Pain may be one of the driving factors for the prevalence of ‘rich people’ in endurance sports. Research suggests that the unpleasantness involved in these sports provides a temporary relief from the “burdens of self-awareness”, and that the pain is seen as an achievement in discipline. Either way, this pursuit of pain has resulted in a condition reserved for the well-off: “white-collar rhabdomyolysis”, or kidney damage caused by extreme exercise. 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
