A study by the department of economics from the universities of Wisconsin, San Diego state and Bentley, examines the relationship between the legalisation of recreational Cannabis and workplace injuries for workers aged 20-34. Since 2012, many US states have legalised recreational Cannabis, leading to increased adult use. The study’s findings suggest a concerning trend: states where recreational Cannabis sales are legal show a 10% increase in workplace injuries within this younger age group. This highlights the need for further research on the health and safety implications of Cannabis legalisation.
Source: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2815242
LIFEAlerts
A cross sectional online survey on the reasons of detransitioning. (Germany)
In a sample of 237 participants, the large majority was female; 217 female (92%) for 20 male respondents (8%). Close to two thirds (65%) transitioned both socially and medically; 31% only socially. Out of the respondents who medically transitioned, 46% underwent gender affirming surgeries. Around half (51%) of the respondents started socially transitioning before the age of 18, and a quarter (25%) started medically transitioning before that age as well.
The most common reported reason for detransitioning was realized that the gender dysphoria was related to other issues (70%). The second one was health concerns (62%), followed by transition did not help the dysphoria (50%), found alternatives to deal with dysphoria (45%), unhappy with the social changes (44%), and change in political views (43%). At the very bottom of the list are: lack of support from social surroundings (13%), financial concerns (12%) and discrimination (10%).
Calls for Scotland to criminalise purchase of sex (UK)
CARE for Scotland is urging the Scottish government to push ahead with legislation that would target the demand side. It accused the Scottish government of “dragging its heels on the issue” and said it should follow the positive example of other countries like Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Canada that have already introduced similar laws penalising sex buyers. The Scottish government should take note of the “positive impact” of sex buyers’ laws in other countries where criminalising the purchase of sex while also mandating support for women who want to leave prostitution behind “ensures a deterrent to exploitation and help for the exploited”. said Michael Veitch of CARE [Christian Action Research and Education] “Claims by some that prostitution causes no harm to women have also been found to be an illusion. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe has been clear in this regard. To challenge trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, we should make it a criminal offence to purchase sexual services and ensure that programmes are in place to support women to exit prostitution.
New study shatters a long-standing myth about pornography (USA)
Research done by some of the world’s top behavioural addiction experts found that not only porn addicts but also behavioural addicts disapprove of the addiction they are trying to get rid of. Previous studies pushed by Josh Grubbs, created a powerful flawed buzzword that porn problems are likely just due to religious shame or moral disapproval, implicating that porn addiction is not real. Grubbs summed up his views in an extraordinary 2016 Psychology Today article, claiming that porn addiction is nothing more than religious shame, and not related to levels of porn use.
Grubbs and his colleagues never investigated whether other behavioural addicts also experience moral disapproval toward the activity they’re trying to eliminate. Moral disapproval from within themselves is part and parcel of all other behaviour addicts.
This misleading trend has persuaded many sexologists and psychologists that porn addiction is a doubtful concept. They ignored the evidence suggesting that porn addiction is as real as gambling and gaming addiction.
Latest research done by Common Sense Media (USA)
Benenson Strategy Group (BSG) conducted a quantitative online survey on 1,358 teens aged 13 to 17 and released new porn statistics in January 2024.
They found that 73% of teen respondents aged 13 to 17 have watched pornography online. 15% of teen respondents said they first saw online pornography at age 10 or younger. More than half (54%) reported first seeing pornography by the time they reached the age of 13. 63% said they have only seen pornography accidentally. Pornography plays a larger role in LGBTQ+ teens. Two-thirds of LGBTQ+ teen respondents consumed pornography intentionally.
Nearly half (45%) of teen respondents said that they felt online pornography gives “helpful” information about sex.
Pornography and Its Impact on Adolescent/Teenage Sexuality (India)
Puberty – exposure to pornography accelerates sexual development and porn can function as a “role model” and provide normative counsel. Teenagers also interpret internet sex as real-world experiences.
Adolescence – pornography use links teenagers to early partnered sexual behaviour, more sexual partners, lower relationship satisfaction, and lower sexual satisfaction during adolescence. Pornography use also links them to aggressive behaviour in the classroom, sexually permissive attitudes and watching more hard corn porn containing rape and child sex. Exposure at a younger age makes individuals receptive to watching coercive or violent porn. Over time, adolescents experience embarrassment as a result of their interest in porn. This causes a decline in mental health and life satisfaction. Teenagers also experience an absence of emotional connection between consensual couples and boys are prone to display violent behaviour towards women.
National Council of the Order of Physicians and Non-Conventional Healthcare (France)
The French National Council of the Order of Physicians expresses concern over the rise of unconventional healthcare practices. In response to emerging issues, it has compiled a 88 pages report emphasizing the urgent need to address the dangers associated with these increasingly prevalent practices. Termed as “traditional,” “alternative,” or “complementary” medicine, they lack scientific recognition and are not part of physicians’ initial training. The Order is alarmed by the uncontrolled growth of these practices, attributing it to societal factors such as a strained healthcare system, societal distress, and distrust in healthcare professionals. The potential risks include illegal medical practices, therapeutic deviations, and sectarian concerns, posing a substantial public health issue.
Emergency Room Visits Increase with Increase Abortions (USA)
A longitudinal Cohort Study done from 1999 till 2015 shows that as abortions increase, so do the abortion-related Emergency Room (ER) visits, especially for chemical abortions. The study took data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in 17 states that received state funding for abortions. Based on ICD9 codes (630-639, 634), all ER visits within 30 days after an abortion were analysed, including miscoded visits (e.g. classified as spontaneous abortion/miscarriage). From 1999 – 2015, surgical abortions increased by 560% (from 4479 to 29558), while chemical abortions increased by more than 4000% (from 352 in 2002 to 15279 in 2015). Abortion-related ER visits for surgical abortion increased by 315%, for chemical abortions it increased by 507%. ER visits within 30 days of a chemical abortion grew by more than 850%.
Maternal Mortality Rate (International)
Peru accepted a law that acknowledges that life starts at conception. Abortion is still allowed when the mother’s life is in danger, but each unborn child has the right to dignity, life, and integrity, just like any other person. According to Dr Calum Miller, the claim that these strict laws will cause more women to die from illegal abortions is not true. In 2017, a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Sage Open Medicine proved that a woman is 2-4 times as likely to die from any cause, and 6-7 times as likely to die from suicide within a year following abortion, compared to childbirth. Numerous sources show that after abortion restrictions, maternal mortality rates decrease (for example in Poland, Ireland and Chile), while in South Africa, the mortality rate increased after legalisation of abortion.
Cannabis Stock Market Failure (South Africa)
Labat Africa, the largest cannabis-focused company in South Africa, has been suspended from the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE). The suspension, announced on October 24, 2023, was due to Labat’s failure to comply with JSE Listings Requirements by not publishing its financial statements. Labat’s shares were trading at 0.07 cents before the suspension. After its stock prices tanked by 70% last year, Labat has faced numerous challenges, including complicated financials, late financial statements, and warnings from the JSE.