In an article that seems just loosely translated into English, the Prague Daily Monitor reports that something called the Vize 97 Foundation has given its annual award to Stanislav Grof, for the development of holotropic breathing. Apparently the Foundation, founded by ex-Czech president Vaclav Havel and his wife Dagmar, gives an award every year to "a world-renowned scientist who has crossed the border of science and extended its horizon." The article notes the award has previously been given to "Polish sociologist Zygmunt Bauman, Italian writer Umberto Eco and American neurosurgeon of Austrian origin Karl H. Pribram."

Admittedly, I don't know a ton about holotropic breathing, which apparently can get you into states similar to the LSD experience. For reference, Grof's web site introduces it in this fashion:

Holotropic Breathwork is a powerful approach to self-exploration and healing that integrates insights from modern consciousness research, anthropology, various depth psychologies, transpersonal psychology, Eastern spiritual practices, and mystical traditions of the world. The name Holotropic means literally "moving toward wholeness" (from the Greek "holos"=whole and "trepein"=moving in the direction of something).

The process itself uses very simple means: it combines accelerated breathing with evocative music in a special set and setting. With the eyes closed and lying on a mat, each person uses their own breath and the music in the room to enter a non-ordinary state of consciousness. This state activates the natural inner healing process of the individual's psyche, bringing him or her a particular set of internal experiences. With the inner healing intelligence guiding the process, the quality and content brought forth is unique to each person and for that particular time and place. While recurring themes are common, no two sessions are ever alike.

Meanwhile, the Prague Daily Monitor made a point of noting:

Grof's method is often criticised since it can cause damage when used by a non-professional.

Say what? My limited knowledge of how holotropic breathing works extends to a limited knowledge of how it could possibly damage a person. Luckily for me, the intertubes had an answer, although even superficial digging seems to reveal a controversy that is way over my head. One scathingly critical article refers to "aftermath dysfunctions" as a result of the "acute traumas and hallucinations [that] can occur, plus a variety of disruptive symptoms which can linger afterwards." The critical article in question is vicious in its attempt to tear down Grof (and MAPS by extension), in part due to skepticism of Grof's commercial aspirations with the trademarked technique; it makes for a good read but the author whips himself into such an anti-psychedelic frenzy that he starts to sound shrill and panicky.

I recently came across a headline that just begged for comment - Marion Jones, former Olympic athlete, has admitted to "Olympic doping". It's true: in a letter to her family, she admitted as much. The headline: "Marion Jones 'admits to Olympic doping'."

The story:

Jones, who won five medals in Sydney, said she took "the clear" for two years, beginning in 1999, and that she got it from former coach Trevor Graham, who told her it was flaxseed oil, the newspaper reported.

"The clear" is a performance-enhancing drug linked to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative (BALCO), the lab at the centre of a US government doping investigation. Until now, Jones had steadfastly denied she ever took any kind of performance-enhancing drugs.

The problem here, of course, is that when I see the term "Olympic doping" in a headline, I immediately begin thinking of the apocryphal "psychedelic Olympics." You know, the one where the 500-yard DMT relay race is one of the main events... smoke a big bowl, dash as far as you can, collapse and hope the aliens transport your incredibly high ass as far as the next relay runner... hmm, maybe it's just me. (Anyone remember any of the other events?)

I promise it's not bizarre and Japanese. You can trust me... really...

Progressive U, a site that purports to give folks an opportunity to hone their blogging skills outside of MySpace, Facebook, Xanga, and whatever other net cults are sucking the brains out of the children of America, recently ran a nice little post showing off the economic benefits of dealing marijuana. It's just so awesome to see how industrious the kids of today are - plus, they're learning!

Recently I have noticed kids who use marijuana utilizing math skills and utilizing the basics of business. A lot of kids have really good business stragities. Smoking weed teaches one about many things. Math is the most obvious it teaches fractions because of the amounts that is it typically bought and sold in. Also, the price of weed teaches teens how to manage their money and how to prortize.

Selling weed can teach one a lot! The seller needs to understand the basics of supply and demand. Bringing the product (weed) to places where people want to buy it – where the demand is. It also shows one how to make a profit in a business – not spending more than you have who you like to work with and how to manage time and money. It also teaches about marketing – how do you get customers to come to you and how do you keep them coming back. Kids selling have recently been utilizing bulk buying – if one buys more they get a discount and they are forging business partners it is really interesting to witness.

"Back in my day we sold lemonade for a penny on a blazing hot sidewalk and we LIKED IT! These kids of today with their nickel bags and their intimate connection with Mexican growers just make me SICK!" Er, I mean... wow, that's awesome, Jennee, and thanks for posting!

A House panel is convening to determine if the FDA should get into the business of regulating tobacco.

On the YES! side are Democrats:

“Like me, most people find it shocking that a cigarette is subject to less regulation than a lollipop,” said Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif., the chief sponsor of the House measure. “In the absence of comprehensive regulation, tobacco companies can market freely to kids. The industry has the unfettered ability to engineer their products to trigger quick and severe addiction.”

On the NO! side are Republicans:

Opponents of FDA tobacco regulation have said it makes no sense for the FDA to regulate a product that cannot be shown to be safe or to have any health benefits. Rep. Michael C. Burgess, R-Texas, who said he watched both of his parents die of lung diseases related to smoking, suggested such FDA regulation would be a waste of tax dollars. “What have you got next in line, crystal meth?” Burgess asked.

I'm solidly and completely on the fence about this issue, seeing merits in both sides of the argument, plus smoking is nasty, however as I recall, it is also quite fun, so I'm just torn. Meanwhile, we have stories like this one to remind us of the true evil in this country:

Candy and gum in the shape of tobacco products soon may go up in smoke if one New Jersey town has its way. Woodbridge is considering banning chocolate cigars and bubble gum shredded to resemble chewing tobacco in all shops across the township, according to council members, because it may lead to "potentially dangerous behavior."

You get it? "Up in smoke"? Har!

Nightline apparently joined the salvia scare movement with a piece that ran last night; I didn't catch it, but ABC News has helpfully provided a transcript of some sort on the Nightline web site. It features a suicide story attributed essentially to salvia use, on these rock solid grounds:

Kathleen believes her son's salvia trips were reshaping his mind -- the way he saw himself, his life and the world.

"I think he just snapped," Kathleen said. "I think he had smoked salvia to such an extent that something happened in his brain."

Salvia was found in Brett's vehicle by police the day he committed suicide. No other drugs were found, and there were no traces of any drug in Brett's system, according to the autopsy.

There you go, everyone: salvia kills, especially when it is in your car and you don't happen to be on it. And of course, as a 17-year-old kid, there couldn't POSSIBLY in a MILLION years be ANYTHING ELSE GOING ON that might reshape the way he saw himself, his life and the world. And in other news, did I mention how 2T-C-special-G is destroying this great land of our nation?

While Amsterdam's officials run around trying to shut down all the goodness of the city's rampant marijuana tourism, other parties are working to ensure that Amsterdam's famed "spacecakes" - powered by hashish! - are animal friendly:

"Coffee shop owners were completely unaware and shocked that their spacecakes are not animal friendly," said a spokeswoman for Dutch animal rights group Wakker Dier, campaigning against the use of eggs from chickens kept caged on battery farms.

Four large shops have switched to free-range eggs and 20 more plan to follow, she said. The shops get through hundreds of eggs a week for their spacecakes, which are baked with marijuana or hashish and can give an intense high.

I just love seeing the term "spacecakes" used in a Reuters article. At any rate, it's nice to know that these enterprising shopkeepers are doing everything they can to keep "spacecakes" a guilt-free pleasure.

Shocker! Reports are coming out that Lindsay Lohan was getting high while in rehab. Yeah yeah, It's not news, but it does prove a point: Rehab is a place celebrities can go do to drugs without worrying about all the tabloids and paparazzi.

The "Mean Girls" star - who has been receiving treatment for drug and alcohol addiction at Utah's Cirque Lodge for two months - was said to have completed her program last week but it has been claimed she was forced to stay on after testing positive for cocaine.

Insiders also alleged she has been drinking alcohol and mixing diet pills with prescription anti-anxiety medication in a bid to get high.

A source told Australia's New Weekly magazine, "I think she'll take whatever pills they allow her. It's obvious to me she's high because she acts loopy and can't seem to walk in a straight line!"

Another insider said, "She had a friend sneak vodka in a water bottle into one of the Alcoholics Anonymous meetings she goes to. Everyone wants her to be their friend, so they'll do anything for her. She smells like booze, and the staff do nothing about it."

"I asked her if she had any intention of being sober and she looked at me like I was crazy. She's still doing whatever she wants."

Oh Lindsay, when will you learn that drugs and rehab don't mix...

Caught some news on Chantix from the Houston Personal Injury Lawyer weblog (my new favorite site). Here's the scoop from Scott Kappes who blogs for them.

I have been writing over Chantix for just about a month now and our law firm has received dozens of inquiries about Chantix form patients claiming bizarre side effects. Just yesterday we were contacted by a couple that took the drug together and both experienced such bad side effects, including but not limited to suicidal ideation, that they had to stop taking the medication. I saw a report today from a Pennsylvania news station from a couple that claims to have had similar reactions. I have also heard several complaints recently of more persistent problems that have seemed to linger with patients even after they stop taking the medication. Most of these seem to be related to cognitive function but there have also been reports of fatigue, stomach pain, acid reflux, and depression.

Just in case you haven't heard about Chantix yet here is brief synopsis. Chantix is a stop smoking aid that was approved for use by the FDA in May of 2006. The early results of the drug were outstanding and people have been jumping on the bandwagon ever since. Most people say that the drug has been a wonderful tool in helping them quit smoking and has been far more effective than anything else they have tried, but some seem to have unique reactions to the drug that cause serious side effects. One case that has made national news has been the death of Dallas musician, Carter Albrecht, who apparently had a psychotic episode involving intense hallucinations after he had a few drinks while on Chantix.

If you or someone you know has had a serious adverse reaction to Chantix we would like to see if we can help you. We are exploring the possible litigation against the drugs manufacturer Pfizer and would like to hear about your experience.

Mmm. Chantix class-action. I'm guessing Pfizer will eventually spend over $20 million in legal fees and settle somewhere around $12 million for claimants. Any takers?

You should also check out the Houston Personal Injury Lawyer weblog's ongoing study of hyrdocodone being improperly used in some medications, including maybe in cough syrup for kids? No really...

Provoking flashbacks to the controversy surrounding off-label OxyContin use, the FDA has issued an alert for health care professionals about pushing fentanyl buccal tablets (i.e., Fentora), since the high-powered opiate can be highly addictive and might actually make you die if you take a little too much.

Fentora is a potent opioid pain medication that should be used only for the treatment of breakthrough pain in cancer patients who are receiving opioid treatment and who have become tolerant. Of particular interest to family physicians, the FDA warns against using Fentora for any short-term pain, such as headaches or migraines, sports injuries, or postoperative pain.

So here we have a warning about powerful opiates being prescribed by doctors to treat short-term aches and pains. I can hear lawyers scurrying to compile class-action lawsuit briefs as I type this.