February 16. 2011
Portland Observer Black History Month
H ealth mattfrs
Alcohol’s Risk Factors Grow Worldwide
Kills more than AIDS, TB or violence
(AP) — Alcohol causes nearly 4
percent of deaths worldwide, more
than AIDS, tuberculosis or violence,
the W orld Health O rganization
warned on Friday.
in Brazil, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Rus-
sia. South Africa and Ukraine, and
rising elsewhere, according to the
WHO.
"Worldwide, about 11 percent of
Muslim populations often abstain Some is toxic
Light to moderate drinking can
from drinking.
In France and other European have a beneficial impact on heart
Homemade or illegally produced countries with high levels of adult disease and stroke, according to the
alcohol — falling outside govern­ per capita consumption, heavy epi­ WHO. "However, the beneficial
mental controls and tax nets - ac­ sodic drinking is rather low, sug­ cardio-protective effect of drinking
counts for nearly 30 percent of total gesting more regular but moderate disappears with heavy drinking
w orldw ide adult consum ption. drinking patterns.
occasions," it said.
We honor Black History month and
the many accomplishments of
African Americans.
It is our primary goal as a labor union to better
the lives of all people working in the building
trades through advocacy, civil demonstration,
and the long-held belief that workers deserve
a “family wage” - fair pay for an honest day’s
work.
Rising incomes in heavily populated countries have triggered
more drinking, yet alcohol control policies remain a low priority for
most governments.
Rising incomes have triggered
more drinking in heavily populated
countries in Africa and Asia, in­
cluding India and South Africa, and
binge drinking is a problem in many
developed countries, the United
Nations agency said.
Yet alcohol control policies are
weak and remain a low priority for
most governments despite drinking's
heavy toll on society from road acci­
dents, violence, disease, child ne­
glect and job absenteeism, it said.
Approximately 2.5 million people
die each year from alcohol related
causes, the WHO said in its "Global
Status Report on A lcohol and
Health."
"The harmful use of alcohol is
especially fatal for younger age
groups and alcohol is the world's
leading risk factor for death among
males aged 15-59," the report found.
In Russia and the Commonwealth
of Independent States, every fifth
death is due to harmful drinking, the
highest rate.
Binge drinking, which often leads
to risky behavior, is now prevalent
drinkers have weekly heavy epi­
sodic drinking occasions, with men
outnumbering women by four to
one. Men consistently engage in
hazardous drinking at much higher
levels than women in all regions,"
the report said.
Alcohol is a causal factor in 60
types of diseases and injuries, ac­
cording to WHO's first report on
alcohol since 2004.
Its consumption has been linked
to cirrhosis of the liver, epilepsy,
poisonings, road traffic accidents,
violence, and several types of can­
cer, inclu d in g can cers o f the
colorectum, breast, larynx and liver.
"Six or seven years ago we didn't
have strong evidence of a causal
relationship between drinking and
breast cancer. Now we do," Vladimir
Poznyak, head of WHO's substance
abuse unit who coordinated the re­
port, told Reuters.
Alcohol consumption rates vary
greatly, from high levels in devel­
oped countries, to the lowest in
North Africa, sub-Saharan Africa,
and southern Asia, whose large
Test Gets Syphillis Cases Wrong
(AP) - Hundreds of people may
have been told they tested posi­
tive for syphilis when they didn't
actually have the disease, health
officials say.
A study of five U.S. labs shows
about 18 percent of the positive
results from a test m ethod used
since the 1980s were actually
negative, the Centers for Disease
C o n tro l and P re v e n tio n said
T hursday.
Experts previously thought the
statistic was much lower — under
7 percent.
The CDC recommends additional
testing when this particular test
gives a positive result. But even if
most doctors retest, the new re­
search suggests that some people
have unnecessarily worried they
were infected with an infamous sexu­
ally transmitted disease.
It also may mean some patients
have been given unnecessary
treatm ent — probably penicillin,
which can have side effects.
S y p h ilis te stin g is re c o m ­
mended for all pregnant women
and for people considered to be at
high risk for sexually transm itted
diseases.
A family wage, and the benefits that go with
it, not only strengthens families, but also
allows our communities to become stronger,
more cohesive, and more responsive to their
citizens ’ needs.
Our family wage agenda reflects our commit­
ment to people working in the building trades,
and to workers everywhere. In this small way,
we are doing our part to help people achieve
the American Dream. This dream that workers
can hold dear regardless of race, color, nation­
al origin, gender, creed, or religious beliefs.
The Pacific Northwest
Regional Council of Carpenters
Representing more than 5,000 carpenters and
other construction workers in Oregon state.
Do you want to know more about becoming a Union carpenter?
Go to our website at www.nwcarpenters.org
Offices in Portland
1636 East Burnside
Portland. OR 97214
503-261-1862
800-974-9052 toll free
Headquarters in Kent, WA
25120 Pacific Hwy S, Ste 200
Kent, WA 98032
253-945-8800
800-573-8333 toll free