Epigenetic Landscapes

A scientist learns his twin brother is in the hospital from alcoholism and drives from Calgary to Vancouver to visit him, along the way explaining the basics of epigenetics to the camera operator. Great concept, nicely produced and edited with handmade graphics and beautiful video comparing epigenetics to landscapes in the Canadian Rockies. Another entry in the Gene Screen BC 2010 genetic science video contest, winner to be announced Sept. 8 [edit: Epigenetic Lanscapes won 3rd place and the People's Choice award. Congratulations!]. SciVee pubcast DOI: 10.4016/20905.01.

[Image by looking glass]

Alcohol: A women’s health issue

Seven women recount their experiences with alcoholism. Close captioned.

Conference on Alternative Strategies for Alcoholism Treatment

Alcoholism treatment strategies and ethical challenges, with video archives in three parts. Part one features David Musto on temperance history, and starting at 00:40:15 Charles O’Brien details modern pharmacological treatments. Part two has Kathleen Carroll in an animated talk about trials of behavioural therapies and combined approaches, then at 00:57:35 Arthur Caplan speaks about ethical issues around why drug treatment for alcoholism feels threatening to some and their sense of autonomy. Part three is a fascinating panel discussion on legal and ethical issues in specific case reports (includes problems with the grossly inadequate Canadian mental health system and war-on-drugs US Customs bullies: Canadians who seek treatment in the US will get banned for life). Accompanying pdfs here. Unfortunately the slides are mostly not visible, but it’s still a cool event worth watching.

title The Agony of Jimmy Quinlan
description Homeless alcoholic “derelicts” featured in this documentary from 1970s Montreal. Life seems a big party with free food and lodging and much film imagery of men drinking booze straight from bottles, but Jimmy is “tired of being sick and tired” and tries to quit. Social attitudes have changed over time as the science of addiction, social services and harm reduction make some headway, but the religious missions and bleak outlook remain the same with more people on the street than ever. [Film includes brief unsexy nudity, NSFW.]
producer Janice Brown, for the National Film Board of Canada (NFB)
featuring Jimmy Quinlan
format Flash
date 1978
length 00:27:07
link http://beta.nfb.ca/film/the-agony-of-jimmy-quinlan/

Tags: brain video documentary addiction law alcoholism Canada cancon homeless vintage