Klarinet Archive - Posting 000598.txt from 2004/08

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] [OT] Insurance
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 10:08:18 -0400


> >who make themselves sick (through substance abuse, for instance, or
> >high-risk activities) should be supported by the healthy.

I really think one must be very careful here and to be aware that the
propensity or predisposition to become an alcoholic or substance abuser =
is
genetically based. It is easy for someone who has never been addicted =
to a
substance before to believe that all people have complete control over =
their
substance abuse but it's simply not true. My own personal experience =
with
nicotine addiction is an example. I quit smoking over 10 years ago but =
it
was probably the hardest thing I've ever done. =20
It's also important to understand that the stigma associated with =
mental
health disorders prevents many from being tested and treated for those
disorders. Access to mental health care for the poor is also a problem =
and
many of those people who never get the proper diagnosis and treatment at =
an
early age end up self-medicating with alcohol or illegal substances. =20
It is well known that teenagers with undiagnosed mental health =
problems
like ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, etc.... are far more likely =
than
other teens to experiment with alcohol or illegal drugs. People have =
been
self-medicating various disorders for thousands of years. Caffeine is =
one
of the most commonly used drugs there is but it's socially acceptable =
and
legal so we think nothing of it. =20
I also think that people with weight issues, for example, often have
other disorders that are either undiagnosed and/or untreated. It would =
be
very difficult for any of us to say whether someone was truly putting
themselves at risk by their own behavior. I will agree that I resent =
having
to cover the costs of smokers who refuse to quit-especially with all the
stop smoking aids we have available today. I want to scream when I see
pregnant women smoking or hear of them taking drugs. I suppose I also =
don't
think it's appropriate for me to have to cover the costs for someone who
chooses to go sky diving and has a bad accident but where do we draw the
line and who would decide what behavior is OK and what isn't? Do we =
send
out "health police" and monitor the eating and exercise habits of the
population? =20
I can see our family now while we watch TV and eat our potato chips.
Suddenly there is a knock on the door and someone shouts, "Exercise =
police!"
Before answering the door, we turn the TV off, hide the chips and hop on =
the
treadmill. Of course, we have already made sure to don our exercise =
apparel
to watch TV in, just in case the police should show up at the door. We =
of
course, keep a spray bottle handy to dampen our clothing to give the
appearance of sweat on our skin. Now, I fell compelled to do my =
workout.
Talk to you later! Christy =20

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