Yesterday was doctor appointment day. I like to pack in as many doctor’s appointment into one day as possible. It’s always best to clump up annoying tasks together and then treat oneself to a large glass of wine in the evening.

But yesterday was also the US v. Germany game in the World Cup. Jonah and I caught the first half an hour on the home TV before we had to leave. First up, the orthodontist. He had the game on three TVs. A slice of white pizza at the local pizza place, which was only showing the game in the kitchen. So, we went to the next doctor’s appointment early hoping that they would be showing the game in the waiting room. No game there, so we watched it on our iPhones.

And then we waited and waited. An hour and half later, the nurse told us that an emergency had come in and we should go home.

This morning at the make-up appointment, the doctor explained that she couldn’t see us, because they had an emergency. An 18-year old came into the office having a drug-induced meltdown. There was some concern that he had a knife. He was eventually transferred to a local hospital. He told the doctor that he was smoking a mixture of alcohol and pot. He thought the doctor was stupid for not hearing about this cocktail before. He had been doing lots of LSD, too. The doctor said he was probably doing other stuff, too.

I asked if the medical community was in touch with schools and other organizations about the stuff that was coming through their doors. She said no. The biggest problems are in the 18-25 year old range, and they are no longer getting yearly check ups. They only have contact with the medical community when they overdose. She said that it was a disaster.

I keep hearing these stories from local cops and doctors. I see an occasional story about heroin, but more often I read about the happy stoners in Colorado. What’s the truth?