Author Archives: Admin

May 25, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Kratom: Opioid or Supplement

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 25, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

The Georgia General Assembly won’t reconvene until the second Monday of 2019, but legislators have plenty to do until then. While they run for reelection, most of them will be appointed to serve on any one of three dozen study committees they created this year.

Two separate committees will study in-state cultivation of marijuana – in-state growing to produce THC oil, and in-state growing to produce industrial hemp. Another bill, H.R. 1160, created a committee that will study Mitragyna speciosa, a.k.a. Kratom, which the Food and Drug Administration identifies as “a plant which grows naturally in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and New Guinea.”

After attributing 36 deaths to kratom, the FDA warns consumers not to use any product that’slabeled kratom or any supplement or dietary product that contains kratom or its psychoactive compounds. Kratom affects the same opioid brain receptors as morphine and appears to have properties that expose users to possible addiction, substance abuse, and dependence on kratom. Continue reading →

May 18, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Glad I don’t Live in California!

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 18, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

You’ve probably heard that whatever happens in California spreads to the rest of the country. If true, we’re in for big trouble in Georgia, because parents of students in California have just been told they cannot opt their children out of the newly “integrated, comprehensive, accurate, and inclusive comprehensive sexual health education and HIV prevention education” for K – 12 students.

That opinion was published in the March 29th memo of Orange County Department of Education general council Ronald Wenkart who said, “Education Code Section 51938 allows a parent or guardian to excuse their child from all or part of comprehensive sexual health education.” Then, he said, “Parents who disagree with the instructional materials related to gender, gender ID, gender expression and sexual orientation may not excuse their children from this instruction. However, parents are free to advise their children that they disagree with some or all of the information presented in the instructional program and express their views on these subjects to their children.”

This government power grab violates the right of parents to determine the up-bringing of their children and every California parent should object to any school’s use of such indoctrination. In its analysis of the law, the California Department of Education infers that children have a right to engage in sexual relationships with other children, regardless of age. That is a false assumption. Continue reading →

May 2018 Newsletter

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“Dis-invitations” to Speak on Campus

“Protesters at the University of California, Berkeley caused over $100,000 in damage and several injuries while violently protesting an appearance … causing the event to be canceled. Only three arrests were made by police…. Students at Middlebury College in Vermont disrupted an event … forcing the event to be relocated and live-streamed from a private, remote location. Protesters became aware of the new location and attacked [a professor and the speaker], sending [the speaker] to the emergency room.”
– Greg Lukianoff, FIRE President and CEO,
Testimony to U.S. House Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice

Dis-invitation is the increased demand by college students and faculty that speakers with whom they disagree must not be allowed to speak on campus. Activists first targeted speakers at commencements, but, now, 80 percent of the protests are on college campuses, where administrators often defy the Constitution and revoke or withdraw the speaker’s invitation.

Offenses against the Elderly Become Felonies

H.B. 803 passed the Senate unanimously, with only one dissenting vote in the House. When Governor Deal signed it May 7th; it became Act 419, which takes effect July 1st.
H.B. 803 classifies as crimes coercion, misuse of controlled substances, deception, isolation or exploitation, if they are perpetrated against disabled adults or the elderly or any resident. The bill defines each offense as a felony, punishable by one-to-20 years in prison and a $100,000 fine. Each violation will be judged as a separate offense.

A 2017 report by the MetLife Mature Market Institute, estimated that victims of elder financial abuse and exploitation lose over $2.9 billion per year. When another study added fraud to that, the loss increased to $36.5 billion annually. Elders report financial exploitation much more often than they report abuse or neglect. Of the 39 states and D.C. that addressed the issue last year, 24 passed laws or resolutions to protect the elderly and vulnerable adults.

To avoid becoming victims, elders are encouraged to personally control, post and open their own mail, refuse to give personal information over the phone, communicate with others on their own phone, and learn what rights they have when dealing with their professional or family caregivers. A call to 911 or police is suggested as a way to clarify situations. Although the many forms of elder abuse result in a 300 percent higher risk of death, the passage of H.B. 803 should improve the situation for Georgia elders.

  • To read the rest of this newsletter in PDF format, please click here.

May 11, 2018 Radio Commentary

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Crimes against Elderly Disabled Adults

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, May 11, 2018 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler

H.B. 803 passed the Senate unanimously; in the House there was only one negative vote; Governor Deal signed it May 7th; it became Act 419 upon his signature; it takes effect July 1st. Unless the bill specifies an earlier effective date, legislation that passes and is not vetoed becomes law July 1st, with or without the governor’s signature. After the session ends the governor has 40 days to veto or sign bills. At midnight May 8th that 40-day period expired.

H.B. 803 prohibits certain crimes – coercion, misuse of controlled substances, deception, exploitation, or isolation – against disabled adults or the elderly or any resident. As defined in the bill, these offenses are felonies, punishable by one-to-20 years in prison and $100,000 fine. Each violation will be judged as a separate offense.

In 2017 the MetLife Mature Market Institute estimated money lost by victims of elder financial abuse and exploitation was over $2.9 billion per year. When another study added fraud, the estimated loss increased to $36.5 billion annually. Elders report financial exploitation crimes much more often than emotional, physical, sexual abuse or neglect. Also, of 39 states and the District of Columbia that addressed the issue in 2017, 24 passed laws or resolutions that protect the elderly and vulnerable adults. Continue reading →