A peek at Paul

As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

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XXV

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Old NY Times and war correspondent clips

As a newspaperman, I once wrote under the name Roger Conant. I began using the name Paul Conant, the name on my driver license, in the early 1990s.

Many more recent clippings must exist somewhere, but those below are a few I was able to find on the internet. This is nuts and bolts stuff. The barn-burners are nowhere to be found.

But that lack doesn’t really matter, as my purpose in presenting these clips is not to boast (really, who cares?), but simply to assure you media people on this list that I really am one of you.

I’ve also tossed in a couple of war reporting features that were located by my son Christopher. My war reporting appeared in the Star-Ledger, New Jersey’s largest newspaper, the New York Daily News, at the time the nation’s largest circulation daily, the Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for service members, and elsewhere.

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

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Start over HERE.

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Concerning source material

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As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

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XXIV

SS1

The author, Paul Conant, is a former New York newspaperman.

All facts in this booklet are taken from accredited private and government sources. Any factual errors beought to the author's attention will be gladly corrected.

For a bit of info on Conant's background, please see A Peek at Paul.

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

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A word from the cartoonist

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As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

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XXIV

Tap phone images for better views.

I realize that some of my jokes are outdated. Others may be too far off the beaten path for most readers.

So readers are invited to submit their own jokes. You may also submit your own cartoons (no more than three). These may be black and white line drawings or they may be hand- or machine-colored.

I'll consider including them in this booklet, The Funny Stuff Funnies. If they won't quite fit, I'll do my best to include them in a cartoon joke book supplement. If the cartoons are too naughty (NSFW, or Not Safe For Work), I'll try to include them in a separate joke book carrying an NSFW tag.

You may leave a link to your drawings in a comment or you may send your work to kyrptx108 attt gmail dottt commm.

TN1

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

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Roads to recovery: Step by step

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As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

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XXIII

Tap phone images for better views.

RY1

The steps suggested for recovery are virtually identical for Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. But, the two programs differ a bit in their approaches to recovery. The NA website lists other 12-step programs for various stressful problems.

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The Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous are outlined in the book Alcoholics Anonymous. They can be found at the beginning of the chapter “How It Works.” Essays on the Steps can be read in the book Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions.

The Twelve Steps of AA
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol — that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

RY2

The following are the 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous, also referred to as NA. Narcotics Anonymous offers recovery from the effects of addiction through working a twelve-step program, including regular attendance at group meetings. The group atmosphere provides help from peers and offers an ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle. The name, Narcotics Anonymous, is not meant to imply a focus on any particular drug; NA's approach makes no distinction between drugs including alcohol.

The Twelve Steps of NA
1. We admitted we were powerless over our addiction, that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. We humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

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Some people benefit from tips in slogan form. Most people with alcohol or drug problems however need some sort of full-fledged recovery program.

Turn it over
Meeting makers make it.
Let go. Let God
This too shall pass
Misery is optional

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Live and let live
Easy does it
Think Think Think
First things first

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Live Easy but Think First

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God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
                                                                 -- Serenity Prayer

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

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Some fentanyl victims

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As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

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XXII

 Taken from Wikipedia.

Notable deaths

• American professional wrestler Anthony Durante, also known as "Pitbull #2", died on 25 September 2003 from a fentanyl-induced overdose.^[185]
• Wilco guitarist Jay Bennett died on 24 May 2009 from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, shortly after he publicly revealed that he needed hip replacement surgery which he could not afford due to his health insurance considering the situation a "pre-existing condition."^{[186][187][188]}
• Slipknot bassist Paul Gray died on 24 May 2010 from an overdose of morphine and fentanyl.^[189]
• Medical examiners concluded that musician Prince died on 21 April 2016, from an accidental fentanyl overdose.^[190] Fentanyl was among many substances identified in counterfeit pills recovered from his home, especially some that were mislabeled as Watson 385, a combination of hydrocodone and paracetamol.^[190][191]
• Author & journalist Michelle McNamara died on 21 April 2016, from an accidental overdose; medical examiners determined fentanyl was a contributing factor.^[192][193]
• Canadian video game composer Saki Kaskas died of a fentanyl overdose on 11 November 2016;^[194] he had been battling heroin addiction for over a decade.^[194]
• American rapper Lil Peep died of an accidental fentanyl overdose on 15 November 2017.^[195][196]
• On 19 January 2018, the medical examiner-coroner for the county of Los Angeles said musician Tom Petty died from an accidental drug overdose as a result of mixing medications that included fentanyl, acetyl fentanyl, and despropionyl fentanyl (among others). He was reportedly treating "many serious ailments" that included a broken hip.^[197]
• In 2018, American rapper Mac Miller died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol.^[198]
• On 16 December 2018, American tech entrepreneur Colin Kroll, founder of social media video-sharing app Vine and quiz app HQ Trivia, died from an overdose of fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.^[199]
• On 1 July 2019, American baseball player Tyler Skaggs died from pulmonary aspiration while under the influence of fentanyl, oxycodone, and alcohol.^[200]
• On 1 January 2020, American rapper, singer, and songwriter Lexii Alijai died from accidental toxicity resulting from the combination of alcohol and fentanyl.^[201]
• On 20 August 2020, American singer, songwriter and musician Justin Townes Earle died from an accidental overdose caused by cocaine laced with fentanyl.^[202]
• On 24 August 2020, Riley Gale, frontman for the Texas metal band Power Trip, died as a result of the toxic effects of fentanyl in a manner that was ruled accidental.^[203]
• On 22 April 2021, Digital Underground frontman, rapper, and musician Shock G died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, meth, and alcohol.^[204]
• On 6 September 2021, actor Michael K. Williams, who rose to fame through his critically acclaimed role as Omar Little on the HBO drama series The Wire, died from an overdose of fentanyl, parafluorofentanyl, heroin, and cocaine.^[205][206]
• 6 April 2023: Jarez Posey, the manager of US rapper Coolio (Artis Leon Ivey, Jr) attributes his death to fentanyl, according to press reports.^[207]

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

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For help or info, check out these links

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As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

---

XXI

Tap phone images for better views.

HP1

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

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Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution.
Alcoholics Anonymous

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If you're looking for answers on alcoholism, AA has placed its "Big Book" online. You may also purchase online a regular book version.
Read free or buy AA's Big Book

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Is NA for me?
Narcotics Anonymous

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Alcoholics Victorious
offers a Christian-centered program of recovery.

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Uppers, Downers, All-Arounders:
Physical and Mental Effects of Psychoactive Drugs
by Darryl S. Inaba and William E. Cohen (CNS Productions).
This fact-packed textbook is up-to-date and user-friendly. It has been adopted by more than 400 colleges and universities. Wide-ranging research and extensive citations make this an excellent reference source.

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Some info on treatment of chem problems

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What the feds say about crack
https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs3/3978/index.htm
Also:
https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/archive/special/9712/appb.htm

HP2

Here are some top-ranked U.S. sites for help on alcohol or drug abuse:

✓ FindTreatment.gov

✓ National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare

✓ If you or someone near to you is in crisis or suicidal, call or text 988, chat 988Lifeline.org, or call 1-800-273-8255 for free and confidential support.

✓ American Addiction Centers Online Resources & Addiction Help Websites, which provides educational and empowering resources for individuals struggling with substance abuse and addiction, including Alcohol.org, Recovery.org, DrugAbuse.com, and PsychGuides.com.

✓ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which offers a range of services for those with mental and substance use disorders, including a treatment locator, crisis and suicide prevention hotline, and resources for parents and caregivers.

✓ DrugAbuse.com, which provides educational resources and guides individuals toward drug treatment options.

✓ National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (NCSACW), which provides information, consultation, training, and technical assistance to child welfare, dependency court, and substance use treatment professionals to improve outcomes for children, parents, and families.

✓ National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which supports research and the development of effective interventions for treating substance use disorders, including medications, behavioral interventions, and digital therapeutics.

✓ USA.gov/mental-health, which provides a directory of resources for mental health, including emergency hotlines, counseling, and treatment options for mental health and substance abuse.

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For answers to SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, you might try using a free AI service such as Perplexity.ai, which provides links to its sources. You should check the sources and not rely on the machine's answer.

HP3

Zep: Stairway to Heaven

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Financial worries?
Some people need help with the financial damage resulting from chem abuse.

Here is a site that might be of help:
https://www.annuity.org/personal-finance/financial-wellness/addiction-recovery/

We caution that we do not vouch for this service. It is up to you to use good judgment.

In general, experience shows that
recovery must come ahead of everything
-- including financial worries.

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Severe mental problems

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As a public service, NEWS of the WORLD reprints The FUNNY STUFF FUNNIES, an educational comic book giving basic facts on drugs and alcohol. Each post reproduces a page from the booklet, which is aimed at young persons and which avoids sermonizing and excessive wordiness.

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XX

This page does not give all the basic facts about mental illness. The purpose is to drop a few tips with respect to mental illness and chem abuse.

Discussed below are:

Depression
Bipolar disorder
Schizophrenia
Borderline personality disorder

People with mental illnesses often use street chems and alcohol rather excessively. A person with a mental illness may find a spell of temporary relief, but it is frequently the case that mental illness symptoms worsen with usage.

Depression
Two types of depression are classed as forms of mental illness.

They are sometimes called clinical depression and chronic depression. Or experts may refer to them as major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder, or dysthemia.

In clinical depression, the person feels overwhelmed by gloom that cannot be shaken off. That cheerless person can't do much of anything.

Adults with chronic depression stay way down in the dumps for two or more years. For teens and children, one year is sufficient to be diagnosed with chronic depression.

Alcoholics are twice as likely to have recently had a bout of severe depression than people without drinking problems. They are three times more likely to have been suffering from chronic depression than people without drinking problems. Women with depression seem to be particularly vulnerable to alcoholism.

Alcohol and chems make medical treatment much more difficult. Alcoholics who are able to quit drinking and stay stopped have a much better chance of recovery from depression. Many choose twelve-step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, as a means of assisting their recovery.

Other chems, such as marijuana, are often used as a means of placating the anxiety associated with depression. In the long run, they don't work. They just tend to make things worse.

Bipolar disorder
People with bipolar disorder -- also known as manic-depressive illness -- are very likely to guzzle liquor or overuse other chems. Some two fifths of those with one type of bipolar (bipolar I) have or have had chem abuse disorders. About one fifth with another type (bipolar II) have or have had problems with chems.

Alcoholism and pot addiction rank high, followed by cocaine and downers. Doctors find it very hard to treat bipolar people who are in active addiction.

People with bipolar I have severe and lasting episodes of both depression and mania. Between these extremes, a patient may return to a baseline mood state, in which mania or depression is not wild but which still may not be wonderful.

Untreated bipolar I victims generally have periods of very severe depression lasting at least two weeks and at least one episode of mania that lasts at least a week or that requires hospitalization. Such persons find it hard to stay in a relationship or to keep a job. Some symptoms of the manic phase may be like those of schizophrenia (see below).

Untreated bipolar II victims have the same two-week bouts of severe depression, but they don't skyrocket into wild mania. Instead they get a temporary boost in energy and impulsivity, often performing tasks with extreme diligence. But the real value of their zealous activity is open to doubt.

Schizophrenia
In males, schizophrenia tends to strike those who are between 15 and 25 years old. In females, the age bracket is 20 to 35, with another surge occurring in older women whose estrogen levels have dropped.

Symptoms include poor social skills, dulled outward emotion, lack of motivation and reasoning. Other symptoms are hearing things others don't and paranoia -- the unjustified fear that you are a target of organized harassment. (Donald Trump was not paranoid; he was such a target.)

Studies show that chems and alcohol are heavily used by people with schizophrenia, which afflicts about one in a hundred people. Close to half of schizophrenic patients have or have had serious drinking or chem problems. More than 80 percent used alcohol or pot to excess. They used cocaine at a rate three times higher than everybody else. Drinking and drugging don't yield good results for these people. Medical treatment doesn't work well, with the risk going up of violent behavior, suicide or landing back on a psyche ward.

Borderline personality disorder
Don't let the word "borderline" fool you. This mental illness can be quite severe.

People with borderline personality disorder are very likely to abuse chems, including alcohol. One study found that 78 percent of people with BPU were likely to overuse alcohol and chems.

People with BPU are highly impulsive to the point of recklessness, and that problem only gets worse if they are addicts or abusers of chems.

BPU victims have great difficulty managing their emotions, which is probably why so many seek relief from chems. They blow hot and cold toward themselves and toward others. They tend to be all-or-nothing types. Fear of abandonment is often an issue.

Doctors find it very hard to treat BPU patients who are using alcohol or illicit chems.

A typical case is given by researchers:

A 27-year-old woman was seen by doctors for cutting and burning herself daily. She wanted to relieve tension with self-punishment. She had also been drinking heavily and using heroin, benzos and pot. Her times of being "clean and sober" were cut short by family conflicts and strong cravings. She has been almost impossible to treat, with treatment ended either by her or the institution. She thinks a lot about suicide, and has tried to kill herself four times since age 14.

The author of The Funny Stuff Funnies takes sole responsibility for the content of this e-booklet. This booklet has not been sponsored, either directly or indirectly, by any government or non-government organization or fellowship, such as AA or NA.

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