Strollerderby : substance abuse

Substance Abuse Causes Cosleeping!

Miriam Axel-Lute — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:45:00 GMT

The ridiculous things that get spouted about cosleeping just keep getting more ridiculous.

This quote from a Ft. Myer, Florida, newspaper really takes the cake though:

"Substance abuse is the leading factor in the harm caused to children. It's been linked to abuse and neglect, such as the cases of co-sleeping - where parents or other relatives sleep with children - which has led to infants suffocating."

OK, let's break this down:

Cosleeping while abusing drugs or alcohol is dangerous. Absolutely, no question, no argument.

But saying substance abuse leads to "cases of cosleeping, which has led to infants suffocating" is like saying irresponsible drinking causes cases of driving, which has led to fatal car crashes. It's nonsense that implies it's sleeping next to an adult, not the drugs (or anything else about the context), that's dangerous.

Safe sleeping depends on all kinds of things. Bedsharing can be safe. Cribs can be unsafe. And vice versa. The search for the universal right answer keeps us from making both safer and identifying when is the right time for each.

Photo by matsuyki.

Pregnant Binge Drinker Faces No Criminal Charges

Hannah Tennant-Moore — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:45:00 GMT

If there’s anything sadder than domestic violence, it’s domestic violence involving a pregnant woman and an insane quantity of booze. Last week, New Zealand police, responding to a 4 a.m. domestic violence complaint, found a heavily intoxicated woman whose partner had hit her over the head with a bottle. She was nine months pregnant, and had been drinking with her partner for eight hours straight.

The man was imprisoned on assault charges, but police were uncertain about how to deal with the mother-to-be. They considered bringing charges against her for endangering her child by binge drinking, but ultimately decided to refer the case to Child, Youth, and Family—largely because maternal substance abuse is not explicitly outlawed. In some rare cases, pregnant drinkers have been charged with attempted fetal homicide, but New Zealand, like the United States, does not criminalize the simple act of drinking while pregnant.

This recent case has New Zealand police hoping to change that. Detectives involved in the case have called for legislation banning maternal substance abuse, believing that's the best way to stop addicted mothers-to-be from endangering their fetuses. But others feel that throwing pregnant women in jail is not the answer. Furthermore, legislating pregnant women's behavior could be a slippery slope. While many pregnant women feel comfortable having a daily drink, others would never consider consuming even a drop of wine.

What do you think? Should drinking while pregnant be against the law?

Photo: The Daily Mail

Cindy Brady Pukes During Radio Interview

Madeline Holler — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:02:00 GMT

Today, I lost my innocence.

CNN is reporting that Susan Olsen, whom the rest of us call Cindy Brady, interrupted an early morning radio interview by covering her mouth, rolling back her chair and heading out the door to go puke. Reason? Hangover.

Mercifully, she made it to the bathroom. Curiously, her 10-year-old son witnessed the whole thing. And sadly, Cindy (Susan, fine, whatever!) looks like shit.

Happily, however, she retains a bit of the lisp, which actually winds up disconcerting as she defends herself to the camera -- "At leathhht I made it to the bathroom!" and "Thhho I had too much wine!" (followed by "I don't drink!" Huh?) and finally, bringing it all around to her kid, "Hey! Thithh is how they learn!" Indeed! (Wait, what's he learning?)

Watch the video here.

The annoying DJ, interviewed after the unexpected intermission, acts all caught off guard and widens his eyes just a little too much. No word on what they were discussing and why she was on the show but she's probably going to book a few more interviews in the coming days.

Barfy talk, barfy talk, it's a wonder you can walk.

(And the grown-up, cleaned-up, likely not hungover Olsen, here with son - who looks a lot like Cindy Brady, no?)

Rich or Rehab: What's Happening With Dee From 'What's Happening!!'?

Photo: bradybunchshrine.com,

Kids Listen To Music Full of Drug References

Kelly Mills — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:37:00 GMT

When I was a kid, I wasn't allowed to listen to the radio. (Yes, I essentially lived Footloose, people.) Even as a kid I remember thinking this was dumb--I mean, if I sang "Seduce me tonight" from the Flashdance soundtrack, it wasn't like I really meant it, I just liked the song. I thought of this when I paused, hearing my six-year-old warble, "Don't you wish your girlfriend was a freak like me" the other day. But perhaps I ought to be listening harder for the drugs, man.

A new study found that a third of popular American songs today have references to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and two-thirds of those are positive references, associating substances with good times. Oh yeah, and rap was number one in this, and country was number two. In fact, the lead author says, "It's not going to be feasible or even desirable to censor these messages. Probably a more empowering approach is to teach kids to analyze and evaluate the messages for themselves." So there you go. Talk to your kids, don't go Footloose. You heard it hear first.

By the way, are you worried?