FRANKFORT, Ky. — The opioid epidemic is hitting closer to home than some Kentuckians might realize. According to the National Safety Council, the odds of dying from an opioid overdose are, for the first time, greater than the odds of dying in a car accident.

The odds of dying from an opioid overdose are 1-in-96, compared with 1-in-103 for motor vehicle deaths. Manager of Statistics for the council, Ken Kolosh, said while more people are aware of the opioid epidemic, most don't consider it to be a problem that affects them personally.

"When the National Safety Council does public opinion poll research, we see only a little less than a quarter of people think that this is a significant issue to their family and their own health and well-being,” Kolosh said.

Kolosh noted that opioid overdose is a very specific poisoning, with lifetime odds of death that are much greater than the risk of death from falls, gunshot wounds, drowning or fire. Kentucky is among the top ten states for the number of deaths related to opioid use, with nearly 1,000 reported in 2016.

Nationally, there were nearly 170,000 preventable-injury deaths in 2017 - a 5 percent increase from 2016. Kolosh said the data is not intended to scare people, but rather to help illustrate risks faced on a day-to-day basis.

"The everyday risks we face either by getting in the car to commute to work or the drugs that may be in your medicine cabinet pose a much more significant risk than the headline news of a plane crash or a train crash or a lightning strike,” he said.

He added that preventable deaths and injuries often are considered "accidents," when in reality, a person's odds of dying are affected by the choices they make.

"We can make smarter decisions throughout our lives. We can buckle up when we're in a car. We can not drink and drive. We don't have to speed,” Kolosh said. “In addition, when we are in a doctor and we need pain relief, we can request non-opioid pain-relief treatment."

More than 100 people in the U.S. die every day from opioid drugs.


get more stories like this via email

A diagnosis of diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and even death.

The School of Public Health at Indiana University-Indianapolis is close to completing a project to improve the health of three neighborhoods. The Diabetes Impact Project works in the Northeast, near Northwest, and Near West neighborhoods in Indianapolis, where rates of diabetes are almost double other parts of Marion County.

Lisa Staten, associate professor of community and global health at the university, said the project's three-tier approach involves community health workers assisting people with diabetes in managing their diet and glucose monitoring, while also addressing their social needs.

"The community health workers work with them to understand, is there a food security issue? Are there challenges with housing?" Staten explained. "We also have neighborhood community health workers that are located in these three parts of the city, to help raise awareness about diabetes prevention and diabetes risk."

The third tier, which Staten described as the most direct, is made up of steering committees, funding projects to improve physical activity infrastructure and healthy food access, address mental health concerns and build social connections. According to the Indiana Department of Health, about 12% of Hoosiers are diabetic.

The $12 million eight-year program is a partnership with the Fairbanks School of Public Health, Eli Lilly and Company, Eskenazi Health and the Marion County Health Department. One component was to have a federally qualified health center located in each of the areas for more community-based involvement.

Staten pointed out diverse neighborhood input was sought prior to the project's funding.

"We approached community residents and asked what they wanted to see in it," Staten recounted. "They said they don't want a one-year project. 'We don't want you to come in and take our data and go. It needs to be a long-term commitment.' And we listened to that and incorporated all that into it."

Despite the pandemic, which happened during the project, Staten added the researchers were able to continue their work. The findings will be published in academic journals and public forums for the community to see its impact.


get more stories like this via email

A North Carolina woman is speaking out about the importance of the Affordable Care Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

DonnaMarie Woodson, who battled cancer during the 2008 recession when her husband lost his job, credits the Affordable Care Act for providing vital health insurance for her family. Enrolling in the federal program allowed Woodson to undergo regular screenings, leading to the early detection of colon and breast cancer.

Now, Woodson is urging lawmakers to protect important health care programs.

"The Affordable Care Act literally saved my life," Woodson asserted. "Because I would not have gone to get screened because of medical debt."

She pointed out the Inflation Reduction Act has also had a profound effect on her family, particularly in managing her husband's Type 1 diabetes. She said the measure's insulin cap helped reduce the cost of his medicine from $200 to $35. It has made a significant difference for their fixed income household.

According to Tufts University, the Affordable Care Act has been challenged in court more than 2,000 times. The Inflation Reduction Act has also met its
fair share of pushback and votes to repeal different provisions in the law.

Woodson argued if the programs are not protected, it could pose severe risks to people across the country.

"People's lives are at stake. People will die," Woodson stressed. "That is a plain fact without health care, quality affordable care, not just in your care but quality affordable care. People need that and it's a right."

Today, Woodson's story extends beyond her personal experiences. She actively works with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network to lobby for health care rights, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining and expanding health care programs. She encouraged others to share their own experiences in their communities and make their voices heard by local leaders.


get more stories like this via email

In rural Tennessee, many residents lack access to healthy, fresh, and affordable food. So, two health center systems in the state are sprouting solutions - with community garden programs.

Aura Sheran - a certified clinical medical assistant with East Tennessee State University's Johnson City Community Health Center - said the garden connects patients, the community, and volunteers - which fosters a collaborative effort to address food insecurity and promote healthier choices.

"We serve a lot of the community, that don't have enough funds to purchase produce and that kind of thing, food wise," said Sheran. "So, it helps them to cut some of that cost back, and to take some produce home and share with their family."

Community health centers serve more than 423,000 patients across Tennessee, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.

Nicole Vanover is a phlebotomist with Ballad Health who provides lab services to the ETSU clinic.

She said community partners - like the Appalachian Resource Conservation and Development Council, which runs a food access program - help to provide resources, and vendors provide funding and equipment.

"Tractor Supply - both the Johnson City Tractor Supply and the Jonesborough Tractor Supply store - each donated about $150 to $200 worth of products," said Vanover. "That was soil, fertilizer, tomato cages, things like that."

She added that the garden flourishes with the support of volunteer ETSU students who help maintain it, and clear the beds at the end of each growing season.

Cherokee Health Systems maintains legacy gardens at its Alcoa, Maynardville, and New Tazewell health centers.

Ginny Weatherstone, community development consultant with Cherokee, said the gardens serve as community spaces where patients can interact.

And they honor the memory of former CEO - Dr. Dennis Freeman, who had a passion for gardening from his Iowa farm upbringing.

"Growing things was something that he did growing up, and it was always near and dear to his heart," said Weatherstone. "He got sidetracked there, leading a rather large organization for over 40 years, and always in the back of his mind had the idea of community gardens that would serve our patients."

Weatherstone pointed out that participants also learn about gardening in Cherokee Health Systems' psychiatric day-treatment program.

So, the garden serves a dual purpose - providing fresh fruits and vegetables for patients, and helping people with mental illness learn how to cope.

"We really do believe that these gardens are an important part of the day treatment program. They are scheduled now into the the daily activity, the list of things that are going to be done," said Weatherstone. "There is nothing like a bowl of fresh strawberries to just really make somebody feel good about what they've been able to accomplish."




get more stories like this via email