Colorado Public Health Association

Vice President Kamala Harris has backed decriminalizing the drug and said it’s “absurd” to have it in the DEA’s Schedule I category alongside heroin and LSD. The Democratic nominee’s position has shifted over the years; she once oversaw the enforcement of cannabis laws and opposed legalized recreational use for adults in California while running for attorney general in 2010. Former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, signaled support for a Florida legalization measure on Saturday, following earlier comments that he increasingly agrees that people shouldn’t be jailed for the drug now legal in multiple states, “whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing.” #marijuana #schedule Drug Enforcement Administration #publichealth https://lnkd.in/e9kv4umw

Agricultural health and safety experts have been trying to get the word out about how to protect against bird flu, including through bilingual videos showing the proper way to gear up with respirators, eye protection, gloves, and coveralls. And Colorado’s health and agriculture departments have offered a free month’s supply of protective equipment to any producer who requests it. #colorado #birdflu #occupationalhealth #publichealth https://lnkd.in/gA7pFpp9

A series of mergers in 2018 created the current system, where health care conglomerates are vertically integrated — owning the insurer, the PBM and pharmacy. “It’s like they’re taking the money from one pocket, and putting it into the other,” said Zsuzsanna Biran, pharmacist owner of West Marin Pharmacy. #pharmacy #publichealth #benefits https://lnkd.in/gZP_Z7n3

Those companies had previously agreed to pay $21 billion to resolve claims by state and local governments accusing them of having lax controls that allowed massive amounts of addictive painkillers to be diverted into illegal channels. The $300 million will be paid 38.1% by McKesson, 30.9% by Cardinal Health and 31% by Cencora, which was previously known as AmerisourceBergen. #opioids #settlement #healthplans # https://lnkd.in/gBfwhSRZ

Of the 63,424 people who died from drug overdoses across 43 states and Washington, D.C. in 2022, 22 percent had a separate mental health disorder. Analyzing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System, the researchers found that the most common disorders were depression, anxiety and bipolar. #mentalhealth #stopoverdose #depression #anxiety https://lnkd.in/gZu2QH6M

Rubick — who has been sober for more than two years and is now an addiction recovery coach — was connected to the group PAWsitive Recovery, which fosters animals while their owners receive treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, and for people dealing with domestic violence or mental health crises. #colorado #substanceuse #treatment #pets #nonprofits https://lnkd.in/dFAfbKtN

North Carolina submitted a waiver application in October 2023 to officials at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which regulates the program at the federal level. If approved, North Carolina can join dozens of other states looking to provide select pre-release services to Medicaid-eligible incarcerated people up to 90 days before their release. #medicaid #publichealth #coverage #northcarolina #correctionalhealth https://lnkd.in/gPZqR769

"Decades of science have shown that keeping tobacco products away from youth is critical to reducing the number of people who ultimately become addicted to these products," said Brian King, PhD, MPH, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. #tobacco #publichealth #nicotine https://lnkd.in/gDjxWFeA

"Syringe exchange programs are powerful and effective tools for connecting people with healthcare resources. They play an important role in reducing incidents of improper disposal of syringes within the community, lessening the threat to public health." #pueblo #colorado #harmreduction #opioids #substanceuse #publichealth Tim Macdonald Colorado Health Network https://lnkd.in/g9H_GCif

Colorado is a good place to explore those questions. It’s home to a number of federal agencies that deal with climate. Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Boulder, the group meets at NSF NCAR - The National Center for Atmospheric Research. #colorado #climate #health #publichealth https://lnkd.in/guV6kKRG