discomfort Beyond Runny Nose
Every fall, Cece Pridgen, 25, suffers from an allergy to ragweed pollen. Her allergy developed in Michigan and moved with her to Georgia more than 10 years ago. “I’ve been allergic to ragweed my whole life,” said Pridgen. “I have to be extremely careful where I go outdoors. Since I…
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Feeding Barrow: How Barrow County Schools Are Helping Students Get Meals Over The Holidays
Barrow County schools are working to make sure their students do not go hungry during the holidays. Feeding Barrow, a program with Barrow County schools, will be able to provide 300 students who are food insecure with kid-friendly food to help keep them fed over Thanksgiving. What Is The…
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Community Water Fluoridation: Perspectives Differ on Whether Practice Helps, Hurts
Fluoride is a natural substance that is released from rocks into the water, air and soil. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there is not enough natural fluoride in our drinking water to prevent tooth decay. Dental decay became a huge debate during WWII when many individuals…
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How Local Emergency Services Are Responding to Firefighter Suicide Rates
More firefighters are dying of suicide than in the line of duty, according to the National Fire Protection Association. What Are The Numbers? In 2018, 64 firefighters died doing their job while 82 died of suicide. The Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance believes that only 40 percent of firefighter suicides…
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How And Why To Create Safe Caffeine Practices Starting in Adolescence
Abusing caffeine can have adverse effects on sleep and lifestyle habits, especially when adopted during adolescence, the years between puberty and adulthood. Early consumption of caffeine is also linked with other substance abuse in later years, according to Juli Bierwirth, a food safety consultant with a master’s degree in nutrition…
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How to Beat the Daylight Saving Time Change Blues
Daylight saving time has just ended and, like many Americans, you may have used that extra hour to sleep longer. While this may help you feel more productive and alert Sunday morning, research shows that the end of daylight saving time can negatively affect your mental health between November and…
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Community Raises More Than $4,000 for Commerce Girl Battling Illness
Karis Gardner, a 2-year-old from Commerce, Georgia, is receiving dialysis treatments at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Back at home in Jackson County, her community is rallying around her. The usually lively, sassy girl was diagnosed with E. coli, a bacterial infection, and Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), a potentially fatal complication…
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National Drug Take Back Day Addresses Vaping Crisis With Local Collections
The Drug Enforcement Administration has been combatting the misuse of controlled prescription drugs with National Drug Take Back Day since 2009, but this year’s collection day is particularly notable. For the first time ever, collection sites are accepting e-cigarettes and vaping devices for disposal in addition to unused medications, according…