**Pamphlet: How Tobacco Effects Your Body

 I think the point of this pamphlet is that cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals.  They effect all parts of your body,  Tobacco makes your teeth yellow, can cause cancer of the throat, can cause a cough and lung cancer, increases risk to other organs, can cause eye problems and is related to hearing loss, keeps oxygen from getting to your muscles.  The nicotine in  cigarettes can effect your brain and your heart.

**Pamphlet: Third-Hand Smoke: What It Is and How It Hurts Your Family

Tobacco smoke is full of toxins.  We all know this.  However those toxins can effect those who don't smoke, or who aren't even around someone who smokes.  This is because those toxins can into stuff around us,  Th couch, the curtains, the pillow, stuffed animals--all of these things can be permeated with toxins.  This toxins may be released when this stuff is moved or disturbed.  All can breathe in third-hand smoke, but those who are most vulnerable to third-hand smoke are babies and pets; however the wife cleaning or the made can also be susceptible.  Can you imagine the maids at a hotel.
The best way to protect your family is to quite smoking.  Barring that, never smoke in the house or car, or where children play.  Wash your hands after you smoke.  Where a jacket, and then leave the jacket outside so the smoke doesn't get to your kids.  Lastly it may be necessary to avoid the homes of those who smoke, especially with your young children.

**Article Review: 10 Hidden Hazards in your House

This article appears in October 2015 "Parents" magazine.  The ten hidden hazards listed are:

mesh clothing hampers; the wires can come loose and injure eyes

Magnets; no good if swallowed

Button batteries; ditto

Detergent pods; look fun but they aren't and can injure throat esophagus

Hard candy; choking hazards (aka chokies)

Immersion blenders; very sharp

Prescription drugs

Falling televisions; wall mounted best

Spray bottles; look fun but often have chemicals

And lastly recalled items.

**Step 12: Service - Erik’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Step 12 - Service: Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, share this message with others and practice these principles in all you do.

Here we have the story of someone who over doses on drugs, and then jumps off a three story balcony.  He is rebuilding his life by serving as a facilitator.
My own nephew had problems with drugs.  After he was able to maintain his recovery, he too served as a facilitator, and in doing so was able to help many people who were having problems.  

**Step 11: Personal Revelation - Lindsay’s Story about Heroin Addiction Re...

Step 11 - Personal Revelation: Seek through prayer and meditation to know the Lord’s will and to have the power to carry it out.
In this story we see a woman who is choosing her drug over her children, and in fact gives them to her mother while she pursues her habit.  However, she does eventually enter recovery, and is able to teach her children primary songs, and to pray.  Prayer doesn't have to be formal, but just directed to God who wants to hear us.

**Take Control of Your Health: and Reduce your Cancer Risk

This is a pamphlet which was put out by the American Cancer Society.  I have never felt my family had much risk for cancer, as my grandparents all succumbed to heart related issues.  However, in the past couple months two of my close relatives have been diagnosed with, and treated for cancer, my sister with esophageal cancer and my nephew with thyroid cancer.  I guess I can no longer live in LaLa land.  This pamphlet suggests eight things to reduce risk of cancer:
1. Stay away from tobacco.  I have no problem there other than avoiding people who are smosking on the train platform where there is a no smoking rule.
2. Maintain a healthy weight.  My healthy weight is 100 pounds lower than I am now, but I am working for a loss of 65 pounds.
3. Get moving.  I walk considerable, but obviously not enough.  I need to add cardio and strength.
4. Eat healthy.  Here they are suggesting high fiber and avoiding processed foods.  I am fair to poor in this category.  We do eat whole grain bread which is good, but also we eat process meats and such.
5. Limit how much alcohol you drink.  I don't drink.
6. Protect your skin.  I usually wear sun screen and a t-shirt at the beech. I also wear a t-shirt when I swim.  I also like to keep to the shape whenever possible.  Manteca has a great deal of sun.  However I could do better so an average grade here.
7. Know yourself and your risks.  In some ways who I am is OK, but in others not.  I now know there must be some genetic risk.  However some of my health habits are good, walking, no tobacco and no alcohol.  Some are wanting, too much weight, too much processed food, not enough exercise.
8. Have regular checkups.  I am do for an MD appointment.

**Step 10: Daily Accountability - Adrienne’s Story about Cocaine Addiction...

This is a story of a labor and delivery nurse, who is also a Cocaine addict.
You can't help if a bird lands on your head, but you don't have to let it make a nest there.
I can do scary things; I can do hard things.
Step 10 - Daily Accountability: Continue to take personal inventory, and when you are wrong promptly admit it.

**Step 9: Restitution and Reconciliation - John’s Story on Drug Addiction ...

Through the process of reconciliation we can receive God's mercy.  This individual relates the difficulties he had in putting his life back together.
Step 9 - Wherever possible, make direct restitution to all persons you have harmed.

**Step 8: Forgiveness - Larry’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Larry describes giving and getting forgiveness as a poison draining from your body, from your heart and mind.
Step 8 - Seeking Forgiveness: Make a written list of all persons you have harmed and become willing to make restitution to them.

**Step 7: Humility - Holly’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Finding Humility can be hard, but a necessary part of recovery.  In this story, Holly begins her climb to recovery after a suicide attempt.
Step 7 - Humility: Humbly ask Heavenly Father to remove your shortcomings.

**Step 6: Change of Heart - Aram’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

This portrays a man who turns to drugs to deal with the grief of the death of his parents, and the murder of his younger sister.  He goes through the steps; but feels something is still missing.  He then comes back to step 6:
Step 6 - Change of Heart: Become entirely ready to have God remove all your character weaknesses.
It is difficult to turn your weaknesses over to God.  
He finishes with what he says is an African proverb, "If there is no demon within, the demon outside can do us no harm."

**Step 5: Confession - Moroni's Story about Addiction Recovery

https://youtu.be/0brsdTeKef8

Moroni's story about addiction from a young age and how was able to make headway by confessing his wrongs.

Step 5 - Confession: Admit to yourself, to your Heavenly Father in the name of Jesus Christ, to proper priesthood authority, and to another person the exact nature of your wrongs.

**Step 4: Truth - Austin’s Story about Addiction Recovery

Step 4 - Truth: Make a searching and fearless written moral inventory of yourself.
One thing to remember about step four is that being truthful in your inventory includes taking an honest look at your strengths as well as your weaknesses.

**Step 3: Trust in God - Sharon’s Story about Crystal Meth Addiction Recovery

Step 3 - Trust in God: Decide to turn your will and your life over to the care of God the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
This story presents a middle age woman, who is obsessed with losing weight.  As a result she tries crystal methamphetamine and becomes addicted.  She struggles with pride, and applying step three.  She does not want others to tell her how to do things.  This is a very good presentation.

**Step 2: Hope - Preston’s Story about Drug Addiction Recovery

Step 2 - Hope: Come to believe that the power of God can restore you to complete spiritual health.
This short portrays a young man who is hooked on heroin and cocaine.  He and his brother were drug partners.

**Step 1: Honesty - David’s Story about Sex Addiction Recovery

Here is the first of twelve videos presenting the twelve-steps form a Mormon point of view.  These videos are available through Mormon.org.  This step is a struggle with honesty.  "Step 1 - Honesty: Admit that you, of yourself, are powerless to overcome your addictions and that your life has become unmanageable."  I do not know if these are people telling their own stories or actors making the presentation.  The wife seems very familiar.

**Landscape of the Mind: Addiction Explained

This is an introduction into a series on Mormon.org.  In this short film Dr. Kevin McCauley gives a good lecture on the brain, and how there are two points in the brain that effect addiction.  However it is deep down in the brain that becomes broken when one is an addict.  He begins to talk about ways to heal this part of the brain.  However I am looking forward to the other films in this series.

**Why Is It so Hard To Quit?

This short clip is one of several posted on Mormon.org which gives ideas about addiction and how to overcome addiction.  I like these clips because they add Jesus to the equation of gaining  recovery.

Modesto Walk for Suicide Prevention:9/19/15

Walk in Modesto for Suicide Prevention

This walk is sponsored by the American foundation for the Prevention of Suicide.  People walk to raise awareness about suicide.  These walks are called "Out of the Darkness Walks."  This is the sixth annual walk in Modesto.  The Modesto walk has now only raised 40 percent of their goal.
I have taken a couple quotes from their website.

When you walk in the Out of the Darkness Walks, you join the effort with hundreds of thousands of people to raise awareness and funds that allow AFSP to invest in new research, create educational programs, advocate for public policy, and support survivors of suicide loss. 

Why We Walk

Every year suicide claims more lives than war, murder, and natural disasters combined, and yet suicide prevention doesn't get anywhere near the funding given to other leading causes of death. It's up to Walkers like us to make a difference. Together we can change the conversation about mental health and put a stop to this tragic loss of life.

Out of the Darkness Community Walks

The core of the Out of the Darkness Walks, the Community Walks are proof that when people work together, they can make big changes in our world. The walks raise awareness for suicide prevention as they raise the resources we need to carry out our mission. With nearly 200,000 people walking in 350 cities across the country, they are AFSP’s biggest fundraiser and the driver of the suicide prevention movement.

**A Review of Infertility: On line CEU

Training on Infertility through NetCE.

I did a recent online training on infertility.  Much of it was over my head, as they presented a lot of technical stuff.  Terms primary and secondary infertility, never pregnant versus pregnant before.  Infertility is unable to conceive after a year of unprotected sex.  80 percent of couple conceive within 6 monthly cycles, another ten percent (subfertile) within 12 cycles.  There are 10 percent who are identified as infertile.  Infertility can be woman cause, man caused or a combination of both.  Infertility has increased among women as the age of reproduction has increased.  Infertility is classified into three types, ovulatory (the woman is not producing eggs) tubal Occlusion, and sperm disorders.  There are risk factor for infertility including obesity, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, alcohol usage, tobacco and caffeine usage, other controlled substance usage (this includes marijuana) and environmental issues.  Treatments are many, starting with something as simple as a lifestyle change.  Reduction of stress, along with exercise and better physical condition can increase the chances of fertility.  Cessation of tobacco, alcohol or illicit drugs can also make a difference.  There are some medications treatments, and then also physical procedures including surgery to improve blood flow to the male as well as tubal repair and other procedures for women.  Other courses of treatment include artificial insemination, as well as assistive reproductive procedures.  

One important factor about infertility is the training made the point that infertility is stressful, and can have negative emotional effects.  Up to 30 percent of women have bouts of some type of depression.  

Lastly, infertility can also cause marital discord.  Often the wife is more vested in becoming pregnant and couple  must be careful to not let infertility disrupt their relationship.