562: Harm Reduction Gets Legislative Attention, Tainted Applesauce Investigation Expands

ROBERT JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Tuesday, December 12, 2023. I'm Robert Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

STEVEN STACK: 

Every state in the United States has enacted at least one law that expanded access to Naloxone.

JOHNSON: 

Substance misuse and overdose prevention are top of mind for public health leaders, including ASTHO President and Kentucky Health Commissioner, Dr. Steven Stack.

STACK: 

Many other states have also enacted enhanced Good Samaritan laws where they have decriminalized the possession of drug testing tools such as fentanyl test strips or xylazine test strips.

JOHNSON: 

Stack says easy access to naloxone and testing strips could save countless lives.

STACK: 

If we could just get in bystanders’ hands, things like naloxone and get into those afflicted with substance use disorder things like fentanyl and xylazine test strips, which would enable them to test their illicit substances and make sure that they don't have those substances that would likely lead to their death or severe impairment.

JOHNSON: 

Peer support programs according to Stack are another way to get people the treatment they need.

STACK: 

Peer supporters know from lived experience just what it is like to feel powerless against the disease to have the intense cravings that go with the disease, to have the stigma attached to you when you are in public, and to have people see you not as someone in need of help, but as someone who is perhaps unworthy of health.

JOHNSON: 

Substance misuse and overdose prevention are examined as part of ASTHO's 2024 Legislative Prospectus series. We began our coverage of the series yesterday, and we'll continue with regular installments into the new year. You can read more using the links in the show notes.

North Carolina's discovery of lead contamination in applesauce pouches has led to the recall of at least three brands of the children's snack and discovery of at least 118 confirmed or suspected cases of exposure across 31 states. Dr. Susan Kansagra is North Carolina's assistant secretary for public health.

KANSAGRA: 

A lot of this work happens with, you know, trained members of the team in the community who are doing this work every day, and it is a bit of detective work to understand where children are being exposed to lead.

JOHNSON: 

Kansagra says this discovery is an example of the work public health does every day to keep people safe.

KANSAGRA: 

The role of public health is oftentimes to identify health hazards and in this case, these teams on the ground were able to go into homes in collaboration with family members and find this specific example, but many times you know, we don't get this level of national attention, but this still happens every day.

JOHNSON: 

The Washington Post reported this weekend that the level of lead in some applesauce pouches was 500 times higher than allowed. You can read the story using the link in the show notes.

Also today, ASTHO has mapped an approach that public health agencies can use to address firearm violence. The step-by-step guide aligns with a modified version of a model that was developed by the CDC and the World Health Organization. You can download it using the link in the show notes.

Finally, this morning, track the latest in public health policy by signing up to receive ASTHO's Legislative Alert emails. The link is in the show notes.

Before we go, we'd like to remind you to follow this newscast on your podcast player and ASTHO on social media. We're on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. 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.