If someone has paid their debt to society after committing a crime, should they be allowed the same rights and privileges as other citizens? In theory, most Americans believe in second chances, but in practice, there are layers of discriminatory practices that prevent people with criminal records from moving on with their lives. In the […]

At the time of this writing, Derek Chauvin is on trial for the murder of George Floyd. This is my opinion piece. Video shows Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest. He denied the charge against him. His defense team is proposing that drug overdose and an underlying heart […]

For 70+ years, studies have supposedly shown that marrying improves people’s wellness. We have believed that marriage makes people healthier and happier. If only we could find our soulmate, we would live happily ever after. Let’s examine our assumptions. Do you believe that married or coupled people are happier and healthier than single people? Do […]

Mental disorders can affect anyone. But it affects men and women differently. Some disorders are more common in one sex than the other. Certain disorders are unique to women experiencing hormone changes such as perinatal depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and perimenopause-related depression. Some conditions are the same across genders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. […]

I enjoy people who have strong opinions, but I don’t like to debate with people who think they are always right. Dogmatically assertive people have strongly held opinions that they refuse to change, even when they are unreasonable. They speak as if their opinions are facts rather than mere beliefs. A black-and-white approach to life […]

Have you heard of Anna Sorokin who pretended to be a wealthy German heiress? Her real name is Anna Delvey. She swindled friends and banks out of tens of thousands of dollars and was sentenced to prison, ultimately serving almost four years. She convinced friends and businesses to give her money to fund a lavish […]

Have you heard that Oregon passed a drug decriminalization law? Oregon is the first state in the country to prioritize drug treatment over punishment. Oregon is motivated to save lives. An average of one or two Oregonians die of a drug overdose every day. Overdose deaths in Oregon were up 70% this spring compared to […]

We love to celebrate achievements and milestones. We applaud cancer survivors. We are in awe of people who lose weight. We cheer marathon runners. Yet, people who are in recovery from drug dependence are often met with poor treatment. Anyone who has been dependent upon an illicit drug feels the shame of addiction. Even if […]

I read a Facebook post that generated a lot of discussion. “My mom said something mean to me when I was 8, literally, that I repeat back to myself any time I make a stupid mistake. I could probably bring it up to her and she won’t even remember it ever happened, or she ever […]

It was frightening to watch the violence at the Pro-Trump riot at the Capitol. What is wrong with these people? Are they mentally ill? Extremists can be left-wing or right-wing, but their views are beyond the boundaries of the norm. Political extremists are people or groups that hold a set of beliefs that differ from […]