Media To Consider - 7/16/18

Books and Articles worth a Review…

A Quick Read – But, Looming Problem – Sometimes when we are in the thick of the problem right in front of us, we forget about the bigger problem that is on the horizon.  It happens too often.  Then, the bigger problem falls on our doorstep and we are fully unprepared to deal with the crisis. Such is the state of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which causes an estimated 700,000 deaths annually.  Read the article in the May 18, 2018 issues of Lancet for an overview of the problem titled, “Global Governance and Antimicrobial Resistance”.

And, Another Looming Problem – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 36 252 Americans died because of gun violence in 2015—11.3 deaths per 100 000 people—an average of about 100 gun deaths every day.  By comparison in 2016, the approximate number of firearm-related deaths were about 39,000.  Compare that to motor vehicle-related deaths at 40,000 and drug overdose-related deaths at 64,000.  Yet, while there is substantial ongoing research in both the motor-vehicle area to improve the safety of our cars and in drug overdose to make treatment more effective (although not enough resources, I might add) – there are almost NONE allocated to gun research.  As a clinician, I’m very data driven.  But, the CDC nor any of the other branches of government – which fund research on all matter of other problems – discontinued gun-related research after the Dickey amendment took effect in 1996 which states that “…none of the funds made available for injury prevention and control at the [CDC] may be used to advocate or promote gun control…”.  And, the Trump Administration has continued to provide only funds for monitoring the situation.  In another Lancet issue on June 23, 2018 the article, “Gun violence research in the USA: the CDC's impasse” touches on a big issue.  Consider it. Think about it.  Act on your thoughts…