The Seedling

Working as a crisis counselor in the mental health field, I am well aware of the rampant prescription drug abuse occurring in our communities. In particular, teenagers are buying and selling drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin on school campuses to get high. Of course I want this trend to cease. But I am not sure I like the way Arizona is going about it. If you have a script for meds such as OxyContin, Amben or Vicodin, then once you fill it your name and other info is put into a tracking system. Then a doctor or pharmacist can look up patients to see when they last had a scripts filled for prescription meds such as Ambien and Vicodin to see if the patient is “doctor shopping.” I think this is a privacy issue and makes me very uncomfortable.

Scott sent me the link to this interview with Barack Obama and I must say it is worth reading. It is not the typical interview. Instead of asking about the economic crisis, war in Iraq or health care, this interview focuses on pop culture. In particular its goal is to find out about Barack the man- who watches TV and listens to music just like we all do.

Let’s review:

1. You own a gun.
2. You carry the gun in YOUR POCKET.
3. Gun falls out of said pocket.
4. Gun discharges.
5. Bullet strikes YOUR OWN CHILD.

Can we say IDIOT!

The State of Arizona wants to close 8 of our state parks because of budget issues. And the Director gets an 11% salary increase? Wha..wha..what? Are you kidding me? Where is the logic is this? If someone can explain it to me, I’m all ears.

A 49 year old teacher in Phoenix says she lured a 14 year old boy to a hotel room and slept with him to prevent him from sleeping with her goddaughter.

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the ground.

Are you kidding me?

How cold we not have figured THAT one out right away? I mean isn’t that the first thought any of us would have if we thought a boy might want to sleep with a young girl?

I can’t even fathom this thought process. Hmm… I think I may ave gone to the girls parents and said something. Just an idea.

Welcome to the world of a sex offender lady!

I don’t think anybody ever thought chlorine was a good thing.  But most of us probably thought it was a necessity.  I actually refuse to use bleach when doing my laundry and I have minimized cleaning products in my house that have bleach or chlorine. For cleaning and doing dishes I instead try to use brands such as Method and Seventh Generation.  I also utilize Clorox Green Works.

One thing I have not thought about is bleached paper.  I think I am currently using bleached coffee filters, which after reading this article from Care2, I am now in fear off.  But I hate to waste things so I will probably continue to use them and then once gone, buy unbleached filters.

It really is ridiculous to be reaching near record temps in the first week of February.  Where is our winter?  80 degee weather is just not cool.  No pun intended.  Maybe I’ll blame the weather on why I am sick right now.  Yep.  It’s the weathers fault.   When it is 80 this early in the year, I get nervous.  I DO NOT want to see 100 before May.

Scott’s boss, Brian, was able to get Scott and his coworkers tickets to the silver standing area for the inauguration. As you can see by the above map, it was a distance from the capital but still so very worth it. He had a blast and took lots of video of the crowd. I am still amazed he was there and can tell our future children and grandchildren he was there. And then explain why I wasn’t. ;-(

On azcentral today there was another negative story about the way Magellan is running the mental health system in Maricopa County. This time the focus is on the Urgent Psychiatric Care Center (UPC) at 2nd St and Roosevelt.

In my job as a crisis counselor in the county, I frequently have contact with UPC as we bring clients there for emergency mental health treatment. We have known for years that this has not been a well oiled machine but with Magellan taking over those of us in the field thought we’d see positive changes. According to the article, this is not happening.

An audit has found that UPC is not placing clients who are there for more than the initial 23 hours into inpatient beds, even when they have inpatient beds available. This is ridiculous. There is no reason to not provide proper care to clients in need of help. UPC was also found to not provide the proper documentation and treatment plans, as directed in the contract with the state.

It is disturbing that I am not shocked by the findings as, like I said, as a crisis worker I frequently have to utilize this facility in order to help clients. And it is not a facility that is customer friendly. I hope these recent audits and findings make enough waves to make REAL changes in our system. Only time will tell.

This is an amazing idea. It is a portable shelter for homeless people. It attaches to their shopping carts and provides a covered, weather resistant place for them to sleep, or at least stay out of the conditions. And it folds up easy enough for it to be taken wherever the person goes. This is a wonderful idea and I hope it become available every where. Phoenix could use this in the summer time when the sun is way to strong to be outside uncovered. I know some people may say that this will only promote being homeless, but I totally disagree. Just like everything else, if people want to be homeless they will be homeless regardless of a shelter. For people who want a different lifestyle this shelter will only aide in them remaining safe until they can get their life on track.

Thanks to Scott for sending me the ink to this story.