Overdose Prevention Episodes

Sept. 17, 2024

751: SUD Funds Approved, Workforce Shortages Vary by State

Elizabeth Hertel, director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and an ASTHO Member, discusses the allocation of  $300 million to address substance use disorder; Dr. Marcus Plescia, ASTHO chief medical off…
Sept. 4, 2024

742: Maryland Overdose Dashboard Supports Field Partners, Immunization Awards Honor Advocates

Dr. Laura Herrera Scott, secretary of health for the Maryland Department of Health and an ASTHO Member, discusses the state’s revamped overdose dashboard; Claire Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization …
Sept. 3, 2024

741: Rhode Island’s Opioid Strategy, PH Detectives Hunt for TB Meds

Dr. Rachel Wightman, consultant medical director at the Rhode Island Department of Health for Drug Overdose Prevention and Surveillance, catches us up on the state’s opioid strategy; Kelly White, director of the infectious d…
June 4, 2024

678: HEALing Communities Study, Heat Impacts on EMS

Monika Salvage, project director for Cayuga County in New York, explains their participation in the HEALing Communities Study; Dr. Hao Yu, associate professor at Harvard Medical School, conducted a national study on the effe…
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 jur…
May 30, 2024

675: Latest Tobacco Concerns, Overdose Data Brings Mixed Results

John Bowman, executive vice president for U.S. Tobacco Programs at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, sounds the alarm about the tobacco industry’s relentless drive to encourage young people to use their products; Kayley Hu…
May 21, 2024

669: Lawmakers Consider PH Priorities, Public Health Strategies for Older Adults

Lillian Colasurdo, ASTHO director of Public Health Law and Data Sharing, tells us about part one of ASTHO’s 2024 Legislative session update; Dr. Katrina Piercy, director of the Division of Prevention Science in the Office of…
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 an…
March 20, 2024

625: Impacts of Overdose Deaths, Ethical Use of AI

Dr. Alison Athey, associate behavioral scientist at RAND, worked with her colleagues to take a deeper look at the impact of overdose deaths; Connie Moon Sehat, principal investigator of the Analysis and Response Toolkit for …
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, spec…
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 consult…
Jan. 30, 2024

590: Four Overdose Prevention Policies Explained, Winter Storm Lessons

Kayley Humm, ASTHO Senior Analyst, discusses a new ASTHO report that outlines a series of overdose prevention policies for consideration by public health agencies; Sarah Bonk, Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Response Co…
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 Ramb…
Jan. 17, 2024

581: Policies Connect Health Care and PH Funding Tips

Brianna Gorman, ASTHO analyst for Performance Excellence, explains ways to connect public health and health care in communities; Dr. Lindsay Weaver, ASTHO member and state health commissioner for the Indiana Department of He…
Jan. 11, 2024

578: New Fentanyl Laws, Report Indicates Climate Impacts on Mental Health

Dr. Sameer Vohra, ASTHO member and director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, tells us new laws in Illinois will seek to address the deadly effects of fentanyl; Paul Schramm, health scientist for the CDC, details …