medication
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Alabama Governor Signs Bill Requiring 'Chemical Castration' for Some Sex Offenders
Alabama is continuing its ascension to the weirdest state in the country, coming in a close second to Florida, as the governor signed legislation Monday that would require some sex offenders to be chemically castrated before parole. According to the Associated Press, Gov. Kay Ivey—the same governor that signed a near total abortion ban into…
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Fear, Medication and Black Mental Health: A Physician’s View From the Front Lines
Since becoming a primary care physician over 20 years ago, I made the conscious choice to cement my career treating black and minority patients, primarily in underserved and indigent communities. This career arc spans from rural clinics treating migrant farm workers to predominately black, inner-city hospitals. And while the reports of the overmedication of America…
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When Mental Illness Is Your Family Heirloom
You know that scene in My Cousin Vinny where Vinny’s girlfriend, Mona Lisa Vito, played by Marissa Tomei, testifies in court as an “expert witness” on cars? When opposing counsel condescendingly asks how a sweet little lady like herself—a hairdresser, even—could be an authority on automobiles, she replies, “My father was a mechanic. His father…
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Why I Don’t Regret Taking Medication to Cope With My Depression
Editor’s note: Until recently, mental health and illness were taboo subjects in the black community. But thanks to the efforts of those brave enough to speak on it, that’s changing. In that vein, The Root team is taking this week during Mental Health Awareness Month to write about how mental health has touched our lives.…
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Calif. Woman Who Struggled With Bipolar Disorder Shot to Death by Cops
Michelle Lee Shirley, 39, was fatally shot by Torrance, Calif., police as she approached a group of officers in her car, according to the New York Daily News. According to authorities, Torrance police responded to a series of 911 calls in which they were warned of an “erratic and reckless driver.” When cops found Shirley,…
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Report: Prince Died From Opioid Overdose
Autopsy reports show that Prince died from an opioid overdose, according to a law-enforcement official who spoke with the Associated Press. Since news of Prince’s death surfaced, so have rumors claiming that the 57-year-old singer suffered from an addiction to pain medication. According to the official, who is reported to be close to the investigation…