LAKE COUNTY ? District Attorney Jon Hopkins thinks if people followed New Year”s resolutions the county would have less crime, he said.
“Being happy and healthy, not stressing or overindulging in alcohol and other substances definitely would reduce the crime rate,” Hopkins said. “We have a lot of cases where if people took a few seconds to think they would stop.”
The top New Year”s resolutions include to lose weight, manage debt, save money, get a better job, get fit, get a better education, drink less alcohol, quit smoking now, reduce stress overall and at work, take a trip and volunteer to help others, according to the U.S. government Web site.
Hopkins thinks the list mirrors what”s good for people and what”s not, he said.
If Hopkins had his wish, he would like people to learn what it takes to make them impaired so they don”t get behind the wheel. For the average person it takes an hour to burn off one drink ? one shot of liquor, one 5 ounce glass of wine or one 12 ounce glass of beer of regular alcohol content.
“People don”t realize what it takes to get intoxicated,” Hopkins said. “How many drinks can you have and should you eat some cheese so it doesn”t get to your brain so quickly.”
Hopkins thinks people who think they may soon commit domestic violence should enroll in anger management or go to counseling, he said.
“I”ve seen over the years a lot of violence where people could have avoided it,” he said.
Hopkins has had a recurring resolution, he said.
“My resolution is to have a better 2010 than 2009,” he said.
Cheri Holden, owner of Watershed Books, said she”d like to organize the rare books in her store and to encourage more people to volunteer for her resolutions.
“One of my big resolutions this year is to involve more people in the community working for the health of the environment and the economy,” Holden said. “I want more people doing less instead of 10 people doing everything.”
Holden thinks people should help the environment by having a garden rather than grass, turn off lights to save energy, insulate their homes and business and wear a sweater instead of cranking up the heat, she said.
“I think everybody has to focus on not spending wildly and managing that credit card, keeping money in the community and using energy wisely,” Holden said.
Holden thinks people can educate themselves by reading if they can”t afford higher education and that community colleges and training programs are worth the cost, she said.
“Even if it”s harder to be informed and educated, we still need to do it,” Holden said. “It”s still possible, it”s still possible without a lot of cost.”
“Things that are good for your health and the economy are good for the Earth,” Holden said.
Bill Kearney, pharmacist and owner of North Lake Medical Pharmacy, said if Americans lost weight a lot of money and lives would be saved.
“Probably the biggest crisis we have in health care today is obesity,” Kearney said. “A lot of these underlying health issues are caused by obesity.”
Adult-onset diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are often tied to obesity, Kearney said. Diabetes used to be regularly diagnosed in people ages 40 to 50 but is now commonly diagnosed in children ages 8 and 9.
“Smoking ? I think we”ve probably done as good a job as any country to stop people from smoking,” Kearney said. “But it”s alarming to see how many young people we see smoking.”
“If people stopped smoking we could save literally millions of lives,” Kearney said.
Kearney thinks people can avoid many health problems by dieting and exercising, he said.
“I don”t think people have to be fit but they should strive to be in shape,” Kearney said.
“I happen to like exercising,” Kearney said. “But I have to force myself because I”m in a lot of pain. I still feel extremely good because I know it”s extending my life.”
Kearney said people should learn what prescription drugs they”re taking, the strength and how often because if there”s a crisis, pharmacists and doctors may not know what prescription to give.
He thinks people should talk to doctors and pharmacists about health issues, ask questions and go online to reputable sources such as webmd.com or mayoclinic.com for information.
Kearney”s resolution is to get better educated about his health and help others to do so, he said.
He said if anything he wants “people to understand more about their health care.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
