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The Corroboree
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-RC-

Xmas Cheer Straight From the Mouth of Wodak

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I am no puritan, and have drunk a shitload in my life. People often think I am anti-alcohol because of my website, but I'm not. I believe any adult should be able to use any drug they like. Do what you want as long as nobody else gets hurt.

 

I am a teacher and therefore I think people need to be educated about alcohol, particularly in Australia, because my observations and experience has shown that we have no fucking idea what it does to you, in terms of harm, and we have been seduced into not even caring that we don't.

 

Dr Alex Wodak is no puritan either. In fact he's got to be one of the most sensible, pro harm-reduction docs out there. Here's what he reckons about grog:

 

What we now know is that alcohol consumption can never be justified on health grounds. Our understanding of its harms is all too clear — it is not a question of 'if' but a question of 'how much'.

"The relationship between how much alcohol and how much harm differs for different kinds of harm," Dr Wodak said.

"In some cases it seems to be linear, that is 'x' amount of drinking equals 'y' amount of harm, '2x' amount of drinking equals '2y' amount of harm."

But in other cases, particularly heart disease, the risk associated with alcohol increases exponentially, so doubling your alcohol intake does a far greater amount of damage to the heart.

Similarly for the liver — which the French are credited with abusing by steady, regular alcohol intake — alcohol-induced cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, cannot be undone and eventually leads to liver failure.

Long-term heavy alcohol consumption is also linked to an increased risk of cancer of the mouth, bowel, liver, prostate and breast.

The brain also suffers from heavy regular alcohol consumption, although it can be difficult to separate the harm caused by alcohol from the harm caused by other behaviours and lifestyle factors that often go hand-in-hand with regular excessive drinking.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2015-12-01/is-binge-drinking-worse-for-your-health-than-drinking-every-day/6986912?section=health

 

Heading into the festive season maybe stop and have a think about what's so festive about hangovers and liver failure aye? It's not a question of if it will happen, but when you've killed of heaps of brain cells you ostensibly will find it difficult to ask any questions any more. Just because loads of people will want YOU to drink because they are doesn't mean you have to, and just because there is a celebration going on doesn't mean you need to get shit-faced because you're an Aussie and it's "What we do!". Going 'slow' doesn't matter to your organs either, they're still getting smashed..

 

Enjoy your christmas, and any bevvies, but if you read this, try and remember. You know now, so use your education wisely.

 

Love, your Nanny,

RC.

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Yeah, but it's too bad that capitalism trumps common sense.

 

I've been hearing reports of bottle shops being allowed to extend trading hours and lockout laws that were having a dramatic impact on violence and alcohol related injuries/hospital admittances being relaxed as well.

 

From big brothers' perspective there's just too many fools waiting to be separated from their money to put any controls on the liquor supply, especially at this time of year. Governments are addicted to the tax revenue from sales and any casualties seem to be OK for them as long as the money keeps rolling in.

Edited by Sallubrious
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Hey RC,

while I don't disagree with your sentiments, I just want to point out that alcohol DOES NOT kill brain cells. It's just another common brain myth.  How do I know? I'm studying neuroscience and wrote an essay on the topic. I carried out a fairly extensive research of the literature, and in scientific circles, it is widely known as a completely groundless myth. It does limit dendritic branching though, and yes, it's definitely bad for the human body on the whole.

 

Basically, point I'm trying to make - if you think you know something about the brain, then do some research, because your most likely believing yet another myth.

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Indeed.

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I'm conflicted.

 

I haven't had a drink for 4 months and am looking forward to having 6 to 8 very hoppy beers on Christmas.

 

I know it's not healthy and I shouldn't but that won't stop me because I value getting a little pissed and rambling on about nothing in particular.

 

It's probably the delay between action and consequence but I can't bring myself to always do the right thing for my 70 year old self.

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I haven't been without a drink for 6 months or more. I was drinking 2 bottles or more of vino every night for a quite a while. I've cut down to half a bottle of vodka every night and I feel heaps better for it. I know it's not healthy but I reckon I'd be heaps worse if I let them keep upping the dose for the oxy's they were giving me for my back pain.

I'm just hoping 3D bioprinted livers hit the shelves before mine packs it in.

Edited by Sallubrious
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Hey @Cubism, Id love to read your essay if your happy to share it via Pm, sounds super interesting. :)

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Hey @Cubism, Id love to read your essay if your happy to share it via Pm, sounds super interesting. :)

Thx for the interest mate but it was from 1st year, the writing quality was pretty crap, and I didn't keep it coz now it's all just lab reports.  I go through phases where I just delete everything I no longer need, and usually end up regretting it (gotta love being bipolar 2 and hypomania haha).

To sum it up, drinking (excessively) is bad for your brain, it reduces the number of dendritic spines and reduces dendritic branching in general.  So impairs but doesn't kill neurons.  

I got no issue with drinking, everything in moderation eh.  I'm just a bit anal retentive about brain myths :)

And as I have pancreatitis, cant drink anymore....so probably a bit jealous too.

 

 

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