Comments on: Doctor’s Letter: Philip Dawdy Needs Nicotine for His Mental Condition

By: Welcome to America, Where We Have Criminalized Mental Illness: The Case of My Sister, Attorney Anne Bremner | Before You Take That Pill

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:47:28 +0000

[...] a slice of plain white bread. The only challenge I ever got to this blog was when I wrote a (joke) letter to the landlord of Seattle journalist Philip Dawdy, stating that he needed to smoke because he had bipolar disorder (they were threatening to kick him [...]

By: Harry Rag

Harry Rag — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:06:48 +0000

Anne Bremner has vigorously campaigned for the release of Amanda Knox – a sadistic sex killer. She has repeatedly misled the media and the public with a number of false claims.

She may be able to suppress the truth about what happened when she was arrested by blocking the release of the investigative reports and video.

However, she won’t be able to suppress the truth about Amanda Knox. The English translation of Judge Massei’s report can be downloaded from here:

http://www.perugiamurderfile.org/viewtopic.php?p=53735#p5373

By: Trisha Klawe

Trisha Klawe — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:24:25 +0000

An incredibly refreshing read Doug. First, I applaud the courage it takes to speak where angels dare not be heard …; were I wearing my french berry, I would tip it to you and insist that you continue to write, to the loss of Emory I might add. klawe4

By: Academic Freedom, and Things Just Got Really Weird Around Here | Before You Take That Pill

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 12:59:48 +0000

[...] they don’t want me to put their name on this blog because of a complaint they got about a satirical letter I wrote on my blog saying that mental health blogger Phillip Dawdy should be allowed to smoke in his appartment because [...]

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:14:08 +0000

The Supreme Court has ruled that one can in fact take any drug- especially if one is an addict:

Early 1920s: A Dr. Linder gave a patient a narcotic and was prosecuted. The case was over-turned.

1962: Robinson v. California: The charges were ruled unconstitutional.

1968: Powell v. Texas- public drunkedness due to alcoholism. The case was dismissed.

By: Paula Lipko

Paula Lipko — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:24:43 +0000

Smoking isn’t the best habit but there are worse. Smokers already go outside of every building rain or shine. At least if they choose to smoke in their homes they should have that right. Smoking does seem to help those who have mental conditions and it seems to also help pre menopause symptoms. Just as marijuana seems to help some medical conditions. Plenty of studies are done about the cons of smoking what about any benefits? Can cigarettes be prescribed? Everything in moderation.

By: Doug Bremner

Doug Bremner — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 04:59:43 +0000

Yes I agree. I quit the herb a year ago (I think, have made repeated efforts to quit over the years) but I still think nothing of sitting at a table with European psychiatry colleages after dinner at a conference and having them light up. I am sorry, but that is the way it is. And as for standing outside of University Hospital in Seattle, or within 200 yards of such, I say, Eco-fascists! Eat my … {…}!!!

By: Crawford Harris

Crawford Harris — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:05:41 +0000

To qualify my little note, I have been afflicted with manic-depression for at least 55 years. Although I quit last March, I was a heavy smoker for almost 49 years.

People with mental illness feel bad. No surprise there. Smoking, as alcohol and other things, makes one feel better. It is a form of self-medication. It can kill much slower than SSRIs and their kin. Denial of a cigarette can increase stress. Stress can and does exacerbate a mental illness or even precipitate a psychotic episode.

I am not advocating smoking as a therapy, just explaining reality for many with a mental illness.

The ‘eco-fascists’ have gone off the deep end. Several years ago I saw ‘statistics’ claiming some number of deaths due to second-hand smoke. It seemed exagerated, so I checked. That number was higher than the Surgeon General claimed for actual smokers.

Were the ‘eco-fascists’ accurate I would have suggested they could increase their life-expectancy by taking up the habit.

By: Cousin in Eastern Washington

Cousin in Eastern Washington — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:47:55 +0000

I smoke stogies. I quit cigs 15 or so years ago. I believe that what people do in their own homes is there business. If you have a problem with my thought process consider this. If my bathroom fan didn’t work, and I opened my window to vent it out, it would bother you. If I don’t open my window it will bother you through the walls and venting system, and you would open your window. Your kitty liter box bothers me, I’m not asking for laws to ban your cat. I’m with Doug. Leave the guy alone. Let him be happy, you don’t know if he has GUNS, he could go Saigon revisited!! Bars are were people with bad habits go to have fun. If you don’t like it leave, go home and take a shower, do what makes you happy it could be the last day of your life.

By: Gina Pera

Gina Pera — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 07:25:45 +0000

P.S. Love the new look!