Posted January 27, 200818 yr http://inlinethumb48.webshots.com/15663/2785511460102267853S425x425Q85.jpg For the first time in 40 years The Times of London has editorialized on behalf of a popular musician. They call for government intervention to save the life of Amy Winehouse. This first pair of images show Amy pretty much doing the right things. Good health. January 15th, 2008. The facial muscles present normally. Eyes are alert. Expressive. Then the drug binge of January 17th occurred. The changes are shocking. Cocaine produces micro-strokes and patient confusion. Cumulative neurological damage can be severe. The Times of London notes a "a gruesome cocktail of crack, Ecstasy and Valium." "It is but another example of the extraordinary open self-destruction of this human being. Winehouse has, through her own often anguished lyrics, confirmed her predicament. ... Her derelict behaviour will end with an early post-mortem." http://inlinethumb36.webshots.com/39331/2693367730102267853S425x425Q85.jpg "The State's actions could save a great talent. She desperately needs to be brought into rehabilitation and, this time, to stay put there for weeks if not months. The means to that end have to be found." -- Hear, hear ! Indeed, Mitchell and Janis Winehouse have tried repeatedly to "section" Amy. One fault lies in the Law as it is administered in England and Wales. This can be reversed with one simple, well-crafted up-and-down vote in the House of Commons. Who is Amy's neurologist ? Note: image lower-left is January 18th and lower-right is a week later. A stroke patient with no treatment. Where is government ? Why prevent competent medical care related to drug poisoning with out of date laws ? "Virtue in force" is appropriate to safeguard any such patient. These efforts from the parents were turned down on an argument that her life is not at risk. (I did not make that up.) Apparently the English psychologists or doctors in charge of drug treatment discount both overdoses and these cocaine-induced impairments. http://www.drugabuse.gov/ http://ncadistore.samhsa.gov/catalogNIDA -- the Drug Abuse book. The science on these matters was settled with post-mortem tissue samples -- microscope slides with appropriate staining techniques -- some 25 years ago. Brain tissue is damaged irrevocably with both continuous and with binge use of cocaine. Microscopic strokes kill tissue. An MRI is indicated (plus a PET scan, if needed) and a neurological workup for stroke diagnosis. Immediate treatment is best. Full physical recovery is thought to require a 90-day protocol. 30-days to clean out poisons, 60-days to get tissue recovery and higher quality sleep, and 90-days for development of coping skills and defensive tactics. Involuntary committal is commonly justified by threats to life or to mental processes. - found on the official amy forum
