Parade 06-12 by The Southern Illinoisan

SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2011

SPECIAL REPORT

TEENS AND EXTREME DRINKING An alarming new trend every parent needs to know about

PLUS:

PARADE

Parade.com/celebrity

WALTER SCOTT ASKS…

Howie Mandel

costars in Chipperton’s A Famous Dog’s Life, in bookstores now.

The comedian, 55, is back as a judge on NBC’s America’s Got Talent (Tues. and Wed. nights).

How is AGT different from other reality shows? It’s not just singing or dancing. You’re going to see things you’ve never seen before. Fellow judge Piers Morgan has called you “the world’s most annoying man.” I thought that was pretty unfounded, so my mission is to make him an honest man. I spend every waking minute annoying him now. How so? I’ve locked him in his dressing room, canceled his car service—his life with me is a living hell!

Have a question for Walter Scott? Visit Parade.com/celebrity or write Walter Scott at P.O. Box 5001, Grand Central Station, New York, N.Y. 10163-5001.

—Judith Hair, Sanford, Fla.

Q: Did the Taco Bell

A: “Yes!” says the series’ star, Catherine Bell, 42. The fourth installment,

dog play Bruiser in Legally Blonde?

A: No, but the two have shared the screen: Gidget (the Taco Bell dog, who died in 2009) played Bruiser’s (Moonie’s) mom in Legally Blonde 2. “They went to the premiere in their own limo,” ue says trainer Sue Chipperton. Read more tales about Hollywood animals and their human

—Betelhem Muno, Seattle

PMoonie (a.k.a. Bruiser)

PCatherine Bell

Q: Will there be any

more made-for-TV Good Witch movies?

The Good Witch’s Family, premieres this fall on the Hallmark Channel. “It picks up where the last one left off,” she adds. “Cassie is married and dealing with life in a larger and more complicated family.” Also catch Bell on tonight’s season ﬁnale of Army Wives.

PJessica McClure Morales

received a trust fund of nearly $800,000, made p of donations from up strangers who were touched by her ordeal.

PGuy Fieri

Q: Is it true that Guy

Fieri got a tattoo after cooking at the White House? —Anonymous, Los Angeles

A: Yes—Fieri, 43, commemorated last year’s event with an eagle tattoo. In his new cookbook, Guy Fieri Food: Cookin’ It, Livin’ It, Lovin’ It, the chef uses tattoo art to help illustrate the pages. Q: What has become come

o ? —Lisa of Baby Jessica? Schutt, Fortville, Ind..

A: Rescued from a well

a a toddler, Jessica Mcas C Clure Morales, 25, now li a quiet life as a staylives at at-home mom in Texas. In March, she reportedly

Indiana Jones made his debut 30 years ago today, when Raiders of the Lost Ark hit theaters. The ﬁlm became the topgrossing release of 1981. Which Hollywood hunk got offered the part before Harrison Ford? Find out at Parade.com/indiana.

PHOTOS, CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: GETTY IMAGES (3); SONYA N. HEBERT/DALLAS MORNING NEWS/CORBIS; MGM/COURTESY EVERETT COLLECTION. ILLUSTRATION: ANDY FRIEDMAN

Personality Walter Scott’s

your guide to health, life,

money, entertainment, and more

this year, the flag flew at the funeral of Tucson shooting victim Christina-Taylor Green. People are “stitching their story and their pain into this collective flag,” Parness says. “It’s getting more beautiful every day.” The flag will finish its tour this September in New York, where it will eventually become part of the 9/11 museum. “That should be the final home,” Parness says. “We’ll return it whole.” —Emmet Sullivan

Parade Picks

Follow the ﬂag’s journey at Parade.com/911.

This Flag Was Still There

harlie vitchers had been clearing debris from egf ground zero for four days when he and his crew discovered a miracle: Somehow, a tattered American flag, damaged by smoke and fire, had survived the attacks. Vitchers carefully removed it from the site, hoping to hand it off to a local VFW or Boy Scout troop. With so much left to do, though, he put the flag in a shed

4 • June 12, 2011

he owned and went back to work. That’s where it stayed for seven years until Vitchers rediscovered it while packing for a 2008 trip to Greensburg, Kan., to help rebuild the tornado-stricken town with other volunteers from the New York Says Thank You Foundation. Vitchers decided to bring the ﬂag with him as a symbol of survival. It was the start of a journey that has stretched across America. Watching

the Greensburg residents stitch pieces of their own tattered ﬂags to the 9/11 Old Glory, Jeff Parness, founder of New York Says Thank You, was inspired to make it a tradition. In the past three years, the newly christened National 9/11 Flag has traveled to more than 25 states, picking up patches in each community it visits. Most of the stops have been scenes of tragedy, including Pearl Harbor and Oklahoma City. Earlier

P Music

NATURAL HISTORY

from JD Souther ($18) Souther

recasts some of his famous tunes—such as “New Kid in Town,” written with the Eagles, and “Faithless Love,” covered by Linda Ronstadt— as stripped-down solo arrangements with a hint of jazz. You’ve heard these songs before, but never like this. SPEED OF DARKNESS from Flogging Molly ($15) Penned

in Detroit and inspired by the country’s devastating economic collapse, Flogging Molly’s ﬁfth album is both a foot-stomping blast of Celtic punk rock and a battle cry for the working class. It’s angry and deﬁant at times, but through it all is a message of hope and resilience.

egf

P Books ooks

MAINE by J. Courtney Sullivan, fiction ($26) The Kellehers are a big, messy family who sometimes seem to have only one thing in common: love for their beach house in Maine. Curl up with this wry, absorbing novel and eavesdrop on a summer’s worth of secrets, feuds, and misunderstandings. THE GREATER JOURNEY by David McCullough, nonfiction ($38)

McCullough transports us to 1800s Paris, both grimy and glittery, to show how it inﬂuenced notable Americans like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Samuel Morse, Mark Twain, and Mary Cassatt. A stunner of a book that’s as compelling and textured as the city itself.

THIS IS THE DAY TO...

DISCOVER MUSIC YOU’LL LOVE —FOR FREE Tired of listening to the same old tunes? Go to pandora.com and type in the name of an artist you like and the site will select and stream songs that match your taste. Whether you’re a fan of Tony Bennett or Taylor Swift, you’ll ﬁnd new songs and singers to appreciate—and rediscover old favorites.

PHOTOS, FROM LEFT: MAMTA POPAT/AP PHOTO; GETTY IMAGES; ISTOCKPHOTO

Report INTELLIGENCE

Visit us at PARADE.COM

Manner Up! Modern etiquette made easy

Q: My son Jack is being cyberbullied. A schoolmate constantly teases him and calls him names on his Facebook page. Jack said that if I talked to the boy’s parents, it would

make matters worse. What should I do? —Suzanne G., Toledo, Ohio A: First, hug your son—he’s done what 95 percent of kids who face this problem don’t: He’s told you about it. Second, reassure him that you won’t call the boy’s parents, because that could cause the situation to escalate. “If the boy’s parents laugh it off, it will just make their

7-MINUTE SOLUTION

GIVE YOUR BIKE A TUNE-UP Triathlon coach Robert Popper on how to make your ride faster and safer

son think he can continue, and UCT PROD HE MLB AT BAT 11 if they come down hard on their OF T K WEE WHY WE LOVE IT child, he’ll take it out on your kid,” Batter up, Major says attorney Parry Aftab, executive League Baseball fans: director of StopCyberbullying.org. You never have to miss a hit by your favorite team! Instead, Aftab suggests, “have a This all-star app features teacher or other school representastreaming radio broadtive you trust call the parents and casts, a pitch-by-pitch say they noticed this was going on, tracker, video highlights, it must stop immediately, and all and live look-ins at exciting moments. You can messages must be erased. Studies watch the free game of the have shown that when the school day or get an MLB.TV subor a teacher, rather than a parent, scription to see them all. says they discovered the cyberbullyDownload the app to select ing, the kid being bullied doesn’t smartphones or your iPad. WHERE TO GET IT get in trouble for being a tattletale.” mlb.com or —Judith Newman mobile-app Send your questions to Parade.com site ($15)

/mannerup

LEGAL NOTICE

If you bought the weight-loss supplement Akävar 20/50, a class action lawsuit may affect your rights. Si desea recibir esta notiﬁcación en español, llámenos o visite nuestra página web.

You may be included in a class action lawsuit about whether Akävar 20/50 (“Akävar”) is sold as a proven weight loss product and whether there is clinical and scientiﬁc support for the manufacturer’s claim that users of Akävar can “Eat all you want and still lose weight.” The case in the United States District Court for the District of Utah is called Miller v. Basic Research, LLC, et al., No. 2:07-CV-871. The Court decided this should be a class action on behalf of a “Class,” or group of people, that could include you. This notice summarizes your rights and options. More information is available in a detailed notice. There is no money available now and no guarantee that there will be.

CHECK YOUR BRAKES

PHOTOS: ISTOCKPHOTO (4)

The ability to stop quickly is vital for safe biking. Squeezing the hand brakes a third of the way should bring the brake pads and wheel into contact. Any less than a third and your brakes are probably too tight. Any more than a third, they’re likely too loose. If the brake pads are too far from the rim, adjust them by tightening the screws by hand. If the pads are worn out, you’ll need to replace them.

CLEAN & LUBRICATE THE CHAIN

A greasy chain attracts dirt, and a dirty chain makes it harder to pedal. I prefer the biodegradable Citrus Degreaser ($9.99). It’s nontoxic, and the pressurized spray blasts dirt away. Allow the degreaser to dry for a minute, then add a few drops of lubricating oil while you spin the chain.

WHO

PUMP IT UP

Ensure your tires are at the recommended pressure (printed on the side of the tire). Properly pumped tires make your bike go 5% to 25% faster with the same level of effort. Thumb tests are surprisingly inaccurate; it’s best to have a gauge on your pump.

June 12, 2011 • 5

WHAT

IS INCLUDED?

The Court decided that the Class includes any person who purchased Akävar after seeing or hearing the marketing slogan “Eat all you want and still lose weight.”

WHAT

WHO

IS THIS CASE ABOUT?

The case is about whether the manufacturer and other defendants engaged in fraudulent and deceptive advertising and marketing. The lawsuit says that Akävar has not undergone “scientific evaluation” by a “team of doctors,” has not been tested in controlled random clinical trials and that there is no scientific evidence that users of Akävar can “Eat all you want and still lose weight.” The lawsuit seeks money and other benefits for the Class. Defendants deny the claims and allegations in the lawsuit. The Court has not decided who is right. The lawyers for the Class will have to prove their claims at a trial set to begin on September 10, 2012.

www.AkavarClass.com

REPRESENTS YOU?

The Court appointed the law ﬁrms of Anderson & Karrenberg; Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, P.A.; and Shepherd, Finkelman, Miller & Shah, LLP, to represent you as “Class Counsel.” If Class Counsel obtains money or beneﬁts for the Class, they may ask the Court for attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses. You don’t have to pay any of these fees, costs and expenses. If the Court grants their request, the fees, costs and expenses would be deducted from any money obtained for the Class, or paid separately by Defendants. You may hire your own lawyer to appear in Court for you. If you do, you have to pay that lawyer. ARE YOUR OPTIONS?

You have a choice of whether to stay in the Class or not, and you must decide this now. To stay in the Class, you do not have to do anything. If money or benefits are obtained, you will be notified about how to ask for a share. You will be legally bound by all orders and judgments of the Court, and you won’t be able to sue, or continue to sue about the legal claims in this case. If you exclude yourself, you cannot get money or benefits from this lawsuit if any are awarded, but you will keep any rights to sue about these claims and will not be bound by any orders or judgments in this case. The detailed notice explains how to exclude yourself. The deadline for exclusions is August 15, 2011.

HOW

CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Get a detailed notice and other information by visiting www.AkavarClass.com or calling 1-877-835-0768.

1-877-835-0768

PARADE SPECIAL REPORT

The Underage Drinking Epidemic TEENS ARE FINDING NEW—AND MORE DANGEROUS—WAYS TO BINGE. HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO.

By Emily Listfield

■

Cover and inside photograph by Levi Brown

inda b.* and her husband

were sound asleep when the phone rang at 2 a.m. Their oldest daughter, Rory, 18, had left two weeks earlier for her ﬁrst year at a college in Connecticut. An honor student and athlete, Rory had never been in trouble. They didn’t think they had any reason to worry. “When I picked up the phone, Rory was crying hysterically; she was completely disoriented,” Linda recalls. “She kept saying, ‘Mom, can you come get me?’ but she had no idea where she was—and we live hours away. I’ve never been that scared—she could barely speak.” Finally, Linda heard other people’s voices in the background and had Rory pass the phone to someone who told her where they were. While Linda stayed on the line with her daughter, her husband called campus security. When ofﬁcials found Rory a few minutes later, her face was covered in blood. She had fallen and broken her nose, though she was so intoxicated that she hadn’t realized it. “She managed to tell me she’d been drinking something called Jungle Juice,” Linda recalls. Like many parents, Linda had never heard of the potentially lethal concoction. A syrupy mix of hard liquors and fruit juices, it often includes Everclear, whose alcohol content can be as high as 190 proof (a level banned in some states). Some kids throw in energy drinks for good measure. There are dozens of recipes for Jungle Juice online; one popular site calls it “Suicide in a Kettle.” Kegs and watered-down beer have long been as much a part of the campus experience as trying

6 • June 12, 2011

*Names have been changed to protect minors and their parents.

PHOTOS, FROM TOP: MARA LAVITT/NEW HAVEN REGISTER; ELAINE THOMPSON/AP PHOTO

to avoid early-morning classes. And it’s not exactly unheard of for teens in high school and even middle school to sneak into their parents’ liquor cabinets. What is new—and increasingly alarming to those confronting the issue—is the rising trend of extreme underage drinking. Such is the concern that the legal drinking age itself has come into question. Some argue that lowering it from 21 to 18 would help curb the behavior by demystifying alcohol. Critics point out that drunk-driving fatalities among teens have dropped greatly since the drinking age became 21 nationwide. But both sides agree that binge drinking is a growing problem. “We’re seeing kids coming in with blood alcohol levels in the mid-.3s, even .4, which is four to five times the legal limit for driving. That’s the level at which 50% of people die,” says Dr. Mary Claire O’Brien, an emergency medicine physician and assistant professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina who spedrinking-related incidents, and more than cializes in alcohol-related research. “Ten years ago, 1,700 college students die. “Underage we saw those levels only in chronic alcoholics.” drinking doesn’t discriminate,” says Adrian Adolescents tend to drink differently than Lopez, director of community outreach for the adults. Their goal is not to sit around enjoying a SoBeSober program for teens in Miami. “Whethglass or two of wine over the course of an eveer you are an upper-middle-class, straight-A stuning. Rather, for many teens, the point is to get dent or from an inner city, it impacts all demoas drunk as possible, as quickly and cheaply as graphics and communities. And it often peaks in possible, in part to reduce the social anxiety rife May and June, when kids are celebrating proms at that age. Unfortunately, there are now more— and graduations. We call it ‘The Killing Season.’ ” and more dangerous—ways to accomplish this than ever before. The practice of mixing alcohol ■ BLACKOUT IN A CAN with super-caffeinated energy drinks; the marThe craze for combining energy drinks, which can keting of flavored malt beverages in 23.5-ounce have far more caffeine than coffee or cola, with alcans, each containing a serious dose of alcohol; cohol is particularly troubling. Dr. O’Brien first a shift in preference from beer to hard liquor; became aware of the phenomenon in 2006 when a and the influence of social media, through which student was brought in near-comatose. “The cafkids avidly share Jungle Juice recipes and tales of feine blocks the part of alcohol that makes you their exploits, have all raised the stakes. If you think your kids are immune, think again. sleepy and might otherwise cause you to pass out. This enables you to drink far more than you might According to the CDC, about 90% of all teen have. By the time many of these alcohol consumption occurs in kids get to the hospital, they have the form of binge drinking, to be put temporarily on respirawhich, experts say, peaks at age tors because of depressed breath19. Forty-one percent of 12th ing.” Disturbed by what they graders report having had a were seeing, Dr. O’Brien and her drink in the previous 30 days, colleagues conducted a survey and by the time kids are in colOF ALL ALCOHOL CONSUMED that year of 4,271 students from lege, that number climbs to BY TEENS IS DONE more than 10 universities in 72%. Approximately 200,000 WHILE BINGE DRINKING North Carolina. “We found that adolescents visit emergency about a quarter of the kids who’d rooms each year because of

Visit us at PARADE.COM

FIGHTING BACK

Left, Connecticut’s then– attorney general, Richard Blumenthal, calls for a halt to alcoholic energy drink sales in November 2010. Below, a New Jersey StarLedger headline from that month. Bottom, Four Loko for sale in a Seattle convenience store last November.

had a drink in the past 30 days said they were mixing alcohol with energy drinks, either the premixed kind or Red Bull and vodka. They got drunk twice as often and drank more per session than those who had alcohol without caffeine. They were much more likely to be injured, much more likely to be taken advantage of sexually or to take advantage of someone sexually, much more likely to drive drunk.” Colleges are on the front lines of this battle. Ramapo College in New Jersey banned energy drinks containing alcohol on campus in 2010 after a number of students were sent to the ER for alcohol-related reasons over a few weeks. James L. Gaudino, president of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash., took similar action. “We banned alcoholic energy drinks when we became aware of the extraordinary threat they pose,” he says. “What shocked us was the hospitalization of 11 students after a single party.” As outrage grew, the FDA stepped in, and last year essentially ordered the makers of four June 12, 2011 • 7

= BINGE IN A CAN One 23.5-ounce can of Blast malt beverage may contain the same amount of alcohol as 4.7 12-ounce beers.

“Four Loko is everywhere,” says Gabby K., 17, a high school junior in New Jersey. “It tastes like candy, so you can drink a lot of it fast. It’s pretty potent and it only costs around $3 a can. It’s a faster way to get drunk without having to deal

Legal Notice

If you bought Enfamil LIPIL® Infant Formula, you could get free infant formula or cash from a Settlement. A Settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit about whether Mead Johnson & Company, LLC (“Mead Johnson”) falsely represented that Enfamil LIPIL® is the only infant formula that contains DHA and ARA. DHA and ARA are healthy fatty acids. Mead Johnson will pay between $8 million and $12 million in infant formula and cash. No one is claiming that Enfamil LIPIL® is unsafe or challenging the nutrition it provides. Who’s Included? You are included if you bought Enfamil LIPIL® infant formula in the United States between October 13, 2005 and March 31, 2010. You are not included in the Class if you received Enfamil LIPIL® infant formula through the U.S.D.A.’s Women, Infants and Children program (“WIC”) or bought the product for the purpose of resale. What Can You Get? If you purchased Enfamil LIPIL® for 6 months or less, you can get either one 12.5 oz container (or the nearest equivalent) of Enfamil Premium® Infant Formula or up to $6 in cash. If you purchased Enfamil LIPIL® for more than 6 months, you can get either two 12.5 oz containers (or the

nearest equivalent) of Enfamil Premium® Infant Formula or up to $12 in cash. If the value of infant formula and cash actually claimed exceeds $12 million, then benefits will be reduced proportionally. How to Get Benefits? You will need to submit a Claim Form to get benefits. You can submit a Claim Form online or by mail. The deadline to submit a Claim Form is November 25, 2011. One claim per household. Your Other Rights. If you do nothing, your rights will be affected. If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlement, you must exclude yourself from the Settlement. The deadline to exclude yourself is August 22, 2011. If you do not exclude yourself you will not be able to sue Mead Johnson for any claim relating to the lawsuit. If you stay in the Settlement, you may object to it by August 22, 2011. The Court will hold a hearing on September 26, 2011 to consider whether to approve the Settlement and a request for attorneys’ fees up to $3.5 million. You can appear at the hearing, but you don’t have to. You can hire your own attorney, at your own expense, to appear or speak for you at the hearing.

For more information or a Claim Form: 1- 866-254-8048 www.FormulaSettlement.com

with the taste of liquor.” Gabby notes that the cans look a lot like iced tea. “It seems user-friendly,” she says. But she won’t drink it herself, pointing out that a number of kids in her school were hospitalized this year due to binge drinking. The makers of Four Loko reply: “We are fully committed to doing our part to ensure that our products are consumed legally and responsibly. Phusion Projects’ marketing message is clear: If you are under the age of 21, respect the law and do not drink.” Even in its new incarnation, Four Loko falls into a category that teens love but that has authorities worried: flavored malt beverages. Like Four Loko, many of them are sold in brightly decorated 23.5-ounce cans and have an alcohol content of 12%. On April 21, attorneys general from 16 states cosigned a letter to Pabst, makers of the malt beverage Blast. “We believe the manufacture and marketing of this flavored ‘binge in a can’ poses a grave public safety threat,” the letter states. It cites concerns that Blast— with such varieties as strawberry lemonade and grape, a pervasive online presence, and the rap star Snoop Dogg as a spokesman—is aimed at underage drinkers. Jon Sayer, chief marketing officer of Pabst Brewing Company, issued this reply: “Blast is produced only for consumers above legal drinking age and is marketed as such.” The president of Anheuser-Busch, meanwhile, announced in late May that the company will lower the alcohol content in its 24-ounce flavored malt beverage Tilt from 12% by volume to 8%. ■ DRINKING GAMES

GO HARD-CORE Teens’ growing preference for hard liquor over beer is also setting off alarms. Dr. Michael Siegel, professor at the Boston University School of Public Health, recently completed a study of high school students. “We found that, by far, liquor is the beverage of choice. This deﬁnitely represents a change.” Hard liquor is increasingly replacing beer in drinking games. “Kids easily drink seven or eight shots at a time,” Gabby says of her buddies. But Dr. O’Brien notes, “That’s low ballpark, from what we are seeing. Teens in our studies are having 10 or more drinks.” Helene F., 20, a junior in college in Colorado, explains the appeal: “EverySPREAD THE WORD! one’s so much friendlier afHelp raise awareness of extreme underage ter a couple of drinks. It drinking. Go to Parade takes the pressure off. And .com/teendrinking to share this story. if you continued on page 12

PHOTOS, FROM LEFT: LEVI BROWN FOR PARADE; ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

brands, including Phusion Projects, which sells the cult favorite Four Loko, to remove the caffeine. Four Loko was reformulated and is now back on the market. The sweetened beverage no longer contains caffeine, but each 23.5-ounce can may have the alcohol equivalent of four to ﬁve beers. (Four standard beers for a female and ﬁve for a male over a two-hour period is considered binge drinking.) Though it’s too early to tell if its popularity is abating, Four Loko, a.k.a. “Blackout in a Can,” has been a hit on YouTube, with more than 5,000 videos extolling its virtues.

8 • June 12, 2011

StayHealthy BATTLING A MEDICAL CRISIS?

If you’re overwhelmed by a serious diagnosis, consider a health advocate What is it? Think of a health advocate as your “inside man” in today’s complex health care system. “Patients often have to communicate with multiple practitioners, research treatment options, and fight insurance claim denials,” says Laura Weil, director of the master’s degree program in health advocacy at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y. An advocate acts as the point person for coordinating your care or helping to monitor that of a far-flung relative.

Who needs one? Patients with chronic or life-threatening illnesses tend to benefit most, says Weil. “Advocates can help you get the information you need to understand test results, find specialists, and choose the right treatment.” How do I find one? Ask whether your

company offers free patient advocacy to employees. If it does not, try a hospital or senior center; many provide free advocacy services (the latter even for non-seniors). To hire a pro, check out the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (nahac .com), a small but growing resource. Ask for references and a proposal of services and fees (hourly rates can range from $35 to more than $200). —Camille Noe Pagán

MEDICAL BILLS MADE EASY Inundated with bills and claim forms? The specialists at Off Your Desk (offyourdesk.net) can gather your medical bills and receipts and make sense of them, ensuring payments are accurate and resolving disputes with insurers and providers. The service includes a $295 “catch-up” plan and a $65-a-month plan for ongoing claims assistance. If that seems pricey, take this into account: Off Your Desk says it recovers an average of $2,200 for customers within the ﬁrst 90 days. —CNP

WHAT’S HEALTHIER?

PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

SKIPPING BREAKFAST OR GRABBING A DOUGHNUT? A: No one recommends starting every day with a doughnut, but it’s better to eat a sugary snack than to fast until lunch, says dietitian Karen Ansel, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “A doughnut provides enough glucose to switch your body into gear—at least for an hour or two, before your blood sugar plummets again.” For longer-lasting energy, choose a piece of fiber-rich fruit instead.

June 12, 2011 • 9

Ringing in the Ears? If you suffer from Tinnitus and experience ringing in the ears, buzzing, hissing, whistling, or other sounds, you should know that help is available. Many people are putting up with irritating noises because they are not aware of this proven treatment. MagniLife® Tinnitus Relief has already helped thousands find relief when nothing else has worked. It can be taken along with other medications with no side effects. “This tablet seems to be the only thing I’ve found that brings relief.” - Bert M., Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The tablets dissolve under the tongue and contain Lycopodium, which reduces noises in the ears.

“I would definitely recommend this product to anyone.” - C. Robinson, Ohio. MagniLife® Tinnitus Relief is available at Rite Aid Pharmacies, located in the vitamin aisle. It can also be ordered for $19.99 (plus $5.95 S&H) for 125 tablets per bottle. Save when you order two bottles for $39.98 (plus $9.95 S&H) and receive a third bottle FREE. Send your name and address with payment to: MagniLife, Dept. TP15-5, P.O. Box 6789, McKinney, TX 75071 or call 1-800-730-4173. Satisfaction guaranteed or return the bottles within 90 days for a full refund. Order now at www.MagniLife.com.

Sciatica Back Pain? If you suffer from Sciatica symptoms, such as intense pain in the buttocks and lower back, or pain and numbness in your legs and feet, you are not alone. Over 170 million people suffer from the burning, tingling, numbing, and shooting pains because they are not aware of this proven treatment. MagniLife® Sciatica Relief is a special combination of tested ingredients that was developed to help ease the severe discomfort of Sciatica. It can be taken along with other medications with no side effects. The tablets dissolve under the tongue and contain Colocynthis, which has shown to relieve the shooting pains and tingling sensations.

“The Sciatica Relief tablets are a miracle solution to the pain of Sciatica.” - Lillie, California. MagniLife® Sciatica Relief is so successful it is available at Rite Aid Pharmacies, located in the vitamin aisle. It can also be ordered for $19.99 (plus $5.95 S&H) for 125 tablets per bottle. Save when you order two bottles for $39.98 (plus $9.95 S&H) and receive a third bottle FREE. Send your name and address with payment to: MagniLife, Dept. SP15-5, P.O. Box 6789, McKinney, TX 75071 or call 1-800-730-4173. Satisfaction guaranteed or return the bottles within 90 days for a full refund. Order now at www.MagniLife.com.

Fibromyalgia Pain and Fatigue? If you suffer from aches and pains all over, have difficulty sleeping, and have the feeling of little or no energy, you may be one of the six million Americans who suffer from Fibromyalgia. These pains can be in the neck, shoulders, back, arms, and legs and can be accompanied by muscle tenderness and soreness. Many people are living in pain because they are not aware of this new proven treatment. MagniLife® Fibromyalgia Relief relieves the everyday pain by using ingredients such as Conium that trigger reactions from the body to effectively relieve symptoms when nothing else has worked. The tablets dissolve under the tongue and can be taken safely along with other medications with no side effects. “Fibromyalgia Relief tablets

have worked like a miracle. I have tried all other sorts of medications. I’ve been taking them less than two weeks, and my fingers and hands aren’t stiff anymore. Whatever is in them works beautifully!” - Helen D., Alabama. MagniLife® Fibromyalgia Relief is available at Rite Aid Pharmacies, located in the vitamin aisle. It can also be ordered for $19.99 (plus $5.95 S&H) for 125 tablets per bottle. Save when you order two bottles for $39.98 (plus $9.95 S&H) and receive a third bottle FREE. Send your name and address with payment to: MagniLife, Dept. FP15-5, P.O. Box 6789, McKinney, TX 75071 or call 1-800-730-4173. Satisfaction guaranteed or return the bottles within 90 days for a full refund. Order now at www.MagniLife.com.

Restless Legs at Night?

If uncomfortable sensations in your legs accompanied by an irresistible urge to move are keeping you from falling asleep, you may have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). RLS is a common sleep disorder that affects 30 million Americans. What many people may not know is a proven treatment has been helping thousands get relief and get to sleep. MagniLife® Restless Legs Relief contains Gnaphalium, which relieves RLS symptoms in the calves such as aching, creeping, crawling, and prickling sensations that urge you to move your legs when resting. MagniLife® Restless Legs Relief allows you to rest comfortably again without the risk of side effects. It can safely be taken along with other

medications. “There are no side effects unless you count getting a good night’s sleep a side effect.” - Eileen, Minnesota. MagniLife® Restless Legs Relief has been so successful it is now available at Rite Aid Pharmacies, located in the vitamin aisle. It can also be ordered for $19.99 (plus $5.95 S&H) for 125 tablets per bottle. Save when you order two bottles for $39.98 (plus $9.95 S&H) and receive a third bottle FREE. Send your name and address with payment to: MagniLife, Dept. RP15-5, P.O. Box 6789, McKinney, TX 75071 or call 1-800-730-4173. Satisfaction guaranteed or return the bottles within 90 days for a full refund. Order now at www.MagniLife.com.

By Dan Solomon

Parade.com/ourtowns

eronica dumar,

60, of Phil Campbell, Ala., was at home on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 27, when the storm sirens went off. Stepping out onto her porch, she saw a massive tornado funnel coming her way. She and her husband jumped into their bathtub, pulled a comforter on top, and prayed as winds greater than 200 miles per hour—“louder than A group of strangers a freight train”—pummeled their are traveling to this tornado-ravaged town house. When they emerged minto help residents pick utes later, only two walls of their up the pieces. home remained. Nearly all of Phil Campbell’s 1,000-plus survivors have a frightening story to tell about that day. This year to date, the U.S. has experienced the deadliest outbreak of tornadoes since federal recordOn April 27, the town of Phil Campbell, Ala., was keeping began, in 1950. The April walloped by a tornado. Now it’s being rebuilt, with the 27 twister that hit Phil Campbell help of Phil Campbells from around the world. killed 26 people, injured more than 60, and leveled most of the town’s structures, causing $30 million in a detour to see his namesake. He staging a second meeting of the wind and water damage. While was greeted so warmly by the town Phils. When he called to ask town many townspeople tear up when clerk, who kept a record of every officials about holding another gaththey talk about the recovery efforts, Phil Campbell who passed through, ering there, Rita Barton, 56, head of not all the tears are from sadness. that he impulsively promised to the parks and recreation departSome are triggered by an outpourassemble all the Phils he could find. ment, told him a hoedown marking ing of goodwill from unexpected He organized the first-ever Phil the town’s 100th anniversary was quarters, including a group of Campbell Convention, which planned for the weekend of June 17, guardian angels from around the brought 22 Phils and one Phyllis to 2011. They agreed to combine world whose names all happen to town in June 1995. “I was amazed at events, and in January, invitations to be Phil Campbell. the hospitality,” Campjoin the festivities in Alabama went One of them, a bell says. “We got a poout to 385 people named Phil, Phil38-year-old writer from lice escort, and people lip, or Phyllis Campbell. PHIL CAMPBELL Brooklyn, first heard of came out to wave. They But after the storm hit, town the town—named for a treated us like royalty.” officials decided to cancel the hoeBIRMINGHAM railroad engineer—in Fond memories of down—and assumed the conven1993 during an episode the town and its bigtion would be called off, too. They Alabama of TV’s Hee Haw. The hearted citizens stayed couldn’t have been more wrong. next year, while visiting with him through the Brookl y n P hil Campbell Huntsville, Ala., he took years; so did the idea of learned about the devastation on

A Special Kind of Phil-anthropy

April 28 when he got a message from a shaken Barton saying the town was “gone.” He told his fellow Phils via Facebook, and they launched an “I’m With Phil” campaign. Phil Campbell, 38, a video producer from Nottingham, England, edited clips from the other Phils into a YouTube video that featured 11 different Phil Campbells declaring support for the stricken town. The Phils told Barton they’d be there on June 17—to help rebuild. “I was shocked,” says Barton, a motherly woman who’s quick to laugh and cry. “It warmed my heart to know that people want to travel so far to assist.” Feeling the town could use a celebration, officials revived plans for the hoedown, too.

ne phil campbell has already shown up. A 42-year-old software engineer from Birmingham, Ala., he ﬁrst learned about the town when he was young. “My dad showed me the encyclopedia and told me there was a place in the state with my name.” He’d never visited, but after Brooklyn Phil contacted him on Facebook and he was invited to the convention, he decided the time had come to see the town. When he saw photos of the damage inﬂicted by the April 27 storm, he moved that time up. On May 14, he and his wife packed their car with bottled water and Walmart gift cards and made the two-hour drive. “As I was coming toward the town, I saw the Phil Campbell water tower standing, and I thought, ‘How bad can it be?’ ” he recalls. “Then I went over the next hill, and it was devastation

PHOTO: GARY TRAMONTINA/AP FOR PARADE

OurTowns

10 • June 12, 2011

as far as the eye could see.” He and his wife stopped at the site intended for the hoedown and helped others clear debris. Birmingham Phil has gone back once more to pitch in, his bond with the town intensiﬁed by a sense of purpose. “It means more to me knowing that what I do is touching somebody’s life,” he says. “Thirty years from now, I’ll remember how I came to this town and helped. This’ll be the high point of my life, I think.” The idea that they can make a difference in the place that shares their name is just one more thing binding all the Phils and Phyllises together. Phil Campbell, 44, a pastor from Coffs Harbour, Australia, will travel more than 9,000 miles this month to be there. Why go to such lengths? His answer is simple: “When tough times happen, we must pull together and lend a hand.” In late May, many of the town’s streets were still clogged with rubble and dead trees. Some families whose homes were destroyed were living out of tents. But there were also signs of renewal everywhere: people busy restringing power lines and replacing broken windows. Those at work will soon be joined by the crew of Phil Campbells, whose commitment is giving townspeople an emotional boost. Mayor Jerry Mays, 67, sums it up: “Everyone is looking forward to them. It’s amazing. We’ve been telling them, ‘This is your hometown now.’ ” You can ﬁnd out how to help Phil Campbell and other tornado-stricken towns at Parade.com/philcampbell

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Teen Drinking | continued from page 8

want to get drunk quickly, shots are key. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a sense that you need to be wasted to go to a party, and if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have fun. Certain events, like Halloween and homecoming, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of guaranteed that kids are going to end up in hospitals.â&#x20AC;? After 14 students were hospitalized during a graduation celebration in 2008, Colby College in Maine studied the issue and, in 2010, banned hard liquor on most of the campus. â&#x2013; THE LONG-TERM DAMAGE â&#x20AC;&#x153;The adolescent brain is much more sensitive to

alcohol toxicity than adultsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, including being vulnerable to cell death,â&#x20AC;? says Dr. Fulton Crews, director of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Adolescents showed much more frontal cortical damage than adults. We found that one high dose of alcohol caused signiďŹ cant loss of brain stem cells.â&#x20AC;? Early drinking also poses a risk later in life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you start drinking early, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re 40% to 60% more likely to become an alcoholic, regardless of family history,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Crews says. And studies indicate a potential for permanent memory impairment.

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If You Had a Farmers Exchange Policy Anytime Between 1999 and 2010, You Could Get a Payment from a Class Action Settlement There is a $455 million Settlement with Farmers Group, Inc., Fire Underwriters Association, and Truck Underwriters Association (together called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Farmers Groupâ&#x20AC;?) and Zurich Financial Services Ltd (â&#x20AC;&#x153;Zurichâ&#x20AC;?) involving management- service fees (Farmers Group and Zurich are the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Defendantsâ&#x20AC;?).

The Settlement Agreement, available at the website, contains more details about the Settlement.

How to get a payment? You need to submit a Claim Form to get a payment. You can get a Claim Form online or by calling the toll-free number. The deadline to What is the lawsuit about? ďŹ le a Claim Form is December 6, 2011. You The lawsuit concerns the management-service can ďŹ le a claim by mail or online. fees that Farmers Group charged to the Farmers What are my other rights? Exchanges. Remain in the Settlement: If you remain Am I included? in the Settlement, you will be bound by the You are a Class Member if, at any time from terms of the Settlement and will give up your 1999 through 2010, you were a subscriber right to sue the Defendants. If you do not to, or a named insured on, an insurance or submit a Claim Form, you will not receive a reinsurance policy issued by Farmers Insurance payment from the Settlement. Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange, or Truck Get out of the Settlement: If you wish to Insurance Exchange (the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Exchangesâ&#x20AC;?). The keep your right to sue the Defendants, Class in this lawsuit does not include insureds you must exclude yourself from the Class. of any other insurance companies operating Exclusion requests must be received by under the Farmers Insurance Group of August 18, 2011. Companies servicemark. Remain in the Settlement and Object: If you What does the Settlement provide? stay in the Settlement, you can object to it. The proposed settlement provides for: Objections must be received by August 18, 2011. to Class Members, with any leftover money going to the Exchanges, The Court will hold a hearing in the case, known as Fogel v. Farmers Group, Inc., No. fees, expenses, and incentive award, BC300142, on September 7, 2011, in Los Angeles, California, to consider whether to settlement, and approve the Settlement and a request by Class

further education to subscribers about incentive award. You or your own lawyer may the Subscription Agreement and the ask to appear and speak at the hearing at your management fee. own cost.

For More Information: 1-888-538-5785

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â&#x2013; WHAT PARENTS CAN DO If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re worried that your teen might be binge drinking, consider taking these steps. P Know the warning signs. Signs of extreme drinking include a drop in grades, changes in behavior and mood, a new set of friends, memory lapses, and difďŹ culty concentrating. P Open a dialogue. Ask your kids what kinds of experiences theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having, make your personal values clear, and calmly lay out the risks. Studies have found that parents who combine clear expectations of accountability with support and warmth have more success in curbing binge drinking than either strictly authoritarian or overly indulgent parents. P Establish a code word. Before your kids go out, agree on a phrase they can say if they are in an uncomfortable situation and need to give you a signal to come get them right away, no questions asked. P If you tell your kids just one thing, make it this: â&#x20AC;&#x153;If someone has been drinking Jungle Juice or doing shots in a short amount of time, their blood alcohol level can continue to rise dangerously after they appear to fall asleep,â&#x20AC;? Dr. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien says. This could have fatal consequences. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tell your kids: If you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rouse someone, call 911. The worst that can happen is youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be embarrassed or your parents will get angry. But the alternative is far worse. We all know kids make mistakes. Unfortunately, some mistakes canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be ďŹ xed.â&#x20AC;?

Numbrix

ÂŽ

Complete 1 to 81 so the numbers follow a horizontal or vertical pathâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;no diagonals. By Marilyn vos Savant

MORE WAYS TO PLAY! Print and play a new puzzle every day at Parade.com/numbrix 12 â&#x20AC;˘ June 12, 2011

Pioneering audiologist invents “reading glasses” for your ears.

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most out of life. First of all, Neutronic Ear is not a hearing aid; it is a PSAP, or Personal Sound Amplification Product. Until PSAPs, everyone was required to see the doctor, have hearing tests, have fitting appointments (numerous visits) and then pay for the instruments without any insurance coverage. These devices can cost up to $5000 each! The high cost and inconvenience drove an innovative scientist to develop the Neutronic Ear PSAP. Neutronic Ear has been designed with the finest micro-digital electronic components available to offer superb performance and years of use. Many years of engineering and development have created a product that’s ready to use right out of the box. The patented case design and unique clear tube make it practical and easy to use. The entire unit weighs only 1/10th of an ounce, and it hides comfortably behind either ear. The tube is designed to deliver clear crisp sound while leaving the ear canal open. The electronic components are safe from moisture and wax buildup, and you won’t feel like you have a circus peanut jammed in your ear. Thanks to a state-of-the-art manufacturing process and superior design, we can make Neutronic Ear affordable and pass the savings on to you. It works… but don’t take our word for it. Why pay thousands to make everything sound louder when what you really need is a Personal Sound Amplification Product? We’re so sure you’ll be absolutely thrilled with the quality and effectiveness of this product that we are offering it to the public at a low introductory price with our exclusive trial offer. If, for any reason, you are

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Sunday with... Rucker became a country artist in 2008—after selling more than 20 million albums in the ’90s with his rock band, Hootie & the Blowfish—he was hailed as the ﬁrst African-American superstar in the genre since Charley Pride. “Opening a few minds here and there, that’s cool,” says Rucker, 45. “But there are no politics in my songs. I just want to play music.” Chris Willman talked with Rucker, who lives with his wife and their two children in Charleston, S.C., about reinvention and relaxation.

y cool in their eyes? Are you They love when I pick up bun of their friends a bunch in the tour bus and tak them to a Justin take B Bieber concert. But t they don’t think I si very well. sing They tell you that? To my face! My 10-year-old will say, as I’m walking by her singing, “Daddy, use your stage voice, because your indoor voice is not very good.” [laughs] I’ve never had one of my kids say, “Sing a song for me.” If I start singing, it’s always, “Whoa— you don’t have to sing! We’re good.”

What are your Sundays like when you’re not on tour? I love being with my family, and we live in the South, so we can play golf all year round. And on a recent Sunday, we all played basketball. How obsessive are yyou about golf? T There’s no place I go that I don’t bring my clubs. Nowhere. I love it because I don’t need anybody else to play with. And it’s great being outside, because musicians are inside a lot. Every golf course in the world is beautiful. Do you hit the links with any celebrities? I play with Sam Jackson. He’s really good, and he lets you know that he’s beating you. I like to play with Tiger [Woods, at whose wedding Hootie & the Blowfish performed]. We hung out recently, but we didn’t get to play because of his injuries. 14 • June 12, 2011

Darius Rucker The hitmaker formerly known as Hootie riffs on golf, kids, and making the grade in country You have a reputation as such a family guy now. But when I interviewed you in 1996, at the height of Hootie’s popularity— [laughs] Was I coherent? Yes, but also very single. You were ﬂirting with fans, and you said you liked being alone. In ’96 I was a different, troubled guy. I didn’t need to put anybody

through what I was going through. Then I met my wife, and being with her made me realize that I had to be a much better person. Are your kids into music? My 16-year-old [from a previous relationship] wants to be an actress. My 10-year-old plays guitar. I think my 6-year-old’s going to be a musician. He’s already a drummer, and he

Was it humbling to start anew in country music? No, because I was already humbled by my career. [Hootie] hadn’t been on the radio in years. I couldn’t believe I got a record deal to sing country, to be honest. But I loved being an opening act for Brad Paisley. There was no place we played that I hadn’t already sold out with Hootie. I’d done all that. So to me, fun is opening for Brad, playing my 55 minutes, and never once asking, “How many tickets did we sell?” Do you notice any difference between country and rock fans? The audiences are a lot alike. But country fans stand up and don’t sit down until it’s over. They’ll stick by you; pop audiences are always looking for the next big thing. I think I’m at the point where, as long as I don’t mess it up, I’m in.

PHOTOS, FROM LEFT: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM; JIM WRIGHT; GETTY IMAGES

wants to learn the mandolin because the guitar is too big for his hands.

hen darius

Visit us at PARADE.COM

Ask Marilyn By Marilyn vos Savant

Say that I place a 25,000-mile-long metal band snugly around the earth. (Assume a smooth planet.) Then I cut the band and splice another 50 feet to it, thus loosening it all around. Can I get my ﬁnger between the new-length band and the earth? Can I crawl under it? —Zan White, Elkins, W. Va.

Amazingly, even the tallest basketball player could walk under that band, which would ﬂoat about eight feet off the ground around the planet. The circumference of the object is irrelevant. Adding 50 feet to any size band—one that wraps around a cantaloupe or the moon—will produce the same answer: The longer band will be about eight feet from the surface of the object it circles. To ask a question, visit Parade.com/askmarilyn

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ZETIA® (EZETIMIBE) TABLETS PATIENT INFORMATION ABOUT ZETIA (ze˘t´-e¯-a˘) Generic name: ezetimibe (e˘-ze˘t´-e˘-mı¯b)

Read this information carefully before you start taking ZETIA and each time you get more ZETIA. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or your treatment. If you have any questions about ZETIA, ask your doctor. Only your doctor can determine if ZETIA is right for you.

WHAT IS ZETIA? ZETIA is a medicine used to lower levels of total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood. ZETIA is for patients who cannot control their cholesterol levels by diet and exercise alone. It can be used by itself or with other medicines to treat high cholesterol. You should stay on a cholesterol-lowering diet while taking this medicine. ZETIA works to reduce the amount of cholesterol your body absorbs. ZETIA does not help you lose weight. ZETIA has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attacks. For more information about cholesterol, see the “What should I know about high cholesterol?” section that follows.

WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE ZETIA? • Do not take ZETIA if you are allergic to ezetimibe, the active ingredient in ZETIA, or to the inactive ingredients. For a list of inactive ingredients, see the “Inactive ingredients” section that follows. • If you have active liver disease, do not take ZETIA while taking cholesterol-lowering medicines called statins. • If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, do not take ZETIA while taking a statin. • If you are a woman of childbearing age, you should use an effective method of birth control to prevent pregnancy while using ZETIA added to statin therapy. ZETIA has not been studied in children under age 10.

WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY DOCTOR BEFORE AND WHILE TAKING ZETIA? Tell your doctor about any prescription and non-prescription medicines you are taking or plan to take, including natural or herbal remedies. Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions including allergies. Tell your doctor if you:

Parade

• ever had liver problems. ZETIA may not be right for you. • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss with you whether ZETIA is right for you. • are breast-feeding. We do not know if ZETIA can pass to your baby through your milk. Your doctor will discuss with you whether ZETIA is right for you. • experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness.

HOW SHOULD I TAKE ZETIA?

WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF ZETIA® (EZETIMIBE)? In clinical studies patients reported few side effects while taking ZETIA. These included diarrhea, joint pains, and feeling tired. Patients have experienced severe muscle problems while taking ZETIA, usually when ZETIA was added to a statin drug. If you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness while taking ZETIA, contact your doctor immediately. You need to do this promptly, because on rare occasions, these muscle problems can be serious, with muscle breakdown resulting in kidney damage. Additionally, the following side effects have been reported in general use: allergic reactions (which may require treatment right away) including swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat that may cause difﬁculty in breathing or swallowing, rash, and hives; raised red rash, sometimes with target-shaped lesions; joint pain; muscle aches; alterations in some laboratory blood tests; liver problems; stomach pain; inflammation of the pancreas; nausea; dizziness; tingling sensation; depression; headache; gallstones; inﬂammation of the gallbladder. Tell your doctor if you are having these or any other medical problems while on ZETIA. For a complete list of side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

WHAT SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT HIGH CHOLESTEROL? Cholesterol is a type of fat found in your blood. Your total cholesterol is made up of LDL and HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is called “bad” cholesterol because it can build up in the wall of your arteries and form plaque. Over time, plaque build-up can cause a narrowing of the arteries. This narrowing can slow or block blood ﬂow to your heart, brain, and other organs. High LDL cholesterol is a major cause of heart disease and one of the causes for stroke. HDL cholesterol is called “good” cholesterol because it keeps the bad cholesterol from building up in the arteries. Triglycerides also are fats found in your blood.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ZETIA Medicines are sometimes prescribed for conditions that are not mentioned in patient information leaﬂets. Do not use ZETIA for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give ZETIA to other people, even if they have the same condition you have. It may harm them. This summarizes the most important information about ZETIA. If you would like more information, talk with your doctor. You can ask your pharmacist or doctor for information about ZETIA that is written for health professionals. Inactive ingredients: Croscarmellose sodium, lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Issued July 2009 REV 21 29480885T

• Take ZETIA once a day, with or without food. It may be easier to remember to take your dose if you do it at the same time every day, such as with breakfast, dinner, or at bedtime. If you also take another medicine to reduce your cholesterol, ask your doctor if you can take them at the same time. • If you forget to take ZETIA, take it as soon as you remember. However, do not take more than one dose of ZETIA a day.

P.C. VEY

• Continue to follow a cholesterol-lowering diet while taking ZETIA. Ask your doctor if you need diet information. “How come we never go out anymore and spend money we don’t have?”

June 12, 2011 • 15

• Keep taking ZETIA unless your doctor tells you to stop. It is important that you keep taking ZETIA even if you do not feel sick. See your doctor regularly to check your cholesterol level and to check for side effects. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking ZETIA with a statin and during treatment.

If you diet and take a statin, ZETIA can

help lower

LDL (bad) cholesterol even more. A healthy diet and exercise are important, but sometimes they’re

Statins, a good option, work mainly with the liver. ZETIA works in the digestive tract, as do some other cholesterol-lowering medicines.

not enough to get your cholesterol where it needs to be. If you’re also taking a statin, ZETIA can help lower your LDL (bad)

LIVER

cholesterol even further. In a clinical study, people who added DIGESTIVE TRACT

ZETIA to their statin medication reduced their bad cholesterol on average by an additional 25% compared with 4% in people who added a placebo (a pill with no medication). Individual results vary. Important Risk Information About ZETIA: ZETIA is a

prescription medicine and should not be taken by people who are allergic to any of its ingredients. ZETIA can be taken alone or with a statin. Statins should not be taken by women who are nursing or pregnant or who may become pregnant, or by anyone with liver Cholesterol from food is absorbed when it enters the digestive tract.

problems. If you have ever had liver problems or are pregnant or nursing, your doctor will decide if ZETIA alone is right for you. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking ZETIA with a statin and during treatment. Unexplained muscle pain or weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away. In clinical studies, patients reported few side effects while taking

ZETIA is unique in the way it helps block the absorption of cholesterol that comes from food. Unlike some statins, ZETIA has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attacks.

To learn about a free 30-day trial supply* oﬀer for ZETIA, visit zetia.com. *Not all patients are eligible. No purchase necessary. Restrictions apply. See Terms and Conditions.

ZETIA. These included diarrhea, joint pains, and tiredness. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please read the more detailed information about ZETIA on the adjacent page. For more information, call 1-800-98 -ZETIA or visit zetia.com.

Ask your doctor if adding ZETIA is right for you.

Having trouble paying for your Merck medicine? Merck may be able to help. www.merck.com/merckhelps

A different way to help ﬁght cholesterol