Three Things You Should Know About the Medical World... This week

                                    Advances and Risks

Technology Helping the Paralyzed
By: Sam B



What if one day you were suddenly able to move your legs again after years not being able to move anything below your chest? At the University of Louisville a man named Calven Goza was given another chance. 2 1/2 years ago he got in an accident with a drunken driver but on December 5th he became one of the first study subjects to receive new therapy to help move his legs. Scientist hooked him up with wires and used electricity jolts that went to his spine to help him try to move something as little as his toe. They decided to try something like making the voltage bigger. When they did that he was able to move his toe. After configurations with the voltage again Goza was able to bend his knee. Even though this technology isnt able to make his walk again this is a huge step in the research of helping paralyzed people.

This could effect our lives because more and more every year people are getting in accidents with drunk drivers. This could happen to you or someone you know and they may be paralyzed. With this new technology you or your loved one can have a little more hope because they are one step closer to finding a way for parlayed people to walk again.

Alcohol Kills 6 Americans a Day
by:Sam B



About 6 Americans die a day from consuming to much alcohol. The CDC reports that in a full year, the toll from fatal intoxication passes is 2,220. Binge drinking accounts for most of these deaths however the vast majority of these cases don't involve college kids, the group that is most often associated with binge drinking. The CDC reports that it is middle-age white males. 75% of the 2,220 deaths occur to adults between the ages of 35-64. Binge drinking is drinking enough to bring the BAC or blood alcohol content to 0.08%, which puts drivers past the legal limit in all states.

This could effect our lives because as we all get older and we reach that drink age we must be careful. Alcohol is a very dangerous thing when not used appropriately. If we aren't careful now we could be one of the next victims.

E-Joints Encourage Addiction
by: Sam B



E-joints contain no nicotine, Instead most contain 250 milligrams of cannabis oil loaded with THC. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. With the introduction of the "Ju-Ju Joints" 75,000 have been sold in Washington alone. Estimated 500,000 will be sold by the end of the year. Where the THC effects the developing brain, researchers are afraid of the addiction effects that it will have on teenagers. Each joint is $65-$100 and purchasers must be at least 21. The legal age to buy these are 21, and now the Law enforcement is concerned with the number of teenagers that they have found abusing this product. With studies showing 40,000 teenagers abuse these joints law enforcement is getting ready to try and stop this problem.

This could effect our lives because with so many teenagers abusing this we may be peer pressured into trying it. Teens need to realize how addictive this is and how it can effect us and how we can get in a lot of trouble having one because we are not over 21.