Magic's Franz Wagner sidelined by torn obliqueMichelle Rowland once confessed she had a vice. It was “excessive online clothes shopping”, Rowland , when she was Labor’s communications spokeswoman. “I blame Instagram.” Now the communications minister with responsibility for regulating social media, Rowland is doing something to curb its influence. The politician known for having such a lawyerly, cautious approach that she reads from notes even in private meetings has taken the audacious step of . The move has outraged technology giants and generated headlines around the world. “We would like that something very similar could be put in place, enforced in Europe,” French Education Minister Anne Genetet said. “We absolutely urgently need something to be put in place.” That Australia is out ahead of any other country is all the more striking because two of Rowland’s other priorities – a bill to and a – are dead or dying. Rowland’s critics blame the minister for that. “Minister Rowland seems to operate under the belief that she doesn’t have to bring anyone along with her on her legislation and policies,” Greens communications spokesperson Sarah Hanson-Young says. “For the communications minister, she’s not a great communicator.” But the wooden exterior belies a different Rowland. Behind the closed doors of the Labor Party, colleagues know her as funny (the type of minister who leaves odd snacks on staff desks), sharp and influential. Rowland, they say, is in her dream job. She is the first sitting MP since Paul Keating to serve as NSW party president, a role in which she has helped keep internal NSW Labor dramas off the front page as the after more than a decade in opposition. The former communications and regulatory lawyer, who worked with star lawyer Danny Gilbert and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, cares about her portfolio and knows it inside out. Growing up in the western Sydney electorate of Greenway that she represents, Rowland rose through the ranks of Young Labor before marrying Michael Chaaya, a corporate lawyer who could not speak English when he started school in Mount Druitt. The pair regularly attend a Maronite church together, grounding her views in favour of religious freedom and against antisemitism. In 2009, Rowland was a senior lawyer at Gilbert+Tobin when an electoral redistribution flipped Greenway from a safe Liberal seat to a winnable prospect for Labor. Rowland won it the next year and began a steady rise through the party that has won her fans in Labor’s most senior ranks. Treasurer Jim Chalmers secured her a position on the powerful cabinet expenditure review committee that signs off on government spending – a rarity for a communications minister. “She is very smart, very thorough and very tough,” one senior minister says. “She has a lawyer’s sense of the detail and a marginal member’s sense of the politics, and that makes her very influential.” And she has personal bonds, too. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rates not only her political judgment as a voice from suburban Labor comfortable on Sky News, but also her health advice. He followed Rowland’s diet (she lost about 40kg – roughly half her body weight – on the strict meal-prepping plan in 2020 and still gets up at 4.30am for Pilates) to lose weight before the 2022 election, declaring it made him “match fit”. Yet, those backroom relationships have not been enough to advance major parts of the government’s agenda that Rowland is overseeing in a portfolio that deals with politically influential organisations such as media companies and sporting codes. On some other issues, such as modernising Australia Post, updating rules to preserve major sport on free-to-air TV, reshaping the National Broadband Network, and letting users find broadcast stations on smart TVs, Rowland has confronted issues that her Coalition predecessors left alone. But rules to require more Australian content on streaming services such as Netflix, which sit both in Rowland’s patch and the arts portfolio, are nowhere to be seen. , which would have let the media regulator pressure social media companies to take down falsehoods circulating online, attracted a chorus of critics, from human rights groups to religious institutions. Intended to prevent conspiracy theories about events such as terrorist attacks, it left about who would determine what was true and how. Rowland her second attempt to pass the law late last month. Gambling reform has fared scarcely better. More than a year after the late Labor MP Peta Murphy delivered bipartisan recommendations from a parliamentary committee for a blanket ban on gambling advertising, no laws have been introduced and a government commitment to respond by the end of this year has been all but abandoned. Anti-gambling advocates have accused the government of That is despite Rowland privately briefing gambling ads online and a cap on those airing on television, less than the proposal Murphy backed, but further than the sports, gambling and media sectors wanted and beyond what any previous government has floated. But Rowland has done little to convince the public of the significance of the reforms. In press conferences, Rowland is disciplined to the point of appearing stilted. Those who have spoken with her in private say her habit of referring to notes, which is unusual for a politician but more common in the law, has the same effect. It is, one former minister says, an “insult to the craft”. Rowland’s allies admit her attitude towards the gambling sector changed after this masthead that she had received donations and a Rockpool dinner from Sportsbet before the 2022 federal election, leading to crossbench calls for her resignation. Teal MPs and anti-gambling advocates portrayed Rowland as captured by corporate interests. That perception has meant her proposed set of policies, which would hurt media companies and sporting codes’ finances, won no friends. “The reputational damage done by the Sportsbet stuff meant she was always on the back foot on the gambling issue,” one gambling industry source says. “People like [Alliance for Gambling Reform chief advocate] Tim Costello were always going to paint her as weak if she ended up anywhere other than a full blanket ban.” With the prime minister publicly suggesting poker machines are a greater problem and privately convinced there is little electoral benefit in prosecuting the crackdown, Rowland’s problem is unlikely to go away unless she can muster the rhetoric to convince the public that a middle path works. That more charismatic Rowland has peeked through before. Asked her favourite TV show in , Rowland named the Netflix show . It’s full of “heavily tattooed Nordic beefcakes in sweaty battle scenes”, she said. “I’m only human.”
Lawsuit for Investors who Lost over $100,000 in shares of DMC Global Inc. (NASDAQ: BOOM) between May and Nov. 2024 announced by Shareholders Foundation
Donegal manager Jim McGuinness has revealed that players interact and engage in a very different way than when he first took over the Donegal footballers in 2011. McGuinness' first stint as Donegal manager saw his Donegal side win the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 2012. This also included the National Football League in 2014 and the Ulster Senior Football Championship in 2011, 2012, and 2014. McGuinness revolutionised Donegal's playing style, putting emphasis on a highly organised defensive system. After his tenure with the Donegal senior football team, Jim McGuinness became involved with Celtic Football Club in Scotland. He joined Celtic in 2015. He has since returned to Donegal for a second term to a very different Donegal side. Team styles and player outlooks change with the years that pass, and Donegal in 2023 and 2024 has been no different. This week, McGuinness sat down with the Irish News to talk about the Donegal footballers and other topics. McGuinness was asked specifically about what was the biggest difference between his first Donegal side and this one. The Donegal boss explained that there was a massive difference, and the likes of social media and mental health played a far more important factor than ever before. "There’s a massive difference in the players. Massive difference. Different generations, different thought processes, different intensity in their lives," s aid McGuinness to Irish News. Sat down with Jim McGuinness last week for a rare in-depth interview that will be published this weekend. Piece below touches on his thoughts on the proposed new rules and the return of Michael Murphy. https://t.co/HjTX8vJjKr — Cahair O'Kane (@CahairOKane1) November 27, 2024 "Reared on technology, the intensity of that, social media, and mental health—all those things are real. You don’t even want to acknowledge them sometimes because you’re coming from that different generation. "The last group was a totally different group. This group wants information; they want data; they want information on themselves. That’s how they engage and interact." Social media doesn't just affect players; managers are also affected by it all. However, McGuinness has admitted he is not someone who uses social media in that way. The Donegal native revealed that people masquerading as experts, when it is essentially opinion at the end of the day, is another reason why he hasn't warmed to it. "Trying to navigate your way through that is not easy; parents and agents have a huge impact. Social media’s there, and you could be ruined by a couple of comments," he added. "That’s why I just don’t go there, don’t like it, and don’t agree with it. It’s way too personal a lot of the time. Everybody’s an expert—well, you’re not, like. "You just aren’t. Experts are experts for a reason. Everybody’s entitled to their opinion, but you’re not an expert." See More: Jim McGuinness
Carl Black Chevy Buick GMC in Kennesaw offers valuable research on the new 2025 Chevy Equinox. ATLANTA , Dec. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Carl Black Chevrolet Buick GMC in Kennesaw is thrilled to announce new insights into the 2025 Chevy Equinox for sale near Atlanta . This small SUV has received a bold redesign, advanced technology updates, and versatile options, including a highly anticipated EV variant. -Redesigned Chevy Equinox Brings Style and Functionality The redesigned Chevy Equinox boasts a sleeker exterior with sharper lines, a reimagined front grille, and stunning LED headlights. These changes not only enhance the SUV's visual appeal but also improve aerodynamics. Inside, drivers and passengers will enjoy a spacious cabin that seamlessly integrates comfort and technology. Moreover, the 2025 Chevy Equinox prioritizes convenience. Features like wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and multiple USB-C ports keep everyone connected. Plus, the hands-free power liftgate simplifies loading and unloading, making the Equinox perfect for busy families and commuters alike. -A Look at the Affordable 2025 Chevy Equinox Price Starting at just $28,600 , the 2025 Chevy Equinox price offers incredible value for its class and standard features. It comes loaded with safety features like lane-keeping assist and automatic emergency braking as standard. Higher trims introduce premium amenities such as leather seating, a panoramic sunroof, and a Bose sound system. Carl Black Kennesaw is especially excited about the upcoming 2025 Chevy Equinox EV , which blends innovation with efficiency. As Chevrolet moves toward a sustainable future, this electric variant stands out as an excellent option for environmentally conscious drivers. -Find the Perfect Chevy Equinox Near Me For those searching for a reliable small SUV, Carl Black Chevrolet Buick GMC in Kennesaw has you covered. Explore their extensive current inventory to find the Chevy Equinox near me that fits your needs. From daily commutes to family road trips, the Equinox is a versatile choice. To learn more, visit the 2025 Chevy Equinox model research page or discover what's new in this impressive, completely redesigned SUV. Experience the future of small SUVs today at Carl Black Kennesaw. - About Carl Black Chevy Buick GMC Carl Black Chevy Buick GMC is a leading auto dealership in Kennesaw, GA that offers a wide selection of new and used vehicles and financing, maintenance, and repair services. Now, we have a widening range of personal and business electric vehicles, as well. The dealership is committed to supplying exceptional customer service and helping customers find the right vehicle for their needs and budget. For more information, visit www.carlblackkennesaw.com . Shoppers may also contact the Georgia dealership by calling 888-457-2417 or visiting the store at 1110 Roberts Road. View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/carl-black-kennesaw-unveils-exciting-details-about-the-2025-chevy-equinox-for-sale-near-atlanta-302338594.html SOURCE Carl Black Chevy Buick GMC KennesawMan killed in collision involving lorry named as 58-year-old Gary McMahon Police at the scene of the fatal collision in north Belfast and (inset) crash victim Gary McMahon More lives will be lost if the “dangerous” roads in north Belfast are not made safer for cyclists, a city councillor has warned after a man in his 50s was killed. On Thursday morning, Clifton Street in north Belfast between Carlisle Circus and Donegall Street was closed for several hours following a crash involving a cyclist and a lorry.
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IIFCL seeks infra tag for space sector; keen to finance satellite vehicles manufacturing: MDA person’s face is covered by a Chinese flag fluttering in the wind in Beijing in an undated photograph.Photo: Bloomberg ‘UNITED FRONT’: Beijing provides Internet ‘influencers’ with templates and directions, such as criticizing Taiwanese politicians, the rapper said By Chung Li-hua and Esme Yeh / Staff reporter, with staff writer 請繼續往下閱讀... Taiwanese rapper Chen Po-yuan (陳柏源) in a video showed how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) bribes Taiwanese online influencers in its “united front” efforts to shape Taiwanese opinions. The video was made by YouTuber “Pa Chiung (八炯)” and published online on Friday. Chen in the video said that China’s United Front Work Department provided him with several templates and materials — such as making news statements — with some mentioning Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) politician Hung Hsiu-chu (洪秀柱) and New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) and asking him to write a song criticizing the Democratic Progressive Party. 請繼續往下閱讀... He said he had produced content for China as requested, but did not receive the royalties as promised by a Beijing-based management company for his song Chinese Bosses (中國老總), which is sung in an exaggerated Taiwanese accent with lyrics implying a pleasant life for businesspeople in China. Chen said he also founded a company in China jointly with a business partner from the Jinjiang Taiwan Compatriots Friendship Association, who worked as his manager and later poached all his employees and capital invested in the company. He was labeled as a fraud and a “Taiwanese independence separatist,” and attacked by Chinese Internet trolls, after he released an online video condemning his former business partner for betraying him. “I finally realized the hard way that where I was staying [China] was not a place of democracy,” Chen said, adding that there is a huge difference between democratic Taiwan and autocratic China. The Mainland Affairs Council yesterday said it is in control of the situation where Taiwanese influencers allegedly vilify the government’s policies, lure Taiwanese to work in China or engage in “united front” campaigns requested by the Chinese government. The National Security Act (國家安全法) prohibits people from engaging, initiating, funding, hosting, manipulating, directing or developing an organization for a foreign country, including China, Hong Kong and Macau, external hostile forces, or any type of organizations, institutions, or groups established or controlled by them, or a representative dispatched by such organizations, institutions or groups, the council said. The Anti-Infiltration Act (反滲透法) prohibits people from receiving instructions, being commissioned or funded by external hostile forces to engage in activities that disrupt social order, spread disinformation or interfere with elections, it said. Article 33-1 of the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area (臺灣地區與大陸地區人民關係條例) prohibits individuals, juristic persons, organizations or other institutions from engaging in any form of cooperation with the Chinese military, political parties or any organization of a political nature, it added. 新聞來源: TAIPEI TIMES 不用抽 不用搶 現在用APP看新聞 保證天天中獎 點我下載APP 按我看活動辦法Zaire Williams, Zavier Fitch combine for 45 points to help Wagner beat Penn State-Scranton 120-30
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More puzzles, less sleepIt looked like a recipe for disaster. So, when his country's swimmers were being accused of doping earlier this year, one Chinese official cooked up something fast. He blamed it on contaminated noodles. In fact, he argued, it could have been a culinary conspiracy concocted by criminals, whose actions led to the cooking wine used to prepare the noodles being laced with a banned heart drug that found its way into an athlete's system. This theory was spelled out to international anti-doping officials during a meeting and, after weeks of wrangling, finally made it into the thousands of pages of data handed over to the lawyer who investigated the case involving 23 Chinese swimmers who had tested positive for that same drug. The attorney, appointed by the World Anti-Doping Agency, refused to consider that scenario as he sifted through the evidence. In spelling out his reasoning, lawyer Eric Cottier paid heed to the half-baked nature of the theory. "The Investigator considers this scenario, which he has described in the conditional tense, to be possible, no less, no more," Cottier wrote. Even without the contaminated-noodles theory, Cottier found problems with the way WADA and the Chinese handled the case but ultimately determined WADA had acted reasonably in not appealing China's conclusion that its athletes had been inadvertently contaminated. Critics of the way the China case was handled can't help but wonder if a wider exploration of the noodle theory, details of which were discovered by The Associated Press via notes and emails from after the meeting where it was delivered, might have lent a different flavor to Cottier's conclusions. "There are more story twists to the ways the Chinese explain the TMZ case than a James Bond movie," said Rob Koehler, the director general of the advocacy group Global Athlete. "And all of it is complete fiction." In April, reporting from the New York Times and the German broadcaster ARD revealed that the 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, also known as TMZ. China's anti-doping agency determined the athletes had been contaminated, and so, did not sanction them. WADA accepted that explanation, did not press the case further, and China was never made to deliver a public notice about the "no-fault findings," as is often seen in similar cases. The stock explanation for the contamination was that traces of TMZ were found in the kitchen of a hotel where the swimmers were staying. In his 58-page report, Cottier relayed some suspicions about the feasibility of that chain of events — noting that WADA's chief scientist "saw no other solution than to accept it, even if he continued to have doubts about the reality of contamination as described by the Chinese authorities." But without evidence to support pursuing the case, and with the chance of winning an appeal at almost nil, Cottier determined WADA's "decision not to appeal appears indisputably reasonable." A mystery remained: How did those traces of TMZ get into the kitchen? Shortly after the doping positives were revealed, the Institute of National Anti-Doping Organizations held a meeting on April 30 where it heard from the leader of China's agency, Li Zhiquan. Li's presentation was mostly filled with the same talking points that have been delivered throughout the saga — that the positive tests resulted from contamination from the kitchen. But he expanded on one way the kitchen might have become contaminated, harkening to another case in China involving a low-level TMZ positive. A pharmaceutical factory, he explained, had used industrial alcohol in the distillation process for producing TMZ. The industrial alcohol laced with the drug "then entered the market through illegal channels," he said. The alcohol "was re-used by the perpetrators to process and produce cooking wine, which is an important seasoning used locally to make beef noodles," Li said. "The contaminated beef noodles were consumed by that athlete, resulting in an extremely low concentration of TMZ in the positive sample. "The wrongdoers involved have been brought to justice." This new information raised eyebrows among the anti-doping leaders listening to Li's report. So much so that over the next month, several emails ensued to make sure the details about the noodles and wine made their way to WADA lawyers, who could then pass it onto Cottier. Eventually, Li did pass on the information to WADA general counsel Ross Wenzel and, just to be sure, one of the anti-doping leaders forwarded it, as well, according to the emails seen by the AP. All this came with Li's request that the noodles story be kept confidential. Turns out, it made it into Cottier's report, though he took the information with a grain of salt. "Indeed, giving it more attention would have required it to be documented, then scientifically verified and validated," he wrote. Neither Wenzel nor officials at the Chinese anti-doping agency returned messages from AP asking about the noodles conspiracy and the other athlete who Li suggested had been contaminated by them. Meanwhile, 11 of the swimmers who originally tested positive competed at the Paris Games earlier this year in a meet held under the cloud of the Chinese doping case. Though WADA considers the case closed, Koehler and others point to situations like this as one of many reasons that an investigation by someone other than Cottier, who was hired by WADA, is still needed. "It gives the appearance that people are just making things up as they go along on this, and hoping the story just goes away," Koehler said. "Which clearly it has not." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
How much money does it take to start investing? Some think the answer is “ ”. However, it can take a long time to save up large sums of money. And starting on a small scale can mean beginner’s mistakes are less costly. Although I am no longer a novice, this is still the approach I take. If I invest in a company for the first time, I prefer to do so on a modest scale. As I get to know it better, I then decide whether or not to increase my stake. That also explains why, based on my experience, were I to start buying shares for the first time again, I would do so using a smaller not a bigger sum of money. Using £500 to get going in the stock market may offer me less potential for reward than if I used £5,000 – but it also means much less money would be at risk! The practicalities of getting started How much to invest is only one of the considerations people need to make when they start investing. Another is to invest on a practical level. I am happy using a . But as there are lots available, I spend time to try and choose one that best suits my own financial needs and objectives. The same applies when I invest through a Self-Invested Personal Pension ( ) or . It is also important to get to grips with how the stock market works. A great business does not necessarily make for a great investment. If I pay too much, I could end up seeing my shares fall in value even though the company does well. So things like learning are necessary activities when learning how to invest, as far as I am concerned. Finding shares to buy It is tempting to start investing by looking for one amazing share that looks set to explode in value. If investing just a few hundred pounds to start, the temptation to stick to one choice can be even stronger. That is the opposite of my approach. No matter how big or small an investment portfolio is, I think diversification is always an important risk management tool. I also prefer to stick to proven, blue-chip businesses. Even if their short-term growth opportunities may not seem explosive, such shares can turn out to be lucrative. Investing for the long term As an example, one share I think investors should consider is ( ). The business has had a challenging few years. Indeed, the Reckitt share price is now 20% lower than it was five years ago. That may not sound like the stuff of investor dreams. But past performance is not necessarily a guide to what will happen next. The price fall has brought Reckitt down to what I think is a more attractive valuation when considering the company’s long-term prospects. It reflects risks such as legal costs for ongoing infant formula lawsuits – something I still think may hurt future profits. But with a large addressable market, strong brands such as and , and a large existing customer base, I expect the firm has the potential to make large profits in coming years.Article content In 2018, Matt Christensen kicked heroin by replacing drugs with drinking. When he stopped drinking in 2022, he turned to food. He put on 95 pounds. Recommended Videos His doctor recommended he try Wegovy, part of a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, to help him lose weight. Eventually he switched to a different drug called Zepbound, which targets both GLP-1 and GIP agonists. The drugs worked. But a funny thing happened on his weight-loss journey: His cravings for food had diminished but so had his cravings for drugs and alcohol. Christensen, 42, started drinking at age 9 and using heroin at 17. For decades, catching a cold meant reaching for a hot toddy. Work stress meant numbing out with Xanax. Even passing through certain neighborhoods in Chicago where he used to buy drugs would lead to cravings. But after he started taking GLP-1 agonists, those triggers became, well, less triggering. “It was the weirdest thing,” he said. “It was just quiet. I just found it really easy all of a sudden.” More than that, Christensen noticed that an unease he had always felt in his body – a discomfort he perpetually tried to quell with fidgeting, food or drugs – was diminishing. “That’s a feeling that I’ve had my entire life,” he said. “Taking these drugs has toned that down. “There’s no silver bullet for addiction or mental illness, but for me, in concert with the other treatments, it has been an absolute game changer,” he said. GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy have received lots of attention for their efficacy at promoting weight loss, reducing “food noise” and treating diabetes. But a new crop of evidence – both anecdotal and research based – is pointing to these drugs as a potential option for people facing addiction issues. RECOMMENDED VIDEO The operative word here is “potential.” “We have something there that holds great promise but that is not proven yet,” said Luba Yammine, an associate professor in the department of psychology at UTHealth Houston who researches treatments for substance use disorders. Yammine conducted a study on the efficacy of a GLP-1 drug called exenatide as a tool to help quit smoking. The results were promising, so her team is currently conducting larger clinical trials using GLP-1 agonists in the context of smoking cessation. But she’s saving her celebrations until these studies are completed, which will take another two to three years. “As excited as we are, it is too early to make conclusions,” Yammine said. In November, Silvia Martinelli, a medical doctor specializing in psychiatry in the department of life sciences and public health at Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Rome, published a systematic review of randomized trials related to GLP-1 drugs that suggested they could treat substance use disorders. Martinelli also collaborated with Niccolò Petrucciani, a medical doctor and associate professor of general surgery at Sapienza University in Rome, on a meta-study published in March that found 4.28 percent of people who received bariatric surgery developed new-onset substance use disorder. That is, a “non-negligible” number of people who got weight loss surgery ended up developing addictions to substances like opioids or alcohol. Her research might point to a neurological connection between overeating and substance abuse. “Certainly our understanding of neurohormonal mechanisms to date is still limited,” Martinelli wrote in an email to The Washington Post. “Medical physiology has only recently deepened the close connection that exists between our brain and the gastro-intestinal system.” Markku Lähteenvuo, a clinical scientist in Kuopio, Finland, recently published a study of 227,000 Swedish patients with alcohol use disorder that found GLP-1 drugs were associated with a 30 to 40 percent reduction in hospitalizations and other problems related to alcohol use. Why would these drugs help with addictions to alcohol and drugs? “I really don’t think we know yet,” Lähteenvuo said, though he noted that some primate studies have pointed to GLP-1 drugs affecting dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a hormone and neurotransmitter linked to generating pleasure in the brain, and its effects have been connected to cocaine, alcohol and even social media use (although some researchers have warned that the effects of scrolling on dopamine are often misunderstood). Many researchers agree that if GLP-1 drugs do prove effective in treating addiction, it is probably because of dopamine, although absent further research, this is still hypothetical. “Chances are there is more than one mechanism and these mechanisms may not be mutually exclusive,” Yammine said. Lähteenvuo agrees. “But I have to say, I am quite enthusiastic,” he said. Lähteenvuo is hopeful that GLP-1 drugs could help treat both obesity and addiction, two of the most common medical conditions in the Western world. “I think it might be a nice way to get two birds with one stone, treating multiple problems with a single medication, which is always good if we can manage it,” he said. Brandi Moore, an accountant from Pittsburgh, said that for her, taking GLP-1 drugs has killed more than two proverbial birds. “Like all addicts, we have a voice and that voice wants to kill us,” Moore said. She described that internal “voice” as driving her to cocaine addiction, food addiction and negative self talk. “That voice is gone,” said Moore, 49. “It’s the first time I’ve felt peace from that. And it’s incredible.” Sitting in her work cubicle, Moore pulled out a photo from her wedding day to illustrate how much weight she had lost. “My thigh is smaller than my arm was there,” she said. In 2017, Moore underwent weight-loss surgery. She went from 287 pounds to 179 pounds, but then found herself unable to lose more weight. Moore started taking semaglutide in March after her doctor recommended a Groupon for a telehealth site. In her words, her weight “plummeted” to 135 pounds. She also experienced “terrible” constipation and had to adjust her ADHD medications, which she has taken since 1999, after a dip in their efficacy. She also found herself feeling numb and listless when she first started taking semaglutide. But after adjusting her dosages, Moore hit her stride and has no plans to stop using GLP-1 drugs or prescription ADHD medication. Now, she said, she’s never felt calmer or more centered. “That part of my personality that’s being chemically controlled, I want to control it,” she said. “So it kind of put power back in my hands” – a power she wished she had access to years ago when her cocaine addiction led to problems with the law. Taking GLP-1 agonists also inspired Moore to pursue other ways to take care of her mental health. “I’ve gotten into therapy because I’m afraid of the voice coming back,” she said. She’s also taken up meditation. Stories like these are compelling. Maybe too compelling? Yammine cautioned that no drug – from GLP-1 agonists to aspirin – works for everyone. Every individual experiences the effects and side effects of a drug differently. Regarding off-label use of GLP-1 agonists to treat addiction, Yammine thinks that it’s too early. “We should wait for the results of rigorous clinical trials to establish that these medications are efficacious, safe and acceptable to people with alcohol and substance use disorders,” she wrote via email. But Christensen doesn’t plan on stopping his GLP-1 prescription, even though the long-term effects are unknown and the drugs are pricey. “I’m a little privileged in that I can afford it, even though it’s a lot cheaper than it used to be,” he said. “I work on the South Side of Chicago and a lot of people down there are struggling with much more basic things. A $300 a month prescription is just not on the agenda.” But Christensen has done a cost-benefit analysis, and it’s worth it to keep taking the drug, maybe for the rest of his life. “It doesn’t just make me feel good,” he said. “My finances are better, my marriage is stable, my house is clean.” Doing dishes or cooking a meal used to be arduous, sometimes impossible. Now, Christensen has enough clarity and peace of mind to keep fresh flowers in his apartment. “There’s these little details of life that I would not give up for the world,” he said. “It’s not directly because of these drugs, but they play a major part in me being able to live a life that I find productive and satisfying.”