Don't Drink and Drive

Random thought...it's been a long day.

"You are crazy to go to medical school," one of my former employers admonished in an email. This physician had the chutzpah to try to talk me out of my choice. As a sign from God,  a good friend of mine who is a Caribbean medical graduate and successful family practitioner in Florida praised the effort...Thanks JL!

But we are crazy. Really. And we substance abuse as well.  The prevalence of mental illness among medical students, including substance abuse, is higher than the general population.  Medical students use alcohol and prescription opiates at a higher rate than similar age-matched cohorts.  As for other forms of mental illness, an 8-year study at the University of Louisville revealed that approximately 20% of their medical students sought psychiatric consultation and treatment, for reasons such as adjustment, mood, anxiety, compulsive and dependent personality disorders, and marital problems.  It is something to consider.

Caribbean beer consumption ranges from 24 to 45 liters per person, and Statia has one of the highest rates of Heineken consumption (and the Trinidad brew "Carib", partially owned by Heineken) in the islands. On most days you can find crates of the stuff stacked up at the port. It is more likely to find beer at the port than fruits or vegetables in fact. The sad fact that the temptation to drink is here and readily accessible. In fact, many local rums are cheaper than the water.

I may be crazy, but I am going to have a beer after this term (maybe before it's over). Clearly it is important to not gain any additional pathologies while I am here, but so easy to see how this happens.

Back to anatomy. We are doing the thorax this week.