Welcome to our media digest for the week of September 16, 2016! Below you’ll find summaries of news coverage on the issues of preventing violence, trauma, nutrition, health equity, mental health, and more. The views expressed in these articles do not reflect those of Prevention Institute.
Community environments
New research reveals long history of sugar industry funding junk science
A UCSF researcher found that the sugar industry paid off Harvard researchers to downplay sugar as a risk factor for heart disease in the 1960s, in an influential literature review. This was just part of a broader campaign by the sugar industry to blame fat and cholesterol for health risks also associated with sugar, and has slanted nutritional science and advice for generations. The Society Pages observes that “the sugar industry’s influence on heart research is an early example of a corrupt relationship between food industry and science that continues today. As nutritionist Marion Nestle points out in her commentary on the JAMA article, industry funded research is a continued norm, not an exception, citing ties between Coca-Cola, the candy trade association, and obesity researchers. Just last year, the meat industry successfully lobbied away USDA recommendations for Americans to consume less red and processed meat, despite studies linking these foods to higher rates of cancer and heart disease… What happened 50 years ago has staying power and affects the lives and bodies of people today, just as ongoing science-industry relationships will stay with us far after the researchers and business tycoons have retired. The outcomes of the laboratory work their way into everyday practices, into folk wisdom passed from parents to children, between colleagues and friends, and indeed, work their way into consumer’s physical bodies.”
The struggle to address hunger among seven million US pre-teens
CityLab reports on the struggle to address hunger among nearly seven million US pre-teens and teens: “The problem of child hunger is a vast one—one in five American children live in food-insecure households, according to the USDA. But most of the resources and research are directed toward younger children; adolescents at the upper end of the age spectrum often get overlooked. “It’s easy to line up little kids and give them a backpack filled with food,” says Popkin. “But you can’t really do that with teens. There are stigmas about not wanting to stand out. I think they’re often seen as too hard to get to.”’
100 objects that shaped public health
Johns Hopkins created a list of 100 objects that shaped public health – from garbage trucks to vaccines, water treatment facilities, window screens, and more.
California
Feminist groups denounce CA AB 2888 bill addressing sexual assault
Feministing reports on California AB 2888 and the growing backlash against the bill among civil liberties, racial justice, and feminist groups: “The discourse surrounding the bill suggests that mandatory sentences would cut through a judge’s imposed discretion, make the justice system take sexual assault more seriously, provide the recourse that sexual assault victims deserve, and would, indeed, have meant that Turner would still be serving a prison sentence right now, instead of being out on parole. But two days after the bill was dropped on Governor Brown’s desk, several feminist groups — led by Know Your IX — wrote a public letter urging the Governor to veto the bill. “[M]mandatory minimum-term laws,” the letter states, ‘are a harmful, mistaken solution to our rightful anger over the Brock Turner case and the many others like it.’”
US Census shows 20% of the population cannot adequately meet needs
This week’s report by the US Census Bureau shows that eight million Californians (approximately 20% of the state population) do not have the resources to adequately meet their needs, and places California’s poverty rate 5% above the national average.
Governor Brown vetoes bills to lift tax on diapers and menstrual hygiene products
Governor Brown vetoed bills that would have lifted sales tax on diapers, tampons, maxi pads and other feminine products. According to Rewire, “the bills’ authors and backers had argued that the sales taxes treat women and families unfairly. They said necessities like diapers, tampons, pads, menstrual sponges, and menstrual cups should be exempt from sales tax. Forty states tax menstrual hygiene products, considering them luxury or non-essential goods, while exempting products like adult incontinence pads, as the Los Angeles Times reported. Poverty experts have pointed out that tampons and pads are among the products most requested by the homeless and working poor.”
Coalitions to improve built environment should bring everyone to the table
CityLab reports on Vision Zero in Los Angeles, the city-wide effort to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries through street design, education, and law enforcement. Advocates raise concerns about the potential of unequal law enforcement practices to harm low-income people of color: “For Tamika Butler, aligning the goals of racial justice advocates and Vision Zero boils down to one thing first: getting everyone at the same table, and figuring out what “safety” means for everyone. That means a diverse coalition that isn’t afraid to question the established schools of thought, whether from Sweden or the local police department.”
Mental health
Will funding for Mental Health First Aid Act subvert funding for serious mental health issues?
US News reports that a bill to expand federal funding for “mental health first aid” training is raising concerns among advocates who fear it could erode resources for people with more severe mental health problems, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Federal funding for the eight-hour training to assess and respond to risks of suicide and addiction is currently earmarked for people who work with youth; the Mental Health First Aid Act would authorize grants to make the training more widely available. Advocates for people with serious mental health problems suggest the bill could direct resources away from efforts to address shortages of mental health providers.
How to address the ‘treatment gap’ for opioid use disorder
Health Affairs looks at what remains to be done after the enactment of the Comprehensive Addiction And Recovery Act to address the “treatment gap” – the 1.2 million people who meet the diagnostic criteria for an opioid use disorder but do not receive treatment. He argues more funding is needed to fully address coverage, awareness and access issues.
Mental disorders ‘of all kinds’ linked to ‘a range of chronic physical conditions’
An Emory University study published in Health Affairs finds that mental disorders “of all kinds” are linked with “a range of chronic physical conditions.” The study is based on surveys conducted in 17 countries from 2001 to 2011. The authors conclude:”Current efforts to improve the physical health of individuals with mental disorders may be too narrowly focused on the small group with the most severe mental disorders. Interventions aimed at the primary prevention of chronic physical diseases should optimally be integrated into treatment of all mental disorders in primary and secondary care from early in the disorder course.”
Teens trained to teach school staff about trauma-informed care
A non-profit in Camden, NJ, trains teens to teach school workers about trauma-informed care and how to communicate with stressed students.
‘Fourth Down League’ of diverse men bond over touch football
An op-ed in the New York Times introduces the “Fourth Down League,” a weekly gathering on New York’s West Side that includes men from a variety of racial, ethnical and socio-economic backgrounds who bond over a passion for touch football.
US suicide rates have increased 27% since 2000
CBS covers a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) study that says suicide rates have increased 27% since 2000, reaching historically high levels. According to the report, nearly 10 million U.S. adults seriously considered suicide last year. Rates among young adults 18-25 have increased, and rates among people 65 and older have decreased. People who abuse drugs or alcohol are at higher risk, particularly those who use methamphetamines.
Health Equity
After nonviolent resistance, Obama halts construction on Dakota Access Pipeline
Last Friday, Obama said he would not authorize construction on a critical stretch of the Dakota Access Pipeline until there are more environmental assessments there. This came after a federal judge denied the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s request to stop construction of the pipeline, and after a wave of nonviolent direct actions led by indigenous people. In response, billionaire CEO of the pipeline company Energy Transfer Partners issued a memo to employees and outside media promising to "reiterate our commitment" to the pipeline's construction. Hours after the memo was released, two water protectors locked themselves to construction equipment outside Mandan, North Dakota, bringing construction on the pipeline to a halt. Riot police arrived and began arresting people around noon local time, according to firsthand reports, and ultimately arrested about 20 people—including journalists and medics. In addition, an arrest warrant was issued for Democracy Now’s Amy Goodman for filming last week’s assault on peaceful protesters by private contractors with dogs and pepper spray. Meanwhile, on Tuesday, rallies in 100 cities in the U.S. and around the world called on President Barack Obama to stop pipeline construction once and for all.
Athletes of all ages follow in Kaepernick’s footsteps during the national anthem
Colin Kaepernick's national anthem protest against police violence and racial inequality inspired similar actions by professional, collegiate and high school athletes across the country to join him by taking a knee, raising a fist, and clasping arms, during the national anthem.
National incarceration rate has increased 500% in the last 40 years
The national incarceration rate has increased 500 percent in the last 40 years. And now, one in three Americans has a criminal record, and nearly half of US kids have a parent with a record.
Those below poverty line are twice as likely to experience sexual assault
Rewire published an article from the perspective of a woman that lives in poverty and has experienced sexual harassment. The article notes a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics showing people who are poor are twice as likely to be victims of sexual assault.” The author explains, “… living below the poverty line has made me more vulnerable to being harassed and preyed upon, especially by those I rely upon for help or employment. It is difficult to explain to anyone who doesn’t live in this economic bracket how what seem like illogical decisions color our everyday lives. Dignity or gas money? Reporting harassment or a ride to work, store, or doctor appointments?”
Wages have increased but equity has not
The incomes of Americans rose by 5.2 percent in 2015, the poverty rate fell by 1.2 percentage points, and the percentage of Americans without health insurance fell to 9.1 percent, the Census Bureau reported this week. As BMSG notes however, “Missing from the Washington Post's coverage, however, is any significant discussion of equity. Although wages increased the most for the bottom fifth of workers, median household incomes remain the lowest for African Americans.” Similarly, the New York Times focuses on why the gains took so long and the role inequality is playing in slowing progress. As economist Robert Reich points out, “The typical household today is poorer than it was in 1999 (adjusted for inflation). Those in the bottom 10th are poorer than they were in 1989. It's important to understand that lying behind the business cycle (which goes up and down, from expansion to sluggish growth to recession) the structure of the economy is worsening for most Americans. Households in the bottom 60 percent are taking home a smaller slice of the economy than they took home in the 1960s and 1970s. And their share is shrinking in almost every economic cycle.”
NCAA relocates 7 events out of NC due to the HB2 law limiting civil rights for LGBT
The NCAA will relocate seven championship sporting events out of North Carolina during the school year due to the state's HB2 law limiting civil rights protections for LGBT individuals.
One in six Texas families struggles with food insecurity
One in six Texas families struggles to put food on the table, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). An average of 15.4 percent of Texas families struggled with food insecurity between 2013 and 2015, compared to the national average of 13.7 percent during that time period.
Brooklyn high school works to bridge gap between officers and community
The New York Times features one Brooklyn high school's efforts to bridge the gap between police officers and the community. Liberation High, which serves predominately low-income students of color, started a program that brings in police officers to foster dialogue about how police officers can serve their community and develop relationships with community members. (via BMSG)
Islamophobia in the United States
This feature from Women's Media Center discusses how America's deeply ingrained Islamophobia ostracizes Muslims and subjects them to harassment, verbal and physical abuse. The author notes how Muslims are routinely expected to explain themselves in light of public opinion and politicians vilifying them. Still, the increasing visibility of Muslims in every facet of American society -- in the Olympics, media, on local PTAs -- gives her hope that, one day, things will improve.
Violence Prevention and Unintentional Injury
US unable to decrease incarceration rate without restructuring the justice system
This op-ed from the Justice Policy Institute notes that even though there is more national support around criminal justice reform than ever before, the U.S. will not be able to significantly decrease its incarceration rate without changing how the justice system treats people convicted of violent crimes. The article cites one criminal reform bill, of many, that didn’t pass because it contained anything resembling violent crime reform, noting, “Despite being shown the research that older people in prison are far less likely to reoffend upon release, anyone convicted of a violent offense -- regardless of age – was excluded from the parole reform.” This blog spotlights the NEAR Act implemented in Washington, D.C., to protect communities from crime, and concludes that increasing prevention efforts will significantly reduce our prison populations and make our communities safer.
Few pediatricians talk about firearm safety
Half of kids live or spend time in homes with guns but few pediatricians talk firearm safety, according to a new study. American Academy of Pediatrics has advised pediatricians for years to talk to families about firearm safety in the home. But a new study suggests that most pediatricians do not bring up the subject, and estimates that a third of parents would ignore or even take offense to advice on guns.
Comparing state responses to the heroin epidemic and gun violence in Illinois
This column in the Chicago Tribune contrasts the heroin epidemic in Illinois, occurring primarily in white suburbs, with the gun violence epidemic on Chicago's south and west sides. Though both epidemics have claimed countless lives, responses to the two issues have been vastly different. In Illinois, the Heroin Crisis Act was passed to combat the harms of the epidemic by keeping users in treatment and out of jail. However, major legislation and public health measures to address gun violence have not only been ignored, but funding has been cut from programs such as CeaseFire to treat violence as a public health issue. (via BMSG)
Injury rate for youth soccer players surges
As soccer has soared in popularity in recent decades, injury rates for youth players have also surged. The injury rate for youth soccer players aged 7 to 17 more than doubled over the 25-year period ending in 2014, according to an analysis of children treated in U.S. hospitals. Potential reasons include more contact injuries as a result of the increasing commercialization and popularity of the sport; a growing awareness of concussions and head traumas that prompts more kids to be treated; and bigger, stronger players playing soccer year round.
Health Systems Transformation
Dayton Children’s Hospital begins to screen for social needs
Dayton Children's Hospital started screening families for social needs after realizing they needed to address some of the social determinants of health—the environments where kids lived, played, went to school. The article notes that “Some research into the impact of social needs on healthcare links up to 40% of health outcomes to these needs. Other estimates suggest 70% of health outcomes can be attributed to social and environmental factors."
ACA News
In Affordable Care Act (ACA) news, a Gallup poll released last week found fifty-one percent of U.S. residents disapprove of the ACA, while 44 percent support the law. In a CNN opinion piece by HHS Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell, while praising the ACA’s successes, she also cited challenges insurers participating in the exchanges will face this year, particularly as a result of lack of competition, which could lead to higher exchange plan premiums. Burwell suggests that "Congress could improve the affordability of [exchange] coverage by increasing financial assistance, decreasing prescription drug costs, and introducing a public option in places with limited competition." Meanwhile, momentum behind a public option continues to grow. A new resolution filed by Sen. Jeff Merkley calls for every American to have the choice of a public health insurance option has the backing of three members of leadership - Sens. Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer and Patty Murray - as well as other notable progressive figures, like Sen. Bernie Sanders. The coalition pointed to a 2013 CBO analysis that projected a national public option would lower federal health spending by $158 billion over a decade. Advocates also argued that it would help guarantee near-universal health coverage for Americans.
Zika news
In Zika news, fifty-nine percent of voters in battleground states would likely withdraw support should their member of Congress vote to restrict funding for reproductive health care amid the escalating crisis, according to a new NARAL Pro-Choice America poll. The poll comes amid ongoing negotiations to include Zika funding in a stopgap budget measure known as a continuing resolution (CR), which both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate must pass by September 30 in order to avoid a government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) earlier this week committed to including the funding in the CR.