There’s a common joke that, if you are looking for weird or bizarre news stories, you should simply type “Florida Man” into a search engine, along with the date of the event.
And, sure enough, you will find an endless list of crazy news items. Like “Florida Man arrested for throwing alligators through drive-thru windows”
(the gator was hungry 🤷)
or “Florida Man accused of assaulting officers with frozen chickens”.
Florida is a strange place. The weather is hot, the beaches are crowded, and the people are...well, let's just say they're a bit eccentric.
Have you ever wondered why Florida seems to have its own unique brand of weird and bizarre news stories? Or why we often hear about strange crimes happening there, and people behaving in very unusual ways?
Florida has a very open public records “Sunshine Law”, which means that news organizations have easy access to police reports and other records. This makes it more likely that news stories about strange or unusual behavior in Florida will be reported and shared.
Florida is a very diverse state which can lead to a wider range of behaviors, some of which may be considered strange or unusual by outsiders.
Florida has a warm climate year-round, which can contribute to a more “relaxed” attitude towards life.
But what if there was more to this joke than meets the eye?
In addition to being known for its sunshine and beaches, Florida is also known for its significant elderly population.
The Sunshine State is home to over 4.5 million residents over the age of 65, and some reports claim that Florida has the highest number of elderly people in the nation.
The state's large retirement community means that there are a lot of people who are taking prescription drugs, and these pharmaceuticals can have a number of effects on people, including mood swings, memory loss, and even psychosis.
So it's not hard to imagine how it could be contributing to the "Florida man" phenomenon.
This high concentration of elderly residents can lead to another problem that is often overlooked - the disposal of unused medications.
While most people don't give it a second thought, flushing medications down the sink or toilet is a serious problem. When medications are flushed down the toilet, they end up in the water supply.
Brace yourselves for the impact of this groundbreaking revelation:
Flushing medications down the toilet is not only an adrenaline-pumping activity, but also a fantastic contribution to the rising trend of contamination to the public water supply!
In addition, it adds to the problem of environmental pollution, and is harmful to local wildlife.
Let's paint the town with a vibrant palette of pharmaceuticals, because who doesn't want a touch of medication in their morning shower?
Let’s look into a strange theory that has been gaining traction (amongst ***Team Woke Machine***):
Could there be something in Florida’s water that causes the craziness of the “Florida Man”?
There have been a number of cases of chemical contamination in Florida's water supply, and these contaminants have been linked to odd behavior.
in 2016, it was discovered that the water supply in the town of Sebring, Florida was contaminated with high levels of perchlorate.
Perchlorate is a chemical that interferes with thyroid function. It has been linked to a number of other health problems, like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
People who lived in Sebring had reported experiencing odd symptoms, such as hyperactivity, impulsivity, and anxiety.
*Dothan, Alabama was contaminated with perchlorate from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Here are some other chemical contaminants that have been recently found in Florida's water supply:
Trihalomethanes (THMs): These chemicals are formed when chlorine reacts with organic matter in water. THMs are linked to a number of health problems, including cancer, liver damage, and neurological problems.
Lead: Lead can damage the brain and nervous system, and it can also lead to behavioral problems.
ok ok ok. but… (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0147651318313095)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - in 2013, it was discovered that this city had elevated levels of drugs such as antidepressants, sleeping pills, and pain relievers in their public water supplies. The contamination was caused by the improper disposal of pharmaceuticals in the city's wastewater treatment system. The drugs could not be filtered out of the water, and they eventually made their way into the drinking water supply. The wastewater treatment system was upgraded, and the drugs were removed from the drinking water supply.
In 2017, a study found that people who lived in Pittsburgh and drank the contaminated water were more likely to have certain health problems, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The study also found that the children of people who drank the contaminated water were more likely to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Such has been the case, surprisingly recently, in a number of U.S. cities, such as:
St. Louis. In 2018 the city tested its public water supply for the presence of pharmaceutical drugs. The tests found antipsychotics, including clozapine, risperidone, and olanzapine. These drugs are used to treat schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.
The contamination was discovered with a study finding that the levels of antipsychotics in the water were 100 times higher than what is considered safe. The study also found that the levels of antipsychotics in the water were higher in areas with a higher concentration of people with mental illness, and was caused by the improper disposal of pharmaceuticals into the city's wastewater treatment system.
The city took steps to address the problem, including upgrading the wastewater treatment system and installing filters to remove the drugs from the water. but.
A study published in 2020 found that people who lived in St. Louis and drank the contaminated water were more likely to have certain health problems, including depression, anxiety, and insomnia. The study also found that the children of people who drank the contaminated water were more likely to have ADHD.
Around 2018, The Indianapolis water supply was discovered to be contaminated with prescription drugs, including caffeine, antidepressants, stimulants, and other drugs. The contamination was caused by the improper disposal of pharmaceuticals in the city's wastewater treatment system. The population and their children suffer the usual effects.
Now, I'm not saying that all of the medications in the water are making people crazy, this is just a theory. But it would certainly explain a lot.
And, what if it’s some other contaminate, like in Seymour, Indiana? Seymour’s water was contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from a local factory. PCBs are a group of industrial chemicals that can cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, reproductive problems, and neurological disorders. Some people who lived in Seymour have reported experiencing odd symptoms, such as mood swings, hallucinations, and paranoia. And they were reportedly behaving in odd ways.
Say, have you ever heard of Camp Lejeune? more than 70 chemicals have been identified as contaminants at Lejeune from 1953-1987. The chemicals were released into the water supply from a variety of sources, including leaking underground storage tanks, an off-base dry cleaner, and a nearby landfill. In 2012, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began providing medical care and disability benefits to veterans who were exposed to the contaminated water.
Environmental consequences aside, let's not forget the potential superpowers bestowed upon marine life and the sewer-dwelling creatures who now possess an arsenal of medicines, ready to cure anything from fish flu to sewer superhero syndrome.😉
*** This author generates media with contributions from (and/or in collaboration with) various A.I., which is then reviewed, edited, and revised to the liking of the author, who takes ultimate responsibility for all publications.***
Hey. Look. a real news story about it: