Ketamine use can lead to severe physical and psychological effects, including loss of feeling and paralysis, hallucinations, and a distorted sense of reality, which may cause users to believe they have had a spiritual experience. This can result in addiction as users crave the intense sensation. Regular use can also cause bladder damage, requiring surgical removal, and increase heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, muscle paralysis can leave users vulnerable to self-harm due to numbness, while withdrawal symptoms are often described as worse than other drugs, with some users experiencing severe depression and suicidal thoughts.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14652585/Dancing-Ice-Colin-Grafton-quit-death-former-celeb-Vivienne-ketamine.htmlAustralia's Labor government has pledged to enhance its universal health care system with a free medical advice line and telehealth service if it wins the upcoming general election, amid rising cost-of-living pressures. The promise is part of the party's efforts to differentiate itself from the conservative Liberal-National opposition, which emphasizes economic management and border protection.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/04/28/world/asia-oceania/australia-touts-free-health-care-hotline-as-election-nears/2100122Today is Valentine's Day, a day when people are expected to celebrate love and relationships. Some individuals may experience joy and harmony with their loved ones, while others may struggle with managing their emotions or avoiding conflict, approaching the day with quiet awareness.
https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/2025-04-27/opinion/cartoons/Sundays-fortune-Joy-and-harmony-for-many-while-others-navigate-emotions-with-care/2287797The "Momo" phenomenon began as an urban legend about a psychopath instructing children to harm themselves through text messages and online videos. However, after warnings from schools and police in the UK and abroad, concerns grew, prompting Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom to express alarm over the issue. Charities later disputed reports of Momo being linked to self-harm, stating there was no confirmed evidence of harm in the UK. Despite this, fears and misinformation fueled a frenzy on social media, with internet companies facing pressure to protect vulnerable users.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14618707/How-Momo-terrified-world-haunting-internet-Viral-suicide-challenge-horrified-parent-linked-childrens-deaths-self-harm-came-twist.htmlThe National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has received a message from its Chair, Maria Rosario Jackson.
https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2025/message-nea-chair-maria-rosario-jacksonThe National Endowment for the Arts is exploring ways to address substance use disorder through the arts. The NEA has partnered with organizations such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to develop a program that uses creative therapies like music, dance, and theater to help individuals struggling with addiction. For example, the NEA-funded "Art of Healing" project in New York City provides art therapy sessions for people recovering from substance abuse. This initiative aims to provide an alternative to traditional treatment methods and promote healing through creative expression.
https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2025/addressing-substance-use-disorder-artsThe National Endowment for the Arts is exploring ways to improve working conditions for artists, focusing on creating better jobs in the arts. The NEA has launched initiatives to provide more stable and secure employment opportunities for creatives, such as offering grants and fellowships that support artist residencies and collaborations with companies like Google and Facebook. By fostering a healthier work-life balance and providing resources for mental health support, the NEA aims to enhance the overall quality of artistic work and promote well-being among artists in the US.
https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2025/bringing-good-jobs-arts-strategies-creating-better-art-creating-better-working-conditions-artistsNovo Nordisk has secured permanent injunctions against dozens of entities that falsely claim to sell genuine or FDA-approved versions of its semaglutide medicines, including Wegovy and Ozempic. The court orders also require businesses to correct misleading marketing and advertising practices, warning patients about the dangers of unapproved compounded drugs made by third parties. A bipartisan coalition of 38 state Attorneys General has called for swift action against compounding pharmacies that sell knockoff drugs, while the Ohio Attorney General has issued cease-and-desist letters to med spas in Chicago advertising unapproved versions of these products. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has warned about safety concerns related to fraudulent compounding practices associated with weight loss drugs.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisk-protects-us-patients-with-legal-wins-against-compounders-including-ruling-that-permanently-prohibits-compounding-pharmacy-from-selling-illegitimate-knockoff-wegovy-or-ozempic-302438372.htmlExperts warn that proposed changes to New South Wales' mental health compensation scheme will make it nearly impossible for injured workers to claim damages from employers. Dr. Julian Parmegiani, who designed a scale to rate psychological injuries in worker compensation cases, says the government's plan to increase the level of impairment needed to claim lump sum damages from 15 to 30 per cent would effectively kill the scheme. The changes also require workers to take claims to the Industrial Relations Commission before seeking workers' compensation, sparking concerns that they will limit workers' rights and cut compensation for psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/experts-say-mental-health-payouts-may-become-impossible-20250427-p5luhn.html