Puke With Your Head, Not Over It

Fresh off reporting on groundbreaking psychological research showing that hidden biases can affect our political views (gee, thanks), the multi-talented Shankar Vedantam — a published fiction writer and prize-winning playwright, as well as a journalist — brings us news of a promising possible treatment for compulsive gambling.

Results from the largest study ever of medical treatments for pathological gambling show that a medication already known to disrupt addictions [nalmefene] is effective at getting people away from the craps table and back to their lives.

Gamblers who took the drug felt less craving compared with others who were given placebos, said Jon E. Grant, a psychiatrist at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis who led the study. The study was funded by BioTie Therapies Corp. of Finland, which makes the drug.

But don’t get your hopes up yet, gambling addicts:

The study showed that nalmefene is not yet a sure bet, however. Two-thirds of the patients dropped out of the study because of side effects, mainly nausea. A second study is being launched with lower doses.

We love craps as much as the next guy. But a burning desire to vomit will get us away from that table pretty darn fast.

Drug May Help Compulsive Gamblers Walk Away from the Table [WP]
Shankar Vedantam bio [Vedantam.com]

EARLIER: Breaking News: Hidden Biases Affect Political Views

READ MORE: drugs, gamblers anonymous, gambling, nalmefene, shankar vedantam, washington post

Bill Bennett’s Planned Parenthood

Yes, yes, yes: The Bill Bennett thing. We’ve refrained from commenting on his assertions that “you could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down” largely because, well, in a very literal sense he’s not wrong. Aborting every white baby would also reduce crime, as well as free up space in Ivy League colleges and country and western bars. Aborting every baby of any color would virtually eliminate crime, and we have no idea why someone hasn’t run on that platform before. Bennett himself hedges that “these far-out, these far-reaching, extensive extrapolations are, I think, tricky.” Perhaps he’d like to bet on it?

ALSO: Bennett uttered these words of wisdom on his radio show, which you now know exists.

Media Matters exposes Bennett: “[Y]ou could abort every black baby in this country, and your crime rate would go down” [Media Matters]
RELATED: William Bennett reportedly lost millions gambling [NYT]

READ MORE: bill bennett, gamblers anonymous, insane theories, media matters, race relations