500: Xylazine Plan, Diverse Executives Address Equity

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Patriot Day, Monday, September 11, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

RAHUL GUPTA: 

We found that fentanyl deaths that involved xylazine had increased almost 300% between 2019 and 2022.

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

As xylazine continues to infiltrate the drug supply, White House Director of National Drug Control Policy, Dr. Rahul Gupta, says the federal government is moving to address the problem.

RAHUL GUPTA: 

I used the Congressional Executive Designation Authority on April 12 of this year to designate fentanyl combined with xylazine as an emerging threat to the United States and proactively addressed this dangerous threat head-on.

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

Gupta says the plan has six key components.

RAHUL GUPTA: 

Testing, data collection, evidence-based prevention, harm reduction and treatment. The fourth is supply-reduction, scheduling, as well as lastly, of research. So, across these six pillars, the plan really outlines action steps and key responsibilities for each of the departments and agencies across the federal government.

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

Gupta adds the plan works best with the help of state and territorial jurisdictions.

RAHUL GUPTA: 

It is really, very important that we are working with our state partners, local, and territorial partners as well. While this plan outlines actions and steps that the federal government will pursue to address emerging threats, it will require a whole-of-society effort to save lives.

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

You can read the White House strategy and ASTHO's statement about the federal xylazine response using the link in the show notes.

Also today, ASTHO is looking for a new group of public health leaders to apply for the Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program. O'Keyla Cooper has more.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

The 2024 Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program is accepting applications for professional development for emerging public health leaders. The program aims to enhance capacity and strengthen networks of mid- to senior-level governmental public health professionals from underrepresented identity groups. You can find more information about the program by clicking the link in the show notes.

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

Learn how the latest group of scholars uses data to support health equity in a new ASTHO blog article now online. Six rising professionals tell us how data modernization intersects with diversity, equity and inclusion. You can read the article using the link in the show notes.

The Morning Edition marks its 500th episode today. We celebrated two years on the air a few weeks ago. Since coming online in August 2021, we've done more than 1500 interviews and reported more than 2000 stories. Here's a sample of the comments you may have heard here on the newscast.

Quote 1: 

Many of my fellow state health officials are facing the same challenges that I am,

MICHAEL FRASER: 

who we are. And what we do is clearer now than ever because of COVID. And I think that's the question is do you even understand what public health is?

Quote 3: 

I don't see this position about me, this position is about public health.

CAROLYN MULLEN: 

Personally, I am just appalled that we have this piece of legislation being introduced after 1.1 million American lives were lost after the pandemic.

Quote 5: 

While there's plenty of lessons to be learned from the things that didn't work, there were places where the system really came through for us.

KIMBERLEE WYCHE-ETHERIDGE: 

Our younger children, our daycare-aged children, seem to be getting a lot sicker than they did last year.

Quote 7: 

One of our biggest failures as a country is not recognizing the importance of a robust public health infrastructure.

Quote 8: 

I think for many, it's felt like a lot more than three years.

Quote 9: 

I think that pregnant women are appropriately concerned about anything and everything that they put into their bodies while they're pregnant. You know, it's oftentimes the only way for public health to get things done.

Quote 10: 

In our 35 member cities, nearly 8000 people lost their lives because of gun violence.

Quote 11: 

I'm really excited to share with your listeners that this year's award went to ASTHO, NACCHO, and Big City Health Coalition.

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

We said it before, but we'll say it again: Thank you so much for making the Morning Edition part of your daily routine.

If you have a minute, it would be great if you would follow us and give us a review. It's easy to do. You can do it right here on this podcast player. And both of those actions will help others find us online.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Robert Johnson, you're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.