Viewpoints: Jails Don’t Provide Any Addiction Assistance; Emotional Abuse Is Also Domestic Violence

The New York Times:

Arrest Isn’t A Good Path To Addiction Treatment

After Cody Bohanan, 24, was locked up on a charge related to possession of drug paraphernalia in 2021, he told the staff at Butler County Jail in Ohio that he was withdrawing from opioids. His cellmates saw him vomiting blood. They implored guards to intervene. (Maia Szalavitz, 8/29)

Chicago Tribune:

We Must Expand The Definition Of Violence To Include Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse is underrecognized as abuse even though psychological violence — more than physical violence or sexual violence — is the strongest predictor of post-traumatic stress disorder in abused women and often precedes physical abuse. (So’Phelia Morrow, 8/28)

The Washington Post:

How Artificial Intelligence Can Transform Global Health Care

To fully appreciate the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in health care, one must think globally. When applied to people in extreme poverty, its impact could be as great as the discovery of penicillin. (Leana S. Wen, 8/29)

The Star Tribune:

Where Your Broken Arm Gets A Cast Shouldn’t Affect What You Pay

In my career as a physician, I’ve seen medical services and procedures, including many routine ones, shift from offices to hospital outpatient settings. This migration of services has also come with higher costs for patients. And at a time when Americans are struggling to make ends meet and even forgoing care because they simply can’t afford to see a doctor, these extraneous and medically unnecessary additional fees are another barrier to care that puts people’s health at risk. (Raina Young, 8/28)

Stat:

Climate Change And Bad Public Housing: A Dangerous Combo

Climate change is an existential problem for human health. As climate change intensifies, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, cold fronts, and floods will increase. Undoubtedly, this will result in devastating effects for human health and wellbeing, contributing to increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, an already growing mental health crisis, and, most directly, heat-related mortality. (Arya Rao and Shira Hornstein, 8/29)

The CT Mirror:

We Studied Telehealth In CT. Here’s What We Found

Telehealth use expanded greatly with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Until now, however, little has been known about the results for patients who used telehealth during the pandemic as compared to those who received medical services without telehealth. A new study by FAIR Health sheds light on this issue in Connecticut, with particular attention to differences in treatment in areas with greater minority populations. (Robin Gelburd, 8/29)

Stat:

Mitch McConnell, Dianne Feinstein, And When Senators Should Resign

Advance directives were born in the Senate. Now they can help preserve the dignity of its aging members. In Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health, the parents of Nancy Cruzan, a young woman who had been left in a permanent vegetative state after a car accident, wanted the right to remove her life support. In 1990, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of her parents, affirming the constitutional right to refuse life-sustaining treatment. (Joseph J. Fins, 8/29)

Chicago Tribune:

Letby Murder Case Carries Lessons For US Hospital Systems

The case of Lucy Letby, a serial killer masquerading as a nice neonatal nurse at Countess of

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.5: Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
   • Indicator 3.5.1: Coverage of treatment interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial, and rehabilitation and aftercare services) for substance use disorders.

   The article discusses the issue of drug withdrawal in jail, highlighting the case of a person experiencing withdrawal symptoms from opioids while incarcerated. This connects to SDG 3, specifically Target 3.5, which aims to strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse. The indicator mentioned in the article is the coverage of treatment interventions for substance use disorders, which can be used to measure progress towards this target.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
   • Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls aged 15 years and older subjected to physical, sexual or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months.

   The article discusses the underrecognition of emotional abuse as a form of violence against women. This relates to SDG 5, specifically Target 5.2, which aims to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls. The indicator mentioned in the article is the proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to psychological violence by an intimate partner, which can be used to measure progress towards this target.

3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
   • Indicator 9.5.1: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.

   The article discusses the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. This connects to SDG 9, specifically Target 9.5, which aims to enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities. The indicator mentioned in the article is research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP, which can be used to measure progress towards this target.

4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
   • Indicator 10.2.1: Proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, by age, sex and disability.

   The article discusses the higher costs for patients due to the migration of medical services from offices to hospital outpatient settings. This relates to SDG 10, specifically Target 10.2, which aims to promote the social and economic inclusion of all individuals. The indicator mentioned in the article is the proportion of people living below 50 percent of median income, which can be used to measure progress towards this target.

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
   • Indicator 13.1.1: Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population.

   The article discusses the health consequences of climate change, including increased susceptibility to infectious diseases and heat-related mortality. This connects to SDG 13, specifically Target 13.1, which aims to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards. The indicator mentioned in the article is the number of deaths, missing persons, and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population, which can be used to measure progress towards this target.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators