Friday, May 27, 2022

PNS Daily Newscast - May 27, 2022
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High gas prices are not slowing down Memorial Day travel, early voting starts tomorrow in Nevada, and Oregon activists seek accountability for dioxin contamination in low-income Eugene.

2022Talks - May 27, 2022
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Education Secretary Cardona calls for action after the Texas massacre, Republicans block a domestic terrorism vote, and Secretary of State Blinken calls China the greatest challenger to U.S. and its allies.

The Yonder Report - May 26, 2022
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High-speed internet is being used to entice remote workers to rural communities, Georgia is offering Black women participation in a guaranteed income initiative, and under-resourced students in Montana get a boost toward graduation.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention

A recent study ranked Oregon as having the highest prevalence of mental illness in the country. (sewcream/Adobe Stock)
A recent study ranked Oregon as having the highest prevalence of mental illness in the country. (sewcream/Adobe Stock)

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Peer Support Helps Reduce Stigma of Mental-Health Care

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there are many stressors for people right now, from the pandemic to the economy. There is a high …

<a href=Ohio teens are 4% less likely to have used drugs in the past month than the average teen in the United States. (Prevention Action Alliance)">
Ohio teens are 4% less likely to have used drugs in the past month than the average teen in the United States. (Prevention Action Alliance)
Ohio Youth Council: Drug, Alcohol Use is Not the Norm

Hundreds of Ohio teens join together today to bust myths about teenage substance use. The "We Are The Majority" rally promotes the fact that most …

Unhoused residents who apply to live at Albuquerque's Hope Village must meet the federal definition of homelessness, have a documented mental, emotional or behavioral disorder and income at or below 30% of the Area Median Income. (courtesy Hope Village)
Unhoused residents who apply to live at Albuquerque's Hope Village must meet the federal definition of homelessness, have a documented mental, emotional or behavioral disorder and income at or below 30% of the Area Median Income. (courtesy Hope Village)
Albuquerque Opens Center of "Hope" for Homeless Population

In the midst of the pandemic, hope was in the air as construction proceeded on a one-of-a-kind housing project to serve a portion of Albuquerque's …

At least 269 people experiencing homelessness passed away in Denver in 2021, an increase from the previous year. (Adobe Stock)
At least 269 people experiencing homelessness passed away in Denver in 2021, an increase from the previous year. (Adobe Stock)
New Health Center Serves Homeless-Shelter Residents Onsite

People experiencing homelessness in Denver can now access medical and behavioral care at a new health center set up inside a shelter operated by Denve…

The pandemic led more people to be isolated from friends and family, increasing the risk that they started coping by drinking too much. (daniilvolkov/Adobe Stock)
The pandemic led more people to be isolated from friends and family, increasing the risk that they started coping by drinking too much. (daniilvolkov/Adobe Stock)
Alcohol Awareness Month: Pandemic Worsens Dangerous Drinking

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, highlighting serious consequences of drinking too much. Excessive alcohol use contributes to more than 95,000 …

Two out of three drug-overdose deaths in New Mexico in 2019 involved an opioid, including prescription opioids, heroin, or fentanyl, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. (brown.edu)
Two out of three drug-overdose deaths in New Mexico in 2019 involved an opioid, including prescription opioids, heroin, or fentanyl, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. (brown.edu)
NM Joins Other States in Decriminalizing Fentanyl Testing Strips

For the past two decades, New Mexico has had one of the highest rates of overdose deaths in the nation, increasingly linked to fentanyl. But until …

More than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)
More than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)
KY Experts: Increasing Fentanyl Penalties Doesn’t Address Overdose Crisis

Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill that would increase criminal penalties for fentanyl distribution. But critics say the legislation will …

Roughly one in five minors reports drinking alcohol, although research shows underage consumption can disrupt normal growth and development. (Adobe Stock)
Roughly one in five minors reports drinking alcohol, although research shows underage consumption can disrupt normal growth and development. (Adobe Stock)
Underage Drinking Prevention Gets Boost from Congress

Programs designed to help curb a prevalent problem among Ohio teens are poised to get a financial boost. The $1.5 trillion spending bill passed by …

The opioid epidemic has shifted from prescription medications to heroin and now, synthetic opioids, which health experts say are much more potent. (Adobe Stock)
The opioid epidemic has shifted from prescription medications to heroin and now, synthetic opioids, which health experts say are much more potent. (Adobe Stock)
Harm Reduction Shines as Pathway Out of Opioid Epidemic

As the nation shifts toward ending the pandemic phase of COVID-19, another health crisis appears to be worsening. A new bipartisan Congressional …

North Carolina stands to receive about $750 million through opioid settlements, if all the state's counties and municipalities with populations of more than 10,000 agree to participate. (Adobe Stock)<br />
North Carolina stands to receive about $750 million through opioid settlements, if all the state's counties and municipalities with populations of more than 10,000 agree to participate. (Adobe Stock)
NC Counties Plan for Best Use of Opioid Money

McDowell County is slated to receive roughly $200,000 a year over the next 18 years from a massive national opioid settlement. Community leaders say …

A spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says COVID outbreaks among staffers and patients have led to temporary halts to addiction-treatment admissions during the pandemic. (Google Maps)
A spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says COVID outbreaks among staffers and patients have led to temporary halts to addiction-treatment admissions during the pandemic. (Google Maps)
Union: CT Must Address Staffing at Addiction Treatment Centers

A Connecticut health-care workers' union is raising concerns over what it calls a "staffing crisis" in addiction services that led the state to close …

Drug overdose deaths topped more than 100,000 in 2021, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />
Drug overdose deaths topped more than 100,000 in 2021, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)
2021 Saw Record Number of NC Overdose Deaths

Advocates and faith groups are calling for more investments in harm reduction across the state, as new provisional data shows overdose deaths have …

 

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