PROLOG There are changes in the world that affects everyone. Some of the changes are subtle, some are not. Many of them are influential .The way these changes are implemented is of importance. Just take a look around; global warming, pollution of the air, land and water. Globalization is linking all countries together, some resulting in good results, many with less than good results. Economies in distant countries can affect the well-being of citizens in widespread locations. In short, the world is becoming more and more connected. There are influences on health, by importation of contaminated foods, toys, clothes, and a host of other such things. Deforestation influences the amount of carbon dioxide that can be absorbed, increases soil runoff and other negatives. Direct marketing by the big pharmaceuticals (Big Pharma) to the general public, in essence bypasses some of the physician’s normal influence in directing patient care. The list is not a short one.   Many of the problems listed are driven by (among other things) pursuit of profits, lack of full understanding of the effect a given action, or in some cases, complete disregard of the possible effects on others as long as profits are intact or increased.    The public should be aware of these conditions and their related effects. It is the intent of this effort, to inform the North Camden populace and others, in an understandable way, how these multiple threats are occurring and what some of the outcomes might be. There will be a series of presentations given preferable in the North Camden areas approximately once a month. Different topics will be presented each time. In addition, excerpts of the presentation (by Dr. E. Dixon) will be placed on N.Camden.Org the blog emanating from Hope Works in Camden for wider dissemination.                                                Dr. E. Dixon   11 February 2008

Seniors’ Matters:

This is an introduction of a concept and a process which is aimed at acknowledging, and increasing the value of Senior Citizens in the USA. Perhaps it would seem an obvious thing to do, i.e. to value and appreciate our Senior Citizens. However, due to the increasing push by many in entertainment, business, and corporate worlds, reinforced by television, radio, and the Media, towards the youth culture, much of the bygone respect Seniors used to have, has been eroded and replaced by less than deserved respect. Instead, age exploitation, age discrimination and other negatives abound. Seniors are targeted for get rich schemes, health scams, and shoddy workmanship on a variety of projects.  

Take a look at the animal kingdom, many of those creatures depend on the older generations to survive. Elephants, for example depend on the older matriarchs to lead the herd to long forgotten water holes, in times of extreme drought.

These animals know (and have not forgotten) the value of their Seniors which can be equated to their Experienced members. While in the wild, the Seniors (Experienced) animals can preserve the herd from an early demise.

In our society the failure to recognize, and value our Seniors (Experienced) can, and does lead to unnecessary and repetitive mistakes and also, needless suffering.   As a Senior (Experienced) member of this American Society, my intent is to address some of these problems from a slightly different perspective.  

It used to be, anyone who reached the age of 55, they would be classified as a senior citizen. But now the push towards younger and younger persons as the most sought after, has caused the threshold age of senior citizenship to be shifted downward to an earlier and earlier age. Consider the typical age of today’s models, most models in their early to late thirties began to receive fewer offers to model.

Since the external forces have set the age level wherein a person becomes designated as a senior citizen, and the serious ramifications that can follow from that designation, all referrals to Seniors (Experienced) herein will mean an expanded group down to the early forties-years-of-age.   There is much overlap in the items which will appear in these presentations and rightly so. These presentations will be eclectic items of interest from a variety of topics and will be addressed. 

Dr. E. Dixon is a Senior (Experienced) member of this Citizen Class. He is also an Engineer, Scientist, Inventor, Author, and Educator

1) A positive (+) for the senior citizens of North Camden and elsewhere in the city of Camden, From the Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) to cross any of the DRPA’s bridges linking New Jersey and Pennsylvania, seniors can purchase tickets for crossing at a much reduced rate. You don’t even have to be in your own car. You can be just a passenger. A crossing fare of $3.00 can be purchased for $1.00 (67 percent reduction). A huge saving for frequent travelers to Pennsylvania. Discount Books of twenty tickets for $20.00 for twenty trips.      Tickets can be purchased at DRPA at the foot of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Could just stop in a show proof of age (60 Y/O) and pay the $20.00 and the book of tickets will be mailed to your home. They used to sell them right there on the spot. The mailing address if you wish to do your transaction by mail is: 

      Delaware River Port Authority

      Attn: Revenue Operations

      PO Box 1949

      Camden, NJ 08101-1949    Telephone (856) 968-3348 

2)   Pharmaceutical Companies: Two   Different Problems, As I See It. 

  a) Consider the pursuit of doctors by big Parma for increased business by, providing lunches, consulting fees, trips and other perks. This kind of activity appears to have been going on for many years. What could be the harm in increasing their business in this manner?

      Well the first thing is it could tend to increase the amount and types of prescription drugs that are taken. There have already been reports of increased sales of some heavily promoted prescription drugs, which is the intent in the first place.

b) A fairly recent phenomenon is the direct marketing of prescription drugs to the general public via television and other media. The same result of increased sales of heavily marketed prescription drugs could result from this technique as item (a).

Is the public awash in prescription drugs now?  Does the push for greater and greater sales have any downside? Are there any people out there, who are taking five, ten, or fifteen prescription drugs a day? Does the chance for drug interaction increase as the number of prescription drugs daily taken increase?  What sometimes happens when the rush to get prescription drugs to the market, prior to enough testing? Sometimes serious side effects begin  showing up. Even deadly side effects can and does occur. Since some of these drugs are marketed to millions of people, the recall of those drugs can be onerous. And what about the impact on the patients that took these drugs and had very serious and painful  side effects. Call-backs might be a little late for them.

3)  The bottom line of this next article is an example of the statement above, from the FDA, i.e. the serious impact on some people taking prescription drugs, and the serious impact due to possible insufficient testing.

Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) Information Page

Update – On December 22, 2005 the FDA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (notice) for over-the-counter (OTC) nasal decongestant and weight control products containing phenylpropanoloamine preparations. This proposed rule reclassifies phenylpropanolamine as nonmonograph (Category II) not generally recognized as safe and effective. Written and electronic comments and new data can be submitted by March, 22, 2006. Phenylpropanolamine-containing products (OTC); tentative final monographs [PDF]  [HTML]

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking steps to remove phenylpropanolamine (PPA) from all drug products and has requested that all drug companies discontinue marketing products containing PPA. In addition, FDA has issued a public health advisory concerning phenylpropanolamine. This drug is an ingredient that was used in many over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription cough and cold medications as a decongestant and in OTC weight loss products.

 In response to the request made by FDA in November 2000, many companies have voluntarily reformulated and are continuing to reformulate their products to exclude PPA while FDA proceeds with the regulatory process necessary to remove PPA from the market.

We have received numerous requests for a list of products containing PPA. Since companies continue to reformulate their products, FDA is not maintaining a comprehensive, updated list of products that still contain PPA. FDA is aware of emails circulating widely that list many products allegedly containing PPA. These emails, however, generally contain dated and inaccurate information and should be ignored.

The FDA recommends that consumers read the labels of OTC drug products to determine if the product contains PPA. The Agency believes this to be the most accurate method for determining the PPA content of OTC products rather than providing an incomplete or out-of-date list of products that may have already been reformulated and no longer contain PPA. (Introduction updated 03/07/2003)

Scientists at Yale University School of Medicine recently issued a report entitled “Phenylpropanolamine & Risk of Hemorrhagic Stroke:   Final Report of the Hemorrhagic Stroke Project.”   This study reports that taking PPA increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke (bleeding into the brain or into tissue surrounding the brain) in women.  Men may also be at risk.  Although the risk of hemorrhagic stroke is very low, FDA recommends that consumers not use any products that contain PPA.

FDA’s Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee recently discussed this Yale study along with additional information on phenylpropanolamine. The Advisory Committee determined that there is an association between PPA and hemorrhagic stroke.  It recommended that PPA be considered not safe for over-the-counter use.

For more information on this public health advisory, please see the items below.

• FDA Talk Paper on Phenylpropanolamine (PPA). 11/6/2000
• Public Health Advisory.  Subject:  Safety of Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) 11/6/2000
• Questions and Answers about Phenylpropanolamine (PPA). 11/6/2000
• Science Background Statement on Safety of Phenylpropanolamine (PPA). 11/6/2000
• FDA Letter to Manufacturers of Drug Products Containing Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) dated 11/3/2000. Optional Format: PDF  Posted 11/6/2000
• Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee Meeting: Safety Issues of Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) in Over-the-Counter Drug Products, (10/19/00).  This link leads to the meeting agenda, roster, questions, presentation slides, and briefing information, including the Yale Hemorrhagic Stroke Project:  Final Study Report
• Federal Register Announcement: Phenylpropanolamine; Proposal to Withdraw Approval of New Drug Applications and Abbreviated New Drug Applications; Opportunity for a Hearing.  Pages  42665–2671 [FR Doc. 01-20300]  [TXT] [PDF]

 The River Line Light Rail System:

 Senior citzens can save money when traveling from Camden to Trenton via the River Line Light Rail System. This applies to all stops between Camden and Trenton. Passengers over 62 y/o can travel to any of those townships for only $0.65 one way. These reduced tickets represents a 50 percent savings over the regular ticket price.There is a two hour limit on every ticket. You must complete your travels within that time limit, or purchase another ticket.  Imagine that, traveling all the way from Camden to Trenton (and all stops in-between) for only $0.65. That is a major savings in and of itself. Normal fares are $1.35 that is also a bargain. Tickets are obtained from Ticket Vending Machine (TVMs) located on each platform. For more information call (973) 378-6401. Or check the information on one of the platform’s TVMs.

A Credit Bound Nation (as in All Tied Up and Bound Up By Credit), The Overuse of Credit.

1)

Borrowing: 

Credit cards are being used for all sorts of things. Things that just a few years ago, would not even have been considered to be charged on a credit card, are readily accepted nowadays. In fact, it was not possible to charge items such as hamburgers, hot dogs, movie tickets, sodas, and a host of other things on credit cards. There are some merchants that are loathe to miss any opportunity to increase sales.  Whether or not you can stand the extra debt, there are some merchants that will gladly give you credit at higher interest rates.

Just look at the current sub-prime mortgage debacle. Overzealous mortgage companies took anyone that had a job, and sold them houses even though some had very bad credit. The purpose, was to try to maximize their profits. Now look at the current mess in mortgage financing. People are concerned about this fiasco dragging the economy into a recession. A very shabby business situation!! The initial push to include as many people as possible without regard to pay and sustain the requisite payments, has ballooned into amajor crisis. Not only are losing their homes, but many are going broke in the process. Who’s benefiting from all of this action? Certainly not the “former” home owners. Much of the “Creative Financing”, e.g. balloon payments, no money down, interest only payments, and other schemes has added to the woes of many citizens in this mortgage nightmare.

There was a time, not too long ago,  a conventional mortgage was the standard (most common) way the purchase a home. That usually required 20% down, fixed rate, and good credit. Where were the “gate keepers” when all of this recent started happening? That’s a good question.