Drug overdose death rates continue to rise in the United States (1–3), with significant urban–rural differences in rates by sex, age, and types of drugs involved (4). This report uses the most recent mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) to examine urban–rural differences in drug overdose death rates for all drugs and by selected types of opioids and stimulants.

Data from the National Vital Statistics System, Mortality ● From 1999 through 2019, the rate of drug overdose deaths increased from 6.4 per 100,000 to 22.0 in urban counties and from  4.0 to 19.6 in rural counties.

View full report here.

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Clarity on Opioids in Black/African Americans Reported- THE OPIOID CRISIS AND THE BLACK/AFRICAN AMERICAN POPULATION: AN URGENT ISSUE

From 2011-2016, compared to all other populations, Black/African Americans had the highest increase in overdose death rate for opioid deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl and fentanyl analogs.6

... Today, as Congress, federal agencies, state health departments, and other stakeholders mobilize to address the opioid epidemic, what is happening within the Black/African American communities? This issue brief aims to convey snapshots of how this population is impacted. Specifically, it aims to do the following:

View the full brief here

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Clarity on Opioids Revealed - As the COVID-19 pandemic in the USA has eased, the extent of devastation caused during this period by the opioid epidemic is no longer obscured. [The Lancet 7.24.2021] 

Data released by the National Center for Health Statistics on July 14 show a steep rise in overdose deaths. Between December, 2019, and December, 2020—the peak of the pandemic in the USA—more than 93 000 Americans died from drug overdoses, up 29·4% over the previous 12 months.

This figure equates to roughly 255 overdose deaths per day; national daily COVID-19 deaths currently hover at around the same number. And with 2020 seeing the largest year-on-year increase in overdose deaths (21 000), it is the pivotal moment to re-examine the opioid crisis response. 

Full article here.  

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Numerous studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected people of color in the United States. Black, Hispanic or Latinx, and Native American people are approximately four times more likely to be hospitalized and nearly three times more likely to die of COVID-19 than their majority counterparts. There are numerous reasons for these disparities, many of which are the same as other findings of disparity in other disease states (i.e. the social determinants of medicine). We know that vaccination is the key to preventing COVID-19 in all people. 

Full article here: TH-13141-COVID-19-VACCINATION-DISPARITIES-AND-HESITANCY_7.2019.pdf

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A Safe Haven Foundation is producing its 2nd Annual Global Virtual Run/Walk To End Homelessness!  We can’t be together in person but now we get to invite people from around the world to join the fun and focus on the mission! It will be the most fun and impactful event to help the homeless, ever! 

Unfortunately, the need to help raise awareness to support the homeless has never been more urgent, because around the world, COVID has caused the homeless numbers to rise at an alarming rate. Proceeds will go to support helping to prevent and to transform lives from homelessness to self-sufficiency with pride and purpose. Special pre and post-event live shows, interactive Charge Running course app, Registration required!

Kids can sign up for Free To Run Or Walk, Too! 

Sign Up Here: IOMC Team: 2nd Annual Global Virtual Run / Walk to End Homelessness (runsignup.com) 

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The NIH HEAL Initiative 2021 Annual Report details high-level areas of progress and accomplishments that the initiative achieved by the end of fiscal year 2020. The NIH HEAL Initiative has invested more than $1.5 billion, representing more than 500 research projects across the United States. Many of these projects are returning actionable results, and strong partnerships with stakeholders have created valuable channels for dissemination of research findings. The NIH HEAL Initiative 2021 Annual Report details dozens of research findings across the initiative’s pain and addiction research portfolio that improve treatment delivery and expand options, advance promising therapeutics, build on clinical research infrastructure, and identify non-opioid targets for both pain and OUD.

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been associated with increases in opioid misuse and overdose deaths, and intensified contributors to pain and addiction, the NIH HEAL Initiative research community has met this moment in extraordinary ways to adapt existing knowledge toward OUD prevention and treatment, generate therapeutics in record time, and leverage available infrastructure and research capacity.

Download PDF of  the NIH Health Initiative Research in Action report here.

Cures Within Reach's open clinical research funding opportunities. Cures Within Reach (CWR) is a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to catalyzing and funding repurposing research, testing already approved therapies in new indications. See their 33 currently funded projects at https://bit.ly/cwrcurrent. 

CWR has two exciting funding opportunities for Chicagoland researchers to support Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI). At least 3 clinical repurposing trials will be selected for funding for each:

·    Clinical repurposing trials led by US-based underrepresented racial/ethnic minority PIs (as defined by the NIH) in any disease; budgets of up to $70,000 accepted; brief proposals due July 30, 2021.

·    Clinical repurposing trials from any institution in the greater Chicago area to address racial/ethnic health disparities as defined by the NIH; budgets of up to $80,000 accepted; community engagement required; brief proposals due July 30, 2021. 

More info at https://bit.ly/cwrrfps.

Highlights include:

·    Projects repurposing approved drugs, devices, nutraceuticals and diagnostics are eligible

·    Proof of concept clinical trials are preferred; requested funding can cover all costs or can supplement existing funding to help strengthen patient impact

·    There's no limit to the number of submissions from any one institution or PI.

·    PIs at any career stage are eligible to apply

·    Proposal submissions are on our CureAccelerator platform; to start a proposal, log into CureAccelerator or sign up as a Researcher or Clinician

·    Top-rated proposals will be invited to submit a full grant.

For more information, contact: 

Clare Thibodeaux, PhD

Director of Scientific Affairs

Cures Within Reach

www.cureswithinreach.org

clare@cureswithinreach.org

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From the Illinois Health & Hospital Association-Achieving Health Equity. Working together, Illinois hospitals and health systems have the opportunity to dismantle systemic racism in a way that no individual organization can. The Progress Report aims to highlight the important progress that organizations have already made as well as the work ahead. Therefore, we urge every Illinois hospital and health system to complete the Progress Report. 

The Racial Equity in Healthcare Progress Report (“Progress Report”) is a long-term accountability tool to document progress toward achieving racial health equity. It is meant to promote collective improvement, not to drive competition. It provides for a baseline self-assessment and then an opportunity to measure progress, assess their implementation of key strategies, understand provider and community assets in racial equity work, and identify areas of improvement.

Download PDF of the report here. 

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Congratulations to the 2021 Special Public Service Award recipients! IOMC awarded the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, Cook County and the collar counties public health directors with a special award at the Annual Meeting.

We are thankful for your service, expertise and commitment during this past year with the COVID-19 pandemic! 

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It is with great pleasure and honor to announce Dr. Mark Shields as the Institute of Medicine of Chicago 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient. The Institute of Medicine of Chicago is proud to honor Dr. Mark Shields, an outgoing longstanding Board member and Billings Society Fellow. 

Dr. Shields has been a Fellow of IOMC for over 20 years and has served on the Board of Governors since 2013.  He is an Accomplished Leader in Academics, Patient Care, Advocacy, Administration and Committed to Health Equity. 

Visit the Awards Page for the full announcement on Dr. Shields and view the recipients for the IOMC Special Award for Public Service.  

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