Barbara Gordon, a CBS documentary producer,
has written a book which tells a wracking story of
addition to Valium. It is a story of steadily increas
ing doses of the tranquilizer, of convulsions and
hallucinations when she suddenly stopped taking it,
of stays in mental hospitals and of final release
when she learned how to live without the drug.
She blames Valium for some nightmare years of
..her life. tT." -;-..v; .... V : .
Valium, ' for several years the most widely
prescribed drug in the country, is technically a
minor tranquilizer intended for treatment of mild-to-moderate
anxiety and tension. It also is used as a
muscle relaxant. Its generic name is diazepam. It is
a member, of the family of chemicals called ben
zodiazepines, which also includes Librium.
, Barbara Gordon contends that Valium is a.
dangerous addictive drug. But a number of experts
re more cautious in their evaluation. For example, '
Dr. Karl Rickels, a psychiatrist at the University of
Pennsylvania who- hasdoneseveraUstudies-on -Valium,
has been quoted as saying Gordon's ex
periences were "Very atypical". j
In one study, patients who had been taking
Valium for long periods suddenly were taken off
the d$ug. That is the same experience that Gordon
but of the frying pan and into the fire. Finally in- .
flation is flickering out. It is suggested by most
leading economists that the end of the era of high
inflation and inflationary expectation is at hand.
Predictions now by some economists take the an
nual inflation rate down as low as three per cent,
back to the pre-LBF, President Kennedy days. Do
not know if this depression is going that deep to
drag the inflation rate below six per cent, but it's a
decent bet. Budget deficits notwithstanding infla
tion is withering as the economic depression worms
its w ay across the nation.
U.S. Department of Commerce composite index
of leading indicators continues to decline. Doing a '
drop for ten straight months in a row, revealing
how elusive any hope of recovery for the economy
is in the immediate future.
President Reagan's $100 billion budget deficit is
expected to damage any economic turn around at- ,
1. Medical Check Up. A medical doctor is the ,
best authority with whom you should confer before .
you begin your weight loss program. He will tell
you if you have any serious physical limitations. Let
your doctor, determine the proper amount of weight
for you to lose after he has checked the condition of
your heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and circulatory
system.
2. Physician's Suggested Diets. Your doctor may
prescribe a diet best suited for you. It may be simple
"eat less" diet, an elimination or reduction of cer-.
tain foods diet, a calorie or exchange count diet, or
a specific, more demanding regimen. You physi
cian's instructions are to be followed.
3. Psychologist's Suggestions. Your psychologist
will provide positive, helpful suggestions for you.
They will reinforce the physician's instructions and
provide a beneficial habit change that will enhance
your weight reduction in a successful, and almost
effortless manner. 1
4. Goal Selection. Set a realistic weight loss goal
Your doctor will aid you. Ten pounds (more or less)
per month may be all that is recommended.
Develop a realistic attitude and a long-term com-
-
Happiness Through Health ,
I Valium The Tranquilizer : Curse or Cure
AW.WAV.W.W.
V.v.v.
blamed for convulsions, hallucinations, insomnia
and other symptoms that lasted for months and led
to her hospitalization. -" : , : '. 7;'
- In Rickels study, withdrawal symptoms were
seen most in patients who had been taking the tran
quilizer for more than three years. In a group of 180
patients, there were no withdrawal problems for
those who stopped taking Valium after four mon
ths. Of the patients who took it for a year, seven per
cent had withdrawal symptoms.
Rickels says that 35 percent of patients who took
Valium for three to four years suffered withdrawal
symptoms. But , the symptoms generally peaked
within five days after withdrawal and disappeared
in two to four weeks. , : .
Mitchell A. Baiter of the National Institute of
1
ByOttoMcClarrin
' Mental Health, who has been in charge of extensive
. surveys of tranquilizer use. says that Gordon's ex
perience was "not typical'V for another reason:
Surveys indicate that long-term use of Valium and
related tranquilizers is not common.
In any given year, about 1 1 per cent of Americans
will take a minor tranquilizer, such as Valium or
Librium, Baiter's surveys show, Of that group 45.
per cent take a tranquilizer only a few times a year
and 80 per cent stop taking it within four months,.,
Abouldlperj:entifJranquUizetser$iaktadrug
for more than a year. Most of them are older people
who tend to have serious medical conditions, such
as heart disease, Baiter says.
Use of Valium and other minor tranquilizers
peaked in the mid-1970's and has been declining'
:8
I Business In The Black
i"
i
Depression Doing Its Duty
8-
By Charles E. Belle ft
, AS
1 AWAVkyvowvYyiy5ft&yxo:xx
tempt by the economy. Even Republican represen
tatives and senators sense the stupidity of standing
pat by the President on the budget deficit. Doing
something about the budget deficit now almost in
variably means cutting the defense budget. Big deal.
Democrats and others have been demanding a Cut
consistently with no response from President
Reagan. ' Republicans may have better luck,
come November when they are out ot a joDt
, It is presumed by even Presidential advisors that
a lot of borrowing, like a $100 billion, to pay the
government's debt would mean "crowding out" or
. "drowning" the investment area and not leaving
any money available for private industry, except at
exceptionally higher interest rates. Thus no turn
around. Ronald Reagan as President is merely do
ing with the defense spending what Democrats have
especially since some senior Republican senators are
up for re-election in November. No one is likely to
re-elect a Reagan favored Republican candidate
SATURDAY, MAT 1. 1SS2-TKE CAT.CLHA f IK
ever since, he notes. There were 61.3 million
prescriptions written for Valium in 1975 and only
33.6 million in 19SO. The number of pills per
prescription has not increased. Baiter adds.
. The reduction in tranquilizer use came after war
nings that the drugs were being over-prescribeJ.
Baiter said Valium is less dangerous than the drugs
.that-once were used to treat anxiety, such as
Miltown and the barbiturates; they are more addic-.
tive and more likely to cause death after an over
dose, he says. But Baiter notes that Valium also can
cause problems. No drug is free from problems, he
adds. "But where's the problem? In the person or
the medication?" he added. "There win always be
addictive personalities who can't handle a medica
tion." Still, one physician who thinks that the danger
of Valium are being underestimated is Dr. Sidney.
Wolfe, director of the Consumer Health Research
Group in Washington. "There is a huge number, in
Jhe .thousands of j?eoDle every vetwhowinduoir
hospital emergency rooms because they get into
trouble with Valium," Wolfe said. "It doesn't kilt
people, but it's very addicting. At first it wa .
thought to be addicting only in high doses, but now
it's known to be addictive in regular doses "
done with social service programs in the past. Both
must pay thepiper.
President Reagan simply believes it's better tc
spend to fight the "communists" rather than to
spend to alleviate poverty. Too much of a good
thing can harm you, too much of a bad thing can
harm you, too much of a bad thing can kill you. It's :
pretty hot in the fire now when the heaj of the cur
rent depression starts to cool come next year we can
start a rebuilding program for the country if J resi
dent Reagan does not run us in too greater deb' on
behalf of the Defense Department.
In the meantime, a mental shift should be taking
place among the people in this country. Considering
the sloppy economy, everyone should recognize this
trend of no growth, high interest rates, and the
beginning of a deflationary cycle. Cut your spen
ding plans and hold on to cash while looking for
bargains. There is a fire sale going on.
1 Coping -v: . -ty-..
ft-
1 Your Successful Weight Control Program I
I
Fa,
1
By Dr. Charles W. Faulkner
m
may experience peaks and even temporarily gain
weight a times. This is not to be interpreted as a set
back it is normal. Do not dwell on any weight
gain, just think ahead to your weight reduction goal
and continue to pursue it. , ,.- ; .:;
8. Imagine Yourself Thin. Picture yourself as a
thinner person. This will in turn reduce the
responses that trigger eating. Four time each day,
visualize yourself as a slender, trim person.
9. Support of Family and Friends. Seek en
couraging suggestions from friends and family
when you are progressing. No negative comments
should be made when you are maintaining the same
weight or temporarily gaining weight. Keep your
anxiety down. Family, friends and co-workers
should be asked to make positive efforts to
eliminate anxiety-causing and emotionally-negative"
situations. Do not be afraid to ask them for their
support; you will be surprised at their interest in
your welfare.
10. Determine your behavioral patterns. Report
any patterns, situations or conditions which you
think may have stimulated your appetite and excess
food consumption. Analyze them yourself and
discuss them with your physician andor hyp
notherapist. 1
Buick Skylark
yourself; Stop those habits which art cause you to
gain weight such as snacking between meals, or
eating heavily at parties.
6. Always use this relaxation exercise prior to
eating. This exercise minimizes tension and stress,
provides a calming effect and decreases excessive
food desire. Perform this quick 30-second exercise
before each meal: ay Take a deep breath, fill the
lungs completely with air, hold the breath while you
count silently from one to five, then exhale very . .
slowly and allow every muscle in your body to relax
completely, (b) Repeat this exercise five consecutive
times before beginning to eat. Remember, never eat
while you are tense, nervous or under stress. This
exercise will calm you and eliminate your compul
sion. ' .
7. Daily Weight Record. Keep a daily weight
record. Be proud of your progress in reducing. You
Speak Up
(Continued from Papc 14)
The
uncommonly
beautiful
CDmmop
member of PATCO. Then they cut educa
tion assistance and school lunches for
poor children and I still didn't speak up
because my child was not affected. Then
'hey decided to cut medicare for my
parents, financial assistance and students
loans to my son who was in college, and
to give the rich and big business yet fur
ther huge tax breaks while my taxes con
tinued to increase. Unfortunately, there
was no one left to speak up for me.
As you can see, while you may not per
sonally have been affected by the budget
cuts implemented so far, given time the
Administration will get around to cutting
programs and services which are near and
lear to you.
sense
con
Y v
y1
I .1.11 1 S
The fact that Skylark is so beautiful isn't so surpris
ing. After oil, it's a Buick and beauty runs in the family.
Prestige, elegance, luxury and comfort ore also fam
ily traits that Skylark has inherited.
But there is something else that sets Skylark apart
and has helped make if such a popular success. It just
might be the best disguised economy cor in America
A competitively priced compact with front-wheel-drive
for impressive traction on any rood in snow or
rain. A small car with ample room for five to ride in
comfort. And a well-equipped car; for '62 a whole
array of quality appearance and convenience fea
tures, are standard on Skylark. Power rack-and-pinion
steering and power brakes for example are standard
equipment.
The number of heads that turn when a Skylark
eases on by says it's an uncommonly beautiful car
The EPA estimates offered by the responsive engine
hidden under the hood soys it's also a common sense
economy car.
Hwyfjl
41 26
EPA Est mpg
Use estimated mpg (or compari
son, to mileage may differ de
pending upon speed, distance,
weather. Actual highway mileage
lower. Some Boicks ore equipped
with engines produced by other
6 M. divisions, subsidiaries or
affiliated companies worldwide.
See your dealer tor details.
. .vrr.
Ui AMW.flllA SUie Smlor Milton Strecl
''v"'ip)'arti Ms Incident wish the Philadelphia police in
front of the car In which he was a passenger. SI reel
W9 arrested after police aid that he assaulted a
' policeman.
Wouldnt you leolly rather have a
r3i'-lK(f(.fcS4,