Can our food intake trigger depression? According to a new study, vegetarians have roughly twice as many depressive episodes as meat eaters. Flabbergasting, right? But there are several possible reasons for the link between vegetarianism and depression, like the fact that being depressed causes people to be more likely to become vegetarians rather than the other way around. So it’s safe to assume that vegetarian nutrition is probably not a cause of depression. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
