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Loony Astronaut's Meth-a-morphosis?

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CRYSTAL CLEAR? Nowak, then and now
The Internet hive mind is abuzz over a potential explanation for the exceedingly bizarre behavior of astronaut Lisa Marie Nowak: crystal meth. In light of NASA's stringent psychological screening process, some are speculating the drug might explain her lightspeed journey from over-achieving suburban mom to gaunt-faced, diaper-wearing, cross-country stalker. (The ravages of meth on the mind and body are well-documented. Click here for a particularly gruesome before-and-after gallery.)

"Meth would explain the sheer, maniacal determination the lady astronaut displayed," Dan Savage notes on The Stranger's blog. It would also explain "the weight loss, thinner hair, and papery skin" visible in before-and-after photos. (Similar points are made here and here.)

A call to NASA's presumably overworked press office produced no response, so Radar turned to an expert: Richard A. Rawson, associate director of UCLA's Integrated Substance Abuse Program.

"It wouldn't be inconsistent with someone who'd gotten involved with methamphetamine," says Rawson, one of the country's top authorities on the drug and its effects on addicts. "But there would need to be some kind of corroborating information before I would even put that on the radar screen. It's probably in the top 25 potential explanations, but I wouldn't put it any higher than that. In my experience, there aren't a lot of astronauts that are meth addicts."

On the other hand, Central Florida, where Nowak hails from, is a hotbed of meth production, according to the Department of Justice. Score one for the hive mind?

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YES, LET US ALL NOW SYMPATHIZE WITH THE PLIGHT OF "ASTRONAUT STRESS SYNDROME"!! Those poor astronauts - what a STRESSFUL existence they lead and how little do the rest of us understand the grueling life that is endured by such a misunderstood subculture of our society. They are scrutinized to the hilt and have little time for meeting their interpersonal relationship needs. What a hellish existence they must have. It is especially difficult for Lisa Nowak since she is persecuted by NASA - no time for her children or her emotional wants and needs. Who wouldn't crack under the strain and torture of being denied ones' most basic rights? I say that NASA and the government must start an astronaut awareness support group so that the general population at large can become sensitized to the hardship and cruelties that this subgroup minority is relegated to. How many of us "normals" really know what it is like to be subjected to the rigors of being an astronaut, especially female ones? It is high time and long overdue that we, as a society, must recognize this as drain on our resources and end the suffering that has persisted from one astronaut generation to the next.

Posted by: ignatz-toecheese on February 9, 2007 3:42 PM

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