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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for public health
19 results foundAuthor: Mann, Christopher Title: Mental Health and Criminal Activity: The Prevalence and Characteristics of Mental Health Disorders among a Population of Probationers Summary: Although ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), BD (Bipolar Disorder), and IED (Intermittent Explosive Disorder) are common mental disorders, there has been limited research to study their prevalence among prisoner/probationer populations. This study aimed to measure the prevalence of ADHD, BD, and IED in Fort Worth’s Treatment Alternative to Incarceration Program (TAIP) probationer population. TAIP is a probation sentencing diversion for offenders with substance abuse problems. Rather than being incarcerated, these offenders may choose to enroll in three or more months of substance abuse treatment, including detoxification, residential treatment, and/or outpatient substance abuse counseling, as deemed appropriate by the offender’s initial assessment/evaluation. The study also evaluated the ability of a new mental health survey instrument to measure the prevalence of these mental disorders. The survey instrument is a compilation of other validated instruments put together by the Primary Care Research Institute. If the survey is determined to be an effective and efficient way to measure these mental health disorders, it will be used in a larger general study to measure the prevalence of mental health disorders in the general population. Although a growing body of evidence supports the hypothesis that ADHD, BD, and IED are prevalent, though under‐diagnosed, among the adult prison population, few studies have investigated the characteristics of the prison population affected by these disorders or investigated their prevalence with co‐occurring disorders. In an effort to fill this gap, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of ADHD, BD, and IED among a probationer population and describe characteristics of the probationer population with ADHD. The study further aimed to assess the prevalence of co‐occurring ADHD and Bipolar and/or Intermittent Explosive Disorder and describe the population that has co‐occurring disorders. Details: Fort Worth, TX: Primary Care Research Institute, 2009. 12p. Source: Research Brief: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2012 at http://centerforcommunityhealth.org/Portals/14/Reports/MentalHealthBrief%20Final2.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://centerforcommunityhealth.org/Portals/14/Reports/MentalHealthBrief%20Final2.pdf Shelf Number: 126016 Keywords: Demographic TrendsMental HealthProbationersPublic Health |
Author: Scheske, Andrea J. Title: Hitting Crime Where it Hurts: Holistic Victimization Reduction Summary: This paper, prepared by Andrea J Scheske while interning at the Centre, seeks to develop a new paradigm in justice to address victimization, crime and the numerous societal ills that follow in their wake in order to inform future policy initiatives and ultimately result in the improvement of the quality of life for many Canadians, particularly groups such as the Canadian Aboriginal peoples. This paper reframes justice to focus on victimization, explore the numerous associated factors involved with victimization and crime, many of which are often overlooked, and discuss the potential for the implementation of Inter-Professional Collaborative Practice (IPCP). IPCP recognizes the interconnectedness of a mutuality of complex factors involved with the provision of healthcare (World Health Organization (WHO) 2010), and has great potential for reducing victimization by targeting these factors. The framework employed will be the social-ecological model of public health. This model allows for an easier understanding and compartmentalization of the factors contributing to victimization and crime and thus presents a great opportunity for its implementation in a justice context. Details: Regina, SASK: University of Regina, Collaborative Centre for Justice and Safety, 2015. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2016 at: http://www.justiceandsafety.ca/rsu_docs/hitting-crime-where-it-hurts.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://www.justiceandsafety.ca/rsu_docs/hitting-crime-where-it-hurts.pdf Shelf Number: 137476 Keywords: Public HealthVictim Services Victimization Victims of Crime |
Author: Cloud, David Title: First Do No Harm: Advancing Public Health in Policing Practices Summary: Millions of medically vulnerable and socially marginalized people cycle through the criminal justice system each year due to serious structural problems entrenched in American society. The absence of a coherent and effective social safety net means that people lack access to physical and mental health care, social services, and housing options in their communities. This report, First Do No Harm: Advancing Public Health in Policing Practices, details the cultural divide among system actors that amplify and sustain these problems and offers recommendations on how law enforcement policymakers and practitioners - in collaboration with public health officials and harm reduction advocates - can enhance both public safety and community health. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2015. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2016 at: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/public-health-and-policing-v2.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/public-health-and-policing-v2.pdf Shelf Number: 137570 Keywords: Mentally Ill PersonsPolice Policies and PracticesPolice Services for the Mentally IllPublic Health |
Author: Conaglen, Philip Title: Violence Prevention: A Public Health Priority Summary: Violence is a public health priority in Scotland There are an estimated 236,000 violent crimes committed against adults in Scotland each year. In a large NHS Board, annual emergency department attendance rates relating to interpersonal violence were 3.6 per 1,000 population. In 2012-13 there were 3,386 emergency hospital admissions in Scotland as a result of assault. Beyond physical harm, violence also causes psychological, economic and social harms and its impact extends well beyond the victim and perpetrator into their relationships, communities and society. Scottish Government modelling indicates that the economic and social costs of violent crimes far outweigh the costs of all other types of crime combined, with estimated costs running into many thousands of millions of pounds. Violence and its risk factors are often both the cause and effect of health, gender, economic and social inequalities. Can there be any doubt that violence is a public health priority, requiring concerted public health action? Violence is preventable Risk and protective factors for violence exist across individual, relationship, community and societal levels. Research shows that these include such things as: being the victim of abuse, experiencing violent parental conflict, poverty and high unemployment and cultural norms which support violence. This paper provides an overview of the evidence base - the wide range of international evidence summaries and briefing papers which relate to violence and (most importantly) to violence prevention. While gaps do remain in the literature, what is there helps shape our understanding of: the scale and impact of violence; what causes violence; and what works to prevent violence and to extend better care and support to affected populations. A range of Scottish Government strategies and initiatives, for example those relating to intimate partner violence, alcohol abuse, child abuse, suicide and knife crime, aim to address the causes of violence. Violence prevention is also incorporated within a range of broader government strategies and policies as the risk and protective factors for violence are experienced across different life stages. These all provide opportunities to renew efforts to prevent violence. Details: Glasgow: ScotPHN, 2014. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2016 at: http://www.scotphn.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Report-Violence-Prevention-A-Public-Health-Priority-December-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.scotphn.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Report-Violence-Prevention-A-Public-Health-Priority-December-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 139127 Keywords: Public HealthViolenceViolence PreventionViolent Crime |
Author: Snair, Justin Title: Countering Violent Extremism Through Public Health Practice: Proceedings of a Workshop Summary: Countering violent extremism consists of various prevention and intervention approaches to increase the resilience of communities and individuals to radicalization toward violent extremism, to provide nonviolent avenues for expressing grievances, and to educate communities about the threat of recruitment and radicalization to violence. To explore the application of health approaches in community-level strategies to countering violent extremism and radicalization, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine held a public workshop in September 2016. Participants explored the evolving threat of violent extremism and radicalization within communities across America, traditional versus health-centered approaches to countering violent extremism and radicalization, and opportunities for cross-sector and interdisciplinary collaboration and learning among domestic and international stakeholders and organizations. This publication summarizes the presentations and discussions from the workshop. Details: Washington, DC: National Academies Press, 2017. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2017 at: https://www.nap.edu/download/24638 Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.nap.edu/download/24638 Shelf Number: 141257 Keywords: Counter-ExtremismExtremist GroupsPublic HealthRadical GroupsTerrorismViolence PreventionViolent Extremism |
Author: Matthew, Dayna Bowen Title: Un-burying the Lead: Public health tools are the key to beating the opioid epidemic Summary: On November 1st, the President's Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis, chaired by Governor Chris Christie, released its report and recommendations for fighting "the worst drug overdose epidemic in U.S. history." The Report repeatedly underscores the scope and urgency of the nation's opioid epidemic that is ravaging families and communities in all 50 states. It claims 175 lives daily. In addition to these deaths, other tragic and costly health consequences of this epidemic include unprecedented increases in the incidence and prevalence of addiction, increased hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and a dramatic increase in the number of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome. There is much in the Report to praise. For example, the Commission recommended that the president declare the opioid crisis a national public health emergency and the president adopted this recommendation. The declaration of a public health emergency will eventually allow states to apply for and Congress to fund long-term interventions to prevent and treat drug abuse. Moreover, the Commission's recommendations that emphasize treatment and harm reduction admirably include systemic changes that would have long-term impact, such as: Development of new quality measures to incentivize early screening and treatment referrals; Waiver of Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) exclusions within Medicaid to expand capacity for in-patient treatment; Broad expansion of federal drug courts to divert individuals away from prison and into treatment programs; and Insurer regulations and penalties for mental health parity violations. However, this report argues that it is the Commission's final six recommendations - buried in the back of the report--that offer the most far-reaching and promising opportunities for state and federal leaders to strike at the root causes of the opioid crisis. These final recommendations, listed on the left side of Table 1 below, signal that our government may be willing to seriously address the opioid crisis as the public health emergency that it is. They aim at changing the fundamental social and environmental conditions that are risk factors for the populations among which addiction and death rates are soaring. As such, they have the greatest potential for impact because they reach the broadest segments of the community where addictions flourish. But even they do not go far enough. These good ideas need to be accompanied by action steps to implement them with the immediacy that this crisis warrants. This report suggests the logical "next steps" that should accompany the Commission's recommendations. They are listed on the right side of Table 1 below. This report proceeds in three parts. It first calls attention to the Commission's final six recommendations. It argues that these proposals, which focus on reforming housing, employment, family, criminal justice and educational determinants of opioid addiction, are the most important. interventions of all. Second, this report places the current opioid epidemic into historic context; America has seen terrible spikes in opioid and other drug related deaths in this country during two prior periods. The public health lessons from earlier epidemics provide strong support for the Commission's final six recommendations, and counsel a comprehensive approach to the social and economic risk factors associated with opioid addiction. Finally, this report asserts that the Commission's recommendations will have limited impact unless they are implemented with immediate action steps to ensure, and even expand, their concrete impact. Therefore, for each one of the Commission's final six recommendations, this report proposes a related action step for housing9 and employment,10 community engagement, and criminal justice interventions12 that are essential to defeating the worsening opioid crisis in this country. Moreover, this section urges the Administration to reach back 50 years in America's self-proclaimed drug "war" and extend the public health framework it has now adopted toward opioid addiction to the victims of America's earlier opioid crisis, and to those who became addicted to successor drugs. These victims of America's earlier opioid crises tragically were subjected to a criminal justice rather than public health approach to their disease. This report argues it is not too late to correct that error, by applying the public health framework to all populations affected by the disease of addiction. In conclusion, this report outlines a comprehensive and equitable strategy that federal, state, and local governments, as well as affected communities can take to effectively address the social determinants of opioid addiction. Details: Washington, DC: USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy , 2018. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2018 at: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/es_20180123_un-burying-the-lead-final.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/es_20180123_un-burying-the-lead-final.pdf Shelf Number: 149227 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug PolicyDrug TreatmentOpioid EpidemicOpioidsPublic Health |
Author: Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Title: Lessons Learned from Marijuana Legalization in Four U.S. States and D.C. Summary: Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana in 2012, followed by Alaska and Oregon in 2014. The District of Columbia legalized cultivation and possession in 2014. Today's highly potent marijuana represents a growing and significant threat to public health and safety, a threat that is amplified by a new marijuana industry intent on profiting from heavy use. State laws allowing marijuana have, in direct contradiction to federal law, permitted this industry to flourish, influencing both policies and policy makers. While the consequences of these policies will not be known for decades, early indicators are troubling. This report, reviewed by prominent scientists and researchers, serves as an evidence-based guide to what we currently observe in various states. Details: Alexandria, VA: SAM, 2018. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed march 15, 2018 at: https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SAM-Digital-C-4.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://learnaboutsam.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SAM-Digital-C-4.pdf Shelf Number: 149479 Keywords: Drug Legalization Drug Policy Marijuana Marijuana Legalization Public Health |
Author: Amnesty International Title: Body Politics: Criminalization of sexuality and reproduction Summary: There is a long history of states criminalizing sexuality and reproductive decisions relating to health. Unfortunately, despite increasing attention paid to the protection of human rights in the last few decades, the criminalization fever shows no signs of cooling. In some areas this trend appears to have gained renewed strength. Throughout much of the Americas, for example, women and health professionals can be punished for seeking, obtaining or providing abortion services. In certain states in Africa, opportunistic politicians have pumped life into antiquated statutes or passed new laws punishing same-sex activity with dire penalties. Notably, this rush to criminalization is not limited to developing or least developed states. The last few years has also seen a rise in women in the USA being jailed for otherwise legal acts conducted during pregnancy, and in many rich and poor states alike, individuals can still be prosecuted for transmission of HIV. Criminalization of sexual and reproductive health-related activity, in particular, stands as a significant impediment to the realization of human rights, particularly the right to health. Although such criminalization is justified by some as a "public health" measure, in most cases it exacerbates the underlying public health concern by driving risk behaviour underground and preventing the provision of effective health services; contributing to preventable illness and death. Criminalization of consensual reproductive and sexual behaviours also violates autonomy, which is the foundation on which an individual's ability to realise their right to health is built. In addition to implicating human rights adversely, criminalization of sexuality and reproductive decisions engenders stigmatization, discrimination and even violence against people engaged in (or suspected of engaging in) the prohibited behaviour, which can further place the health of vulnerable people at risk. Indeed, the individuals facing punishment tend to be members of poor, marginalized and vulnerable groups, as opposed to wealthy individuals engaging in the same behaviour. Moreover, such criminalization affects not just those against whom the law is directed, but negatively impacts the rights of entire populations by giving states power to interfere with individuals' private decision-making and forcing people to conform to strict sexual and gender norms. Using the force of state machinery to achieve illegitimate aims relating to the public morality can further lead to an environment generally permissive of arbitrary arrests and detention, harassment, stigmatization, discrimination and violence. Such use of power also weakens respect for the rule of law. Unfortunately, all too often criminalization of sexual and reproductive decisions and behaviours can be a means to gain political support from voters, especially when the targets of such punitive regulation are politically disenfranchised or socially marginalized. It is therefore crucial to highlight the depth and extent of this problem and to empower activists worldwide to challenge laws directly or indirectly criminalizing sexual and reproductive decisions and behaviours. Amnesty International's Primer and Toolkit - Body Politics: Criminalization of sexuality and reproduction - is a timely, meaningful and welcome contribution that can enable activists to both comprehend and challenge illegitimate criminalization of sexuality and reproductive decisions. It is vital to understand the extent to which criminalization has permeated states today and the damage which is done by such measures masquerading as legitimate public health or public morality initiatives. This Primer details the major areas of concern and the harm which both direct and indirect criminalization inflict on an individual's human rights and the health of society as a whole. It is not enough, however, to simply understand the problem of criminalization of sexuality and reproductive decisions; steps must also be taken to challenge it. The Toolkit provides concrete campaigning techniques such as mapping stakeholder participation and power, identifying advocacy targets, and building capacity. The Training Manual can be used to build understanding and capacity around these issues for a range of audiences and activists. Details: London: AI, 2018. 220p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 16, 2018 at: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/POL4077632018ENGLISH.PDF Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/POL4077632018ENGLISH.PDF Shelf Number: 149485 Keywords: AbortionCriminalizationHealth ServicesHuman Rights AbusesPublic Health |
Author: Hughes, Karen Title: Taking Measures: A Situational Analysis of Alcohol in the North West Summary: Alcohol has an important place in our society. Millions of people throughout the UK enjoy drinking alcohol to socialise and relax, the alcohol industry creates thousands of jobs, and pubs, clubs and restaurants have helped contribute to the regeneration of many town and city centres. At the same time, however, alcohol is placing a huge burden on health, criminal justice, and social and economic development. The acute effects of risky drinking, including accidents, violence, overdose and risky sexual behaviour, have devastating consequences for individuals and place an increasing strain on public services. At a wider level, alcohol-related diseases, mortality and crime are contributing to inequalities, reducing life expectancy, disrupting local communities and hampering efforts for economic growth. In response to increasing levels of alcohol-related harm, the government published the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England in March 2004. This provided both local and regional agencies with greater guidance and support in addressing alcohol issues. The key aim of the Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy for England is to prevent any further increase in alcohol-related harm in England. However, the burden of alcohol-related harm that falls on the North West is disproportionately high. We have among the highest levels of alcohol consumption in the country and, correspondingly, among the highest rates of alcohol-related mortality (Chapter 2). Even within the North West, the distribution of alcohol-related harm varies widely between areas and population groups (Chapter 2, Appendix 2). Therefore, tackling alcohol in the North West requires a regional strategy that aims to reduce alcoholrelated harm as a whole and particularly in areas and amongst population groups that suffer most from the negative effects of alcohol use. Implementing effective interventions where they are needed most requires an understanding of the harms associated with alcohol use, and also identification of communities and geographies most affected and those interventions that are most effective at reducing the negative consequences of alcohol. This report has been prepared to assist regional and local agencies in addressing alcohol issues effectively. It provides local level data on alcohol consumption and related harms, outlines the evidence base for implementing effective alcohol interventions, and identifies how alcohol fits into existing regional and local policy. We hope that with this information, agencies at all levels in the North West are better prepared to develop and implement effective strategies to reduce the negative impacts of alcohol use across the region. Details: Liverpool: Centre for Public Health, Faculty of Health and Applied Social Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, 2004. 159p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 27, 2018 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228708116_Taking_measures Year: 2004 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228708116_Taking_measures Shelf Number: 149931 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Related Crime, DisorderPublic Health |
Author: Milgram, Anne Title: Integrated Health Care and Criminal Justice Data - Viewing the Intersection of Public Safety, Public Health, and Public Policy Through a New Lens: Lessons from Camden, New Jersey Summary: At the intersection of public safety and public health lies the potential to view crime prevention through a new lens: the lens provided by analyzing integrated data from the many agencies that serve vulnerable populations. This study involved the integration of health care and criminal justice data for people who cycle in and out of hospitals and police precincts in Camden, New Jersey. Working pursuant to a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, researchers from the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers (the Coalition) integrated existing data sets to break down traditional information silos, identifying and analyzing the experiences of people who showed an extreme number of contacts with both systems. By analyzing these cross-sector data, Coalition researchers found that a small number of Camden residents have an enormous and disproportionate impact on the health care and criminal justice sectors, neither of which is designed to address the underlying problems they face: housing instability, inconsistent or insufficient income, trauma, inadequate nutrition, lack of supportive social networks, But the study's potential impact goes well beyond the identification of a population that frequently cycles through the health care and criminal justice systems. Cross-sector data offer a more holistic view of the challenges these individuals face, telling a different story than the one we typically hear - a story with far-reaching public policy implications. When we overlay data to view the trajectories of lives through consecutive cross-sector contacts, we begin to see that crime most often happens after, and not before, contacts with hospitals and other government agencies. During these earlier encounters, we could find potential markers that would allow us to identify individuals at risk of future criminal justice involvement. In large part because agencies are not sharing data in the collaborative ways needed to gain a holistic understanding of individuals, opportunities to intervene earlier in their trajectories are lost. Most interventions to prevent recidivism currently occur during the community corrections and re-entry phases, well after a crime has happened and the individual's case has ended. The study suggests that we should shift from a mindset of reacting to immediate health and crime crises as distinct events to focusing on holistic approaches that result in better individual outcomes, increased public safety, and reduced system costs. The holistic view provided by integrated data will allow researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to design earlier interventions to prevent crime and the avoidable use of jails and emergency departments. The Coalition's researchers plan to design and test such interventions in the next phase of this study. This paper is organized in two parts. Part I sets out the Camden study's key findings from the analysis of integrated hospital and police data: - A small percentage of arrestees account for a disproportionate share of total arrests. - There is a relationship between high use of hospital emergency departments (EDs) and frequent arrests. - A small subset of 226 individuals had extreme numbers of contacts with both hospital EDs and police. Part II outlines the potential impact of integrated data analysis on public safety, public health, and public policy: - Cross-sector data that look beyond the criminal justice system, including data on health, housing, employment, and other socio-economic characteristics, provide a holistic view of individuals and their contacts with multiple systems over time. Details: Cambridge, MA: Harvard Kennedy School, Program in Criminal Justice Policy and Management, 2018. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2018 at: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/wiener/programs/pcj/files/integrated_healthcare_criminaljustice_data.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.hks.harvard.edu/sites/default/files/centers/wiener/programs/pcj/files/integrated_healthcare_criminaljustice_data.pdf Shelf Number: 150062 Keywords: CollaborationHealth CarePartnershipsPublic HealthPublic Safety |
Author: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Title: Monitoring Health Concerns Related to Marijuana in Colorado: 2016 Summary: The state's Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee has released its second set of findings from the committee's review of the scientific literature currently available on the health effects of marijuana use. The report, "Monitoring Health Concerns Related to Marijuana in Colorado: 2016," also provides survey data about marijuana use in Colorado and data from hospitals and the poison center on potential marijuana-related health effects. Senate Bill 13-283 requires the committee to monitor the emerging science and medical information about marijuana use and report its findings. "Just as with tobacco and alcohol, continued monitoring of marijuana use and potential health effects help guide our work to protect the health of Colorado's citizens," said Dr. Larry Wolk, executive director and chief medical officer at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. "We want to base policy decisions and educational campaigns on sound science." The report recommends continued monitoring of several trends, including: About 6 percent of pregnant women choose to use marijuana while pregnant. This percentage is higher among those with unintended pregnancies as well as younger mothers or those with less education. Using marijuana during pregnancy is associated with negative effects on exposed children, including decreased cognitive function and ability to maintain attention on task. Effects may not appear until adolescence. At least 14,000 children in Colorado are at risk of accidentally eating marijuana products that are not safely stored, and at least 16,000 are at risk of being exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke in the home. The committee found strong evidence such accidental exposures can lead to significant clinical effects that, in some cases, require hospitalization. More than 5 percent of high school students use marijuana daily or nearly daily. This has been the case since at least 2005. The report finds weekly marijuana use by adolescents is associated with impaired learning, memory, math and reading, for as long as 28 days after last use. Weekly use also is associated with failure to graduate from high school. In addition, adolescent marijuana users are more likely to develop cannabis use disorder or be addicted to alcohol, tobacco or illicit drugs in adulthood. In Colorado, one in four adults ages 18-25 reported past-month marijuana use and one in eight use daily or nearly daily. These numbers have been consistent since marijuana's legalization. There are indications that policy and education efforts about the potential health effects of marijuana are working. For example, marijuana exposure calls to the Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Center have decreased since 2015. This includes calls about accidental exposures in children under 9 years old. In addition, the overall rate of marijuana-related emergency department visits dropped 27 percent from 2014 to 2015. (2016 data is not available yet.) The report also cited these trends: Past-month marijuana use among adults and adolescents has not changed since legalization either in terms of the number of people using or the frequency of use. Based on the most comprehensive data available, past-month marijuana use among Colorado adolescents is nearly identical to the national average. Daily or near-daily use of marijuana among adults in Colorado is much lower than daily or near-daily use of alcohol or tobacco. Based on its findings, the committee also recommends continuing to use survey, poison center and hospital data to monitor trends in marijuana use and health effects; state support of research to fill important gaps in public health knowledge; and continued public education about the potential risks of marijuana use. Details: Denver: The Department, 2017. 304p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 21, 2018 at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0tmPQ67k3NVQlFnY3VzZGVmdFk/view Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0tmPQ67k3NVQlFnY3VzZGVmdFk/view Shelf Number: 153528 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug PolicyMarijuanaMarijuana LegalizationPublic Health |
Author: DiFiore, Hon. Janet Title: New York State's Opioid Intervention Court Summary: A National Crisis On July 31, 2017, the Presidents Commission on Combating Drug Addiction and the Opioid Crisis issued a preliminary report describing the severity of the opioidaddiction crisis gripping communities across America. - Approximately 142 Americans are dying every day from opioid abuse, a death toll equal to September 11th every three weeks. - Drug overdoses now kill more people every year than gun homicides and car crashes combined. - The number of drug overdoses in the United States has quadrupled since 1999. - In 2015 nearly two-thirds of all drug overdoses were caused by opioids, especially heroin, fentanyl, Percocet, and OxyContin. A new report from the Police Executive Research Forum, an independent research organization that focuses on critical issues in policing, puts those numbers in context, noting that more Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016 (64,070) than lost their lives during the entirety of the Vietnam War (58,200). New Yorks Response: A First-of-Its-Kind Court The Opioid Intervention Court - the first of its kind in the nation - began operating on May 1, 2017, in Buffalo, Erie County, an area hard hit by opioid addiction and overdose deaths. The new court is unique in that it relies on immediate intervention and treatment of individuals at high risk of opioid overdose. Within 24 hours of arrest, defendants are linked to medication-assisted treatment, followed by up to 90 days of intensive daily court monitoring. In the Opioid Intervention Court, treatment is prioritized and criminal prosecution held in abeyance - thus flipping the usual legal process in order to save lives. Over the last several years, local judges, law enforcement, and public-health officials grew very concerned about the sharp increase in opioid-overdose deaths in Buffalo and Erie County. According to statistics provided by the Erie County Department of Health, opioid-overdose deaths jumped from 127 in 2014 to 296 in 2016. In a single week in 2016, three defendants in the Buffalo City Court died from opioid overdoses, driving home the need for a different approach when dealing with defendants suffering from opioid-use disorders. Judges and court staff in Buffalo and Erie County took the lead in reaching out to local stakeholders to develop a new court model to address the unique needs of opioid-addicted defendants. The Buffalo City Court was well positioned to take the lead on this issue because of its sophisticated and successful judicial-diversion and drug-treatment programs, and the extensive community partnerships developed under the COURTS program (Court Outreach Unit: Referral and Treatment Services). Started in 1994 by City Court Chief Judge Thomas Amodeo, COURTS integrates social-service professionals into the arrest-and-arraignment process so that judges can make informed decisions, linking defendants to the best available treatment options based on expert screening and referral recommendations. With the support of the court systems grants and contracts office, the Buffalo proposal was submitted to the Department of Justices Bureau of Justice Assistance, which awarded a $300,000 grant for piloting a specialized opioid court for defendants at high risk of opioid overdose. The grant supports immediate, targeted, and intensive drugtreatment services provided by physicians and case workers from the University of Buffalos Family Medicine Addiction Clinic. A key to the program is the participation of physicians who administer medication-assistance treatment to severely addicted persons, which involves using certain medications, such as methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine, known to be effective in blocking the euphoric highs of opioids, stabilizing brain chemistry, and relieving psychological cravings. Experienced caseworkers provide behavioral therapy and counseling, enforce curfews, perform wellness checks, and transport patients to court. Details: New York: 2017. 5p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2019 at: https://www.ncsc.org/~/media/Microsites/Files/Trends%202018/New-York-Opioid-Intervention-Courts.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncsc.org/~/media/Microsites/Files/Trends%202018/New-York-Opioid-Intervention-Courts.pdf Shelf Number: 154090 Keywords: Buffalo City Court Court Outreach Unit: Referral and Treatment ServicDrug Court Drug Overdose Drug Treatment Fentanyl Heroin New York Opioid Addiction Opioid Court Opioid Epidemic Opioid Intervention Court Oxycontin Percocet Public Health |
Author: O'Neil, S. Title: Summary: Definition of the problem More than 200 million girls and women alive today in 30 countries in Africa and the Middle East have undergone some form of FGM (UNICEF 2016). Thirty million more are at risk over the next ten years. The WHO and experts around the world agree that FGM can have serious consequences on women and girls' physical and mental health. All EU member states have signed up to international treaties such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) that seek to safeguard these rights and therefore make it mandatory for states to protect women and girls affected by, or at risk of FGM. Different organisations around Europe have developed strategies against FGM and legislative measures have been taken to protect victims. However, despite increasing commitment to combat FGM, there are still significant gaps in the approach to tackle the practice (EIGE 2013). Since FGM was brought up as an important health issue by the WHO in 1975, it has often been taken for granted that men's domination and control of women has an important role to play in the perpetuation of the practice (Almroth et al. 2001; ONeill 2013). The UNICEF report (2013), however, showed that in 16 African countries the percentage of men who want to stop FGM is higher than the rate of women who want to stop FGM, apart from in Sudan and Nigeria (UNICEF 2013:70). This suggests that the role of men in the perpetuation of the practice either seems to have changed or has been misunderstood. The UNICEF report further shows that in 8 countries the rate of women who think that men want FGM to end is significantly lower than the reality. In Guinea Conakry, for example, 12% of women think that men want to stop whereas in reality 42% of men want the practice to end (2013:72). This seems to point to a lack of communication between men and women, which the report confirms (2013:72). It has also often been claimed that in African countries where FGM is practised, men have a sexual preference for women who have undergone FGM (Hosken 1993). The recent UNICEF (2013) report however shows that in 12 countries only between 1-7% of men feel that the practice increases their sexual pleasure (UNICEF 2013:76). Regarding health consequences, a study in the Gambia showed that 72% of respondents did not know that FGM had a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of girls (Kaplan et al. 2013). In a behavior change study by Shell-Duncan et al. (Shell-Duncan et al. 2011) it was found that if men were involved in the decision on whether their daughters should undergo FGM, they were more likely to remain uncut. Little is actually known about African men's views on the practice in Africa and in Europe. A mixed methods study (qualitative and quantitative research) was conducted in Belgium, the UK and the Netherlands to increase knowledge of men's role in the perpetuation of the practice. This research is part of a European Daphne project "Men Speak Out" coordinated by GAMS Belgique with three main work streams: research, training and an awareness campaign aiming at engaging men in the prevention of FGM. Objectives of research The objectives of the qualitative research was to increase knowledge on the men's role in the perpetuation of the practice by addressing 4 key issues: 1. Men's understanding of FGM as a health risks and human rights violation, 2. Communication between women and men about the practice of FGM, 3. Men's opinions about FGM, 4. Male involvement in the decision making process to end the practice. The objective of the quantitative study was to estimate the proportion of men who are in favour of the continuation of FGM in Europe as compared to in their country of origin. The aim was therefore to find out whether migration and residence in Europe affects men's attitudes towards FGM. Study sites The study sites were Belgium, The Netherlands and the UK in collaboration with the community based organisations FORWARD UK, GAMS Belgium and HIMILIO foundation (The Netherlands) who have extensive experience campaigning against and conducting research on the practice. Details: Brussels, Belgium: Men Speak Out Project, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2019 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321214035_Men_have_a_role_to_play_but_they_don't_play_it_A_mixed_methods_study_exploring_men's_involvement_in_Female_Genital_Mutilation_in_Belgium_the_Netherlands_and_the_United_Kingdom_Men_Speak_Out Year: 2017 Country: Europe URL: https://www.srhr-ask-us.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/FGM_MaleResponsibility.pdf Shelf Number: 154087 Keywords: Female CircumcisionFemale CuttingFemale Genital MutilationGender-Related ViolencePublic HealthViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Kezelman, Cathy Title: The Cost of Unresolved Childhood Trauma and Abuse in Adults in Australia Summary: Executive Summary Childhood trauma including abuse affects an estimated five million Australian adults. It is a substantial public health issue with significant individual and community health, welfare and economic repercussions. Unresolved childhood trauma has short-term and life-long impacts which substantially erode both national productivity and national well-being. It needs to be seen as a mainstream public health policy issue and responded to accordingly. Pegasus Economics estimates that if the impacts of child abuse (sexual, emotional and physical) on an estimated 3.7 million adults are adequately addressed through active timely and comprehensive intervention, the combined budget position of Federal, State and Territory Governments could be improved by a minimum of $6.8 billion annually. In the population of adult survivors of childhood trauma more broadly i.e. a figure of 5 million adults, this estimate rises to $9.1 billion. These figures represent a combined effect of higher Government expenditure and foregone tax revenue. If adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse experienced the same life outcomes as nontraumatised adults, the collective budget deficits of Australian governments would be improved, at a minimum, by an amount roughly equivalent to the entire Government outlay on tertiary education. These estimates, based on a conservative set of assumptions, indicate extraordinary cost savings. On different, but still plausible assumptions, the annual budgetary cost of unresolved childhood trauma could be as high as $24 billion. While child abuse includes sexual, physical and emotional abuse, childhood trauma is a broader more comprehensive category. For each, the common element is the powerlessness of the child, due to age and dependency, to prevent or minimise it. Early life trauma and abuse affect the developing brain and have many possible impacts on daily adult life. These include the coping strategies children adopt to minimise overwhelm. Such strategies, highly creative and potentially effective in the short-term, may still be used in adult life. Perpetuated when the underlying trauma is not resolved, these coping strategies are associated with health risks in adulthood. Reducing costs of childhood trauma -- Addressing child sexual, emotional and physical abuse alone could lead to a potential minimum gain of $6.8 billion for the combined Federal, State and Territory Government budgets. The minimum gain from addressing the problem of childhood trauma more generally is $9.1 billion. Active timely and comprehensive intervention, with appropriate support, resources, services and treatment enables adult survivors to participate more fully and productively in the Australian community. Governments are currently exploring a range of revenue measures and expenditure cuts to restore the budget position. As Australia's population ages the long-term prognosis for the budget is for continuing strain; the main driver of deteriorating finances is forecast health expenditures. The Commonwealth Government's most recent inter-generational report (Swan, 2012) showed the major future stress on government expenditures to be in health outlays. As a percentage of GDP, health expenditure is forecast to rise from 3.9% in this current year to 7.1% in 2049-50 (an almost doubling in proportional expenditure). Progress in reducing the impact of childhood trauma and abuse in adults can make a positive contribution not only to the health budget challenges that lie ahead but also to those related to the welfare and criminal justice systems and the lower taxation revenue associated with the impact. Active timely comprehensive intervention will help address childhood trauma and abuse in adults Active investment in specialist services Specialist services are needed to spearhead policy and practice responses to adult childhood trauma and abuse survivors. Active investment to support a coordinated comprehensive model of care, including continued and increased access to effective help lines and online services, is needed. Timely active comprehensive intervention including appropriate support, counselling, resources and services promotes recovery. When survivors comprehensively overcome their trauma they and their children are freed to live productive, healthy and constructive lives. A key by-product of addressing the impacts of childhood trauma in adults is a financial benefit to Federal, State and Territory Government budgets. People affected by unresolved childhood trauma incur significant costs on taxpayers. This occurs through higher Government expenditure on health spending, welfare support and criminal justice costs, as well as via lower taxation revenue. More and better trained treating practitioners - counsellors/therapists Unfortunately our public health system has evolved in a way which means that adult mental health services focus on addressing immediate health issues (such as depression and alcoholism) rather than identifying and addressing underlying causes (such as prior childhood trauma and abuse). A convenient and failsafe pathway to treatment - No wrong door Frontline practitioners: General Practitioners and nurse practitioners will inevitably see people who have been impacted by childhood trauma including abuse, on a daily basis. These contacts provide an opportunity to facilitate a process whereby the person who presents can start receiving the right support, either directly or through targeted referral including specialist counselling, ideally from an accredited practitioner. Training is needed to enable primary care practitioners to identify trauma survivors and to respond appropriately. System, service and institutional improvements - Trauma-informed practice Benefits can also be achieved by raising awareness around the possibility of unresolved trauma in people who seek diverse services across health and human service systems, agencies, organisations and institutions. Adults who experience the ongoing impacts of unresolved childhood trauma will necessarily need to access various services. Broad-based implementation of trauma-informed practice and responses will help minimise the impact of trauma and the risk of re-traumatisation of people who have experienced childhood trauma including abuse. Details: Milson's Point, New South Wales, Australia: Blue Knot Foundation, 2015. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: https://www.blueknot.org.au/Portals/2/Economic%20Report/The%20cost%20of%20unresolved%20trauma_budget%20report%20fnl.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://www.blueknot.org.au/Portals/2/Economic%20Report/The%20cost%20of%20unresolved%20trauma_budget%20report%20fnl.pdf Shelf Number: 154214 Keywords: AbuseAdult SurvivorsChild AbuseChildhood TraumaCounsellingEmotional AbusePhysical AbusePublic HealthSexual AbuseSurvivorsTraumaVictim AssistanceVictim Services |
Author: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Title: Monitoring Health Concerns Related to Marijuana in Colorado: 2018. Summary Summary: When Colorado became one of the first two states in the nation to legalize retail marijuana, the Colorado Legislature mandated that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) study the potential public health effects of marijuana use. This website and the 2018 report summary below present information on marijuana use patterns, potential health effects and the most recent scientific findings associated with marijuana use. This information is the product of the Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee and is presented as the bi-annual report to the Colorado State Board of Health, the Colorado Department of Revenue and the Colorado General Assembly pursuant to 25-1.5-110, C.R.S. Details: Denver: The Author, 2018. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2019 at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cyaRNiT7fUVD2VMb91ma5bLMuvtc9jZy/view Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cyaRNiT7fUVD2VMb91ma5bLMuvtc9jZy/view Shelf Number: 154595 Keywords: Drug Abuse and Addiction Drug Policy Marijuana Marijuana Legalization Public Health |
Author: New York City. Mayor's Task Force on Cannabis Legalization Title: A Fair Approach to Marijuana: Recommendations from the Mayor's Task Force on Cannabis Legalization Summary: New York State may be poised to legalize non-medical adult cannabis use in the coming year, joining ten other states and the District of Columbia. This crossroads presents New York City with unique challenges and opportunities. These challenges include working to see that the State legislation is best structured to protect New York City residents and visitors to avoid unwanted consequences from adult legalization. The legislation, and State and City regulations that follow, must do all they can to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers. At the same time, we have the responsibility to use this turning point to help redress the disproportionate harms that criminalization of cannabis use has caused the City's communities of color. Legalization also poses unique opportunities to build a new industry in ways that advance our City's commitment to promote economic opportunities for economically disadvantaged New Yorkers and small businesses. The State legislation should forge a path to opportunities not for big corporations but for New Yorkers who need them most. Ongoing federal criminalization of cannabis adds further complexity to these challenges, perpetuating potential ill-consequences particularly for disadvantaged communities while limiting access to financial, tax, and other services and benefits to support the burgeoning industry. To help chart the City's course for cannabis legalization, Mayor Bill de Blasio convened the Task Force on Cannabis Legalization with the charge of identifying the goals and challenges that should guide the City's preparations for potential legalization. The Task Force includes representatives of City agencies that engage in areas affected by cannabis legalization, including those concerned with public health, public safety, education, economic opportunity, and finance, among others. The Task Force reviewed the range of regulatory regimes in other jurisdictions that have legalized adult cannabis use and the practical experiences of those jurisdictions. It conducted interviews with public health and public safety officials throughout the nation and in Canada, and consulted with academic and other experts, New York City officials, and community organizations. Task Force members also attended community listening sessions in New York City to hear the views of New Yorkers on the issues posed by legalization. Based on this research, the Task Force developed the following guiding principles for cannabis legalization and the recommendations summarized in the Executive Summary and detailed in the report below. Details: New York City: Mayor's Task Force on Cannabis Legalization, 2018. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2019 at: http://criminaljustice.cityofnewyork.us/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/A-Fair-Approach-to-Marijuana.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://criminaljustice.cityofnewyork.us/reports/mayors-task-force-on-cannabis-legalization/ Shelf Number: 155247 Keywords: Cannabis LegalizationDrug PolicyDrug ReformIllegal DrugsMarijuana LegalizationNew York CityPublic Health |
Author: Brinig, Margaret F. Title: The Invisible Prison: Pathways and Prevention Summary: In this paper, we propose a new strategy for curbing crime and delinquency and demonstrate the inadequacy of current reform efforts. Our analysis relies on our own, original research involving a large, multi-generational sample of unmarried fathers from a rust-belt region of the United States as well as the conclusions of earlier researchers. Our own research data are unusual in that they are holistic and multigenerational: The Court-based record system we utilized for data collection provided detailed information on child maltreatment, juvenile status and delinquency charges, child support, parenting time, orders of protection, and residential mobility for focal children (the oldest in the family), their siblings, half-siblings, and all parents who grew up in the relevant county. Using other data sources, we were also able to obtain reliable information about adult crime and other high-risk behaviors. Very few crime researchers have had access to data this comprehensive. Our research findings show the incarcerative state in action. Close to a third (31.7%) of sample fathers had been incarcerated, at least once, as adults, and almost half (49.5%) of those who lived, as teenagers, in the county we investigated had at least one juvenile arrest. Our findings support recent nonpartisan reforms, such as the federal First Step Act, that reduce mandatory sentences and place increased emphasis on substance-abuse treatment. The vast majority of offenders in our sample committed nonviolent offenses and posed no serious public-safety risk. Seventy per cent of those with felony convictions also had a known history of substance abuse. However, our data show that current reforms are incapable of significantly reducing criminal misconduct or the disproportionate impact of incarceration on African-Americans and the poor. In our sample, adult paternal crime was linked to other high-risk behaviors, significantly correlated with several of the father's adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), and predicted a number of adverse outcomes in his children. Our data thus contribute to a growing body of research showing that high ACE levels, levels that are typically linked with and reinforced by poverty, significantly increase the risk of criminal behavior as well as physical and mental health problems, educational and occupational deficits, high-risk behavior, and early death. To successfully reduce the costs of crime, we argue that policy makers must develop a public-health approach. We also argue that, as with virtually all successful public-health campaigns, public policy should focus on prevention programs that reduce risks and shift away from costly and largely ineffective rehabilitation strategies. Details: Notre Dame, Indiana: Notre Dame Law School, 2019. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 22, 2019 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3380621 Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3380621 Shelf Number: 155986 Keywords: Costs of Crime Criminal Justice Policy Criminal Justice Reform Incarceration Longitudinal Study Offenders Prison Public Health |
Author: Warnken, Heather Title: Who Experiences Violent Victimization and Who Accesses Services?: Findings from the National Crime Victimization Survey for Expanding our Reach Summary: The purpose of this research is to identify groups of persons at high risk for serious violent victimization to help inform how victim services and assistance can be targeted to victims of greatest need. Disparities in risk and use of victim services are examined using data from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) - the nation's primary source of statistical information on criminal victimization. Group characteristics such as gender, race and ethnicity, and low income status are considered, as are other factors that can help identify who is most likely to experience serious nonlethal violent victimization and who currently accesses victim services. The report describes trends in victimization and victim service use over time, as well as patterns for the most recent time period. This information can inform the victim assistance, criminal justice, and broader public health community in key funding and policy decisions affecting the lives of crime victims and front line practitioners across the country, at a time when historic funding levels and increased flexibility in the use of victim assistance dollars make data-informed strategies as critical as ever. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Center for Victim Research, 2019. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2019 at: https://ncvc.dspacedirect.org/handle/20.500.11990/1230 Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://ncvc.dspacedirect.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11990/1230/CVR%20Article_Who%20Experiences%20Violent%20Victimization%20and%20Who%20Accesses%20Services.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Shelf Number: 156822 Keywords: National Crime Victimization SurveyPublic HealthVictim ServicesVictimizationVictims of CrimeViolent Victimization |
Author: Liu, Gina Title: A Time-Series Analysis of Firearm Purchasing After Mass Shooting Events in the United States Summary: Importance: Increased understanding of public response to mass shootings could guide public health planning regarding firearms. Objectives: To test the hypothesis that mass shootings are associated with gun purchasing in the United States and to determine factors associated with gun purchasing changes. Design and Setting: In a cross-sectional study, monthly data on US background checks for all firearm purchases, handgun permits, and long gun permits between November 1, 1998, and April 30, 2016, were obtained from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. All mass shootings resulting in 5 or more individuals injured or killed during the study period were also identified. Interrupted autoregressive integrated moving average time-series modeling was used to identify events associated with changes in gun purchase volume. Then, logistic regression was used to identify event characteristics associated with changes in gun purchases. Analyses were performed between June 6, 2016, and February 5, 2019. Exposures: For the time-series analysis, each mass shooting was modeled as an exposure. In the logistic regression, examined factors were the shooter's race/ethnicity, the region in the United States in which a shooting occurred, whether a shooting was school related, fatalities, handgun use, long gun use, automatic or semiautomatic gun use, media coverage level, and state political affiliation. Main Outcomes and Measures: Identification of major mass shootings significantly associated with changes in gun purchases, and the identification of event-specific factors associated with changes in gun purchases. Results: Between November 1998 and April 2016, 124 major mass shootings and 233 996 385 total background checks occurred. A total of 26 shootings (21.0%) were associated with increases in gun purchases and 22 shootings (17.7%) were associated with decreases in gun purchasing. Shootings receiving extensive media coverage were associated with handgun purchase increases (odds ratio, 5.28; 95% CI, 1.30-21.41; P = .02). Higher-fatality shootings had an inverse association with handgun purchase decreases (odds ratio, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.53-1.00; P = .049). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this study suggest an association between mass shootings and changes in gun purchases, observed on a comprehensive timescale. Identification of media coverage and fatalities as significant factors underlying this association invites further study into the mechanisms driving gun purchase changes, holding implications for public health response to future gun violence. Details: Chicago, Illinois: Journal of American Medicine Association, 2019. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2019 at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30951161 Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2729806 Shelf Number: 156526 Keywords: Background Checks Firearms Gun Control Gun Violence Interrupted Time Series Mass Shootings Public Health |