Janet Hays’ Post

This is some excellent reporting about the amazing work that Laura Stack and John Stack are doing in preventing youth THC use across the country as they visit school after school to educate about the dangers of high potency THC products like Cannabis, Delta-8 and tons of other derivatives. This is heart-wrenching work they are doing, but so crucially important to help combat the profit-driven and unregulated targeted marketing of those in the industry who are working so hard to convince children, young adults and everyone that THC is harmless. It is far from harmless. I hope everyone will take the time to read this article and to share it widely, as too few people understand the very real harms, especially for children, adolescents and young adults under the age of 26. Read this and then ask yourself whether any amount of tax revenue is worth even one more kid getting addicted, having a cannabis-induced psychosis, developing Schizophrenia or dying by suicide. I think not. Please read and please share widely.

October is Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. Education is a key part of prevention. Marijuana is a common substance among youth, and a new form of the familiar drug is on the rise: dabbing. “Dabs” are a wax-like concentrated oil made from THC and other active ingredients in marijuana, causing stronger effects and greater intoxication. Read our blog for more on dabbing and how it can impact adolescents’ mental health: https://lnkd.in/ggy9z7v2

This is why preventing substance use is so important and why your voice matters. The lives of children and young families in our beautiful state of NH depend on it. The Pain in Our Nation report was released and the Granite State percentage increases were “way above” the national average and particularly high in drug deaths related to fentanyl, cocaine, and other psychostimulants, which includes methamphetamine, Between 2021 and 2022, all opioid deaths in NH increased 13% compared to 1% nationwide. Deaths due to synthetic opioids, which includes fentanyl, went up 20%, far higher than the 4% increase nationwide.  Cocaine- and other psychostimulant-related overdose deaths were up 39% and 50%, respectively. Nationally, the increases were 12% and 4%, according to the report. The report includes policy recommendations, such as measures to improve economic and social factors and reduce negative childhood experiences associated with substance use disorder" This is where the efforts of the Raymond Coalition for Youth come in. We need to support our young people and educate our communities on these risks and challenges, all while building stronger communities. The one thing missing from the report was any info on the role we know marijuana plays in mental health and suicide risk. Even though on page 8 it states, "reported drug use by all adolescents and adults has increased by 14% in the USA, the increase was primarily due to higher use of marijuana." The full report is here and very informative. https://lnkd.in/egSfXYbu Thank you to Molly Warren and Brandon Reavis at Trust for America's Health for the report.

When Oregonians voted in favor of the licensed psilocybin services framework under Measure 109, they also voted in favor of Measure 110, which decriminalized drug possession. Now drug possession is again re-criminalized. These two measures were not interchangeable, but had some overlap in that both permitted for conditional use of psilocybin containing mushrooms. Due to the overwhelming impact fentanyl has had on people, and in the absence of adequate services for people experiencing addiction, decriminalization of drug possession has already come to an end. Oregonians still do not want people who struggle with addiction to be caught up in the penal system, but we also cannot look away as some of the most vulnerable in our community quietly die on our streets. It is a devastating plight on our community that Oregon is trying to address the best way our state is able. However, the end of Measure 110 does NOT end Measure 109. Under Measure 109, Oregon’s psilocybin services framework has a highly regulated supply chain of mushrooms grown in licensed spaces, lab tested and sealed to ensure highest level of purity and accuracy in potency assessment. At the same time, Oregon prohibits the use of synthetic psilocybin products, so all of our psilocybin and psilocin comes from the fruiting body of psilocybe cubensis fungi, grown by caring people with genuine love. All of the psilocybin containing products must be consumed at licensed service centers in the care of a licensed psilocybin facilitator, so none of our mushrooms are part of the (now re-criminalized) "underground" market.

High-THC vapes and gummies are contributing to a growing epidemic, with rising cases of Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) and cannabis use disorder among young adults. The Dorm shares valuable insights into CHS, its impact on mental health, and effective treatment options. This article is a must-read for families seeking to understand the risks of long-term cannabis use. https://buff.ly/3U3prCK Dive into The Dorm’s latest article to learn more and get the support you need. #CannabisAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #TheDormInsights

A small glimmer of hope: the CDC announced preliminary data showing, tentatively, the first drop in overdose deaths in the U.S. in 5 years. Please see the news story from the NY Times at : https://lnkd.in/epKgA7x5 The drop of nearly 4% (a predicted number since some states are slow in reporting numbers; actual reported deaths are down 5% provisionally) was mainly due to a reduction in fentanyl overdoses. Still, there is lots to worry about. Drug overdose deaths leapt during the COVID-19 pandemic from an already tragic ~65,000 deaths annually to a numbing level of ~110,000 deaths annually. Further, the reduction in fentanyl deaths was offset by increases in deaths due to cocaine and meth (hallmark of the epidemic's "fourth wave"). And particularly troubling is the massive increase in overdose deaths in the Northwest, especially Washington and Oregon. And if you haven't already, check out STAT's coverage (written by Lev Facher) on how " ...virtually every sector of American society is obstructing the use of medications that could prevent tens of thousands of [opioid] deaths each year." See: https://lnkd.in/emiHrQfp . We need to do better, much better.

I am cautiously optimistic about the latest data from the CDC, which indicates a slight decrease in U.S. overdose deaths for the first time in five years. Last year, the U.S. witnessed approximately 107,500 overdose fatalities, a 3% decline from the previous year. While we celebrate every life saved, this reduction barely scratches the surface of a larger, ongoing battle against a national #fentanyl crisis.   A critical component in this fight has been #Naloxone, a life-saving medication that can reverse opioid overdoses. Access to Naloxone must be expanded to make a greater – and quicker – impact on saving precious lives nationwide. We have seen that these strategies work and can save lives, but their deployment needs to be more widespread.   HarborPath advocates for continued and increased funding for these life-saving measures. Our purpose is simple: to save lives of those most vulnerable to overdose poisoning by distribution of Naloxone within an “arm’s length” of every potential overdose victim. Patrick Hynes, Sidney Allen Jr., Nicholas McAfee, PhD, Patrick M. Schmidt, Rhett Hatcher, Karen Kelly, Erin DeLullo, John Kennedy, Dendy Jarrett, Chris Bonny, Donald Stader, James Carroll, Brent Gooden, Ben Coldagelli, APR, Shatterproof, Police Assisted Addiction & Recovery Initiative, Laura Goldberg, Ashley Ales Rice, Ashley Flint, Aya M. Salem, Shannon Clark, MBA, Randy Peterson, Sam Chapman, Heidi McCracken, Sam MacMaster, Mississippi Attorney General's Office, Mary Bono

🎂Happy 52nd birthday to #Eminem! 🎂 Many prominent artists, musicians, and entertainers have struggled with #substance use and #addiction. History is filled with examples of famous artists whose lives were cut tragically short by drugs. #MarshallMathers deserves recognition, though, especially among the #pharmacy community, for his honest and reflective first-person depictions of #prescription drug abuse. His lyrics have helped to bring awareness of this issue to millions of listeners and fans. Reading this article, you may be inclined to think #SlimShady is wildly exaggerating his #Valium consumption - which he claims peaked at 75-80 tablets a day. However, this figure is likely accurate - and here’s why: One of the interesting characteristics of #diazepam is that (on its own) it poses a very low risk of #overdose fatality. Assuming #Eminem was taking #80 x 10mg tablets, that would be a dose of 800 mg/day. While not advisable, this dose is far from lethal. Even at doses of over 2000 mg (!), diazepam is (typically) not fatal in humans. The main risk of #diazepam #overdose (and where it becomes deadly ☠️) is when it occurs in combination with #opioids 💉or #alcohol 🍸. The synergies between these drugs are highly dangerous. Prescription drugs are often viewed as safer and more respectable than “street” drugs because swallowing a tablet or a capsule doesn’t evoke the same level of pearl-clutching as snorting cocaine or injecting fentanyl. Now #sober for over 15 years, Eminem is a terrific example of both the dangers of addictive #pharmaceutical #drugs and the hopeful promise of #recovery for those that are struggling. If you or someone you know is struggling with drugs or alcohol, help is available. Please call the National Substance Abuse and Addiction Hotline at 1-844-289-0879 *** Thanks for reading! Please help me spread this channel by following us on YouTube, Instagram, and at www.RxTales.com https://lnkd.in/euDY45uG

The #researchers found a #correlation between #nicotine and #cannabis use, along with some #dual use, with higher #rates of #depression and #anxiety with Hispanic #young #adults, with both Hispanic and Asian young adults having #increased use of nicotine and cannabis #correlating with higher rates of #discrimination. For Black young adults, the researchers found increased use of nicotine products with higher anxiety while finding the #opposite occurred for higher rates of depression and discrimination. https://lnkd.in/e7fJkd3W