The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Local police departments and some drug stores across Michigan are providing central free disposal of unwanted prescription drugs. According to the DEA, the majority of abused prescription drugs, such as opioids, are obtained through family or friends, often from their own medicine cabinet. You can locate a drop-off location here. In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, prescription drugs can be disposed of at any of the 11,000 DEA authorized collectors at any time throughout the year. For more information, click here.
While COVID-19 dominates the health care news, the discussion of substance abuse and rising deaths from drug overdose is often overlooked. Has the pandemic contributed to increases in substance abuse and overdose deaths? Early studies say yes, but further research is needed to definitely answer this question.
For this Weekend Reading Series, check out Crisis Continues for articles on the growing opioid and substance abuse crisis. Next, Deep Dive provides short summaries (and links to the full research report) on two important topics: insulin prices and preventable COVID-19 deaths. Explore Touch Points to read about COVID-19’s impact on workplace terminations, unemployment benefits scams, as well as the creation of ‘pandemic fatigue.’ Do not miss, Stay Safe for useful tips and current information on COVID-19.
I hope you enjoy the following:
1. Crisis Continues
- Associated Press: US overdose deaths appear to rise amid coronavirus pandemic
- New York Times: ‘The Drug Became His Friend’: Pandemic Drives Hike in Opioid Deaths
- CVS Health.com: CVS Health expands availability of resources to prevent opioid misuse amid pandemic
2. Deep Dive
- RAND: Insulin Prices Are Dramatically Higher in the United States Than in Other Countries
- Columbia University Earth Institute: Inadequate COVID-19 Response Likely Resulted in 130,000 -210,000 Avoidable Deaths
3. Touch Points
- Bloomberg Law: Covid-19 Scammers Driving Unemployment Fraud Across Nation
- Kaiser Health Network: Workers Fired, Penalized for Reporting COVID Safety Violations
- New York Times: As the Coronavirus Surges, a New Culprit Emerges: Pandemic Fatigue
4. Stay Safe
- New York Times: No, Mouthwash Will Not Save You From the Coronavirus
- Kaiser Health Network: Sleepless Nights, Hair Loss and Cracked Teeth: Pandemic Stress Takes Its Toll
- University of Michigan Health: Cold, Flu or COVID-19? Here’s How to Tell the Difference
- WebMD: CDC: Brief Contact May Increase COVID-19 Risk
Have an enjoyable weekend!
Regards,
Suzanne
Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]
