Saturday, January 31, 2026

Prescription Drug Errors Kill More Americans Than Medicinal Plants: A Preventable Health Crisis

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS KILL MORE PEOPLE THAN MEDICINAL PLANTS

Medical Errors, High Costs, and the Urgent Need for Health Awareness

By Norris R. McDonald, DIJ, CRT
Sulfabittas News Syndicate

Norris RMcDonald, Author, DIJ, CRT

Prescription medications are essential to modern healthcare, yet mounting evidence shows that medical errors related to prescription drugs cause thousands of preventable deaths every year—far exceeding fatalities linked to traditional medicinal plants. This reality highlights serious systemic failures in medication safety, healthcare delivery, and patient education.

MEDICAL ERRORS: A MAJOR CAUSE OF PREVENTABLE DEATH

Medical errors involving prescription drugs remain a significant public-health crisis. Errors can occur when the wrong drug is prescribed, the incorrect dosage is given, or when dangerous drug interactions are overlooked.

Healthcare professionals working long hours in understaffed, for-profit hospital systems are especially vulnerable to fatigue-related mistakes. Studies suggest that these systemic pressures negatively affect clinical judgment, performance, and patient safety.

Research published in leading medical journals indicates that medication-related errors may rank among the top causes of death in the United States, despite being largely preventable through improved systems, oversight, and patient engagement.

THE HIDDEN DANGER OF DRUG INTERACTIONS

Even when medications are correctly prescribed, adverse reactions may still occur. Certain foods and beverages can dangerously interfere with prescription drugs.

For example, grapefruit juice is known to alter the metabolism of many medications, including:

Cholesterol-lowering statins such as Zocor and Lipitor
Some blood pressure medications
Select psychiatric and cardiac drugs

These interactions can raise drug concentrations in the bloodstream, increasing the risk of toxicity, organ damage, and death.

HIGH DRUG COSTS AND BARRIERS TO CARE

Rising prescription drug prices present another serious challenge. As medication costs increase faster than wages, many individuals are forced to delay medical care, skip doses, or abandon treatment entirely.

Economic pressure can also push patients toward self-medication without professional guidance, increasing the risk of complications. This situation reinforces the importance of affordable healthcare access and transparent drug pricing policies.

PLANTS AS MEDICINE: SCIENCE AND RESPONSIBILITY

Medicinal plants have played a foundational role in healthcare for centuries. Modern science confirms that over 40% of today’s pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plant-based compounds.

Jamaican Leaf-of-Life a traditional herbal medicine

However, natural remedies are not inherently risk-free. Just like prescription drugs, medicinal plants must be used responsibly, with proper knowledge of dosing, interactions, and contraindications.

The safest path forward is informed, evidence-based decision-making, not an “either-or” choice between pharmaceuticals and traditional medicine.

CONCLUSION

Prescription drugs save countless lives—but medical errors, unsafe systems, and affordability barriers continue to cost thousands of lives each year. At the same time, medicinal plants remain powerful therapeutic tools when used responsibly and scientifically.

The solution lies in patient education, healthcare accountability, and informed collaboration between modern medicine and traditional knowledge

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Norris R McDonald, is an Author, Respiratory Therapist and Economic Journalist who writes public commentary features for the Jamaica Gleaner. He writes on critical issues regarding Political Economics, Health Care & Public Policies, Black Culture and, World Affair. He also Publishes SULFABITTAS NEWSMAGAZINE on SUBSTACK].

NOTES & SCIENTIFIC SOURCES

U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
https://www.fda.gov
Institute of Medicine (IOM) – To Err Is Human
https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/9728/to-err-is-human-building-a-safer-health-system
World Health Organization (WHO)
https://www.who.int
Journal of Patient Safety
https://journals.lww.com/journalpatientsafety
The BMJ (British Medical Journal)
https://www.bmj.com
Kaiser Family Foundation
https://www.kff.org
BOOKS ... A NURSING HANDBOOK FOR NEW GRADS: The journey to excellence continues!
by Patricia N McKenzie RN

"A Nursing Handbook for New Grads" by Patricia N. McKenzie, RN is a comprehensive handbook designed to help newly graduated nurses transition smoothly into clinical practice.
- Essential Skills, Confidence, and Success Strategies for Nursing Practice
- A Practical Guide to Thriving in Your First Nursing Job
- From Classroom to Clinical: A Survival Guide for New Nurses
This book provides essential insights into patient care, safety protocols, effective communication, emergency response, medication administration, and interdisciplinary teamwork.
Covering topics such as patient advocacy, professional ethics, and best practices in daily nursing routines, this guide serves as a valuable tool for new nurses seeking to build confidence and expertise in their field. With practical checklists, real-world scenarios, and step-by-step guidance, it is an indispensable resource for navigating the challenges of a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Whether preparing for the NCLEX or beginning their first job, new nurses will find this handbook to be a lifeline to professional success and patient-centered care excellence.
New nurses will benefit from practical checklists, real-world scenarios, and step-by-step guidance on handling daily nursing responsibilities. The book also offers strategies to help build confidence, master core competencies, and navigate the challenges of a fast-paced healthcare environment. It includes insights into time management, stress reduction techniques, and professional development opportunities. Additionally, A Nursing Handbook for New Grads provides a foundational understanding of nursing leadership, patient advocacy, and quality improvement in healthcare. Whether preparing for the NCLEX
, starting a first job, or seeking to enhance clinical skills, this handbook serves as an invaluable tool. It is designed to be both an educational reference and a practical companion, offering long-term value throughout the early years of a nursing career.

Patient Safety is the most fundamental aspect of medicine including clinical nursing practices.

National Student Nurses Association to Host 2026 Annual Convention in Houston

By Patricia N. McKenzie, RN

The National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) has announced that its 2026 Annual Convention will take place April 8–11, 2026, in Houston, Texas, bringing together thousands of nursing students from across the United States for education, leadership development, and national networking.

Often described as a major professional CONFAB for student nurses, the annual NSNA convention provides a national forum for future nurses to exchange ideas, explore career pathways, and gain practical skills essential for success in today’s healthcare environment.

A key highlight of the 2026 convention will be the keynote address by Dr. Kellie Bryant, DNP, WHNP, CHSE, FSSH, FADLN, FAAN, a nationally respected nursing professor and healthcare leader. Dr. Bryant is widely recognized for her contributions to women’s health, simulation-based education, nursing leadership, and professional development. As a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and several other distinguished organizations, she has spent her career advancing excellence in nursing education and preparing the next generation of nurses for leadership and innovation in healthcare.

The NSNA Annual Convention is designed to offer both educational enrichment and professional exposure. Attendees will have access to a wide range of specialty nursing areas, interactive workshops, and educational sessions led by experienced nurse educators and healthcare professionals. These sessions are tailored to address current healthcare challenges and emerging trends in nursing practice.

One of the most anticipated features of the convention is the live NCLEX-RN Review, which provides students with evidence-based test-taking strategies, exam preparation guidance, and content reinforcement. Nursing students preparing for licensure will benefit from structured review sessions that aim to reduce exam anxiety while strengthening clinical reasoning skills.

It is crucial to be keen listener and at all times apply your critical thinking skills.

In addition to exam preparation, educational workshops will focus on leadership development, patient safety, mental health awareness, evidence-based practice, and professional communication. These sessions are designed to equip student nurses with the competencies needed to transition successfully from the classroom to clinical practice.

The convention also offers significant networking opportunities. Student nurses will have the chance to meet and engage with NSNA leadership, including members of the Board of Directors, the Nominating and Elections Committee, and the Chair of the Resolutions Committee. These interactions provide insight into nursing advocacy, organizational leadership, and opportunities for student involvement at the national level.

Beyond professional development, the event emphasizes collaboration and community. Nursing students from diverse backgrounds and institutions will connect, share experiences, and build professional relationships that often extend well beyond the convention.

Hosted in Houston, Texas, the 2026 NSNA Annual Convention combines education with an engaging conference environment, offering students the opportunity to learn, network, and enjoy one of the nation’s most dynamic cities.

The National Student Nurses Association Annual Convention continues to serve as a cornerstone event for nursing students, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to leadership, education, and the future of the nursing profession.

What Lies Beneath Jamaica’s Waters? Oil Exploration Could Threaten Beaches, Reefs and Jobs

Peenie Wallie Coromantee Maroon, Firefly, Ancestral, Godmother, kept a constant watch over his life.

Book Review:

Peenie Wallie: The Glow of a Fool’s Light! by Norris R. McDonald

Author: Norris R. McDonald
Genre: Biographical Fiction / Inspirational / Caribbean Literature
Setting: Epsom District, St. Mary, Jamaica
Themes: Resilience, Education, Community, Spirituality, Hope, Jamaican Heritage

Peenie Wallie would speak to his Ancestral, Spiritual, FireFly God-Mother, before laying down to sleep in the bushes by the river.

Peenie Wallie: The Glow of a Fool’s Light! is a powerful, heart-stirring novel based on true-life events that illuminates the triumph of the human spirit against poverty, misunderstanding, and social injustice. Acclaimed Jamaican author and journalist Norris R. McDonald delivers an emotionally rich story rooted deeply in Jamaica’s rural landscape, cultural memory, and ancestral spirituality.

Annotto Bay Market, St. Mary, is a key center of rural Jamaican life, where vendors sell agricultural products and, young people meet and socialize.

Set in the picturesque yet challenging community of Epsom, St. Mary, the novel follows the life of Peenie Wallie, a young orphan mocked for his innocence and misunderstood brilliance. His world is shaped by hardship, but also by love, faith, and unseen spiritual forces symbolized by his glowing fireflies—a recurring metaphor for hope and destiny.
The story unfolds through unforgettable characters:

Aunt Sissy, the embodiment of sacrificial love and quiet strength

Peenie Wallie, whose fireflies symbolize inner light and resilience

Mass Moses, a Maroon spiritual leader channeling ancestral wisdom

Sheldon, a long-lost benefactor who alters the course of Peenie’s life

McDonald skillfully explores themes of rural poverty, internal migration, education, self-development, kindness, and community spirit versus selfishness. The ancestral presence of the African Coromantee Maroons weaves a spiritual undercurrent throughout the narrative, grounding the novel in Jamaica’s Afro-centric heritage and collective memory.

As Peenie Wallie rises from a ridiculed outcast to a respected journalist and community builder, the village of Epsom itself is transformed. Education initiatives, cultural pride, and opportunity reshape what was once a symbol of struggle into a beacon of progress. The “Glowing House of Epsom”, filled with photographs, awards, and memories, stands as a cultural landmark honoring Peenie Wallie and Aunt Sissy’s legacy.

The lush gardens surrounding the home reflect the natural beauty of St. Mary, Jamaica, mirroring the growth, healing, and renewal that define Peenie Wallie’s journey. His fireflies endure as a timeless symbol: even the smallest light can guide generations.

The picturesque, lush, beautiful countryside of Jamaican Coromantee Maroon Country, in Epsom, St. Mary.

As noted in the Jamaica Gleaner (February 17, 2025), this novel is “an inspiring tale of resilience and triumph.” McDonald’s storytelling is immersive, compassionate, and deeply human—reminding readers that no one is truly forgotten, and that kindness can indeed change the world.

Peenie Wallie: The Glow of a Fool’s Light! is more than a book—it is a celebration of Jamaican identity, ancestral spirit, and the unstoppable power of hope. A must-read for lovers of Caribbean literature, inspirational biographies, and stories that shine light in dark places.

CLICK THIS LINK TO GET 'Peenie Wallie:the Glow of A Fool's Light' OR, SCAN QR Code below!

Peenie Wallie despite being a destitute orphan, grew up with pride after being adopted by Auntie Sissy.

Aunt Sissy, a kind old lady, with her adopted son Peenie Wallie. When all seemed lost, Aunt Sissy saved Peenie Wallie from hopelessness, homelessness, poverty and destitution. Peenie Wallie's life is a true story of love, kindness, caring, sharing, resilience and hope.

Thursday, January 29, 2026

How Zohran Mamdani and Gen Z Upended New York’s Political Elite

The ‘Bitta’ Truth: Zohran Mamdani and Gen Z’s Political Earthquake

By Norris R. McDonald
Author | Economic Journalist | Human Rights Activist

Norris R. McDonald

Zohran Mamdani’s landslide victory was not just a mayoral upset — it was a political rupture. In one election, Gen Z delivered its most decisive blow yet to America’s billionaire-dominated political system.

The Ugandan-Indian Democratic Socialist didn’t merely defeat New York’s political old guard — he dismantled it. By openly confronting donor-class politics, entrenched party power, and foreign-policy hypocrisy, Mamdani exposed how hollow establishment politics has become.

This election wasn’t driven by fear. It was driven by justice, peace, economic dignity, and a generation unwilling to inherit a broken system in silence.

It is the loudest political thunderclap Gen Z has ever dropped on America’s billionaire-controlled political system.

A self-declared Democratic Socialist with Ugandan-Indian roots, Mamdani didn’t just defeat New York’s political old guard — he humiliated it. By openly challenging donor-class politics, Zionist lobbying, and foreign-policy cowardice, Mamdani exposed how hollow both major parties have become.
The election was not about fear. It was about justice, peace, economic dignity, and political courage.

How a 34-Year-Old Democratic Socialist Beat New York’s Establishment

At just 34 years old, Zohran Mamdani achieved what many believed was impossible: he defeated establishment Democrats, including Andrew Cuomo, to become Mayor of New York City.

His campaign was powered by grassroots organizing, not corporate donations. It united a broad coalition of young voters, immigrants, working-class families, and even disillusioned MAGA voters who are tired of billionaire domination and performative politics.

Mamdani’s victory sends a clear message: America’s political establishment no longer speaks for the people.

Gen Z’s Rebellion Against Corporate and Donor-Class Politics

This election represents a decisive rejection of policies that favor corporate interests over human lives. For decades, poor and middle-class Americans have been sidelined while millionaire and billionaire donors dictated domestic and foreign policy.

Mamdani’s platform challenged this corruption head-on, with progressive positions on healthcare, climate justice, workers’ rights, and social and economic equality.

These issues resonate deeply in a political system where campaign donors, not voters, shape outcomes.

Challenging Zionist Lobbying and Foreign-Policy Cowardice

Mamdani’s historic victory carries enormous political symbolism. Throughout his campaign, he openly criticized U.S. foreign policy, particularly Israel’s actions in Gaza, which he courageously labeled “genocide.”

Unlike establishment politicians, Mamdani refused to retreat from a human-rights-based position, even under intense pressure from powerful lobbying groups.

Despite coordinated attacks from AIPAC and political elites who attempted to smear him as antisemitic, Mamdani earned support from 43% of New York’s Jewish voters, rejecting the false claim that opposition to Zionism equals antisemitism.

What Mamdani’s Win Means for America’s Political Future

Mamdani’s success reveals a profound shift in American politics. Traditional alliances between U.S. politicians and Zionist lobbying groups are no longer guaranteed.

Even within the MAGA movement, cracks are forming. Influential figures such as Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, and Marjorie Taylor Greene have begun openly questioning America’s unconditional fealty to Zionism and endless foreign wars.

This cross-ideological reckoning proves one thing: a political movement rooted in human rights transcends party lines.

Zohran Mamdani’s victory is not just a win for New York. It is a warning to America’s political elite.

Gen Z has entered the arena — and they are not asking for permission.

The empire is trembling.

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Norris R McDonald, is an Author, Respiratory Therapist and Economic Journalist who writes public commentary features for The Jamaica Gleaner. He writes on critical issues regarding Political Economics, Health Care & Public Policies, Black Culture and, World Affair. He also Publishes

SULFABITTAS NEWSMAGAZINE on SUBSTACK]

Kieth Porter, Renée Good, Alex Pretti & ICE Unwarranted Violence!

When the American State Becomes the Executioner: ICE, Police Violence and the Collapse of Accountability!

.... Renée Good, Alex Pretti, Keith Porter are recent victims of unjustified ICE violence.

By Norris R. McDonald

Norris R.McDonald, DIJ, CRT, Author & Human Rights Activist

When the American state kills its own citizens and residents with impunity, justice becomes performance art. Accountability dissolves. Fear replaces public safety. The deaths of Renée Nicole Good, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, and Keith Porter expose a policing system—especially federal immigration enforcement—that now mistakes cruelty for strength and violence for authority.

This is not law enforcement.

It is spectacle.Enforcement, Not Protection

Renée Nicole Good was a mother, a poet, and a U.S. citizen. She was shot and killed during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operation in Minneapolis. Within hours, authorities rushed to justify her death, deploying the well-worn language of “self-defence” before independent facts could emerge. This reflex—protect the institution first, scrutinize the victim later—has become standard procedure in cases of state violence.

Renée was not an activist or a public figure. She posed no public threat. Shot at close range, her life ended in seconds—an ordinary woman caught in an enforcement dragnet that increasingly treats human presence itself as provocation.

ICE was created as a civil immigration agency. Today, it functions as a paramilitary force. Armored raids, tactical gear, and overwhelming force are deployed in residential neighborhoods with minimal transparency, oversight, or local accountability. Language has evolved to match the violence: people become “targets,” communities become “operational zones,” and deaths are reduced to collateral outcomes.

Over the years, ICE has been linked to dozens of deaths in detention, alongside persistent reports of physical abuse, medical neglect, and psychological trauma. These are not isolated failures. They are the predictable result of a policing model designed to intimidate rather than protect.

Enforcement, Not Protection

This erosion of accountability did not occur in a vacuum. It accelerated under Donald Trump’s brand of “tough man” politics—a performative masculinity that reframed cruelty as leadership. Under this ideology, domination replaced restraint, and intimidation eclipsed the rule of law. Enforcement agencies were encouraged to act first, explain later, and rarely face consequences.

Alex Pretti and Keith Porter, like Renée Good, were casualties of a system that prioritizes control over human life. Their deaths are reminders that American policing—local and federal—has drifted dangerously far from its stated purpose.

A state that kills without consequence does not govern through justice. It governs through fear. And when fear becomes policy, democracy itself becomes fragile.

There is no justice under the sun from U.S. Government state sanctioned violence. Now, Alex Porter, Renee Good and Alex Pretti lives have been suddenly cut short by unjustified ICE violence unleashed on the American cities and people.

This is not about rogue officers or tragic mistakes.
It is about a state that has normalized lethal force, buried accountability under procedure, and turned justice into performance art.
This is empire at home — and it is killing its own.

DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU ARE READNG? PLEASE SUBSCRIBE TO READ MORE BY CLICKING LINK. https://afrocaribbeanriddims.substack.com/p/kieth-porter-renee-good-alex-pretti OR SCAN QR CODE].

The Myth of the Black Ancestral Curse: Religion, Race, and the Psychological Legacy of Slavery!

by Norris R McDonald (Author)

Norris R. McDonald, DIJ CRT, Author, Economic Journalist, Poet, & Human Rights Activist

Myth of the Black Ancestral Curse is a critical study of phycological legacies of slavery and the role religion and race plays in reenforcing racist stereotypes.

This book:

For centuries, Black people have been told that their suffering is divine punishment—ordained by God and passed down through a mythical “ancestral curse.”

In this powerful, eye-opening work, Norris R. McDonald, DIJ, dismantles one of the most enduring and damaging lies in Christian history: the so-called Curse of Ham. From the hymnals of colonial churches to the halls of modern academia, this myth has been used to justify slavery, colonization, and systemic racism.

With clarity, historical depth, and spiritual conviction, McDonald traces how scripture was distorted, how Black history was erased, and how liberation must begin with truth.

Drawing from the Bible, classical history, and Black theological thought, this short but impactful book challenges readers to confront religious indoctrination, reclaim their dignity, and break spiritual chains that have lasted for generations.
Whether you're a student of theology, an activist for racial justice, or a seeker of historical truth—The Myth of the Ancestral Curse will inspire, inform, and empower you.

The Myth of the Black Ancestral Curse is a bold and revelatory work that exposes how colonial powers distorted Christian doctrine to justify the enslavement of Black people. From the Curse of Ham to papal decrees that sanctioned genocide, Norris R. McDonald, DIJ dismantles centuries of theological manipulation and calls for spiritual truth, historical clarity, and psychological healing.

This book is a journey—from ancient African greatness to colonial oppression, from religious lies to liberation theology. A must-read for seekers of justice, students of history, and defenders of faith rooted in freedom.

We are not cursed. We are called.
The Myth of the Black Ancestral Curse is a bold and revelatory work that exposes how colonial powers distorted Christian doctrine to justify the enslavement of Black people. From the Curse of Ham to papal decrees that sanctioned genocide, Norris R. McDonald, DIJ dismantles centuries of theological manipulation and calls for spiritual truth, historical clarity, and psychological healing.

This book is a journey—from ancient African greatness to colonial oppression, from religious lies to liberation theology. A must-read for seekers of justice, students of history, and defenders of faith rooted in freedom.

Titled ‘The Myth of the Black Ancestral Curse: Religion, Race and the Psychological Legacies of Slavery’, this provocative and deeply researched essay confronts the historical and spiritual abuse of sacred texts that helped legitimise slavery, colonialism, and systemic racism.

“This is more than a critique – it is an act of intellectual liberation,” McDonald said. “The myth of a divine curse on Black people is not just false – it was fabricated to justify mass atrocities and to psychologically shackle generations of African descendants.”

The book pays special tribute to Professor Sheldon ‘Uwezo’ McDonald, a Caribbean legal scholar and revolutionary whose life and work inspired this essay. Drawing from Caribbean history, Pan-African philosophy, and biblical critique, McDonald examines how European empires - backed by religious institutions - constructed a theology of racial inferiority that lingers today in both church and state.

BOOK REVIEW: JAMAICA GLEANER
‘The Myth of the Black Ancestral Curse’

Norris R McDonald’s new book dismantles dangerous religious myth used to justify slavery and colonialism

Published:Wednesday | April 16, 2025

“Our ancestors were never cursed – they were targeted. And now it is time to reclaim the truth.”

A powerful new work by Jamaican author and public intellectual Norris R. McDonald, DIJ, is taking aim at one of the most insidious and enduring lies used to oppress Black people across the globe: the so-called Black Ancestral Curse.

KEY TOPICS EXPLORED:

• The origins and misuse of the so-called “Curse of Ham” doctrine

• How religious institutions gave moral cover to slavery and colonisation

• The psychological legacy of spiritual indoctrination in Black communities

• Resistance through Rastafari, Maroon heritage, and African spirituality

• A poetic invocation of liberation in the included poem ‘DRUMS’

• A moving tribute to Prof. Sheldon ‘Uwezo’ McDonald and his legacy

“This essay is a celebration of Black excellence and a call to reject inherited shame,” McDonald noted. “Our ancestors were never cursed – they were targeted. And now it is time to reclaim the truth.”

Published by Afro Caribbean Riddims via Amazon KDP, ‘The Myth of the Black Ancestral Curse: Religion, Race, and the Psychological Legacies of Slavery’ is available now in paperback and eBook on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

About the author

Norris R. McDonald, DIJ, CRT, is a storyteller, cultural researcher, wordsmith and poet from the heart of Jamaica. His work blends humor, history, and heritage to preserve the vibrant spirit of the Caribbean.

With a voice as powerful as Granny’s slap and a pen dipped in sweet potato pudding, McDonald brings island folklore to life for readers across generations and continents.

Norris is an Author, Respiratory Therapist and Economic Journalist who writes public commentary features for the Jamaica Gleaner. He writes on critical issues regarding Political Economics, Health Care & Public Policies, Black Culture and, World Affairs.