Posts by Neil
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Hard News: An unhelpful column about cannabis, in reply to Russell Brown,
Can’t disagree with any of that!
Must be losing my touch.
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Another well written piece on harm reduction.
One thing I’d like to add re mental health is there needs to be more action rather than words from the government on funding for acute mental health.
For a small number of people marijuana will cause a transient psychotic episode that will resolve over a period of time. For another group of people who have a preexisting psychosis marijuana will either cause a relapse or make symptoms worse.
The numbers a small relative to overall use but for those affected it’s a significant risk that can lead to the need for acute inpatient care and treatment.
However the current government has continued the defunding of acute mental health by stealth that has occurred over the psst 30 years. Bed and staff numbers have not kept pace with population growth and increasing acuity.
It’s expensive and does not play well with the anti-psychiatry lobby but it’s an essential part of making harm reduction work.
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Hard News: Cannabis research: there's a…, in reply to Rob Stowell,
I think psychosis rather than mood disorder, which makes sense in terms of its propensity to cause paranoia.
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Hard News: Together Alone, in reply to BenWilson,
But I don’t think this is the thread for such a discussion, TBH. I’m not even sure this is the site.
Yes, I don’t have any other social media venues to express thoughts, but fair point.
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Hard News: Together Alone, in reply to Shep Cheyenne,
There’s certainly some not particularly good arguments at present for an early end to lockdown but some of the arguments are worth considering, they are appear to be in good faith.
I support the lockdown and would support its extension if that is the best option.
I do though recall that Michael Baker was being dismissed as a mere agitator in the two weeks prior to the lockdown for advocating going sooner to lockdown rather than later.
Perhaps his medical background influenced that view - in comparison to other prominent scientists with a media presence who were arguing a slower paced response.
First hand experience of hospitals and real life infection control might be a factor in some differences of opinion.
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Hard News: Together Alone, in reply to Shep Cheyenne,
I was interested in what he had to say, not in complete agreement, but a viewpoint worth hearing.
I’d be keen to see if there’s a broad difference of opinion among epidemiologists based on if they came through via a maths or medicine background.
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Hard News: Together Alone, in reply to Trevor Nicholls,
Only a few percent of the population think the government has gone too far.
I think it’s possible to consider the demands for more action quicker are reasonable and to understand the government can’t act instantaneously.
Part of the delay process to some decisions has been to allow time to get public opinion onside.
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I think the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition are playing their respective parts quite well.
The government has wanted to introduce quite draconian limits on individual freedom. What better support than the party of individual freedoms demanding it be done quicker.
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Hard News: Together Alone, in reply to Paul Campbell,
Have had lots of disagreements with RB but he’s always been a voice of clarity. Much needed now. Will definitely support.
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When i was young I spent quite a few years overseas. Deciding to come back I went to the NZ embassy in Paris. Sat down to wait and saw besides me a pile of Listeners.
For some reason that particular memory has always remained vivid.