Browsing by Author "Gutta, Jyotsna"

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    Drug Use in Indiana: A Regional Perspective
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2019-05) Gutta, Jyotsna; Greene, Marion
    Indiana consists of 92 counties, which can be divided into 8 service regions. The prevalence of substance misuse can differ between the individual regions. Compared to the state’s average, rates of underage drinking, smoking, and illicit drug use were particularly high in Indiana’s Western region. The most frequently used substances among Indiana students in grades 8, 10, and 12 were alcohol, electronic vape products, marijuana, traditional (combustible) cigarettes, and prescription drugs. Understanding each region’s unique needs is a vital component to designing programs dedicated to improving overall Hoosier health.
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    The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Behavioral Health in Indiana
    (The Center for Health Policy, 2021-06-01) Kooreman, Harold; Gutta, Jyotsna; Bandali, Elhaam; Greene, Marion S.
    As of January 2021, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center has confirmed more than 20 million SARS-CoV-2 cases and over 350,000 deaths in the United States alone and 100 million cases and more than 2 million deaths globally. As of December 31, 2020, over half a million Hoosiers had tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 8,000 had died as a result of complications from the disease. This report is a review on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had (and has) on the mental and behavioral health of Hoosiers. Specifically, we reviewed pandemic-related stress on children, parents, and the elderly; substance use, misuse, and overdose deaths; mental health concerns; suicide; domestic violence; and child abuse and neglect. The current report is a summary of findings. It provides a snapshot in time. Data and conclusions were relevant and timely at the time the report was produced.
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    Marijuana Use in Indiana: A Look at Cannabis Laws in and Around Indiana
    (Center for Health Policy, 2020-04-01) Gutta, Jyotsna; Greene, Marion S.
    Though under federal law marijuana is still considered an illicit drug, many states have enacted policies decriminalizing and/or legalizing marijuana to some degree. In 14 states (including Indiana), possession, use, cultivation, sale or distribution of marijuana is illegal. Indiana is bordered by states with varying marijuana policies: Kentucky (illegal), Ohio (medical use), and Michigan and Illinois (medical and recreational use). One emerging trend of concern is the use of marijuana products (THC) in e-cigarettes, especially among young people.
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    Marijuana Use in Indiana: A Look at Cannabis Laws in and around Indiana
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2020-04) Gutta, Jyotsna; Greene, Marion
    Though under federal law marijuana is still considered an illicit drug, many states have enacted policies decriminalizing and/or legalizing marijuana to some degree. In 14 states (including Indiana), possession, use, cultivation, sale or distribution of marijuana is illegal. Indiana is bordered by states with varying marijuana policies: Kentucky (illegal), Ohio (medical use), and Michigan and Illinois (medical and recreational use). One emerging trend of concern is the use of marijuana products (THC) in e-cigarettes, especially among young people.
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    Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A: LOCAL)
    (2024-10) Greene, Marion; Sanner, Lindsey; Gutta, Jyotsna; Williamson, Curtis; McNamee, Cassidy
    In the fall of 2023, the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) was awarded the federal Overdose Data to Action: Limiting Overdose through Collaborative Actions in Localities (OD2A: LOCAL) grant. This 5-year initiative by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supports local jurisdictions in addressing the overdose crisis through surveillance and evidence-based prevention and harm reduction strategies, with the overarching goal to reduce drug overdoses and health inequities. To achieve this goal, MCPHD funds and collaborates with 16 community organizations (subawardees).
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    Suicide Prevention
    (The Center for Health Policy, 2020-01-01) Gutta, Jyotsna; Heniff, Lauren; Greene, Marion S.
    Suicide, or intentional self-harm, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Suicide rates among Hoosiers have increased from 12.6 per 100,000 in 2008 to 16.3 per 100,000 in 2017, a nearly 30% increase over the 10-year period. One in ten Indiana high school students attempted and survived suicide; those who identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual had significantly higher rates of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors compared to students who identified as heterosexual. A variety of factors contribute to a person’s likelihood to engage in suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Though anyone can be affected by suicide, there are some groups within the population that are at a particularly high risk due to the stresses they experience. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of suicide risks, trends, and current interventions in Indiana. To accomplish this, we (1) reviewed the literature and existing data, (2) conducted key informant interviews with state experts, and (3) synthesized the information to provide recommendations for suicide prevention.
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    Suicide Trends in Indiana: Recommendations for Prevention
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2020-01) Gutta, Jyotsna; Heniff, Lauren; Greene, Marion
    Suicide, or intentional self-harm, is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Suicide rates among Hoosiers have increased from 12.6 per 100,000 in 2008 to 16.3 per 100,000 in 2017, a nearly 30 percent increase over the 10-year period. One in 10 Indiana high school students attempted and survived suicide; those who identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual had significantly higher rates of suicide-related thoughts and behaviors compared to students who identified as heterosexual. A variety of factors contribute to a person’s likelihood to engage in suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Though anyone can be affected by suicide, there are some groups within the population that are at a particularly high risk due to the stresses they experience. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of suicide risks, trends, and current interventions in Indiana. To accomplish this, we (1) reviewed the literature and existing data, (2) conducted key informant interviews with state experts, and (3) synthesized the information to provide recommendations for suicide prevention.
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    The Consumption and Consequences of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Drugs in Indiana: A State Epidemiological Profile 2020
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2020) Greene, Marion; Gutta, Jyotsna; Kooreman, Harold; Bandali, Elhaam
    During state fiscal year 2020, there was a total of 7,502 child removals from their parents by the Department of Child Services in Indiana. Parental drug and/or alcohol use contributed to almost two thirds (63.6%) of these removals.
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    The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Behavioral Health in Indiana
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2021) Kooreman, Harold; Gutta, Jyotsna; Bandali, Elhaam; Greene, Marion
    The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel, highly contagious virus called SARS-CoV-2. The first cases of COVID-19 were identified in Wuhan, China, in December of 2019, but the disease quickly spread to other parts of the world. On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. As of January 2021, the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center has confirmed more than 20 million SARS-CoV-2 cases and over 350,000 deaths in the United States alone and 100 million cases and more than 2 million deaths globally.
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    What Are Public Health Agencies Planning for Workforce Development? A Content Analysis of Workforce Development Plans of Accredited Public Health Departments
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2023) Yeager, Valerie A.; Burns, Ashlyn B.; Lang, Britt; Kronstadt, Jessica; Hughes, Monica J.; Gutta, Jyotsna; Kirkland, Chelsey; Orr, Jason; Leider, Jonathon P.; Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health
    Objective: Recruiting and retaining public health employees and ensuring they have the skills necessary to respond are vital for meeting public health needs. As the first study examining health department (HD) workforce development plans (WDPs), this study presents gaps and strategies identified in WDPs across 201 accredited HDs (168 initial/33 reaccreditation plans). Design: This cross-sectional study employed qualitative review and content analysis of WDPs submitted to the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) between March 2016 and November 2021. Main outcome measures: Eight overarching workforce themes were examined: planning/coordination, leadership, organizational culture, workplace supports/retention, recruitment, planning for departmental training, delivery of departmental training, and partnership/engagement. Within each theme, related subthemes were identified. Coders indicated whether the WDP (1) identified the subtheme as a gap; (2) stated an intent to address the subtheme; and/or (3) identified a strategy for addressing the subtheme. Results: The most common gaps identified included prepare workforce for community engagement/partnership (34.3%, n = 69), followed by resource/fund training (24.9%, n = 50). The subtheme that had the most instances of an identified strategy to address it was assess training needs (84.1%, n = 169), followed by foster quality improvement (QI) culture/provide QI training (63.2%, n = 127). While both of these strategies were common among the majority of HDs, those subthemes were rarely identified as a gap. Secondary findings indicate that increase recruitment diversity/recruit from a more diverse applicant pool was rarely identified as a gap (6.0%, n = 12) and rarely had an identified strategy for addressing the subtheme (9.0%, n = 18). Conclusion: While HDs recognized many workforce gaps, HDs did not always propose a strategy for addressing them within the WDP. Conversely, some WDPs proposed strategies for subthemes that did not reflect recognized gaps. Such discrepancies between identified gaps and strategies in WDPs may suggest areas where HDs could use additional support and guidance.