Sunday Reads – April 24, 2022
Today we find small moves that can mean a lot: test strips that can stop fentanyl deaths, adding school counselors for better-prepared students, new research for informed decisions on Covid safety, opportunities to watch the primary candidates in action to figure out who represents you best and, best of all, taking time to get dirty in the garden. Dig in.
When raw milk meets opioid epidemic
You may not know anyone who drinks raw milk, but none of us have to look far to find a family affected by opioid addictions or death. One bill that passed the legislature deal with both topics. So how is that possible? It’s a quirk of the legislative process — lawmakers can add language from other bills or completely new language to bills passed by one chamber. So here’s the point: The introduction of the drug fentanyl to opioids and other drugs has sharply increased the danger and deaths continue to rise in Coastal Georgia. More than 1,300 deaths in the state were attributed directly to opioids in 2020. One simple drug test strip could help addicts avoid fentanyl-laced substances, but they are illegal under Georgia law since they are considered “drug paraphernalia” in the same way a syringe might be. It’s a gray area that can be cleared quickly with language included in the last 14 lines of House Bill 1175, the Georgia Raw Dairy Act which allows raw milk sales. A story from the nonprofit, nonpartisan site Facing South helps to show the impact the strips can have and the work in many states to quickly legalize them in order to reduce harm from opioids. The bill awaits Gov. Brian Kemp’s signature.
Considerable
• Spaceport project leader goes job hunting: Camden County administrator Steve Howard, who’s led the Spaceport Camden charge for the county commission, is a finalist for a position in Collier County, Fla. Howard, who says he wants to be closer to family in Florida, has been a finalist in past years for jobs there.
• Pandemic makes delays for autism diagnosis, treatment even longer: Awareness and acceptance for autism continues to grow but the expertise and treatments are out of reach for parents of children who are seeking help. Georgia Health News has a look at how the pandemic has lengthened waits and peaked frustration for many.
Voting homework
The May 24 primary is coming quickly, and it’s time to do your homework on candidates. In Georgia, nonpartisan races like school boards and judicial positions are final in the primary, unless there’s a need for a June runoff. Partisan races will choose the final two candidates to face off in the November General Election. There are at least two forums this week for Coastal Georgia voters:
- Democratic candidates for Congressional District 1: 6 p.m. Tuesday, sponsored by The Current GA, Tiger’s Roar TV at Savannah State. View it live and recorded on Youtube at WTRT-TV and TheCurrentGA.
- Candidates for Georgia Senate, District 2: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Coastal Georgia Center, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia. It may also be viewed on WJCL.com.
There are also recordings available from recent forums around the area:
- Candidates for Chatham County School Board President, sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Coastal Georgia and WJCL.
- Candidates for Chatham County School Board seats 5, 6, 8, sponsored by WSAV and Georgia Southern University.
- Democratic candidates for U.S. House District 1, sponsored by WSAV, Georgia Southern University.
- Recordings from Camden County forums: Six YouTube recordings for District 2 school board and commission,
Coverage of forums in Glynn County from The Brunswick News
Mental health focus moves to schools
As the pandemic began, Georgia’s mental health ranking among U.S. states was dragging the bottom when it comes to access and treatment for all ages. The sweeping mental health bill passed in by the General Assembly aims to fix that, but progress won’t happen over night. In the meantime, the state found the bottom again in research gathered by a coalition of mental health organizations: Georgia schools employ only one psychologist for every 500 students. Any educator at any level will tell you it’s been a rough three years for them and extremely rough for their students. Nationally, the focus has shifted to children as dozens of states have passed 100 pieces of legislation to spend the $190 billion available from the federal government to address the problems schools are facing. Stateline has examined the needs, the scope of the problems and what other states are doing to help schools help students with more than math.
Assess your risks with science
Last week’s news was full of the legalities of masks or no masks, especially when traveling by air. We still have a Covid threat but we know much more about what works to fight it. At this point, we all have to make decisions daily about the risks for us and our families. The Conversation has gathered expert research from the last two years to help you do that, and we’ve linked it up here.
Your second cup: Get out in the garden
The pandemic sparked new research on many things, and here’s some good news. A study of environmental and public health scholars found gardening during more isolated times encourages community connections, exercise and better nutrition.
I’ve got some tomato plants to water ….Enjoy!
As Georgia fentanyl overdoses spike, bill to ease access to life-saving test awaits Kemp OK
Public health leaders say strips give addicts the ability to test substances for deadly fentanyl and shouldn’t be illegal.
The Tide: Camden leader job hunts in Florida without spaceport on his resume
Howard did not mention Spaceport Camden on the five-page resume or accompanying cover letter he submitted to Collier County. Howard has been the county administrator in Camden since 2007. He was named as spaceport project leader in 2014.
Delays for autism diagnosis, treatment grew even longer during pandemic
Children from Georgia to California often wait months — and in many cases more than a year — to get a diagnosis and then receive specialized treatment services that can cost $40,000 or more a year.
Question for Congressional candidates? Send it to us.
Send in your questions today for 3 Democratic candidates who are running to face U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter in November.
As teen mental health worsens, schools learn how to help
Pandemic highlights children’s mental health, spurs legislators to add money for training, staffing.
Should you wear a mask when you travel anyway? 4 studies to help you decide
Masking may no longer be required on mass transit, but you can always choose to still wear a mask. For those worried about being exposed to the Covid virus, here are highlights from four articles exploring the benefits of wearing a mask and how to get the most protection from wearing one.
Pandemic’s gardening boom shows how gardens can cultivate public health
In the the survey, most gardeners seemed to either experience a heightened sense of joy and reassurance or feel more attuned to the natural world. This seemed to have positive therapeutic and psychological benefits, regardless of age or location.
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