Community Medical Services’ Post

Today marks International Overdose Awareness Day, and this year's theme is "Together we can." No one should stand alone in our fight to end overdose. While every individual action matters greatly, coming together as an international community creates a powerful collective action. One that moves us with greater speed toward our shared goal of preventing, and ultimately, ending all overdoses. For people who use drugs and those who don’t. For heartbroken friends and family members of lost loved ones. For activists who fight for sorely needed policy reform. For healthcare and harm reduction workers. For tireless advocates. Overdose can affect anyone, and we encourage you to remember the tenacity of our community. Lean into the power that we can have when we work together. Learn more at overdoseday.com/ and read one mother's story at tinyurl.com/yz29a4re. #TogetherWeCan #EndOverdose #IOAD2024

Acknowledging the problem is a small part. Recognizing HOW our #Publichealth systems should work in tandem with #reformedrugpolicy to implement compassionate , pro-science and cultural humble care to #endoverdoses is more than a convincing policy memo. Listen to people most impacted. Their voices are your North Star. It's International Overdose Awareness Month. Learn something today 👇 "Since 2018, Native American people have had the highest rate of overdose deaths compared to all other groups. Why? Native people have faced generations of disinvestment in structural and social determinants of health. Historical and current policy factors make them more likely to experience poor mental health, suicide risk, and drug-related harms, including overdose. Native people often lack access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). They may have limited access to harm reduction education, tools, and supplies, particularly on tribal land. They face racist drug law enforcement that disproportionately targets them. And they experience mistreatment and stigma in healthcare settings." Drug Policy Alliance #Decrimdrugs #harmreductionispublichealth #Healthequity #racialequity #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessMonth #Systemschange

🌟 National Overdose Awareness Month 🌟 This August, let’s take a moment to remember those we’ve lost to overdose, support those in recovery, and spread awareness about the importance of prevention and education. Overdose doesn’t discriminate—it affects people of all ages, backgrounds, and communities. What can you do? • Learn about the signs of an overdose. • Educate yourself on how to use Naloxone, a life-saving medication. • Offer support without judgment to those struggling with substance use. • Advocate for policies that improve access to treatment and harm reduction services. Together, we can make a difference and save lives. 💜 #OverdoseAwareness #EndOverdose #HarmReduction #jax

Over the past several months, we Drug Policy Alliance have been diligently working on a set of 3 fact sheets to explain how the 3rd and 4th waves of the overdose crisis have impacted communities of color and offer policy solutions. You can access them all now! Please click, download, and share! 1. The impact of the overdose crisis on Native communities: https://lnkd.in/e9muyW2H 2. The impact of the overdose crisis on Black communities: https://lnkd.in/eCXusJQ2 3. The impact of the overdose crisis on Latinx communities: https://lnkd.in/ec2jHRKj

Will this reduce African American and other stressed groups’ drug deaths? This is why African Americans’ overdose rates are so much higher than average and increasing according to DPA: “Between 1999 and 2022, the Black overdose death rate increased more than six-fold. Black people often have difficulty accessing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). They may have limited access to harm reduction education, tools, and supplies. They face racist drug law enforcement that disproportionately targets them. And they experience mistreatment and stigma in healthcare settings.” For starters, have MOUD drugs really become less accessible for this group than in the past, given MOUD’s heightened availability generally? Has racist drug law enforcement really increased given all the attention paid to it? If so, it would seem as though the options we already have been pursuing to correct these things have failed. Why will they succeed now? I fear that failures at attaching to and coping with the worlds around them (and not only by minorities, but others, like homeless groups) are more fundamental and will take more thinking, effort and refinement to improve. Let me give an example. Do people die around drug use because they haven’t been told enough about harm reduction? Or do they not feel able to control their lives and hopeless in general, from which negative and dangerous drug use follows? Those ARE tough things to address. But if we can’t find ways to affect these factors the bad outcomes we are seeing in these groups and others won’t improve, but only worsen.

No one should stand alone in our fight to end overdose. While every individual action matters greatly, coming together as an international community creates a powerful collective action. One that moves us with greater speed toward our shared goal of preventing, and ultimately, ending all overdoses. For people who use drugs and those who don’t. For heartbroken friends and family members of lost loved ones. For activists who fight for sorely needed policy reform. For healthcare and harm reduction workers. For tireless advocates. Overdose can affect anyone, and we encourage you to remember the tenacity of our community. Lean into the power that we can have when we work together. This August 31, reach out and connect with others in your local community and join the global IOAD movement. Our collective voices are stronger, louder, and the most impactful when brought together. Let’s remember, together, we can end overdose. 💜 Learn more at overdoseday.com #TogetherWeCan #EndOverdose #IOAD2024

Today, on International Overdose Awareness Day, we remember those lost to overdose and extend our support to those who are struggling. Let's break the stigma, spread awareness, and advocate for better access to treatment and prevention. Together, we can save lives. 💜 #endoverdose #ioad2024 #overdoseawareness

Dr. Felitti with Dr. Alman Discussing ACEs, Toxic Stress, Treatment and Prevention: Cost To Human Life and Financially For Businesses, Healthcare Companies and Families. https://lnkd.in/grt6td2m In just the US adult population, 63% of adults had ACEs. The national economic burden of ACE-related adult health conditions was $14.1 trillion annually ($183 billion in direct medical spending and $13.9 trillion in lost healthy life-years). Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are preventable, potentially traumatic events in childhood, such as experiencing abuse or neglect, witnessing violence, or living in a household with substance use disorder, mental health problems, or instability from parental separation or incarceration. Adults who had ACEs have more harmful risk behaviors and worse health outcomes; the economic burden associated with these issues is uncertain. To estimate the economic burden of Risk factors: heavy drinking, illicit drug use, overweight and obesity, and smoking) among the US adult population. Brian M. Alman, PhD, CEO, True Sage Inc, ACE Treatment Solution Founder and Clinical Director,. co-Developer with Dr. Felitti — including their new (as of August 2024) mobile app — enlightn.me. #VincentJFelittiMD #drbrianalman #Acestudy #truesage #motivation #stress #Wellness #Longevity #optimism #Creativity #enlightn #Cepanoa #Longevity #paincontrol #anxiety #depression #sleep #caregivers #meditation #mindfulness #selfhypnosis #Yoga #Relationships #patience #happiness #addictions

Today is International Overdose Awareness Day. This day serves as a poignant reminder of the devastating impact of overdose on individuals, families, and communities worldwide. It’s a time to remember those we’ve lost and to raise awareness about the critical need for prevention, support, and compassion. This year’s theme, "Together We Can," highlights the collective power we have to make a difference in preventing overdose and supporting those affected. It’s a day to remember the lives lost and to renew our commitment to action, education, and compassion. Overdose can affect anyone, regardless of their background, and it's important to approach this issue with understanding and empathy. Let’s use this day to educate ourselves and others about the signs of overdose, the importance of harm reduction strategies, and the role we can play in supporting those at risk. Together, we can break the stigma, save lives, and build a safer, more supportive world. #OverdoseAwareness #EndOverdose #SupportNotStigma #HarmReduction #InternationalOverdoseAwarenessDay #TogetherWeCan