So how much snow ya got out there?

Been living in southern Ohio for many years...but the Springs is home. I heard ya'll got alot of snow. Wish I were there...snow and all. Count your blessings daily people that you live in such a beautiful area. I got stuck in Appalachia in a truck stop culture, backwoods, poverty ridden, drug infested, muddy river town. The tentacles of doom have me impaled on the city limit sign...unable to escape these borders. But one day good people I will walk among you again..you will know me by my dirty crocs and a big ole smile on my face...even in 4 feet of snow. Oh yea..and my hernia..

62 with no snow today yay!

homesick wrote:

Been living in southern Ohio for many years...but the Springs is home. I heard ya'll got alot of snow. Wish I were there...snow and all. Count your blessings daily people that you live in such a beautiful area. I got stuck in Appalachia in a truck stop culture, backwoods, poverty ridden, drug infested, muddy river town. The tentacles of doom have me impaled on the city limit sign...unable to escape these borders. But one day good people I will walk among you again..you will know me by my dirty crocs and a big ole smile on my face...even in 4 feet of snow. Oh yea..and my hernia..

HI JIMMY

FROM HARLAN CO wrote:

<quoted text>
HI JIMMY

No..not Jimmy...but I did see how a guy from Harlan Ky and someone from the Springs been beefin on here. Ya'll need to quit. You must have thought I was him because I was slammin the area I live in. This is really a depressed area and I really do wish I could move back to Colorado Springs. I lived there over 25 years. It is a gorgeous place to live. The area around here is pretty..especially in the fall but the drugs have taken over and this town is just a shell now. Im sorry for offending you. Ive heard good things about Harlan..but Portsmouth is just a shit hole. So...you two bury the hatchet..just not in each others head..

homesick wrote:

<quoted text>
No..not Jimmy...but I did see how a guy from Harlan Ky and someone from the Springs been beefin on here. Ya'll need to quit. You must have thought I was him because I was slammin the area I live in. This is really a depressed area and I really do wish I could move back to Colorado Springs. I lived there over 25 years. It is a gorgeous place to live. The area around here is pretty..especially in the fall but the drugs have taken over and this town is just a shell now. Im sorry for offending you. Ive heard good things about Harlan..but Portsmouth is just a shit hole. So...you two bury the hatchet..just not in each others head..

Sorry, he posted all over using different names. Turns out, he's Skippy from Michigan! We wouldn't have been so intent on finding him, he just went beyond cruel, I don't really have words. I've never been to Colorado, I have heard it's beautiful. The photos that I have seen do confirm this.
So, again, I am sorry if I offended you.I hope your day is a beautiful one! And, I hope you get to your snow soon! Be Blessed

I have always wanted to visit Colorado in the winter, especially the rockies.

Thank you Selah. And Grace, it is beautiful there. Winters can be harsh but they have a great snow emergency plan for commuters. My health wont allow me to move back to the Springs and that high altitude, or I would already be gone. I try to make the best out of the area I live in..but it's hard. Old friends and even close family has fell by the wayside with their addiction to pain pills. I've never done a drug in my life..but I live in the ashes of everyone elses habits. One sister is pretty much painted into a corner with her pill habit..she never leaves her house..ever. Another sister been in a nursing home for 4 years over drugs. My oldest daughter got caught up in the drug scene..now I have custody of her 3 kids..and I had just got all mine raised. I pretty much take care of all these people. Its took its toll on me. I do blame this environment. Doctors know the problem here yet they continue to write prescriptions for scheduled drugs..which end up on the streets. It's like a free for all in this town. I moved from Colorado about 18 years ago so maybe it's like that out there now too..I hope not. But for me, the memory is a warm bright light as I walk through this dark and dismal nightmare. Thanks for listening. Blessings to you all too.

I know what you mean hun, I have alot of family that is addicted to them and I like you have never touched them in my life and I never plan too. Its awful that you have to take care of your daughters kids because she is not able, maybe she can get the help she needs and get them back and be the mom she needs to be. I will never understand how in the world someone would let pills come before their kids. I was born and raised her and I love it but I have been thinking about moving for my children. They deserve more than this place can give them.

Drugs are a problem everywhere now. Not just in appalachia. People who think it is worse there than anywhere else really irritate me. Before you run your mouth do some research. Btw it isn't the area fault all your family is pill heads.

For the record wrote:

Drugs are a problem everywhere now. Not just in appalachia. People who think it is worse there than anywhere else really irritate me. Before you run your mouth do some research. Btw it isn't the area fault all your family is pill heads.

If you would "read" the post, you would see that I said I was unsure about the drug problem in other areas. I just know about here..and it is worse in this part of the country..thats a fact you can look up. I really don't care what irritates you. I see your just an asshole that wants to start trouble..but I will ignore you as I'm sure alot of people in your life do. It's called Freedom of Speech...heard of it? Doesn't matter if you like what I write...I will write it anyway. I have lived several other places so I do have something to compare the quality of life here. So maybe you should do some research..before you go runnin your mouth. Try using it for something positive..instead of just slobbering on your keyboard & trying to pick an argument. Get a life.

For the record wrote:

Drugs are a problem everywhere now. Not just in appalachia. People who think it is worse there than anywhere else really irritate me. Before you run your mouth do some research. Btw it isn't the area fault all your family is pill heads.

Stressed Out? Maybe You Should Move
By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on April 15, 2009
A new study shows that Frequent Mental Distress (FMD), defined as having 14 or more days in the previous month when stress, depression and emotional problems were not good, is not evenly distributed across the United States.

In fact, certain geographic areas have consistently high or consistently low FMD incidence, as reported in a study published in the April 2009 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Combining data from annual large-scale surveys in 1993-2001 and 2003-2006 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers found that the adult prevalence of FMD was 9.4 percent overall, ranging from 6.6 percent in Hawaii to 14.4 percent in Kentucky.

Frequent mental distress prevalence varied both over time and by geographic area within states. From the earlier period to the later period, the mean prevalence of FMD increased by at least 1 percentage point in 27 states and by more than 4 percentage points in Mississippi, Oklahoma and West Virginia.

The Appalachian and the Mississippi Valley regions had high and increasing FMD prevalence, and the upper Midwest had low and decreasing FMD prevalence.

The state-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) has asked questions about mental health since 1993 and collects data from random telephone surveys of adult residents across the U.S.

More than 1.2 million people were surveyed in each of the two periods. Frequent mental distress prevalence was determined by county, and the results were smoothed to reduce variation from random sampling due to small sample sizes in less populous counties.

Differences in physical conditions (like disability or diabetes mellitus), stressful life events (like job loss), and social circumstances (like income) may be associated with differences in frequent mental distress prevalence.

“Because FMD often indicates potentially unmet health and social service needs, programs for public health, community mental health and social services whose jurisdictions include areas with high FMD levels should collaborate to identify and eliminate the specific preventable sources of this distress,” said Dr. Matthew M. Zack, the study’s lead investigator.

“With the growing scientific literature linking frequent mental distress to treatable mental illnesses and preventable mental health problems, the increased use of these surveillance data in community mental health decision making is especially warranted.

“The continued surveillance of mental distress may help these programs to identify unmet needs and disparities, to focus their policies and interventions and to evaluate their performance over time.”

Source: Elsevier Health Sciences

Grace wrote:

I know what you mean hun, I have alot of family that is addicted to them and I like you have never touched them in my life and I never plan too. Its awful that you have to take care of your daughters kids because she is not able, maybe she can get the help she needs and get them back and be the mom she needs to be. I will never understand how in the world someone would let pills come before their kids. I was born and raised her and I love it but I have been thinking about moving for my children. They deserve more than this place can give them.

I feel the same way about my grandkids. I want them to have an opportunity to have a good life. There is no future here. However the drugs got here..here they are. Kids are so impressionable and easily swayed & when the only cool thing to do is drugs..well.. thats how it starts. The good things in my town are all gone now. Its like there is no choices..no positives. I would just like to be where it balances out some. The guy that made the rude comment doesnt know what hes talking about. I cant control what my family does. My daughter was on the A/B honor roll til she graduated..turned 18. Then it all went down hill for her. She made the wrong decisions when I wasnt setting rules down. I admit I don't have much of a family support network. Not anymore. I'm the rock they lean on. But I feel more like a sitting duck. Well my shoulders aint that broad. Im going to find the silver lining in this ole rain cloud..somewhere..even if I have to relocate.

Just wanted to say that we are one and the same. Sorry for any confusion.

Frequent Mental Distress is different from addiction. I will admit that it probably is a contibuting factor. Drugs are everywhere and They are worse in some areas than in others. But you also have to take into account that addiction is hereditary

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According to a study by the research group "Alcoholism and drug addiction", of the University of Granada (Universidad de Granada), although there are no specific reasons to become an alcoholic, many social, family, environmental, and genetic factors may contribute to its development. Thanks to this study, researchers have shown that the lack of endorphin is hereditary, and thus that there is a genetic predisposition to become addicted to alcohol.
Beta-endorphin is a kind of "morphine" released by the brain in response to several situations, such as pain. In this way, beta-endorphins can be considered "endogenous analgesics" to numb or dull pains.
Researchers have focused on the low beta-endorphin levels in chronic alcohol abusers. According to José Rico Irles, lecturer of Medicine of the UGR, and head of the research group, this low beta-endorphin level determines whether someone may become an alcoholic. When a subjects' brain with low beta-endorphin levels gets used to the presence of an exogenous surplus, then, when its own production stops, a dependence starts on the external source: alcohol.
Who may become an alcohol abuser?
A total of 200 families of the Southern Spanish province of Granada participated in the research. There was at least one chronic alcoholic parent in each family. From birth, each subject presented predetermined beta-endorphin levels. However, children of this population group aged between 6 months and 10 years old, registered lower beta-endorphin levels than other children of the same age. "These levels were even lower in children whose both parents were alcohol abusers", the researcher states.
According to researcher, although alcohol consumption does not affect all people in the same way, differences in endorphin levels make some subjects more vulnerable to alcohol. Therefore, they are more likely to become alcohol dependent.
Beta-endorphins constitute a useful biological marker to identify specifically those subjects who have a higher risk of developing alcohol abuse, the research claims.
Regarding the results of this study, professor Rico states the following: "alcohol-abuse prevention must consist of locating and identifying genetically predisposed subjects." More campaigns for children and teenagers should be launched before these young people make contact with alcohol. Alcohol awareness is fundamental to prevent addiction, the researcher affirms, because alcohol is a drug with reversible effects up to a point.
In relation to the "botellón culture" (gathering in the streets to drink with friends), José Rico states that some of these "social drinkers" could have low beta-endorphin levels and, therefore, a higher predisposition to become "solitary drinkers" and to develop alcohol abuse.
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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I wasn't trying to start anything, I was making a statement just like you have done. I am orginally from the heart of the Appalchias and I have lived in multiple states as well, including Colorado Springs Co. I was making the statement because it seems everyone wants to bash the Appalchian region. I will admit that there seems to be more of a drug problem there. I hope I have not offended you but you understand to me that is home. I have been moved away for 11 plus years now and only go back to visit family a few times a year and then I don't interact with people other than family and friends usually. So I only hear of how bad the drugs are.

For The Record wrote:

Frequent Mental Distress is different from addiction. I will admit that it probably is a contibuting factor. Drugs are everywhere and They are worse in some areas than in others. But you also have to take into account that addiction is hereditary
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I wasn't trying to start anything, I was making a statement just like you have done. I am orginally from the heart of the Appalchias and I have lived in multiple states as well, including Colorado Springs Co. I was making the statement because it seems everyone wants to bash the Appalchian region. I will admit that there seems to be more of a drug problem there. I hope I have not offended you but you understand to me that is home. I have been moved away for 11 plus years now and only go back to visit family a few times a year and then I don't interact with people other than family and friends usually. So I only hear of how bad the drugs are.

It really has gotten bad. I'm down to just one or two friends now that I can talk to without hearing about their "pain" or their next appt. They call this area the drug pipeline because it comes down from Detroit-Cleveland-Columbus-the n all of southern Ohio and northern Kenucky. There was a two year investigation into the Dr. shopping in Florida. Over 700 warrants were issued. Isnt that unbelievable? But its true. I live every day in the shadow of this so maybe I have become bitter. I don't ever want to be mean to anyone..not in my nature. I was born here but left when I was a teenager. Been back almost 20 years. I was a military wife. I have tried hard to make the best out of a bad situation. There are memories of this place I wouldnt trade for the world. Trust me..I cling to any good I can find. The beautiful fall leaves and the lush forrest land. But I cant find peace here anymore...it dont feel like home. And I grieve for it as a loss or a theft. I only have an issue with the drugs. I dont like it when people slam Appalachia just for their accent or the way their not neck high in credit card debt trying to keep up with the Jones. I do like smaller towns if only for the community feel of it. Live and let live. I do think that Kentucky has sweeter people than where I live. I live in a tri-state area so I basically call the whole area home. But when I cross that bridge people are smiling and pleasant. As far as addiction being hereditary, I can believe that. I come from a family of alcoholics. But you've got to understand..my/our grandparents & great grandparents made moonshine in the hills around here. They still make it today. Their were lots of alcoholics. I'm sure that set the ball rolling. I guess I'm just ready for a change. It's no fun being a rare bird. Thanks for the peace treaty.....wink.