I am not a fan of how newspapers use headlines to misrepresent stories to provke unwarranted fear, and heightened risk perception. Today, the Ottawa Citizen published two stories about seasonal and H1N1 vaccine. The first story, For Guillain-Barre survivors, flu shot stirs up unwelcome memories, emblazoned on the front page has all the elements [...]

Deborah decided she had had enough of smoking marijuana. Last week’s column reviewed how her addiction affected her psychosocial development. Deborah was pondering why she continued to smoke four to 10 joints a day to the detriment of her health, desires and life goals.

How have society’s changing attitudes about sexual activity and responsibility affected our teenage children?

The Medical Institute for Sexual Health, a U.S. non-profit group promoting sexual abstinence outside marriage, lists the devastating toll laissez-faire attitudes have had on our teens.

School children tend to set the agenda when it comes to what health info they want

Despite numerous health advisory and information campaigns, inroads into curbing or modifying deleterious adolescent behaviours remain wanting. There are many reasons, including competition from television and movies, advertising, peer pressure, academic responsibilities, development of independent attitudes and rebelliousness, and their own social calendar

Throw away those old truisms about cigarettes. Here are some new ways to talk to teens about smoking.

You are in a line for a movie and you pass gas or do some other embarrassing activity. Your first reaction usually is “Oh my god, they all know I did it!” This is a remnant of your teen years. Teens are naturally self- centered and experience that reaction you had about ten times more intensely sometimes on a daily basis. Despite the teen horror stories, most adolescents cope well with their development process.

Mr. H., a World War II veteran was posted 24 times in 27 years while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. He is proud of his accomplishments and his actions demonstrate quiet dignity and honor. He has told me stories of his military life. Stories about sacrifice, dedication, honor and integrity that children, not to mention some adults should hear. Now, at age 78 I have told him he has inoperable kidney cancer because it has spread to his lungs. He would not survive the operation.

Eight years ago, two Ottawa doctors went back to high school to start the first in-school medical centre of its kind in Canada
Adolescents are an under-serviced population — and there are several factors that contribute to this phenomenon.

In June, my dad was hospitalized for some surgery. He related the following story to me: My dad walked the ward after his surgery whence he came upon an elderly woman near the nurse’s station.