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Tackling problems of opioid abuse By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
A panel of local people working on the frontlines to reduce the problem of opioid drug abuse gained access to the nation’s drug czar last week in a Pasco County roundtable session initiated by Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis, of Palm Harbor. No certain solutions were offered during the May 3 discussion with for Michael Botticelli, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. But panelists and people in the audience identified several areas needing improvement They said: • The stigma surrounding drug addiction must be reduced • Parents need education to help prevent their children from becoming addicts
Gus Bilirakis
Michael Botticelli
• More tools and better access to care are needed to help people overcome addiction • Residential treatment programs should not be limited to 28 days • Innovative and creative approaches should be encouraged and shared • More community support is needed to help those who have completed treatment programs to avoid a relapse
Panelists said they appreciated the opportunity to talk directly with Botticelli. Doug Leonardo, executive director of BayCare Behavioral Health put it like this:“I feel like I’m sitting next to a rock star. For folks in the field, this is the individual who has the president’s ear on policies related to substance abuse for this country. So, it’s really a big deal.” Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that opioids – a class of drugs that includes heroin and prescription pain medications – were involved in 28,648 deaths in 2014. “We don’t have our arms around addiction and it continues to get worse,” Leonardo said.“It feels like two steps forward, one step back, sometimes.” See ABUSE, page 11A
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Dr. Naga Thatimatla will begin seeing patients at a weight loss clinic in Wesley Chapel on Friday, May 13. The surgeon specializes in sleeve gastrectomy, a form of bariatric weight-loss surgery.
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Weight loss clinic opening in Wesley Chapel By Kevin Weiss
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A new weight loss clinic is opening in Wesley Chapel this week. Bayfront Health Medical Group will open a satellite office at 2718 Windguard Circle, Suite 101 in Wesley Chapel. The weight loss clinic will allow Bayfront Health Dade City general surgeon Dr. Naga Thatimatla, also known as Dr.Thati, to consult with Wesley Chapel patients, and have one-night stays post-weight loss surgery.The actual surgeries will take place at Bayfront Health Dade City. Dr. Thati will begin seeing patients on May 13. He specializes in bariatric surgery, using a technique known as the gastric sleeve, which is a form of laparoscopic (minimal-invasive) surgery removing nearly 80 percent of the stomach. According to Bayfront Health’s website, the surgery takes out the portion of the stomach that curves outward, called the fun-
the other procedures like gastric bypass surgery and lap-band surgery. In terms of weight loss, it’s superior compared to the lap-band and comparable to gastric bypass surgery in terms of results,” the surgeon explained, adding it takes him about 40 minutes to perform the procedure. “Overall, it creates a new life, basically,” he said. The procedure in essence created a new life for one of his patients, Gail Burkett, a 57-year-old Dade City resident and Bayfront Health employee. Since entering a six-month weight management program in January Gail Burkett underwent a significant transformation 2015 to having the operation in June 2015, Burkett has lost a total of 179 after getting a sleeve gastrectomy, losing 179 pounds. pounds since January 2015. “I had never had a ‘full’ feeling, until after I had the surgery. Then I dus. Once the fundus is taken out, the re- knew what feeling full meant. But I had mainder of the stomach is closed into a tube never had that before,” Burkett said, noting shape, resembling a banana. With a much there’s significantly less stress on her knees. smaller stomach, patients fill up quickly at “When I first came to work (at the hospimealtimes, and ultimately, eat less. tal), I would park as close as I possibly could “It makes it easier to lose weight after park to get into the building. Now, I park up the surgery,” Dr. Thati said.“People are not on the hill and I walk down every day.” struggling to lose weight.They don’t have Not only does Burkett look and feel the hunger, so they don’t have the tempta- healthier, but the surgery has also allowed tion.A lot of people, when they look at the her to discontinue medications for high food, their preferences change.” blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 The surgeon noted the procedure has Diabetes. quickly become the most popular form of “On average, people lose like 100 bariatric surgery, due to its simplicity to per- pounds four to six months after the proceform, and its long-term results. See WEIGHT, page 11A “It has less complications compared to
He offers a ‘hypnotic’ form of entertainment By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Hypnotized Live!
Hypnotist Michael C.Anthony shares the stage with 30 or so people who don’t mind a bit of suggestive fun. They might fall asleep. Or forget their names. Or break into dance. Or, they might even be convinced that a belt is a wriggling snake. They might even find true love, of a most unusual kind. “I made a guy fall in love with a broom,” said Anthony, who will bring his Hypnotized Live! Show to Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts on May 20 and May 21. He invites audience members to leave their seats and become part of his show. But, they have a choice. They can “SEE the show or BE the show. “I don’t pressure anybody to come on the stage,”Anthony said. There is never a problem of getting peo-
WHERE: Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Place, in downtown Tampa WHEN: May 20 and May 21 at 7:30 p.m. COST: Tickets are $39.99 and $49.99 INFORMATION: Contact the ticket office at (813) 229-7827 or 1-800-955-1045
ple to join in the act. Anthony, who lives in Land O’ Lakes, starts his performances with a few minutes of stand up comedy so the audience knows “this is going to be fun. At the end of the show, you’ll be glad you did this.” The full-time hypnotist has been performing for about 20 years displaying his skills in theaters, at corporate events and at colleges. He’s been to every state except See HYPNOTIC, page 11A
COURTESY OF MICHAEL C. ANTHONY
Hypnotist Michael C. Anthony will perform at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.