Pharmacy experimenting?
Tom Ault
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
On Feb. 28, an article regarding pharmacies attempting to do some experimenting caught my eye. In part it said, “and, Grinston said, the projects might have additional costs for the patients — since some would create saving in other areas of the business.”
I would like to take issue with “create savings to the business” while charging more to patients whom many of are already in debt up to their eyeballs paying for over charged drugs the way it is.
What kind of thinking is done by an individual who, in times of tremendous price-overload on drugs, would make any kind of suggestion that would increase those already inflated, drug costs?
It is time for the government to get their nose out of the medical profession. They have caused the costs of everything to increase with their packaging restrictions, their ridiculous paper work and thousands of medical codes they don’t even understand.
Before drug companies were allowed to advertise, things were much better. Today, anyone with average intelligence would not buy anything advertised after they hear/read the side affects that “might” happen. With that thought in mind, what costs in advertising on television are added to everything we have to purchase?
I realize the cost of products has gone up because in order to meet wage laws, packaging laws, attorney requirement necessities, over-the-top insurance costs and fees, increased utilities, packaging materials and many other things such as petty thievery. (Can’t even open a bottle of prescribed medication due to the packaging.) And let’s not forget the huge salaries of the corporate bosses!
I believe Mr. Grinston needs to take a look at reality and live in the real world.
Supporting later secondary school start times
Dr. Jennifer Krause, pediatrician
Jefferson City
Dear Editor:
Jefferson City Public Schools is currently considering changing school start times such that middle and high school students start after 8:30 a.m. This change would align our start times with the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations, based on research showing benefits of later starts for secondary students.
Around puberty, circadian rhythms in children change such that it is harder for adolescents to fall asleep at an ideal bedtime, and it is harder for them to wake up early. Even with good sleep habits, it can be difficult for teens to be alert in the morning because of this physiologic drive to sleep in. Despite this, we currently expect our older students to be up and ready to learn the earliest of all our students.
Most teens get less than the needed 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Studies show that when school start times are moved later, students do get more sleep and have less daytime sleepiness. A growing body of research shows benefits of later start times including decreased tardies and absences, improved academic scores, decreased rates of automobile accidents and decreased depression symptoms.
By shifting the school day a little later for these older students, we are ensuring they are at school during their optimal time for learning. Though students would leave school later for work and activities, their time in school would be more productive and valuable.
It was heartening to hear at the last school board meeting reports from community leaders who are working toward solutions to help meet child care needs if the school start times change. I am grateful to all those in the community (child care providers, employers, others) who may help make adjustments to accommodate student and family schedule changes.
In this decision about school start times, the relationship between sleep and adolescent learning and well-being is an important consideration.