It’s Thursday night and this week’s New Canaan Parent Support Group meeting just wrapped. I’m sitting here thinking about how many of us tend to say, “I’m sorry” or temper our frustrations and sometimes even our joys when we share. I second guess myself constantly. I wonder if my sharing how my son and I are in a good place, …
I’m grateful to the CT Post for publishing an op-ed I wrote on public health safeguards for marijuana legalization. I have sent to politicians in Hartford, and can only hope they read it! 3 PUBLIC HEALTH STEPS NEEDED TO LEGALIZE ADULT-USE CANNABIS On July 15, 2015, my world was changed forever. My beloved son Evan went to heaven. He died …
Dr. Cyril D’Souza’s April 14 presentation on Cannabis Use & Addiction was informative and captivating. He presented a number of facts, based in large part on research studies he has conducted himself. As a Professor and Researcher at the Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. D’Souza has received NIH funding for studies out of New Haven that have received national …
By Cappy Waters “You never know how strong you can be, Until strong is all you can be” Starting with his birth and childhood, my son Scotty possessed a charismatic personality, along with athletic prowess, curiosity, confidence and kindness. Always the extreme risk-taker, he pushed the proverbial envelope to the max. Maybe this was an early warning sign of what …
Today is the first day of National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, and it is appropriate that we use this day to review our last community event with Ken Winters, PhD called The Developing Brain and THC. Ken’s presentation was in three parts: 1) brain development; 2) addiction and 3) cannabis/THC. Key points included: The limbic system of the …
Back in 2018, we were honored to host Ruth Potee, MD’s talk about the adolescent brain. She gave a provocative presentation—defining addiction as a pediatric disease. The reason: first use of substances usually begins in the teen years, when the reward system of the brain is more vulnerable to “hijacking”. In a worthy follow-up to that session, I’m excited to …
On Friday, February 26th the Judiciary Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) conducted a Public Hearing on non-medical marijuana legalization, specifically on the Governor’s Bill SB-888: An Act Responsibly and Equitably Regulating Adult-Use Cannabis. The testimony and Q&A went on for over 12 hours, given over 130 people signed up to testify. This was an opportunity for me to …
Poor timing: During the week, the Governor’s Office released the Governor’s two-year budget that did not include big tax or spending increases. However, he decided to include a provision to legalize “recreational” cannabis. Because of public health risks due to COVID, increased mental stress especially among our young adults, and peak levels of drug overdoses–this is the worst time to …
On our 26th wedding anniversary, my husband Rich answered the phone and it was the Norwalk Police Department. Our son Adam had been arrested for possession of heroin. We both were in complete shock! Thus, my journey into the world of addiction began. Heroin, I had foolishly believed, was the drug choice of junkies and homeless people—not a well-adjusted kid from Wilton. Here I …
Weed, Inc: The Science Behind Today’s Marijuana took place last Wednesday, January 13 on Zoom. We had more than 220 attendees including many New Canaan High School sophomores and their health class teachers. Ben Cort, author, TED Talk speaker, and addiction recovery advocate, told us the shocking truth about potency of today’s marijuana products. He detailed the criteria for cannabis …
