Wellness & Well-being Highlights
for the
Week of October 14, 2024
This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness & Well-being blog looks at how today’s marijuana is posing serious health risks for people of all ages—to the findings of a recent poll that suggests people today place Mental Health on an equal footing with Physical Health but the “healthcare system” treats these issues differently—to how China’s growing control of conflict minerals impacts the safety and security of other nations. This week I would like to take this opportunity to take a closer look at my recent trip to Washington, DC.
On October 8, 2024, I had the honor and pleasure to represent the Missouri Works initiative as I attended The White House to celebrate the 250 organizations across the USA that—over the past few years—took a leadership stance on addressing the worse drug epidemic this nation has ever seen: The Opioid Crisis. The first link below shares the Biden Administration’s vision launched on March 13, 2024:
“The White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose is a nationwide call-to-action to stakeholders across all sectors to commit to save lives by increasing training on and access to life-saving opioid overdose reversal medications.”1
Nearly 75 of 250 major businesses, labor unions, and governmental bodies made a voluntary commitment—since last March—that were invited joined Dr Rahul Gupta to celebrate the group’s eclectic approaches to saving lives with Naloxone.2 The array of organizations include but are not limited to the US Post Office, K-16 schools, places of worship, libraries, pro sports, airlines, construction job sites. All shared the spotlight this past Tuesday. The exhaustive list of the 250 organizations that stepped forward to meet The White Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose is linked below.3
Too many of us have lost family members and/or friends to the opioid epidemic. As I have mentioned previously in this blog, 5 of my friends have lost sons between the ages of 24 – 36 to opioids. To sit idly by and watch more families suffer is against my nature. The time to ACT is NOW!!!
In closing, below I noted a few items from Oct 8 that found I refreshing:
- President Biden’s Drug Czar (Dr Gupta) promoted the need for EACH of us to carry Narcan (a nasal mist form of Naloxone) and include it in today’s First Aid kits;
- Public schools & libraries have taken on new, modern roles of serving the 24/7 needs of their communities; and
- Harm reduction strategies provide a variety of tools that can be mixed and matched to suit the needs of EACH community, workplace, etc. (i.e., free distribution of Narcan, drug disposal bags, safe injection sites, Recovery Friendly Workplaces, etc.).
Sources: [1] https://www.whitehouse.gov/savelivesfromoverdose/
[3] https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Challenge-Committments.pdf
The White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose
More on Declining Drug Overdose Deaths
Toronto’s Drug Consumption Site?
Health Risks: Today’s Marijuana
Danger: Women & Binge Drinking
Benefits of Psychedelic Therapy
Harris Poll: Public’s Views on MH & Suicide
CBT for Marginalized Communities
Possible De-funding of Planned Parenthood?
EEOC / Construction / Discrimination
Baby Boomers to Gen Z: Tailoring benefits
iPhones / Texting / Emergencies
Mexico / Cartels / New President
Upcoming webinars, etc.:
National Recovery Friendly Workplaces (10/22)
Ag Suicide Prevention Training (10/24)
Upcoming Seminar Series on Construction & MH (11/15)
Guide: Following a Suicide Attempt
Workplace Suicide Prevention Strategy
Becoming a Recovery Ready Workplace
NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact johngaal@moaflcio.org with related questions or comments.