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Gas Prices Surge 12 Cents in a Week; Protests over Quran Burning Turned Violent; Troubling Reality of Reality TV; Honoring Black Women in Hollywood; Romney, Santorum Battle for Michigan; Romney Talks Tax Plan In Detroit; A Silent Epidemic; "The End of Illness"

Aired February 24, 2012 - 12:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour. I'm Suzanne Malveaux. Want to get you up to speed. This relentless bombardment by Syrian forces in the city of Homs is now in its third week. World powers are meeting in Tunisia today, mapping out a plan to get humanitarian aid in and the dead and wounded out. The so-called Friends of Syria group includes the U.S., Arab and European nations. They're preparing to give political legitimacy to the Syrian opposition. We're hearing for the first time as well that Arab nations have started supplying arms to Syrian rebels.

Protesters back on the streets of Afghanistan for a fourth straight day voicing outrage over the burning of Qurans by troops at a U.S. military base. Afghan officials say eight people have been killed in today's demonstrations. NATO says burning the Qurans was a mistake and has apologized as has President Obama.

All right. Can't get a break when it comes to gas prices? Regular shot up 12 cents. That was this week alone. That's according to AAA. Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of gas, $3.64. In some parts of the country, gas already more than $4 a gallon. It's become an election year issue, a hot button issue that President Obama is addressing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Anybody who tells you that we can drill our way out of this problem doesn't know what they are talking about or just isn't telling you the truth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: Mitt Romney is going to unveil a new, more aggressive tax plan that is happening this hour. It's going to include what he calls flatter, fairer, and simpler tax code. I'm going to bring you the speech live and break it down, what it means for you and your wallet.

Applause, cheers, Maryland's state Senate which has voted to legalize same-sex marriage. Governor Mark O'Malley has pledged to sign the bill into law. When he does, Maryland will join six states. We're talking Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont, and Washington, D.C., all of which currently issue same-sex marriage licenses. Thirty-five thousand postal jobs at risk now. The head of the Postal Workers Union says it's a disaster. He's talking about plans to close or consolidate 223 mail centers around the country. Now some workers, they're going to take early retirement, others are going to be laid off or will have to move to a new facility. Now the postal service is trying to cut $23 billion over the next three years.

A Major League Baseball player suspended for alleged doping may be back in uniform on opening day. Milwaukee Brews outfielder Ryan Braun was suspended for 50 games after failing a league drug test. But a neutral appeals panel now has thrown out the suspension. The board would not say how it made the decision but Major Baseball blasted the ruling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL MAHER, COMEDIAN/TV HOST: I would like to tonight announce a donation to the Obama super PAC which has the very unfortunate tongue twister name, Priority USA Action. I would like to give that PAC $1 million.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: All right. He's making fun of it but it really is not a joke. I mean, Bill Maher, he's putting his money where his mouth is. He's giving away $1 million to help keep President Obama in the White House. It's a big boost for the super PAC. Priorities USA Action raised less than $59,000 last month. That is according to the Federal Election Commission.

And gas prices now surging, 12 cents just this week. But people in some states, they're being hit a lot harder than others.

Alison Kosik, she's at the New York Stock Exchange.

Alison, you and I talked about this yesterday, we talked about it the day before. This is unbelievable here. What is happening?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, so nothing like making a comparison from state to state to either make you feel better or worse about how much money you're spending in gas. So this is kind of an interesting way to look at gas -- gas prices nationwide.

CNN Money actually pulled together a couple of interesting maps to show just how much drivers in the U.S. are paying to fill up their tanks. OK, so right now AAA says the national average is sitting at $3.65 a gallon. But if you look in this map that we're going to pull up here, the states that are shaded in darker red, they are paying the most money for gas. The lighter shaded ones are shelling out less.

Now people in Washington, Oregon, New York, they're paying about $3.80 to $3.90 a gallon. If you're in California, you're paying up to $4.20 on average. But when you look at what people are paying as a percentage of their income, check out how the map really shifts dramatically. You know, drivers in Montana and the Dakotas wind up paying about 10 percent of their household income to fill up their tanks.

The situation gets much worse in Mississippi where drivers pay almost to 12 percent and that's because the median income there is just under $38,000. You know, it really illustrates, Suzanne, just how difficult these rising prices are for drivers who live in these states that aren't as well off. And of course the scary notion here is that prices are forecast to go up above $4 over the next month or so -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: So, Alison, of course, it's a hot political issue as well. And we heard Newt Gingrich promising $2.50 a gallon for gas in the debate the other night. Can he really sell this promise of lower prices? Is that realistic?

KOSIK: Well, you know what, economists had a laugh with that. They say it's kind of BS, you know, in fact, they find the whole notion somewhat laughable. You know, the reality is that politicians can do almost nothing to affect prices in the short term and it's extremely complicated to do much for the long run either. You know think of the crude oil marketplace. It's worldwide. And the price of oil, it's subject, supply, politics, geopolitical issues. A whole host of other issues.

What the U.S. would have to do is remove itself from the global trade in order to set its own prices. That's unrealistic. It could potentially set us up for a supply shortage we don't produce anywhere enough to make up for that in imports. Most economists say they just don't support Gingrich's theory at this time -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right. Good to get those fact checks. All right. Alison, thank you. Appreciate it.

KOSIK: No problem.

MALVEAUX: You can check gas prices in your state. Just go to CNN.com/money. Look for the gas prices story under "Latest News."

Here's your chance to "Talk Back" on one of the big stories of the day. The president apologizing for NATO troops accidently burning Qurans.

Carol Costello, she is live from Washington.

And, Carol, we know the last time a Florida minister, a pastor, when he was burning Qurans, there were dozens of people, Americans, who got killed in Afghanistan. Is the president trying to prevent more people from actually dying here?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm sure he is. Apologize or demand an apology in return. That's the question this morning, though. Like everything else, it has become politically charged with potentially deadly consequences.

I'm sure you've heard by now NATO troops in Afghanistan inadvertently incinerated several Qurans. Massive violent protesting that spring up immediately, protesters chanting death to America, throwing rocks and burning cars. More than a dozen people have been killed, including two Americans.

President Obama in a move designed to calm things down apologized for the Quran burning, alarming one of his Republican challengers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Two young Americans were killed and four other Americans were wounded by an Afghan soldier who we probably were paying for, who we probably armed and who we had probably trained. And the president of the United States as commander in chief apologizes to the Afghans government for burning Qurans.

Let me say, I believe the Afghan government owes the families of those soldiers an apology.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So far, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has not apologized. Maybe because he doesn't want to or maybe because a Karzai apology could further incite the mobs that are now threatening the U.S. consulate.

For the U.S. troops fighting alongside Afghan soldiers, it's frustrating. Listen to American General George Allen talking to U.S. forces.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEN. JOHN ALLEN, ISAF COMMANDER: There will be moments like this when your emotions are governed by anger and the desire to strike back. These are the moments when you reach down inside and you grip the discipline that makes you a United States soldier. And you gut through the pain and you gut through the anger and you remember why we are here. We are here for our friends.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COSTELLO: So should America be governed by anger or should it apologize? The "Talk Back" question for you, should President Obama have apologized to Afghanistan? Facebook.com/carolCNN. Facebook.com/carolCNN. I'll read your responses later this hour.

MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Carol.

Here's a rundown of some of the stories we're covering over the next hour. First, do the stars of reality TV really reflect everyday Americans? It's part of our "I Am America" series.

And then we're going to talk to editor-in-chief of "Essence" magazine, Constance White.

We've got lots to cover can. Whitney Houston, the role of black women in Hollywood, and much more.

And Mitt Romney unveiling his new plan to cut taxes across the board. Find out how that might impact your pocketbook. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: All this week CNN NEWSROOM goes in depth, sharing the stories of unique individuals across the country. People who are proud to tell CNN "I Am America." But today we zero in on the stars of reality TV. They play out their lives on TVs. So for all of us to see. Do they really reflect everyday American life?

Here's Kareen Wynter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAREEN WINTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Imagine you're from China and the only images you have of the melting pot here in the U.S. comes from reality television shows.

(Voice-over): An explosion of unscripted programs, like "Real Housewives," spreading to different cities.

YUL KWON, "SURVIVOR" WINNER: I'm sure they would think that we just lived in a completely degenerate society.

WYNTER: Brawling basketball wives, mob wives, even trading spouses.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She's not a Christian.

WYNTER: Viewers have gained "Big Brother" access.

REICHEN LEHMKUHL, "AMAZING RACE" WINNER: I wonder sometimes if the camera brings out the meaner side of people.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not kidding.

WYNTER: Able to view everything from the surreal life.

OMAROSA MANIGAULT, L.A. EDITOR, "REALITY WEEKLY": The viewers love it. I'm sorry to say.

WYNTER: To the real world.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Don't disrespect me ever the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) again.

JENNIFER POZNER, AUTHOR, "REALITY BITES BACK": One of the biggest myths of the last decade is that reality TV has anything to do with real life in America.

WYNTER: Media critic Jennifer Pozner wrote "Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth about Guilty Pleasure TV." She says MTV's "Real World," the grand daddy of unscripted TV, which debuts 20 years ago, opened the door to discussions of diversity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I admire, you know, the black race. I really do.

WYNTER: But she says those days are gone. POZNER: MTV's real world devolved where they used to treat sexuality and race with some measure of understanding and reflection, now they cast for people who have drunken hookups and the hot tub. They'll get into huge screaming fights.

WYNTER: Pozner says despite the name "Flavor of Love."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Flat me, bitch.

WYNTER: This program was more than tasteless as '80s rap star Flavor Flav saw a mate and spawned spinoffs.

POZNER: The depiction were of hyper sexual, lazy, buffoons, clowns, criminals, thugs, jezebels, hoes, all of that.

MANIGAULT: It really is a relationship between the audience, the producers and the participants. We are all complicit. We are all guilty of perpetuating these stereotypes on reality TV.

WYNTER: Omarosa Manigault has made a career out of being a reality show fixture on programs like "The Surreal Life" after failing to land a job with Donald Trump during season one of "The Apprentice."

DONALD TRUMP, "THE APPRENTICE": You're fired.

WYNTER: She's currently an editor for "Reality Weekly".

(On camera): You said that producers are driving this.

MANIGAULT: The bigger the ratings the more they'll cast those types of personalities. The more they'll fight. The more you'll see more ratings. It is a cycle that will not stop as long as the audience keeps tuning in.

KWON: You know reality shows more so than scripted shows is an area where people are willing to cast more diversity.

WYNTER (voice-over): Yul Kwon was the winner in "Survivor's" most controversial season when tribes were separated based on race.

JEFF PROBST, "SURVIVOR" HOST: It's a social experiment like never before.

WYNTER: The rationale, according to the host and producer, Jeff Probst?

PROBST: You know, original motivation for this was the criticism we've received for being too white.

WYNTER: Kwon says when he heard the twist, he almost quit. He explained why he stayed on during the show's finale.

KWON: One of the main reasons I wanted to even be on "Survivor" was the fact that minorities were underrepresented on media. And whenever you see a lot of minorities on TV, it just kind of caricatures. I wanted America to see Asian-American men as they truly are. LEHMKUHL: I think a lot of groups have benefited from reality TV.

PHIL KEOGHAN, "AMAZING RACE" HOST: Raiken and Chip, married couple from Beverly Hills.

WYNTER: Reichen Lehmkuhl and his then partner won the "Amazing Race" nine years ago.

LEHMKUHL: It was about competiveness, it was about showing the world that gay people can do anything that anyone else can do.

I think reality television has made the world a better place and it's made us all understand each other a little more.

WYNTER: Ultimately, media critic Pozner says, the key is how we view these shows.

POZNER: Watch in an engaged way, watch in a critical way and debunk the stereotypes. Don't take them in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I may be married to a plastic surgeon. But I'm 98 percent real.

WYNTER: Don't be fooled, even if "real" appears in the title, it doesn't mean it's a true depiction of the real world.

Kareen Wynter, CNN, Hollywood.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MALVEAUX: It's a good piece.

Paying tribute to the movie industry's trailblazer and the next generation. The editor-in-chief of "Essence" magazine joins us to discuss the publication's annual Black Women in Hollywood event.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Just ahead of Sunday's Oscars, stars in the big screen gathered in Beverly Hills at the 2012 "Essence" Black Women in Hollywood event. But for some in attendance, their thoughts were on a legend from the music world, Whitney Houston.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JORDIN SPARKS, SINGER, ACTRESS: It was so incredible. She went from being this unreachable super nova pop star to my co-star, to being a mentor and a friend, and somebody who was very much like a mother figure towards me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: That was singer Jordin Sparks. They co-starred in the upcoming remake of the 1976 movie "Sparkle." Houston plays the singer's mother in the movie and it's actually due out this morning. I want to bring in Constance White, she's "Essence" magazine's editor- in-chief. She's joining us from Los Angeles for today's segment of "What Matters."

Constance, very nice to see you here. I understand this was "Essence" fifth annual --

CONSTANCE WHITE, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, ESSENCE: Thank you. Hello, Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Nice to see you. It was "Essence's" fifth annual luncheon honoring black women in Hollywood. Give us a little flavor, a sense of who was there.

WHITE: It was a crem de le crem of black Hollywood. So inspiring. The women drew so much. There was everyone there from the veteran guard, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, people like Angela Bassett, to the new guard which includes Kerry Washington, Paul Patton, and we really had a house which was unbelievable because in that room you had two Oscar nominees and that's incredible to think about. And the powerhouse Shonda Rhimes, and of course the legend of all legends, Pam Grier.

MALVEAUX: It really is quite amazing when you think about how far the community has come. I know that part of the -- part of the event, too, was a tribute to Whitney Houston.

WHITE: Yes.

MALVEAUX: What is the mood? What was the mood of the group and what were folks saying about her legacy?

WHITE: The mood was celebratory because "Essence," since the sad day that Whitney passed away has really strived to remember what was best about this incredible superstar and trailblazer for black women and for all women in entertainment. And the mood, as her music was played throughout the event, and then when Jordin took to the stage to complete the tribute, the mood was really very reflective and -- but at the same time, it was full of joy. People are very happy that "Essence" was honoring her in this way.

MALVEAUX: And Constance, let's talk a little bit about the roles of black women in Hollywood. Because you had mentioned before you have Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer getting critical acclaimed for their roles in "The Help," both of these women Oscar nominees. But there's also controversy as well over their roles as maids. In your opinion, how far do you think we've come?

WHITE: I think, Suzanne, we have made progress. However, there is still a long way to go. These women really received these Oscar nominations and incredibly a number of other awards that they've won during the season because they were so deserving, because of the way they portray these characters.

And I think Kerry Washington in her acceptance speech really said it best when she said, we should all be able to look at these portrayals for what they are. We should be able to see black women in their breadth and depth on television, in film, on the Internet, in print, in all media and not just be confined to narrow portrayals. And so she was making the point without mentioning "The Help," she was making the point that we do need to also embrace what these actresses were doing in this movie as well.

MALVEAUX: And Constance --

WHITE: Not -- I believe she had said not who -- it's not what they're playing but how they've done it.

MALVEAUX: I believe Paula Patton weighed in on this, too, as well just in terms of where we have -- how far we've come and where we are. I want to play really quickly what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PAULA PATTON, ACTRESS: It's not easy to be black, period, in this world we live in. And yet we can't let that stop us. We have to look to the past and see the people that have had a much harder struggle than yourself and they worked so hard to give us the opportunities that we have and then we now have to pay it forward.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MALVEAUX: She's talking about paying it forward and I imagine that it was a pretty common theme, yes?

WHITE: Yes. It was a very common theme. On the stage and in the audience. There were -- I thought it was so interesting, there were actresses, like I just mentioned, LaTanya -- for instance, LaTanya Richardson Jackson who were taking the younger actresses in the room and introducing them to people and really literally showing them the way.

MALVEAUX: All right.

WHITE: And it was that --

MALVEAUX: Go ahead.

WHITE: Yes, I -- the event was really an amalgamation of the crem dela crem of those who have blazed the trail and those who are coming generation next.

MALVEAUX: All right. Constance White, good to see you. Sorry we got to end it there. But thank you very much. It looks like it was an amazing event. Appreciate it.

Mitt Romney is switching gears. He is unveiling a new more aggressive tax plan. And we're going to bring that to you live. Breakdown what it could mean for you.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Mitt Romney unveiling his new tax code and economic plan in the election battleground state of Michigan.

Joe Johns is live covering it all.

Hay, Joe, good to see you. I understand there was some protests? Can you tell us about it?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Suzanne.

Earlier today, really first thing in the morning, United Auto Workers out on the streets protesting the headline, the now famous headline from "The New York Times" of the op-ed that Mitt Romney wrote in 2008 that's saying, let Detroit go bankrupt. Of course, this is an issue that arose over the bailout for the auto industry back in those days and it has haunted Mitt Romney even though he says he called for a managed bankruptcy and he also says, look, he didn't write the headline.

Nonetheless, a big issue. Big problems for him, and issue of course, Democrats care very much about our polling suggest. Perhaps Republicans, not so much. So going into the primary it doesn't seem like it would hurt him that much. However, if you get into the general election and he's the nominee, it could cause bigger problems here in the state of Michigan for him -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Joe, how is he doing? Is he winning in Michigan or are things pretty tight with Santorum?

JOHNS: Most of the polling shows that it's a very tight race within the margin of error of one or two points. There are some suggestions that he's done a little bit better since that last CNN debate out in Arizona. He's had a lot of problems with evangelicals, Christian conservatives, people questioning his conservative credentials, even perhaps some Tea Partiers. Now, though, as we enter the home stretch, the question is whether he can make up that ground, hold on to those folks and in this state where he grew up and his father was governor of the state back in the 1960s -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: Yes, it's an all critical state for him. We'll be keeping a close eye on that as well as Arizona. Thank you, Joe. Have a good weekend.

Alison Kosik, she is joining us from the New York Stock Exchange to explain what this plan, Romney's plan might mean for you and for your money.

First of all, how big of a difference do you think it is to have this fair, flatter tax plan compared to what folks are paying now?

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: OK, so I'm going to give you the big comparison here. So Mitt Romney's plan is actually revised. It revolves around making some pretty big cuts to the income tax rates that all Americans pay.

Now, currently low-income earners pay a 10 percent rate so under Romney's new plan that would go down to 8 people. People who fall into middle range of incomes would see their income taxes go from 25 percent down to 20 percent.

And then if you're a top level earner, you would get a cut from 35 percent to 28 percent. So let's say your gross income is $50,000 a year. Under that middle bracket, you pay $10,000 under the Romney plan instead of 12,500 you pay currently.

Of course, the more money you'd make, the difference becomes much more dramatic. So someone who makes $1 million a year could save $70,000 under this plan. So what that sends is to renew the debate about fairness.

Also under Romney's plan, the cuts would be partially offset by limits on some deductions and exemptions and Suzanne, credits currently available to top earners, they may also be limited -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: And what would this possibly mean for the debt because a lot of people are talking about that. It seems viable action will make those big tax cuts, those breaks and they will be able to dig out of this hole?

KOSIK: And that's really the money question, really, isn't it? A U.S. budget watch group did an independent analysis of all the candidates' proposals so far and this group says that with the exception of Ron Paul, the national debt would wind up ballooning under the GOP candidates.

But less so under Romney, according to this group's analysis, with the framework that we had going into today, Romney's plan would add about $2.5 trillion to the country's debt by 2021. Still though it's substantially less than what the study found for the plans that are offered by Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich.

The national debt, by the way, currently stands at more than $15 trillion. And then there are the analysts who say if any of these people got into office and tried to pass these plans, that's the whole other hurdle to get around and that includes President Obama's plan, too.

You know, revamping the tax system. Right now, it's so complex. It's really questionable whether any of these plans that have been rolled out lately can even get through Congress -- Suzanne.

MALVEAUX: All right, Alison, thank you. I want to go directly to Detroit. Let's listen to Romney talking about his plan.

(BEGIN LIVE SPEECH)

MITT ROMNEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: A place where if you're willing to take a risk and work hard and get education, have the right values, anyone can make a better life. We are the land of opportunity.

That deep confidence in a better tomorrow is the basic promise of America. But today that promise is being threatened by a faltered economy and, in my view, by a failed presidency. For 36 months, the unemployment rate has been over 8 percent, 24 million of our fellow Americans are struggling to find work.

There are some three million missing workers in America, people who dropped out of the workforce. Home values are down, foreclosures at a record high level. Our national debt is way too high and the opportunities in the nation are too few.

Wherever I've gone in this campaign, I've met Americans that are suffering as a result of the Obama economy. You could see it in their faces and you can hear it in their voices. They are anxious. They are scared about the future.

I've met moms and dads who are struggling to get by. One works the day shift while the other works the night shift so they can barely make ends meet and barely meet for dinner. I met kids who are about ready to graduate from college and they're facing huge student loans and a bad economy. They are worried that they won't be able to get a job.

You heard, by the way, the new definition of the American dream. It was Dick Armey who said this. He said the American dream is not owning a home, it's getting your kids out of it. And so everywhere I go I hear stories that are sad reminders of the failed presidency that we're seeing before us.

Now, President Obama said he would fix three things if he became president. First, he said he would hold unemployment below 8 percent if we let him borrow $787 billion and of course, we've had 36 months with that promise having been broken.

Then he said he was going to cut the deficit in half. He's doubled it. And, third, he said that he would make Medicare and Social Security solvent for future generations. And three years later, he has not offered so far as I'm aware a single serious proposal for either Medicare or Social Security solvency.

We have not seen a failure to communicate. We've seen a failure to lead and that's why I'm running for president. I want to --

(END LIVE SPEECH)

MALVEAUX: Mitt Romney out of Detroit, Michigan unveiling his own plan and obviously making a case for why he believes he should be president.

Well, there may be a new front in the war on drugs. We're going to explain more why Americans are turning to medicine cabinets for a quick high.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: They cause more drug overdose deaths than heroine and cocaine combined. We're talking about prescription drugs. In 2010, one in 20 Americans ages 12 and older reported using prescription painkillers for nonmedical reasons. Dr. Thomas Frieden, he's the director of Centers for Disease Control and he joins us now. Dr. Frieden, thank you very much for being here.

We know that one of the big problems is that they are accessible, right? I mean, people can get to them and they are also legal. So how do we correct this? How do we change this? Why is this getting worse?

DR. THOMAS FRIEDEN, DIRECTOR, CDC: This is a human tragedy and it's an epidemic that can be stopped. We've seen drug abuse deaths skyrocket over the past decade. At the same time, we've seen prescriptions for opiate pain pills skyrocket.

There are few things that we can do to address it. It's costing us more than $70 billion a year in health care costs alone. But even more than that are the lives that are really enslaved to addiction and this is something that can be prevented and it can be stopped.

MALVEAUX: How do we do that?

FRIEDEN: We have to look at the doctors, the patients, and then all of us and what we can do to prevent. For the doctors, we have two groups of doctors. One, people who may not be sure how to prescribe it. It shouldn't be a last resort or first resort to use these long acting powerful, dangerous painkillers.

And then they should screen patients to see if they are at risk and only prescribe the absolute minimum, of course, for someone who needs to ensure that their pain is adequately addressed, effectively addressed.

When I was in medical school, I was taught that if you give a patient opiate painkillers, they will not get addicted. I was told that by our professor and we've learned over the past generation how terribly wrong, how terribly misguided that was.

And a generation of people who have become hooked on painkillers, enough painkillers prescribed by doctors today to provide every single American adult enough painkillers for an entire month.

MALVEAUX: And you say, one of the latest reports from your organization that 40 people die a day from things like painkillers, Oxycontin and Vicodin and things like that. Is part of the problem that people are mixing drugs and they aren't even aware of how dangerous this is?

FRIEDEN: Opiate painkillers are very dangerous drugs. They are powerful and adding them to alcohol or benzodiazipines or other drugs can be particularly dangerous, but even in and of themselves they are very risky to take and that's why they really should be a last resort.

Programs that insurers or state governments have implemented to identify patients who are using too much, either because they are addicted or because they are selling to others are very effective at identifying people taking appropriate action and people who need help and taking appropriate legal action if people need enforcement.

MALVEAUX: Doctor, finally, you say that there some groups that are more susceptible to overdose. We're talking about men, middle age in rural areas. Why those groups?

FRIEDEN: Well, there are more drugs prescribed in those areas so there are more overdoses. There are also things that you can do as an individual. If you have opiate drugs in your medicine cabinet, that's a bad place for it. Even a single pill can be fatal for a young child. So dispose of them properly. Don't lend them to other. Ensure that you only take them if essential and see your doctor and talk to people if you are addicted. Get help to get off medications.

MALVEAUX: All right, Dr. Frieden, thank you so much. Really appreciate it. For more on addiction and prescription drug overdoses, including a blog from Dr. Freiden, go to cnnhealth.com.

So you might be surprised. What if I told you the smoothies, super vitamins, crazy workouts were actually killing you? I'm going to talk to the author of a new hit book, "The End of Illness," about why he says everything you knew or thought about health is dead wrong. Stick around. It could add some years to your life.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: A lot of you are writing into us about the "Talk Back" question today, should President Obama have apologized to Afghanistan over the accidental burning of Korans by NATO troops? Your responses in just a moment.

POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Time now for "The Help Desk," where we get answers to your financial questions. Joining me this hour, John Ulzheimer is the president of consumer education with smartcredit.com, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox is a personal finance author and found of the financial advice blog, askthemoneycoach.com.

Guys, thank you both for being here.

Lynnette, your question comes from Kiona (ph) in Arizona. She's 22. She's new to investing. She's got a checking and savings account and a savings account for her son. But she wants to ensure she's going to have enough money for her son to go to college and for her to retire. What should she do?

LYNNETTE KHALFANI-COX, FOUNDER, ASKTHEMONEYCOACH.COM: Well, she should approach this issue as a two pronged strategy, because there really are two goals -- save for her retirement on her own via a 401(k) plan or a 403(b) plan on the job, or maybe even an IRA where she starts -- because she's so young --

HARLOW: Right.

KHALFANI-COX: She's got four decades plus until retirement. And then, separately, save separately for her son through a 529 plan. That's a state-sponsored college savings vehicle.

Some parents, you know, make the choice of just funding a 529 plan and forgetting about their retirement.

HARLOW: Right.

KHALFANI-COX: You don't want to do that. You really do have to do both. And kudos to her for starting off at such a young age.

HARLOW: A young age. Good on her.

All right, John, your question comes from Shannon in Michigan. Shannon wrote into us, "I'm 26, have $30,000 in debt, $10,000 in student loans. Some accounts on my credit report are over six years old. Should I file for bankruptcy?" So she's really got $40,000 outstanding here.

JOHN ULZHEIMER, PRESIDENT OF CONSUMER EDUCATION, SMARTCREDIT.COM: Right. I can think of two reasons why she should not file for bankruptcy. First off, student loan debt is not statutorily dischargeable in a bankruptcy. So it's going to be worthless to file bankruptcy for the student loan debt. Second, in Michigan, it is not legal to collect or sue to collect debt that is older than six years old. And it sounds like most of it is older than six years old. So she might be actually scot-free. And, in one more year, all that stuff is going to fall off her credit report because you can only maintain that negative debt for seven years on a credit report.

HARLOW: For seven years. Yes, good advice.

Guys, thank you very much.

If you have a question you want answered, just send us an e-mail any time to cnnhelpdesk@cnn.com.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: You've been sounding off on our "Talk Back" question. Should President Obama have apologized to Afghanistan for NATO troops accidently burning Korans? Carol Costello, she's joining us from Washington with some of your responses.

Hey, Carol.

COSTELLO: Opinions are split, Suzanne. "Talk Back" question again, should President Obama have apologized to Afghanistan?

This from Julie. "The last time I watched CNN, I saw protesters burning the American flag. Not once did I hear any Afghanistan official apologize to the United States for this. However, I did see them standing there with their hand out waiting for the next installment of American money that has been flowing into their country."

This from Tina. "If Afghan soldiers were in our country torching Bibles, we would want more than an apology. Obama did the right thing."

And this from Robert. "With the instability in the region and our ongoing effort to be diplomatic, what harm does it do to apologize? I expect that our president is merely attempting to help defuse this situation from becoming a bigger problem while we have troops in the region."

Please keep the conversation going, facebook.com/carolcnn. And thanks, as always, for your comments.

MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Carol.

We want you to check out the next story. Throwing out the vitamins. Skipping the big workout. We're going to tell you a new definition of good health.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MALVEAUX: Time for a segment we called "Book Marks." It is the big ideas from the best sellers that are driving the national conversation. So, what if I told you taking a multivitamin might be a waste of time? Or that all those fruit smooth could be better off going down the drain than rather into your stomach? Well, that is just a little bit of the common health knowledge of Dr. David Agus is turning on its head. He's a famous oncologist. He's author of the new book, "The End of Illness." It is the number one on "The New York Times" best sellers list. It is changing the way that all of us understand our bodies. Dr. Agus, he's joining us now.

Doctor, I have to admit this to you. I am doing this interview as someone who has a cold. Someone who is not well. Someone who's read your book and I'm afraid I'm doing it all wrong. Can we start off first with how you define and change on its head this whole idea of good health.

DR. DAVID AGUS, AUTHOR, "THE END OF ILLNESS": Thank you. It's very simple. We look at the whole body as a complex system. So the whole thing. And when you do that, you start to realize that when you try to correct one little aspect, most of the time we're wrong.

Remember, we're the same profession that 20 years ago said, take margarine, not butter. And we killed a lot of people with heart disease. So what we're saying is, look at the data. Things like vitamins and supplements don't work. Have no benefit. In more than 50 big studies, many of them showing clear negative signs, such as increased cancer and other side effects to taking these pills.

MALVEAUX: So, what am I doing wrong here? Because I am one of these people that I flood my system thinking, OK, if I take these multivitamins, if I take these medicines, these cold medicines, somehow it's going to turn things around. I'm going to like hit my system, hit it hard and I'm going to get well. Why is that wrong?

AGUS: Because the body's a very complex system. And there's no one element that you put in that's going to change it towards health. You need to do things rather simply. A regular schedule. You have your lunch today at noon and tomorrow at 2:00, for two hours your stress hormone go up and that shuts down your ability to think well, to exercise well, and lowers your metabolism so you actually gain weight. Regular schedule. Eat real food. Walk around during the day. These are rather commonsense things. But if you start to look at the data, it's overwhelming in their favor.

MALVEAUX: And one of the things you talk about in your book is you say one of the biggest problems in our body that we're faced with is this idea of inflammation. Can you explain that?

AGUS: Yes. So inflammation is the root of things like heart disease, cancer, neurocognition decline, like Alzheimer's. And if we block inflammation, in the long run we're going to do better. So, for example, you can skip your flu shot this year. You're going to be fine. You're going to get five, six days of the flu and then you'll get better. But a decade from now, from that big inflammation, it's going to increase your risk of heart disease and cancer. And we have simple ways of lowering inflammation. Things like aspirin or talking to your doctor about taking a statin. Both of which are drugs that can lower inflammation. Wear good shoes. At the end of the day, you walk in shoes and your feet hurt, that's inflammation. I don't want that.

MALVEAUX: You say something like -- something as simple as looking at your fingernails can give you a good sense of whether or not you're healthy. How is that so?

AGUS: Yes. So, I mean, your fingernails, you know, grow every day. But just like a tree ring, when it gets cold in the winter, it stops growing and there's a ridge. If you have a stressor in your body, they'll stop growing and there's a ridge there. So you can start to look and know exactly when you had stresses. But it goes to the whole notion, I want you to know yourself. There's a four-page questionnaire on the website of the book where you download and look at all the metrics of yourself so when you're going to your doctor you can discuss all of them. I want you to go in with all the data. With enough data, error goes away.

MALVEAUX: And you say that going to bed at the same time every night, which is so hard for any of us to do, is really crucial.

AGUS: It works. I mean, the effect on cognition is real. Your body strives for regularity. And that way you keep stress to the body to a minimum. If kids go to bed the same time every night, they actually do better on aptitude tests the next day.

MALVEAUX: And how do we make sense of what we really are made of, our DNA? How much of our DNA actually has to do with how we live, how healthy we are?

AGUS: Well, the good is, is that almost every disease both has a genetic component that we can blame our parents for, and has an environment component that we can't control. So your DNA is your ingredient list. What happens at that moment in time, we're in charge of and we can control. So from the DNA we can see what we're likely to get and then we can start to intervene to prevent. I truly believe we can delay most illness to the ninth or tenth decade of life.

MALVEAUX: Really? Just by --

AGUS: Yes.

MALVEAUX: How you behave, how you carry on in your life?

AGUS: Oh, how you behave, what you avoid, what you do, what you eat, the pills you take, the doctor you see and how he or she devise (ph) a treatment plan and a prevention plan for you. The one thing by far and away that overrides everything is this regularity and schedule component. It really works. When you get up, when you go to bed, when you eat, when you exercise. I don't care if you have two meals a day or five, it's the regularity part that matters. The person who randomly grabs an apple in the middle of the day hurts themselves. Grabbing an apple every day at 3:00, great thing in the world.

MALVEAUX: Wow. It's a fascinating read. I have to change my life. But it is --

AGUS: All right.

MALVEAUX: I will start. I will try to work on having a regular schedule there. Tough things to do sometimes. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. You can see more of my interview with Dr. Agus on my FaceBook page, facebook.com/suzannecnn.

CNN NEWSROOM continues right now with Fredricka Whitfield.

Hey, Fred.

FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello to you. Have a great weekend.

MALVEAUX: You too.

WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.