Browsing by Subject "epidemic"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    John Shaw Billings Lecture: Exploring Epidemics
    (1992-01-15) Rosenberg, Charles
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    LaPorte County Opioid Addiction Needs Assessment
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2018) Greene, Marion; Kooreman, Harold; Vest, Joshua; Balio, Casey
    The opioid epidemic continues to affect the lives of many Americans. Paralleling the rise in prescription opioid (pain reliever) sales over the past two decades, the country also experienced an increase in opioid-related morbidity and mortality. Between 2000 and 2015, more than half a million Americans died from drug overdoses, the majority of which were attributable to opioids. The costs, in terms of human suffering and economic impact, are considerable. Based on findings from the LaPorte County survey and key informant interviews that were conducted in the community, respondents cited lack of or limited access to treatment services, especially detoxification, inpatient services, and medication-assisted treatment, as a major challenge in dealing with the epidemic. Furthermore, socio-economic factors, such as poverty and unemployment, and limited awareness or acceptance of the problem within the larger community, together with insufficient funding to address the problem, were described as contributing factors.
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    Report on the Tobacco Epidemic in Indiana and Marion County and Effective Solutions: 2018 Update
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2018-10) Tauras, John; Chaloupka, Frank; Halverson, Paul
    A number of effective solutions exist for lowering tobacco rates, improving health, and lowering costs in Indiana and Marion County. Policy makers, health care systems, employers, schools, and nonprofit and community-based organizations all play a critical role.
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    The Changing Landscape of the Opioid Epidemic in Marion County and Evidence for Action
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2018-10-18) Watson, Dennis; Duwve, Joan; Greene, Marion; Weathers, Tess; Huynh, Philip; Nannery, Rebecca
    The impact of the opioid crisis is vast, with its effects impacting individuals, families, and communities as a whole. The epidemic has evolved – what began largely as a prescription opioid problem surged into the street, where heroin and “fake” pills resembling prescription drugs are now often laced with deadly amounts of illegally produced fentanyl. The evolving epidemic has compelled an evolving response, including new and more diverse strategies, and the engagement of multiple sectors of the community beyond health care, including employers, schools, nonprofit agencies, government agencies, law enforcement and policymakers. This report updates a 2016 report by the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health to describe the current landscape of the evolving opioid epidemic in Marion County, Indiana, and across the state.
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    Vaping Among Indiana Youth
    (Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, 2020-03) Kooreman, Harold
    The U.S. Surgeon General and other public health officials have described the use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, by young people as an epidemic. E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat a liquid (called e-liquid) typically containing nicotine, flavoring, and other chemicals to produce an aerosol that is inhaled by a user. Although nicotine is the most common drug that young people vape, vaping marijuana is also increasing in popularity. Although the long-term health effects of vaping are not currently known, e-cigarettes do pose a number of risks to young people. First, the use of e-cigarettes serves as a gateway to future combustible cigarette use. Second, because most e-liquid contains nicotine and because the adolescent brain is particularly sensitive to nicotine, the use of e-cigarette products places young people at heightened risk for nicotine dependence. Third, the chemicals contained in e-liquid have never been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for inhalation.