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October 24. 2007
PageA7
H ealth MATTERS
D rug Injection R oom C onsidered
To prevent deaths from overdoses
A man gives himself a dose of heroin in an injection room under
the supervision of medical workers in Frankfurt, Germany. In San
Francisco, city health officials have taken the first steps towards
opening a similar legal facility to combat a high rate o f drug
overdoses. (AP photo)
(AP) - San Francisco city health
officials have taken steps toward
opening the nation's first legal safe-
injection room, where addicts could
shoot up heroin, cocaine and other
drugs u nder the supervision of
nurses.
H o p in g
to
re d u c e
San
F rancisco's high rate o f fatal drug
overdoses, the public health de­
partm ent co-sponsored a sym po­
sium last week on the only such
facility in North A m erica, a four-
year-old Vancouver, B.C. site where
an estim ated 700 intravenous users
a day self-adm inister narcotics un­
der the supervision o f nurses.
O rganizers o f the daylong fo­
rum, which also included a coali­
tion o f nonprofit health and social-
service groups, acknow ledge that
it could take years to get an injec­
tion center up and running. Along
with legal hurdles at the state and
federal level, such an effort would
be alm ost sure to face political o p ­
position.
Sixty-five sim ilar facilities exist
in 27 cities in eight countries, but no
other U.S. cities have considered
creating one, according to Hilary
M cQuie, W estern director for the
Harm Reduction Coalition, a non­
profit that promotes alternative drug
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It’s time to take
precautions
Yoga for R elaxation -- W ednesdays, beginning
Oct. 3 1, from 5 : 15 p.m. to 6 :3 0 p .m . learn the centu­
ries-old techniques o f deep breathing and stretch­
ing to reduce stress levels, and im prove your sense
o f w ell-being in this six w eek class series ($49 fee);
to register cal 1503-574-6595.
Body Rasies — This physician-recom m ended class
is appropriate for all ages and health conditions.
Plan to attend one session and learn safe exercise
guidelines, including stretching; for scheduling
and registration cal 1503-256-4000.
Breast Health -- T hursday. Oct. 25, from 7 p.m. to
9 p.m., W om en o f all ages are invited to attend this
free sem inar to educate w om en on the im portance
or early detection and how to recognize problem s;
to register contact 503-335-3500.
Senior A erobics -- A low -im pact w orkout geared
specifically toward seniors; call 503-449-0783 for
current schedule.
Leg Alert S creen in g—Check for peripheral arterial
disease with this safe, sim ple screening using ankle
and arm blood pressure; fee $40, to schedule an
appointment cal 1503-251 - 6 137.
O steoporosis Screening — An ultrasound bone
density screening with personalized education; fee
$30, to schedule an appointm ent call 5 0 3-261 -6 6 11.
Stroke Alert Screening - C heck your carotid
arteries w ith a painless ultrasound to assess your
risk; fee $40. to schedule a screening call 503-251 -
6137.
Rock Against D iabetes N W — Saturday. Nov. 10,
from noon to 10 p.m., M cM enam in's Kennedy
School, 5736 N.E. 33, will host the concert to benefit
SPINACOLUMN
An ongoing series of questions and answers about Americas natural healing profession
Dr. Billy R. Flowers
W inter is just around the com er
and it's tim e to start thinking about
precautions to stay healthy during
the dreaded flu season.
The Portland Clinic has some
advise on who needs the flu shot
the m ost and offers tips to staying
healthy and dodging the flu this
season:
A ccording to the U.S. Centers National Institute of Health employee Wayne Randolph gets his
for D isease Control and Prevention flu vaccine shot from nurse manager Angela Porter.
total flu vaccines are up to 132 shot, the Portland C linic reco m ­ stay hom e from work, school, and
m illion doses from last y ear’s 120 m ends the follow ing to help m ain­ other activities w hen you feel run
million doses and am ple supplies tain a healthy body during the w in­ dow n. It is im portant to avoid ex ­
will be available this year. A nyone ter season:
posing yourself to further germ s
who wants to avoid getting the flu
1. W ash your hands. Frequent and bacteria in addition to helping
should be vaccinated.
hand w ashing is a m ust as viruses prevent others from catching your
T h ere are several groups o f and bacteria can live for hours on illness.
people w here getting vaccinated is surfaces touched by an infected
4. G et adequate sleep and relax­
specifically recom m ended. Those person. W ash your hands in warm ation. Y our body is more vulner­
include children between the ages w ater with soap for 10-15 seconds able to illness when you are run
o f six m onths and five years old; and dry with disposable paper tow ­ down and short on sleep. It is
people with diabetes, asthm a, heart els.
im portant to get plenty o f rest so
diseases, kidney diseases, w eak­
2. Eat sm art and exercise a little take tim e to relax and unw ind at the
ened im m une system , sickle-cell bit everyday. Eating healthy foods end o f the day.
anem ia and other blood diseases, with lots o f vitam ins, like colorful
5. Keep your house disinfected.
and other chronic illnesses; preg­ fruits and vegetables, w hole grains Use germ -killing cleaning products
nant w omen; and people w ho live and yogurt will keep you staying such as Lysol, bleach or boiling
or work with high-risk people such healthy as well as staying hydrated w ater to disinfect the house regu­
as medical professionals, nursing and keeping your system flushed larly. W ipe dow n phones, co m ­
hom e and day care personnel, fam ­ out. Exercise increases the body’s p u te r k e y b o a r d /m o u s e , d o o r
ily m em bers o f high-risk people, or virus-killing cells. A lso try exercis­ h an d les, toys, c o u n terto p s and
th o se th a t liv e w ith c h ild re n ing outdoors as the fresh air re­ other com m on surfaces. A nother
younger than six m onths old (who m oves you from dehydrating in­ good rule o f thum b is to keep hands
cannot get the im m unization them ­ door heating system s and recircu­ below the neck w henever possible
selves) and people 50 years o f age lated, germ y air.
and avoid to uching y o u r eyes,
and older.
3. If you are feeling under the nose and mouth especially when
In addition to getting the flu w eather, stay home. If possible. around someone who is feeling sick.
Polycystic O vary Syndrom e -- T hursday. Oct. 25,
from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.; acne, facial hair, menstrual
problem s, infertility and difficulty losing w eight
may be early w arning signs o f Polycystic O vary
Syndrom. T o register for this free sem inar in
Beaverton, contact 503-221-0161, extension 2254.
gram is on the upper floor o f a low-
rise building in a dow ntow n neigh­
borhood w here drug users shoot
up in the open.
The site, exem pt from federal
drug laws so users can visit w ith­
out fear o f arrest, has 12 private
booths where addicts inject drugs
such as heroin, cocaine or crystal.
They can use equipm ent and tech­
niques provided by the staff, and
then relax with a cup o f coffee or get
m edical attention in the “chill out”
room w here they are observed, said
program coordinator Sarah Evans.
W hile 800 overdoses have o c­
curred on the prem ises, none re­
sulted in death because o f the m edi­
cal supervision provided at InSite.
____________ THE_____________
Tips on A voiding the Flu
H ealth W atch
treatm ent methods.
D rug o v e rd o se s rep rese n ted
about one o f every seven em er­
gency calls handled by city p ara­
m edics betw een July 2006 and July
2007, according to San Francisco
F ire D e p a rtm e n t C a p t. N ie ls
Tangherlini.
Colfax estim ated that there are
between 11,(MX)and 15,(XX) intrave­
nous drug users in San Francisco,
m ost o f them hom eless men. Like
m any large U.S. cities, the city o p ­
erates aclean-needle exchange pro­
gram to reduce HIV and hepatitis C
infections.
W hile it’s too early to tell what
the room in San Francisco would
look like, V ancouver’s InSite pro-
Part 9. Low Back Surgery:
The unkindest and most unnecessary cut of all.
: Should I try chiropractic sive hospital bills. W ith C hiroprac­
for m y low back pain or tic, the only side effects are the
have surgery and get it "fixed
disappearance o f sym ptom s and
the recurrence o f vitality.
right?”
: W hich technique has
: W e hear this question quite
better results for low back
often and considering many
physicians' pro-surgery preoccu­ lems. Chiropractic or
pation, it’s no w onder people ask surgery?
: A cco rd in g to a recen t issue
such questions. T hat is, until they
o f C o m p u ter M edicine, low
exam ine the facts. The truth is that
' back su rg ery is on e o f the
in about 90% o f low back pain, the
Q
A
you m ake any d ecisio n , heed
the ad vice o f the “ fath e r” o f low
back surgery: “exhaust all m eth ­
ods o f co n serv ativ e care before
co n sid erin g su rg ery to the lu m ­
bar (low back) sp in e .” T o find
o ut how C h iro p ractic can help
you avoid back su rg ery , or fo r
an sw ers to any q u estio n s you
m ight have ab o u t y o u r health ,
least
p lease call us at the p hone n u m ­
effectiv e p ro ced u res. In fact, 75 ber d isp lay ed below .
to 99% are u n su ccessfu l. B efore
2
A
problem is mechanical. Chiroprac­
tic has had and continues to have
the best technique for treating
sp in a l m e c h a n ic a l p ro b le m s
through gentle, exact adjustm ent
with highly skilled hands. And
C hiropractic requires no drugs,
surgery, recuperation or expen-
Flowers' Chiropractic Office
2124 NE Hancock,
Portland Oregon 97212
Phone: (503) 287-5504
BEWARE
Juvenile D iabetes Research foundation; $20 dona­
tion at the door. Visit rockagainstdiabetes.net to
learn more.
W hy A m I So Tired: W om en and Fatigue - T ues­
day, Nov. 13. from 7 p.m. to 8 :3 0 p.m .,expert will be
discussing w ays for w om en to com bat fatigue and
w hat m aybe causing it; to register cal 150-574-6595.
C ervical and Breast C ancer Screening -- Begin­
ning Friday, Nov. 16, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., w omen
with or w ithout insurance are eligible for this free
screening program to prom ote early detection and
healthier living. T o schedule an appointm ent (re-
quired)call 503-346-1212.
Prepared C hildbirth--Sundays,beginningO ct. 28,
from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., this six week series prepares
new parents for labor; optional breast feeding semi-
naravailable ($30).. Six week series fee $85 percouple
(includes lunch); to registercall 503-256-4000.
Birthing N aturally - T hursday, O ct. 25 begins the
six-w eek series for couples w anting to experience
natural childbirth. Fee $80 percouple. Register early
«503-256-4000.
P a re n tin g Classes -- N ew borns d o n ’t com e with
instruction m anuals but parents and parents-to-be
can learn about a variety o f topics from pain and
childbirth to breastfeeding to infant CPR and much
more. For a schedule o f events, call 503-574-6595 or
visit: providence.org/classes.
Aerobics and M ore - For a healthy body you need a
complete body workout; including aerobics, Pilates
and more designed for all ages. Call Cathey at Adventist
Medical Center, 503-449-4000, fora schedule.
There’s a
50 children
problems,
behavioral
in many toys - lead. Lead poisons one out of every
in Multnomah County every year causing serious health
Even low levels of lead can cause permanent IQ loss,
and learning disabilities.
But the bigger danger to childrens’ health is lead-based house paint. This bad
dog has been banned for 30 years, but still present in many older homes.
Lead Safe Families Coalition is Sponsoring
LEAD SAFE PORTLAND
Sunday, October 2 8 ,2 0 0 7 , Noon - 2 p.m.
M att Dishman Community Center, 77 NE Knott Street
Bereavem ent Support -- A bereavem ent support
group m eets each 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, from 10
a.m .to 11:30 a.m .T o leam more, cal 15 0 3 -2 5 1 -6 192,
extension 5670.
Free lead screening for toys • Free blood lead testing
Cancer Resource Center -- Providence St. Vincent
Medical Center and the American Red Cross have
joined forces to create the first in-hospital resource
center providing books, printed material and com ­
puter access for those dealing with cancer. The center
is open M onday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Free food, crafts and much more! For information,
call the LeadLine at 503-988-4000.
LEAD-FREE TOY GIVE-A-WAY
Multnomah County Health Oept., Portland Development Commission, OR Dept. of Human Services,
Josiah Hill III Clinic, Portland Water Bureau, Community Alliance of Tenants, Community Energy Project