Vicodin, an opioid, is one of the prescription drugs that teenagers abuse. PHOTO/BRIANNA BUDNY

BY AMANDA WILCZAK
OU News Bureau

The nonmedical use of prescription drugs has been classified by the Centers for Disease Control as an epidemic.

On a daily basis, Scot Masi deals with the aftereffects of this prescription drug abuse. Masi, outreach and referral specialist/ data analyst for the St. John Providence Brighton Recovery center, speaks about drug abuse at high schools in southeast Michigan.

He tells his audiences:

• Opiate abuse admissions have tripled since 2003
• More than 4 million prescriptions for hydrocodone were written in 2007
• Drug overdose deaths now exceed motor vehicle fatalities
• In 2010, nearly 15,000 people died from painkillers

Prescription drug abusers are mostly teenagers. They mistakenly believe it is safer than illicit drugs since a medical professional prescribes them, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The NIDA for Teens says the majority of youths obtain the prescription drugs through family members and friends without their knowledge. Another way teens obtain prescription pain relievers is through doctor visits.

“It starts off with a tooth extraction with the dentist prescribing Vicodin,” Masi said. ”Vicodin makes up over 35 percent of all prescriptions in Michigan.”

“It’s the accessibility for kids,” said Lt. David Daniels of the Macomb County Sheriff’s Department. “It is easier to get prescription pain meds, and you get the same high as heroin.”

SOURCE/University of Michigan Study: 2010 Monitoring the Future

In 2008, 59 percent of drug-related deaths were of opioid poisoning, according to the Macomb County Office of Substance Abuse.

The CDC suggested in 2011 that better screening of health care providers and monitoring patients for substance abuse would help control the problem.

“Doctors and primary care physicians do not go through the correct screening methods, and genetics has a big role in the probability of becoming addicted,” Masi said.

The types of drugs abused are forms of pain-relieving medication, or opioids such as hydrocodone and the oxycodone, says National Institute on Drug Abuse.  Opioids reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect the areas of the brain that control emotion.

Teens abuse these drugs to get high, treat pain or with the thought that it will help them at school, the institute reported.  Males and females use drugs for different reasons: Males use them for getting high while females are focused on losing weight.

“Out of the 35,000 patients at the center, 50 percent of them are between the ages of 18-25 and they are in an adult treatment center,” Masi said. “The adolescents are underserved. There is only one treatment center to the 40 juvenile centers in Michigan.”

SOURCE/CDC

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From left, players Will Massey II, Chris Schmandt, Sarah Wyman and Herb Grover enjoy a game of Dungeons and Dragons. PHOTO/MEGAN HODDER

BY MEGAN HODDER
OU News Bureau

In a world of high-tech gadgets, old-school gaming still exists and is integrating new technology into gameplay.

Garnering today’s headlines in the $67 billion video gaming industry are mega-sellers such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and apps such as Angry Birds.

Then there’s Dungeons & Dragons — a tabletop, role-playing game first published in 1974 and still chugging along. Decades after its heyday in the 1980s, millions of players prefer to sit face-to-face as they conjure magical worlds.

Of course, D&D players don’t shun all technology.

Spending time with friends

In Dungeons & Dragons, or D&D, players create unique characters with back stories and skills. Those characters embark on adventures created by dungeon masters who serve as referee and storyteller during the game.

One of the big draws is that players interact with one another in person rather than staring at a screen.

“It is a feeling that I am doing something besides wiggling a controller around,” said Herb Grover, 35, of Bay City.

An online dice roller saves players time and table space. PHOTO/MEGAN HODDER

Sarah Wyman, 33, of Mount Pleasant said that she enjoys being able to spend time with her friends.

“Being introverted and a nerd, this kind of interaction is where I’m at my most comfortable,” she said.

The other big draw of D&D is that it serves as a creative outlet for players.

“Console and computer games rely on a single storyline and programmed guidelines that set a basis for static control and feel for the entire game,” said Tom Van Conett, 26, of Saginaw. “A tabletop game like Dungeons and Dragons allows your imagination to run wild, and the possibilities are out of this world.”

For Jason Dandy, 39, of Eastpointe, sitting down and creating something that is plausible, consistent and anticipating is what draws him in. The game allows him to do anything he wants in the environment and lets other players do anything there, as well.

Online games, he said, have limits. D&D doesn’t.

“The graphics in your mind are better than the graphics on a computer could ever be,” he said.

Brittany Lardie, 26, of Mount Pleasant agreed. She explained that D&D is highly customizable and provides a great outlet for creative and critical thinking. High-tech games, she said, can’t do that.

“Every D&D campaign is so different from one another so that every game is a new experience,” she said.

Dandy said that D&D has less social stigma attached to it now. Many modern players come to D&D from video games. He said video game culture crosses all age and gender boundaries, opening up the game to more people.

D&D and technology

The rise of new technology has helped changed the way that D&D is played and made it more versatile.

“Twenty years ago, I would have to go to a library and dig and then read,” said Dandy, who uses Google to research information that adds depth to his campaigns.

Instead of piles of books and paper, DM's can access everything with the click of a button. COURTESY/BRITTANY LARDIE

Dandy said his group uses phones, computers and other technology to streamline gameplay. Players use the Internet for research, text messaging to relay secret messages to other players, and online sites such as meetup.com to find players and post game information. His group also uses sound effects found online to add ambiance to the playing experience.

Wyman said the sheer number of books available is staggering, but having the information in them available online or as PDF files makes it easier on players. Her group utilizes instant messaging and form fill PDFs of character sheets. Players occasionally use Skype when they can’t attend a session.

Other technology available includes several websites and gaming tools such as Realm Works — a wiki-style program still in beta testing that uses cloud technology so dungeon masters can have their entire world at their fingertips — and Campaign Cartographer, software designed for creating dungeons, world maps and cities.

Dandy said anything a dungeon master can write down in notes on paper can potentially be done with technology.

“It is much more enduring,” Dandy said.

He has more than 1,000 pages of notes in a word document that came from a two-year-long campaign. The ink on one document is barely legible.

“We have fully integrated technology into our games and found that the benefits of doing so far outweighs the occasional distraction it may cause,” Lardie said.Tweet

BY STEVIE THIEDA
OU News Bureau

Certain things in life evoke memories that take you back to moments of pure simplicity and happiness.

Balloons are some of Vera’s best-selling items. PHOTO/STEVIE THIEDA.

The candy that you couldn’t get enough of growing up, for example. Vera’s Balloons-R-Fun in Romeo makes sure they’re not forgotten.

“The candy that we sell here is a lot of the candy that I grew up with.  It’s sort of nostalgic,” storeowner Vera Brandt said.

Brandt stocks her store with some of her favorites.

“Even though it can get a bit messy, I like taffy,” Brandt said.  “Mary Jane and Squirrel are two of my favorites.”

Brandt also stocks her store with other well-known classic candies that aren’t common in most other stores.

“Some of our most popular candies are Licorice Snaps, and we sell a lot of gum, too,” Brandt said.  “We sell Chiclets to a lot of our customers, and also Clove and Black Jack gum.”

Once people realize what the store has to offer, repeat customers are made.

“There’s more to this place than meets the eye,” customer Erin Uzarski said.  “I came in one day with my parents when we first moved here just to check it out, and we thought it was the coolest thing.”

Vera’s, which is owned and operated by Brandt and her son Carl, has been open for 15 years.

Vera’s is known for its novelty and joke items. PHOTO/STEVIE THIEDA

“I started the business by working out of the house, and then things got busy enough to where we needed to open up a store front,” Brandt said.  “So I guess you could say we’ve been open for about 26 years really.”

Brandt grew up in Romeo and resides in Armada.

“I like what Romeo has to offer,” Brandt said.  “This town is kind of like the store in a way.  It’s small, but full of a lot of great stuff.”

If you’re too young to remember the different types of candy that Vera’s sells, there’s still a little something for everyone.

“Kids come in here all of the time after school looking for something inexpensive that they can entertain their parents or friends with,” Brandt said.

Vera’s novelty items include whoopee cushions, rubber chickens, stick-on moustaches and candy suckers with bugs inside.

Clove and Black Jack gum are just a few examples of the old-fashioned candy that Vera’s carries. PHOTO/STEVIE THIEDA

“When I was younger, I would buy something from here at least once every few weeks,” Uzarski said.  “I was always looking for something quirky that I could impress my friends with.”

While Brandt enjoys the work, she hadn’t always wanted to own a store like Vera’s.

“I’ve always been a people person,” Brandt said.  “I enjoy working with the public, but I can’t exactly say that this was always a dream of mine.  I’m happy that the store has been around for as long as it has, though.”

Brandt hopes that Vera’s will remain open for quite some time.

“I want the store to be successful, but that’s not why I keep it open,” Brandt said.  “I want as many people as possible to be able to experience the store and all that it has to offer.”

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Teavana associate Lauren Delmonico, right, shows a customer the Wild Orange Blossom loose tea. PHOTO/STEPHANIE SOKOL

BY STEPHANIE SOKOL
OU News Bureau

It can be prepared in many ways, and taste is up to the brewer. Tea, the world’s second most popular beverage behind water, has soared in popularity during the past 10 years.

Americans drank over 3 billion gallons of tea in 2011, 85 percent of that black tea, 14 percent green tea and the rest oolong or white, noted the Tea Association of the USA, which is based in New York.

“(Tea is) now well over an $8 billion category, with growth in different areas — not only in the specialty tea segment, which are the more premium teas and the flavored teas — but also in the raised drink segment, which has been quite a big driver in this category,” said Peter Goggi, tea association vice president. “Tea has benefited very much so from its healthful positioning.”

Health benefits

Tea has the ability to relieve stress, improve heart health and potentially prevent cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, according to WebMD. The site cites tea as a “superfood” with polyphenol antioxidants and flavonoids, both healthy.

“Nowadays, tea is a little bit trendier,” said Liz Webster, assistant manager at Lakeside Mall’s Teavana. “People see it on shows like ‘Doctor Oz’ and come in seeking tea for its health benefits.”

In addition to providing nutrition, tea can act as a pick-me-up, providing caffeine, though in a more balanced way than coffee, according to Alan Laszuk, tea consultant for the American Tea Masters Association, based in San Diego, Calif. Laszuk offers training in tea preparation.

“Tea does not distribute caffeine to the body in the same way that coffee does,” Laszuk said.

“Coffee is like an injection of caffeine where you get all of it at one time and then you peak and crash afterwards,” he explained. “Because of the theanine in tea, the caffeine enters your system in a brand new manner, so you tend to be more alert mentally and your heart rate doesn’t start to rise.”

The taste of tea

Bigelow Tea is the No. 1 specialty tea company in the U.S., said Elaine Gavoli, Bigelow communications manager. The brand has 120 varieties of tea, and has people researching the latest trends and preferences among customers through social media and grocery store statistics.

“We here at Bigelow like to think tea’s popularity growth is because it tastes so good,” Gavoli said. “We make all of our teas to please the pallet — it’s a taste profile that we’re going after, and we hope that people are enjoying teas for that reason.”

Teavana offers a variety of loose teas and tea pots. Its top sellers include Youthberry, Wild Orange Blossom and Macaraza Chai. PHOTO/STEPHANIE SOKOL

While Bigelow is mainly bag teas, stores such as Teavana offer loose tea that the drinker measures out and steeps, for more flavor, Webster said. Its sample Chai-Chai blend, made up of Macaraza Chai and Cinnamon Tea, is one of the store’s top-sellers.

The largest tea producing areas are found in China, Taiwan and Japan, each of which has influenced tea drinking in the U.S., Laszuk said. While all countries have played a part, he said England has most shaped U.S. preparation of tea with its traditional tea bag preparation.

Half of the U.S. population drinks tea daily, 85 percent being iced, with ready-to-drink tea growing by more than 17.5 percent, according to the Tea Association of the United States.

Laszuk said that while people attending his training seek healthiness, the taste is crucial. For a stronger cup, he said, people can steep tea in boiling water, but typically most people leave it for about four minutes to avoid bitterness.

“The first thing people seem to discuss is the health benefits, which seems to be driving people,” Laszuk said. “But the flavor, from my experience talking with people in the tea business, I’d say its 80 percent flavor and 20 percent health benefits. Everybody’s interested in the health benefits, and there are some things very apparent with tea not in coffee.”

Growing popularity among young people

While tea is popular among many age groups, Laszuk said, 70 percent of tea drinkers attending his sessions are college age.

“Tea, like music, has many eras,” he said. “This is a new era for tea.”

Tea has gone through style and development changes over the years, Laszuk said, though the most success occurs for tea shops close to colleges.

Oakland University Junior Lindsey Brendel just started drinking tea. She said she likes the health benefits and the flavor. Her favorites are Taj Mahal Chai and green tea.

“Goldfish Tea in Royal Oak is my favorite tea house,” Brendel said. “The perfect combination is to see an independent film at the Main Art Theater and talk over tea after. It’s a good beverage to converse while drinking.”

Health benefits aside, tea offers something other drinks can’t, which is what makes it attractive to its drinkers.

“The bottom line is this: Tea tastes good,” Goggi said.

“It’s refreshing, you can make it any way you want. You’re not limited to what someone hands you. You can start with a tea bag, some loose tea, you can brew it yourself, make it as strong as you want, add whatever you want. It’s completely up to you, the brewer, as to how you consume your tea.”Tweet

Millions of shoppers head to the stores or get online on the day after Thanksgiving in a consumer ritual that’s known as Black Friday.

Observed by 17 states dating back to 1980, it serves as an unofficial beginning to the Christmas season. The deals given by major stores cause thousands of people to camp outside stores as they wait for the doors to open.

The average person spends almost $400 shopping on this day, according to statisticbrain.com. Between Thursday and Sunday, 226 million people shopped in stores and online.

Although there were millions of shoppers at major stores such as Best Buy, Wal-Mart and Target, online sales increased 20.7 percent from 2011, according to Trend Hunter.

More than half of online shoppers planned to do their holiday shopping online by using mobile devices and computers to find the Black Friday deals, according to a survey by consulting firm Accenture.

Maureen Johnson

Black Friday, although a hectic way to spend the day after Thanksgiving, helps parents save money and allow them to give their children presents on Christmas morning.

Maureen Johnson of New Baltimore has battled the long lines during Black Friday each year since she became a parent.

“This year, I noticed it wasn’t as crowded as last year,” Johnson said. “Maybe it’s because of online shopping, but I was definitely happy that I didn’t spend as long in lines.”

“The game that my son really wanted was called Skylanders Giants for the Wii,” Johnson said. “I grabbed the very last one, and a fellow shopper wanted the same game which caused her to yell at me in front of all the other shoppers”

The growth of online sales over physical shopping will result in online-only door busters for Black Friday of 2013. This might result in even lower in-store sales next year, according to Social Times: Your Social Media Source.

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BY ALEC BRZEZINSKI
OU News Bureau

Plow businesses were hurt by last year’s mild Michigan winter, which is why they hope for a white Christmas this time around.

The Detroit area recorded 26 inches of snow last winter, the least amount since 1997 and well below the 69 inches that fell two years ago.  The annual average is 43 inches.

Gresham's Seasonal Services owns and stores its own salt. The company plows in Oakland and Macomb counties. PHOTO/ALEC BRZEZINSKI

Plow companies have had to adapt to the unpredictable weather in Michigan, which is why many offer year-round services such as lawn care and landscaping in the warmer months.

“Last winter really hurt cash-wise,” said Ramsey Kizy of Sweep Master in Rochester. “We’re hoping for a big winter this time around, but even so, we’re a year-round company and a small winter just means we’ll start the spring in March instead of May.”

That sentiment was shared at Gresham’s Seasonal Services, a year-round business that operates in Macomb and Oakland counties.

“We’re a commercial snow removal company, so even though there wasn’t much snow, we still held a lot of salting contracts,” said Paul Bobo, an employee at Gresham’s. “We’ve been around since 1970, and during that time we’ve built up some really solid relationships ,which has helped us through the tougher times weather wise.”

“Gresham’s also does a lot of landscaping, and those contracts are annual, which secures business for us every year,” Bobo said. “The spring season started a bit early last year with the mild winter, which was fine, but we would like to see a bigger winter this season.”

Last year’s mild winter and lack of precipitation during the summer led to a drop in water levels in the Great Lakes. According to The Detroit News, lakes Huron and Michigan are at their lowest level since March 1964, while all of the Great Lakes are expected to be lower than usual. If this winter is as mild as last year’s and Michigan doesn’t see an increase in precipitation, experts say lake levels could break their record lows in 2013.

The 2011-12 mild winter also affected farmers and their crops. Warm weather in March, highlighted by a string of days above 70 degrees, allowed crops to bloom and start early. A late freeze in April wiped out almost all the berries and decimated the apple crops for the fall.

The Michigan Department of Transportation’s Metro Region — Oakland, Macomb, St. Clair and Wayne counties — budgeted $12 million for winter maintenance and has more than 145,000 tons of salt to spread on highways.Tweet

Chris Lemieux, president of the Wheelchair Hockey League, loves sports, but has not always had a chance to participate.

Growing up with spinal muscular atrophy stopped Chris from being able to partake in some of his favorite sports. It is a disease caused by a genetic defect that affects the proteins necessary for survival of motor neurons. This results in overall muscle weakness and muscle tone, especially in the spine.

Players wait for the whistle after the ball went out of bounds. PHOTO/BETH LEBOWSKY

Once Chris heard that he could play his favorite sport to watch, he immediately joined assisted hockey leagues. He began playing at the age of 9.

“I have always been a sports fanatic, but any of the sports that I was allowed to play didn’t interest me,” Chris said. “I always wanted to play hockey.”

Todd Pasant, one of the league founders, introduced Chris to the idea of playing. They grew up together and knew each other through grade school. When Todd died, Chris took over his duties and now is league president.

The league accepts almost any player who has a physical disability, such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, arthrogryposis and osteogenesis imperfecta.

The game is like hockey, but members play in their wheelchairs on a gym floor and with a ball instead of a puck. Once every year, travel teams play with other hockey leagues on ice.

“It’s always a little interesting to watch us in our wheelchairs on ice,” Chris said. “But it’s so much fun.”

The league has 40 players divided into four teams, ranging from age 10 to age 60. They play a four-on-four game, with goalies.

“Each player pays one hundred dollars for the entire year and that fee includes the jersey, tickets to the banquet and a present at the Christmas party,” Chris said. “All of our other finances are covered through fundraisers and donations.”

The Detroit Red Wings donated $10,000 last year and have been one of the best supporters of the Wheelchair Hockey League. Every week, the teams do a 50/50 raffle to help with monthly costs.

The teams get ready to begin their regular Saturday afternoon game. PHOTO/BETH LEBOWSKY

Players run the organization. There are five board members consisting of a president, a treasurer, two commissioners and a volunteer coordinator.

“Todd decided that he wanted the players to run this league because they have more dedication and have more heart invested in this organization as opposed to someone who isn’t disabled,” Chris said.

Jason Drapinski, deputy commissioner, has played since he was 13 years old; he now is in his mid-30s.

“I just showed up to a practice one day and realized that this is the sport that will keep me active,” Jason said.

The teams meet Saturday afternoons at the Salvation Army in Warren. Two games take place each week.

“What people don’t realize is that all of the players are cognitively normal,” Chris said. “They think that since we are physically disabled that we are mentally disabled, as well, but that’s not the case.”

Anthony Nelson, a board member, has played for eight years. His physical therapist convinced him to try hockey.

“I never really wanted to play, but as soon as I got out there and realized how much I enjoyed it, I stuck with it,” Anthony said.

Board members carefully pick all teams. They assess each player’s abilities to make the teams fair and give each team a good balance.

“I really love being a part of this league because we all enjoy hanging out so much,” Chris said. “And the games each week give us all something to look forward to.”

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BY CATHERINE TWIGG
and SHELBY REYNOLDS

While swing dancing may have originated in the 1920s, people still enjoy swinging out to the nightclub for a good time.

Rich Barkman is one of the many keeping this type of dance alive. He has been swing dancing since the early ’90s.

“Love of the music makes you want to dance,” he said, “and then once you’re dancing you’re meeting fun people.”

Swing Detroit is a local group that helps bring people together for some jiving fun.

Swing dancers practice at Virgo in Warren. PHOTO/SHELBY REYNOLDS

Virgo Nightclub in Warren offers Thursday night swing dancing lessons and open dance floor from 7 p.m. to midnight. There are about 15 variations of swing dancing, but Virgo focuses on East Coast Swing for the beginners and Lindy Hop for the intermediate lessons.

Paul Carryer, dance instructor at Virgo, said that a lot of people want to learn how to swing dance.

“It’s something that’s growing and booming, especially with the younger crowd,” he said.

He described swing dancing as social, educational and something people can use to express themselves. They do not need “continuous fluidity,” but can alter and play with the moves as they dance.

“There’s a certain excitement to learning something with somebody and really embracing it and going, ‘Yes! You know what, that’s awesome!’ ”

History

It began with jazz music and the style Lindy Hop, but evolved with the jitterbug and other types of swing music. By the mid-1930s, swing dancing was a big hit across America.

A sign advertises swing dancing at Virgo. PHOTO/SHELBY REYNOLDS

It appeared in movies in the 1940s such as “Twice Blessed” and “Swing Fever.”

In the late 1950s, TV shows such as “American Bandstand” and “The Buddy Dean Show” attracted younger viewers who danced to a new era of artists, including Elvis Presley and Little Richard.

Swing dancing died down, but re-emerged in the 1990s, with influence from other genres to help it regain appeal. Movies, such as “Swing Kids” and “Clueless” showcased this type of dancing or fashion.

Today, flash mobs have been spotted swing dancing, such as in Denver, New Orleans, New York, Sacramento and Houston.

Reasons to Swing Dance

Experienced dancers and new attendees share the dance floor during Virgo’s Thursday night lessons.

Lehman Orluck of Shelby Township has been swing dancing for about 25 years.

“To start out, I think the easiest dance is the East Coast Swing,” he said, “but I love all swings.”

Jeanette Brabandt of Harrison Township began with East Coast Swing about 15 years ago. What she loves most about swing dancing is the movement.

“I like a lot of activity, a lot of movement,” she said. “And it’s really a fun way to stay in shape.”

Selena Ransom has been swing dancing for two years and loves it for three reasons.

“It’s the combination of getting dressed up for a night out and meeting people and getting a good workout,” she said. “It’s just kind of the trifecta for going out.”

Taylor Born, a student at Oakland University, has come to Virgo for nearly a year and is considering starting a ballroom dance club on campus.

“I like the fact that you can kind of swing dance to any type of music,” she said. “It’s always fun, which is a good time … to relieve stress.”

She said that she got the idea when she couldn’t find a more local venue for swing dancing. Her solution was to start her own.

Her plan is to get the club up and running for the 2013 winter semester and collaborate it with a dance studio in Auburn Hills.

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The Macomb County Animal Shelter in Mount Clemens can house up to 200 dogs and 400 cats. PHOTO/CATHERINE O'ROURKE

BY CATHERINE O’ROURKE
OU News Bureau

The door is always open at the Macomb County Animal Shelter, where the staff prides itself in taking care of any animal brought to their door.

“We take dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets, snakes and anything else,” said Sherry Labelle, associate director at the shelter in Mount Clemens.

“One time we even had a roomful of spiders from a house raid.”

It’s common for people to bring in entire litters or week-old puppies found behind a dumpster.

“A vast majority of the animals are strays,” Labelle said. “The only problem is that we don’t have a history on these animals so we do our best to give them good vet care before putting them up for adoption.”

At the shelter, each animal receives a distemper and rabies vaccination. Animals are neutered or spayed before adoption.

“The humane societies tend to do a screening process with their animals, but we take anything that comes in our door,” Labelle said. “We can’t be selective because we want to help every animal we see.”

The shelter, which usually is half full, can house 200 dogs and 400 cats. Putting a limit allows animals room to run around and gives the staff the ability to provide individual care.

Sherry Labelle

“The person can come in, interact with the animal and we have a bonding room for the cats so they can get one-on-one time with them,” she said.

Potential owners can spend 30 minutes with each animal and see as many as they want. A person who chooses a pet then will fill out paperwork. Spayed and neutered animals are slightly more expensive.

“We tend to have more animals in the spring because all of the animals are reproducing,” Labelle said.

Buying former strays can be nerve-racking because an owner can’t be sure if the animal carries diseases or will be a safe pet for kids. Labelle said that once vaccinated, animals are safe for adoption.

“These animals just want a home,” Labelle said. “They are just so starved for love.

“It is so hard for us to turn down any animals coming in here, even if we are close to full.”

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said that 20 percent to 30 percent of pets are adopted from shelters and rescues.

“Adopting from a shelter really is the most rewarding experience,” Labelle said. “It’s giving these animals a second chance.”Tweet

The texture, the taste — even just the sound of someone consuming peanut butter — disgusts Jennifer Kendrick of Sterling Heights.

When she was young, her friends tormented her with peanut butter, causing extreme panic.

Jennifer Kendrick

“I got chased around my house and hid in my bathroom for 20 minutes,” Kendrick said. “They were putting it on a knife and sliding it under the door.”

MedicineNet.com, an online, healthcare media publishing company, estimates more than 6 million Americans suffer from a phobia, which is a relentless aversion to a thing, activity or situation. Dealing with a phobia can be a stressful, lifelong battle.

“A phobia is a fear of something that is so incapacitating that it disrupts daily life,” said Keith Williams, a psychology professor at Oakland University.

It can be hard to tell the difference between a fear and a phobia. A fear of something tends to come from knowing it can harm. A phobia is an irrational fear or aversion to something, regardless of whether it can cause harm.

Kendrick, who is not allergic to peanut butter, is fully aware it cannot harm her. Yet she gets anxious when near it.

“I always have a hard time being around peanut butter,” Kendrick said. “When I’m at work, though, I can’t freak out if someone is eating peanut butter. I have to keep myself together and go to a different room.”

More than half the people with a phobia are women. Women are more prone to having irrational phobias, panic attacks and anxiety because of an imbalance of hormones, according to fearofstuff.com, which calls itself the largest website just for “fear of stuff” information.

Among those with phobias, 3.2 million suffer from agoraphobia. This happens to people when they fear crowded or wide-open spaces and worry they will have a panic attack. It becomes impossible for these people to go outside of their house because, to them, that is safety. When this occurs, the phobia takes over a person’s emotional and mental state.

There are many common phobias. One that isn’t is bibliophobia.

It’s “the fear of books,” Williams said.

The part of the brain known as the amygdala controls fear, resulting in phobias being genetically predisposed, he said.

“The first presence of this object in your sight will indicate that you do, indeed, have a genetically predisposed fear of it,” Williams said.

It means that you may have a phobia of something that you are not aware of — yet.

“A phobia would have to be expressed in the presence of the object that they fear to be able to tell if they have the ability to deal with it,” Williams said.

Beware of cotton balls

Kellie Duncan of Sterling Heights suffers from sidonglobophobia, the fear of cotton balls. She was diagnosed with this phobia and has dealt with this since she can remember.

Kellie Duncan

“I tend to get really nauseous whenever someone is using a cotton ball,” Duncan said. “I went to get my nails done the other day and the lady used a cotton ball to get my nail polish off, and I started to have a panic attack and had to leave.”

For someone with sidonglobophobia, the reaction can be akin to hearing nails scraping a chalkboard. The person tends to get chills and, in severe cases, extreme anxiety and panic.

“The first time I had a real panic attack was when I was 4 years old, and we were doing a craft at school using cotton balls and I ran out of the classroom,” Duncan said. “Now, things like that don’t happen because I can control my anxiety but every once in a while it creeps up on me.”

When a phobia begins to take over a person’s ability to function normally, it is critical to find a way to get past it. It is possible to overcome it without the use of medicine.

“Systematic desensitization is used to gradually expose a person to conditions of fearful situations,” Williams said.

In some cases, people slowly can be presented with their fear to get used to it. Eventually, they can cope and not allow their phobia to affect them daily.

“I have tried to get myself used to being around cotton balls but it has never worked for me,” Duncan said. “The only thing that calms me down is something that I read about a while ago. I keep a rubber band around my wrist and snap it lightly if I’m feeling anxious.”

People with severe phobias tend to get anxious, nervous and possibly brought to tears. Sometimes, they have the ability to calm themselves. For the most part, avoidance is the only answer.

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