Changing our attitudes toward addiction is crucial if we are to prevent opioid misuse and promote recovery of those who are addicted, according to U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams.
In releasing a report, Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Spotlight on Opioids, Adams called for a cultural shift in the way Americans talk about the opioid crisis.
Although Hurricane/Tropical Storm Florence has come and gone, authorities caution that hazards related to the storm persist and deaths are still occurring.
The latest and most controversial fatalities occurred on Tuesday, when a sheriff’s van became submerged in floodwaters and the two people being transported in it – mental health patients – drowned.
Recent studies show that the occurrence of Pneumoconiosis, or Black Lung disease, among coal miners across the Nation has skyrocketed beyond anything ever seen before in the industry. Younger, less experienced miners are contracting the disease at an earlier age, subjecting them to a shortened and debilitating existence until they ultimately succumb to the ravages of the illness.
One out of every 12 adults in the United States suffers from alcohol dependence, making alcohol the most regularly used addictive substance in America, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) reports.
Workplace wellness programs often offer an array of health-improvement activities, including courses to quit smoking, exercise or physical fitness classes, nutrition or stress management education, and ergonomic testing of work conditions and equipment. In 2017, 39% of private industry workers and 63% of state and local government workers had access to such programs, but access doesn't always mean that workers use these programs.
Hurricane Florence is no longer a hurricane, but other ferocious storms will likely make an appearance during hurricane season. Among the hazards associated with hurricanes are electrical dangers. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) says the following electrical safety tips that can help reduce the risk for injury and damage to homes:
Now that the U.S. Senate and House have individually passed bills to help address the nation’s opioid epidemic, the American Psychological Association (APA) is urging Congress to sign legislation into law this year. The bills include several provisions that will help reduce overuse of opioid prescriptions and increase access to substance use treatment, recovery and support services. The APA says it’s sharing recommendations with Congress to improve the legislation.
The United Kingdom’s (UK) Trade Union Congress (TUC), the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) and other European trade unions are calling for a reduced working week, which ETUI researchers argue would deliver benefits of less stress, higher worker satisfaction and increased gender equality.
At its annual Congress earlier this month, the TUC’s Director General, Frances O’Grady, said that advances in technology mean that a four-day work week by the end of this century was a realistic goal for most people.
September 9-15th, 2018 was National Suicide Prevention week. Workplace suicide and mental health in general are often underrepresented in workplace health and safety discussions. However, globally, more than 300 million people suffer from depression, the leading cause of disability (WHO, 2017). In the US, the suicide mortality rate increased by 24% from 1999 to 2014, particularly among middle-age adults.
Don’t count on the tobacco companies to reverse the sharp rise in e-cigarette use among teens. That’s the message the American Heart Association (AHA) is sending to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who promised last week that the federal government would act to curtail youthful e-cigarette use.