Opioids Episodes

March 25, 2025

870: Opioid Overdose Declines, Tobacco Roundup

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...
March 20, 2025

867: Ethics of Wastewater Surveillance, Opioid Funding for Next Two Decades

Allison Wheeler, wastewater surveillance unit manager at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and co-director of the Wastewater Center of Excellence in Colorado, tells us about a recently published ASTHO report on ethical considerations in public health wastewater surveillance;…
March 11, 2025

860: Levine’s Proudest Accomplishments, Funding Local Subrecipients

Dr. Mark Levine, commissioner of health for the State of Vermont and an ASTHO Member, looks back on his time as commissioner as he gets ready to depart his post; Melissa Touma, ASTHO director of the Public Health Infrastructure Program, tells us how a...
March 5, 2025

856: Kansagra New ASTHO CMO, “Career Honeycomb”

Dr. Susan Kansagra, former ASTHO member and most recently the assistant secretary and state health officer for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, has been named ASTHO’s new chief medical officer; Jennifer Schmidt, PHIG fund manager...
Feb. 11, 2025

841: Opioid Overdose Tool, Adolescent Behavioral Health

Mia Christopher, research epidemiologist at RTI International, explains how the Opioid Overdose Community Decision Tool could benefit public health; Lexa Giragosian, ASTHO senior analyst for Maternal and Infant Health, tells us why she believes her...
Feb. 7, 2025

839: Drug Overdose Death Decline, View from Washington, New ASTHO Member

Dr. Heidi B. Miller, chief medical officer of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, explains how her state was able to see the first significant decline in drug overdose deaths in nearly a decade; Jeffrey Ekoma, ASTHO senior director...
Dec. 9, 2024

806: Substance Misuse and Overdose Prevention Outlook, PHAB Journey

Dr. James McDonald, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, discusses substance misuse and overdose prevention as part of ASTHO’s Legislative Prospectus Series; Dr. Lindsey Kato, director for the Division of Public Health with the...
May 31, 2024

676: How Tobacco Cultivates Young Customers, Opioid Crisis Solutions

Ellen Cartmell, Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program manager at the Kentucky Department for Public Health, updates us on her state’s tobacco situation for World No Tobacco Day; an ASTHO blog article outlines how your jurisdiction might leverage...
April 10, 2024

640: NY Study Compares Naloxone Doses, New Tools to Improve Behavioral Health

Dr. Sharon Stancliff, associate medical director for Harm Reduction in Healthcare at the AIDS Institute with the New York State Department of Health, discusses a study the state performed to test the pros and cons of different doses of naloxone; Tanya...
March 25, 2024

628: PA Overdose Training, PH’s Role In Transportation

Dr. Debra Bogen, acting secretary of health for the Pennsylvania Department of Health and ASTHO member, discusses Pennsylvania’s work to expand overdose training to many different populations; Beth Giambrone, ASTHO senior analyst for State Health...
March 4, 2024

613: Members Meet Legislators, Islands Discuss Priorities

Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, spent her week in Washington, D.C., discussing the importance of the Public Health Infrastructure Grant to her state; Arthur San Agustin, special assistant for health to...
Feb. 29, 2024

611: Harm Reduction Strategies, A Recruiter Calls Mike Fraser

Dr. Kaitlan Baston, ASTHO Member and acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health, discusses a new law in New Jersey that decriminalizes many harm reduction supplies; Andra Samoa, a Department of Health consultant and liaison, wants...
Feb. 1, 2024

592: Teamwork Helps Contain Measles Outbreak, How to Reduce Stigma Related to Opioid Therapy

Dr. Cheryl Bettigole, Philadelphia Health Commissioner, discusses a measles outbreak that was detected in the city in early December; Grace DeLeon, ASTHO Senior Analyst for Overdose Preparedness and Response, tells us about an ASTHO report to help...
Jan. 24, 2024

586: Schools Get Naloxone, Communities Help Design Block Grant Projects

Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, Chief Science Officer for the Washington State Department of Health, says providing doses of naloxone to many schools in the state will save lives; Molly Cotant, Deputy Director, and Laura de la Rambelje, MA, Director, both of the Division of Local Health Services and at...
Jan. 23, 2024

585: 2024 Legislative Agenda Looks Familiar, Learn Trauma-Responsive Leadership

Andy Baker-White, ASTHO Senior Director for State Health Policy, previews the state of the legislative calendar this year; Omar Khalid, ASTHO Director of Workforce Development, says leaders can support their teams by adopting a trauma-responsive...