Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us how Illinois worked to successfully reduce opioid overdoses; and Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst of state health policy, recaps some of the...
Dr. Sameer Vohra, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and an ASTHO Member, tells us how Illinois worked to successfully reduce opioid overdoses; and Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst of state health policy, recaps some of the efforts across the country to combat tobacco use.
ASTHO Blog Article: Tobacco Policy Roundup – Smoking Rates Down but Youth E-Cigarette Use Rising
SUMMER JOHNSON:
This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Tuesday, March 25, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
SAMEER VOHRA:
We saw that overdoses decreased 3% on the federal level, but having over 8% in Illinois, and then when we take opioids, specifically, that's kind of a greater than 9% decline.
JOHNSON:
Dr. Sameer Vohra is an ASTHO member and the director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. He tells us how Illinois worked to successfully reduce opioid overdoses.
VOHRA:
We have invested a lot in partnership building, we've invested a lot in harm reduction and really elevating this issue, especially as a state in Illinois, just like many states across the country, have been given the access to opioid settlement dollars that we can really repurpose into our communities for meaningful impact.
JOHNSON:
Illinois also uses all the tools at its disposal.
VOHRA:
So, we have really opened the door around Narcan, really providing access, our local health departments have been great partners and facilitators in that to really get it onto the local level.
JOHNSON:
Vohra adds that educating providers is also a high priority.
VOHRA:
More of us know about the issues of opioids, but there are increasing challenges. We know that things like xylazine, the fentanyl induced, and being up to date so our providers understand that. And how can the public health agency be an educator to those that are really on the front lines to kind of deal with these problems.
JOHNSON:
A new ASTHO blog article details the latest on public health efforts to address and reduce tobacco use. ASTHO's Beth Giambrone wrote the article.
BETH GIAMBRONE:
One of the ones that we're seeing as a trend in the states over the last year or so is banning possession of tobacco products for people under 21. Now with the federal Tobacco 21 law, that is the sale of cigarettes or tobacco products in general to people under 21 is already outlawed, but possession is not outlawed federally, so, that's left to the states.
JOHNSON:
Some states are addressing tobacco marketing tactics.
GIAMBRONE:
We're also seeing some legislation that would make changes to what retailers and marketers can do, especially with marketing, ensuring that marketing programs or marketing campaigns are not being targeted to people who are under 21, are not being put in places where someone who is younger could see the ads.
JOHNSON:
Giambrone says her article will give states more strategies for their own tobacco reduction efforts.
GIAMBRONE:
Hopefully, what people will get out of this is seeing that, you know, even though the United States and states have made a lot of strides in tobacco legislation, there are still other avenues that are out there that states and other jurisdictions can use.
JOHNSON:
Read the full article online now, just use the link in the show notes.
Finally, this morning, don't miss any legislation or policy movements that affect public health. Just sign up for ASTHO's Legislative Alerts. That way you'll always stay informed on the latest. You can sign up today in the show notes.
That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson, you're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition. Have a great day.
