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Precision Medicine & Controlled Substances: Marijuana & MDMA

4/27/2022

There is considerable NEED to RAMP UP Research on Controlled Dangerous Substances such as Marijuana and "ECSTASY"

to DIAL BACK some of the EXCESSES of "MARIJUANA" Legalization AND
make available MDMA / "ECSTASY" for PTSD.

Right NOW --- Mental Health is INCOMPETENT (in some respects) and is NOT UP on the LATEST RESEARCH BUT that is primarily because we have NOT provided sufficient TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH & MEDICINE

AND we're often asking people to WAIT DECADES and DECADES when:What they are currently getting from Mental Health isn't that great (in some respects) --- AND

People are STILL NOT LIVING FOREVER --- even if some people are SUPER AGERSThat DEATH THING is STILL A THING.

We Need PRECISION MEDICINE --- what might "WORK" or be "HARMLESS" for one person --- could be HARMFUL for someone else.

ABC 10
How A First Responder Says MDMA Helped Him Get Past PTSD

Modulating NMDA Receptor Activity Is the Key to Successful Treatment of PTSD

April 16, 2022

Neuroscience News

The Efficacy of MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), known recreationally as “Molly” or “Ecstasy”, is a triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor. MDMA specifically acts as a weak 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 receptor agonist, targeting 5-HT2A, 5-HT2B, and 5-HT2C receptors. Its potential use for therapeutic purposes with these pharmacological profiles remains a controversial subject.

Studies have shown the potential benefits in clinical trials for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A larger amount of data has been provided for the push in support of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy in these patients.

Objective: The aim of this article is to compute a meta-analysis and conduct a systematic review of the effects of MDMA on PTSD, discussing the potential benefits and adverse events relative to dosing and stability of treatment.

Discussion: Findings show promising evidence for the potential therapeutic use of MDMA alongside psychotherapy in the treatment of PTSD. The pharmacological profile of MDMA may provide direction for future drug developments to treat patients with treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders.

Relevancy and the FULLNESS OF TIME

4/20/2022

Stephen Covey really put into HIGH RELIEF this distinction between EFFICIENCY and EFFECTIVENESS.

This has RAMIFICATIONS in the JUSTICE SYSTEM --- and many of us are familiar with the phrase: "Justice Delayed is Justice Denied."
Further, I'm going to connect EFFICIENCY to TRADITIONAL EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING.
- It is important
- It is important to the JUSTICE SYSTEM

The Justice System can be HIGHLY INEFFICIENT.
- Colorado's ACCESS TO JUSTICE COMMITTEE is recommending greater use of TECHNOLOGY and SIMPLIFICATION of PROCEDURES.
  - As many engineers can tell you, the SIMPLER the PROCESS, often the MORE SOPHISTICATED the ENGINEERING.

On the other hand, the American Justice System while it has its SUCCESSES --- has been a CAUTIONARY TALE to the WORLD.
- It's taken a former KGB murderer who heads the Russian Government and has unleashed WAR CRIMES in UKRAINE to push the American Justice System off the RADAR SCREEN.

This may sound like AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM --- BUT the fact of the matter is we have a ROBUST HISTORY of WRESTLING with SOME COMPLEX PROBLEMS in the provision of Justice.
- JUSTICE is NOT THE STATE of NATURE --- the STATE of NATURE is MIGHT MAKES RIGHT and the STRONG KILL THE WEAK.

One of the places where WESTERN JUSTICE tends to go OFF THE RAILS --- is ironically it's NOTION of RELEVANCY.

I think we need to EXPLICITLY CONNECT our IDEAS of RELEVANCY with our IDEAS regarding DUE PROCESS OF LAW.
- Of course, that is done ALL THE TIME --- BUT it seems to me we need a MORE SEAMLESS and DIRECT CONNECTION.
- Both for purposes of EFFICIENCY and EFFECTIVENESS.

Under Federal and State Rules of Evidence --- Relevancy is generally anything that would ASSIST THE TRIER OF FACT.

See Federal Rule of Evidence Rule 401 (Test for Relevant Evidence) and 402 (General Admissibility of Relevant Evidence)

AND there is generally a caveat that the EVIDENCE can't be "UNFAIRLY" PREJUDICIAL (it can be "prejudicial" --- just not "unfairly prejudicial.")

See Federal Rule of Evidence Rule 403
(Excluding Relevant Evidence for Prejudice, Confusion, Waste of Time, or Other Reasons)

So far, so good.

BUT what happens when you have a FACT that ---

Criminal Defendant Bob, Jesus or Jamal has a BRAIN INJURY or DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER or SUBSTANCE ISSUE or PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER or HISTORY of CHILD ABUSE or TRAUMA.

ABC NEWS: Top 20 "Whitest" and "Blackest" Names

FURTHER, what happens if you have EVIDENCE that MOST CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS have BRAIN INJURY, DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS, SUBSTANCE ISSUES, PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS and HISTORIES of CHILD ABUSE or TRAUMA-----Significantly greater than people not involved in the criminal justice system and at more SEVERE LEVELS.

"ALL OF A SUDDEN" -- over many years and decades ---- Our notions of PUNISHMENT don't seem to comport with DUE PROCESS of LAW and FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS --- even as the SAFETY CONCERNS REMAIN.

THIS does require the WISDOM of SOLOMON --- which we don't have BUT we are SLOWLY MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

UNDERSTANDING that many of the "FACTS" of Cognitive Disability that we write off as "IRRELEVANT" and "NO EXCUSE" ---

Are actually highly relevant and
Would be much more EXPLICITLY THE SUBJECT MATTER of a PUBLIC HEALTH APPROACH TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE.

NEURO-DIVERSE ACCOMMODATIONS --- ACCOMMODATING NON-TYPICAL COMBINATIONS of STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES.

4/5/2022

CONJECTURE

This is really about MINORITY RIGHTS and PEOPLE with COMPLICATED COMBINATIONS of STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES that can be on opposite ends of various SPECTRUMS ----

For Example, Frank Sinatra or Einstein or Sylvia Plath
Often we think of Ethnic and Racial Minorities, Gender and LGBTQ+ Rights when we think of MINORITY RIGHTS

Neuro-Diversity cuts across these CATEGORIES.

Because Neuro-Diversity directly implicates COGNITION and EMOTIONAL REGULATION it is important to UNDERSTAND.
- It also often comes with some BIG STRENGTHS in one or more areas.

There generally are challenges in EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING and EMOTIONAL REGULATION
- The Ramped Up Sensory Processing that is fueling the perception of some of these STRENGTHS is also fueling the perception of these CHALLENGES.

The STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES are TOO INTEGRATED to address UNCONCIOUSLY or INDIRECTLY.
- Trying to RAM that Round Peg in a Square Hole can create more problems than it solves.

The idea of "FLOW" is based on a BALANCE of STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES.

When you or someone else is coming in a more UNUSUAL COMBINATION of STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES --- that BALANCE has to be achieved MORE CONSCIOUSLY.

We do know ourselves in part by our observation of OTHERS --- BUT if we have significant differences --- we may have a hard time understanding what we need and standing up for ourselves------ and others may have a hard time understanding what we need.

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi --- "FLOW"

FLOW: A BALANCE OF "CHALLENGES & SKILLS"

You Won't Have To Worry About Lazy Adults if you go with the flow

Platypus --- An Animal So Strange ---- It Almost Doesn't Look REAL.

We do need EXPERTS that can address these issues from an ACCOMMODATION STANDPOINT
- Working just on the TRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT end --- may not always work.
- Neuro-Diverse people are quite frankly often needing a lot of things REASONABLY ACCOMMODATED and INDIVIDUALLY TAILORED.
  - The LAW provides for it so long as it is "REASONABLE"--- but asking the INDIVIDUAL to fight that BATTLE is sometimes not realistic and it can result in a PYRRHIC VICTORY ---- you won the battle but you lost the war --- you're still in a HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
    - AND for people SENSITIVE to their ENVIRONMENTS & STRESS --- that is not going to be a good thing.

Incentivizing Entrepreneurs to Incorporate Neuro-Diverse people in the work force is a possible option.

Some technically minded Neuro-Diverse are IN DEMAND in HIGH TECH --- BUT not all Neuro-Diverse people are technically minded.

We are talking about how to INCENTIVIZE people to broach the LEARNING CURVE of NEURO-DIVERSE ACCOMODATIONS.

A lot of Neuro-Diverse people assumed the UNBALANCED VIEWS of THEMSELVES reflected in others.

Once Neuro-Diverse people get that HARD WON more BALANCED VIEW of themselves with COMPLICATED STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES --- that can drive a lot of improvement, too.

Supported Entrepreneurship is important.

The WORKFORCE SHORTAGE is an INCENTIVE to get on that LEARNING CURVE to TAP into the STRENGTHS of Neuro-Diverse people without BURNING THEM OUT.

When I refer to "Neuro-Diverse" --- I am generally referring to people who fall within current categories of ADHD, Autism, Gifted and Dyslexia or other Neuro-Developmental Conditions often:

Sharing Some Genes
Often subject to Maternal Immune Activation during Pregnancy
Possibly Ramped Up Epigenetic Positive Feedback Loops,
Increased Sensitivity to the Environment --- that is probably once again related to this Ramped Up Sensory Processing.
HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS

They tend to be more VULNERABLE to PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS.

Transitional/ Translational Justice Monday

Precision Medicine & Controlled Substances: Marijuana & MDMA

Relevancy and the FULLNESS OF TIME

NEURO-DIVERSE ACCOMMODATIONS --- ACCOMMODATING NON-TYPICAL COMBINATIONS of STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES.

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