Category: LegacyImport2

STUDY: Is It Safe For People With Heart Disease To Use Marijuana?

Newswise — Marijuana use is on the rise as more states legalize it for medicinal and recreational purposes, and physicians are fielding more questions about its safety.

Although smoking tobacco is responsible for approximately one in four deaths from cardiovascular disease, the effects of smoking marijuana on the heart are not fully understood. Some studies suggest that marijuana can trigger heart attacks and strokes in some users.

Ersilia DeFilippis, MD, a second-year cardiology fellow at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian, first became interested in marijuana’s effect on the heart a few years ago when studying heart attacks in people under 50. “We noted that 10% of patients in a registry of young heart attack patients had used marijuana and/or cocaine,” she says.

DeFilippis and colleagues recently reviewed the medical literature to find out what’s known about marijuana’s effect on the heart and what’s still unknown. Their full report was published Jan. 20 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Here are five highlights from the review:

2 Million People with Heart Disease Have Used Marijuana

Marijuana is the most commonly used drug of abuse. It’s estimated that approximately 90 million American adults have used the drug at least once in their life, and more than 39 million have used the drug in the past year.

Based on responses to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016, DeFilippis and her colleagues estimate that about 2 million adults in the United States who have cardiovascular disease currently use marijuana or have used the drug in the past.

“In addition to the 2 million marijuana users with diagnosed cardiovascular disease, many more may be at risk,” DeFilippis says. “With many adolescents and young adults turning to marijuana, it is important to understand the cardiovascular implications they may face years down the line.”

Marijuana’s Potency Today Is Higher

The potency of marijuana—the percentage of THC contained in the plant—has steadily increased over the past 30 years, from about 4% in the mid-1990s to 12% in 2014. However, most scientific studies of cannabis tested products with THC levels between 1.5% and 4%.

“Higher potency may translate into greater effects on the conduction system, the vasculature, and the muscle of the heart,” DeFilippis says. “It also highlights the need for real-world data given the variety of marijuana products and formulations available for purchase.”

THC is the most psychoactive chemical in marijuana, but marijuana also contains more than 100 compounds, called cannabinoids, that are chemically related to THC.

Receptors for cannabinoids are highly concentrated in the nervous system but also can be found in blood cells, muscle cells, and other tissues and organs.

Cannabinoids Can Interact with Drugs Used to Treat Heart Disease

Cannabinoids inhibit certain enzymes in the body, which affects the metabolism of many drugs for heart disease, including antiarrhythmics, statins, calcium-channel blockers, beta blockers, and warfarin.

Researchers believe that cannabinoids may increase the activity of these prescribed drugs in the body, though limited data are available to guide physicians in adjusting dose to compensate for marijuana use.

Marijuana May Be Linked to Heart Attacks and Strokes

Studies have identified marijuana smoking as a potential trigger of heart attacks, and marijuana use is not infrequently detected in adults who have experienced heart attacks at an early age (under 50).

A small experimental study found that smoking marijuana can bring on angina (chest pain) more quickly in patients with coronary heart disease compared with smoking a placebo.

Though current evidence for a link between marijuana and heart attacks is modest, it’s thought that smoking marijuana may increase cellular stress and inflammation, which are known to be precipitating factors for coronary artery disease and heart attacks.

Cerebrovascular events, including strokes, also have been associated with marijuana use. It’s thought that marijuana may induce changes in the inner lining of blood vessels or alter blood flow.

Physicians Should Screen for Marijuana Use

“Although we need more data, the evidence we do have indicates that marijuana use has been associated with coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, and more,” DeFilippis says.

“Therefore, asking patients about marijuana use may help in risk assessment. In addition, we know that marijuana use affects the metabolism of many common cardiac drugs. In order to make sure patients are getting therapeutic doses without untoward side effects, it is important for cardiologists to talk to their patients about marijuana use.

+++

The paper is titled, “Marijuana Use in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease,” and was published Jan. 20 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

The other authors are: Navkaranbir S. Bajaj (University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama), Amitoj Singh (University of Arizona), and Rhynn Malloy, Michael M. Givertz, Ron Blankstein, Deepak L. Bhatt, and Muthiah Vaduganathan (Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School).

Ersilia DeFilippis reports no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose. (See paper for information on other authors).

###

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

provides international leadership in basic, preclinical, and clinical research; medical and health sciences education; and patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, scientists, public health professionals, dentists, and nurses at the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. Columbia University Irving Medical Center is home to the largest medical research enterprise in New York City and State and one of the largest faculty medical practices in the Northeast. For more information, visit

cuimc.columbia.edu

or

columbiadoctors.org

.

Demand for Pet Blood

As a result of recent advancements in veterinary medicine and owners increasingly willing to spend more money on care for the family pet, the

demand for pet blood

has increased; however, pet blood supplies around the country continues to fall short. In fact, many veterinarians today rely on out-of-state blood banks that often have an extremely limited supply.

January is

National Blood Donor Month

, which makes it a perfect time to bring awareness to the importance and benefits of pet blood banks.

BluePearl Specialty and Emergency Pet Hospital

has

eight pet blood banks

across the country that are helping to treat heart disease, heat stroke, immune system conditions, kidney disease or injury, acute trauma, poisoning and more in pets. BluePearl also works with

Canine Blood Heroes

, a national system of local canine blood donation programs, in Phoenix and Kansas City to provide local pet owners and veterinarians with access to safe canine blood.

\”Dogs and cats require blood transfusions for many of the same reasons humans do: illness, injury, or surgery,” remarked Dee Ann Dugger, Senior Clinician, Head of Emergency Service, Blood Bank Director at BluePearl Pet Hospital in Tampa, Fla. “However, with only a handful of banks nationally, getting safe blood to a pet who is in immediate need is a challenge. Right now, we, as a veterinary community, are not producing enough blood for veterinarians around the country. We simply need more donors.”

Similar to humans, cats and dogs have different blood types; felines have three different feline-specific blood types, and canines have six. While pet donor requirements and screening can vary slightly by state and program, the need for pet blood supplies is constant.

To donate, dogs must be one to seven years old, healthy, up-to-date on vaccines and weigh more than 50 pounds. Canine blood, specifically, is not breed specific, but greyhounds are known for being universal donors. Conversely, cats must weigh more than 10 pounds, live indoors, and be two to seven years old. Cats must also test negative for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus, and have not previously bred or received a blood transfusion.

RELATED:

Pet Tips

Pets Are The Best

SAFETY AND SECURITY FOR SUVS, CARS & TRUCKS

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(January 23, 2020)–Car security and safety features and measures are essential requirements for a safe trip. The most common yet vital measure that is universal across all types of vehicles from cars to trucks, to SUVs is buckling your seatbelt. Although this piece of kit seems quite basic, you can rest assured that seatbelts are crucial in order to save the lives of every passenger in the vehicle.

There are more recent and advanced security and safety features like AEB (Auto Emergency Brake) and FCW (Forward Collision Warning) that also play a vital role in avoiding accidents. One of the most significant things you should pay attention to when comparing different truck, SUV or car models is their list of safety and security features.

It is important that you check through the effectiveness of each feature like ESC (Electronic Stability Control) and Antilock brakes before purchasing the vehicle of your choice. Here are a few security and safety features for SUVs, cars, and trucks.

TYPICAL VEHICLE’S SECURITY AND SAFETY PROPERTIES

Here are typical safety features that you should find in any good car:

Airbags:

These have been a standard safety feature in cars for a while now. Typically, cars manufactured from the year 1998 have the mechanism for airbags installed in them by default. However, SUVs and light trucks did not have airbags installed until the following year. In a few cases, some vehicles had airbags installed before 1998. This technology releases the airbags as soon as the onboard computer crash sensors sense that there is a crash from the front of the vehicle. The bags are released in a few milliseconds and deflated almost immediately.

Browse this site

to learn more

Traction Control:

This mechanism is often controlled electronically. It ensures that the driving wheels of your vehicle attain optimum traction by regulating the speed your wheels spin during acceleration. This safety feature is extremely vital during icy and wet weather. The vehicle speed at which the system that controls traction in any given make or model varies. In some vehicles, this mechanism is operational at all speeds. However, in other vehicles, this system is only operational at low speeds.

Anti-lock Brakes:

Locking the wheels whenever hard braking was applied was way too easy prior to the introduction of ABS (antilock brakes). It is often not possible to steer the front wheels of vehicles on surfaces that are slippery because they are sliding. This steering difficulty is safely addressed by the feature known as antilock brakes. This braking system optimizes the operation of the brakes of your vehicle through a computer and sensors attached to each car wheel. This helps in preventing the wheel from locking up. The driver keeps control of his braking and remains able to steer. This keeps the vehicle under control when steering around obstacles.

Newer vehicles also have modern security and safety features that protect both the life of the people in the vehicle and the vehicle itself. For example, one of these modern features protects the driver, vehicle and other road users by warning the driver whenever there is a vehicle in the blind-spot of the driver.

Pedestrian Killed Walking On Williamstown Road Crossing AC Expressway Bridge

WINSLOW TOWNSHIP NJ (January 23, 2020)–An adult male pedestrian was walking on Williamstown Road crossing the Atlantic City Expressway bridge,

when he was struck by an unknown vehicle.

The vehicle that struck the pedestrian fled the scene towards Monroe Township.

The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he passed away.

The accident occurred on 01/22/2020 at 10:34 Pm.

If anyone has any information about the accident, please contact Winslow Officer Rich Saunders, 609-567-0700 Ext. 1196 or Camden County Prosecutors Office Detective Rowand 856-225-8514.

The victim\’s name is being withheld until notification to his family.

Online Voting Has Opened For The 2020 New Jersey  Shout Down Drugs Music Competition

Finalists To Perform at the Prevention Concert April 3, 2020

MILLBURN — The New Jersey Shout Down Drugs music contest is back for its 16

th

year. The competition, sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), was open to any New Jersey high school individual or group, to create and enter original songs with an anti-drug message. The songs have been submitted and online voting is ongoing now through January 31.

“Each of the contestants are all unique, talented, and winners for just having participated,” states Angelo Valente, PDFNJ’s Executive Director. “It is a really great opportunity for people from all over the country to hear their music and the important anti-drug messages. More than 1 million people have listened to at least one of these students\’ songs over the course of 15 years.

Voting will remain open until April 2 for voters to choose their favorite performers. The online vote tallies will be factored into each final score at the end of the concert.

The finalists will perform in the statewide Prevention Concert, which will be held Friday, April 3, at the Two River Theater in Red Bank. Tickets to the event are free and can be ordered at the website (www.shoutdowndrugs.com).

The concert first-place winner will receive a $5,000 music contract, second place will earn a $3,000 contract, and third place will take home a $2,000 contract.

###

Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $100 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 180 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.

Pemberton Man Dies After Being Shot Outside His Home

PEMBERTON, NJ (January 23, 2020)–Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina and Pemberton Township Police Chief David H. Jantas announced that a 64-year-old Browns Mills man who was shot Monday outside of his residence has died at a Trenton hospital.

Kenneth J. Ryan, of Apache Trail, was pronounced dead yesterday morning at Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

An autopsy performed by Burlington County Medical Examiner Dr. Ian Hood determined that the victim died as the result of being shot in the head.

No arrests have been made. Investigators are asking anyone with information to call Burlington County Central Communications at 609-265-7113, the Pemberton Township Police Department’s tip line at 609-894-3352, or send an email to

tips@co.burlington.nj.us

.

The case is being investigated by detectives from the Prosecutor’s Office and the Pemberton Township Police Department. The lead investigators are BCPO Detective Brian Miller and Pemberton Township Police Detective Jay Luis.

PROPERTY TAX INCREASE BLOCKED IN NEW JERSEY

source

KE ANDREWS

New Jersey school districts were about to raise funds by raising property taxes, but the governor blocked it. The districts will have to find another way to compensate for the cuts that have taken place to state funding. When vetoing the bill, the governor made a statement that taxes on the wealthy should be raised to pay for schools, instead of asking middle-class taxpayers to pay more. Some districts have lost state aid, due to changes to the formula for school property tax funding.

CNBNEWS GRAPHIC FILES

If the measure would have passed without veto, it would have allowed school districts to exceed the two-percent cap on New Jersey property tax increases that were previously set. But Governor Murphy made it clear that he would not support the development of another way to exceed the cap, especially when it increases the burden of property tax and harms voters. The current school funding formula for the state tells voters how much every district should be spending, how much comes from the state, and how much should be generated from property taxes.

The funding formula has been in overhaul mode for years, and those changes have been controversial. The goal of the changes has been to shift state aid away from overfunded districts and to districts that are not funded as well. But at the same time, hundreds of millions more are being put into schools every year, and every district should get 100 percent of what is owed to them. There are 172 districts that will lose state aid, because they have been getting more than the current formula states that they need.

For the last seven years, there have been other districts that are losing money and not receiving enough funding. Programs reductions, budget cuts, and layoffs are part of the future for those districts, if changes to the distribution of state education funds are not made. By exceeding the two-percent property tax cap, these schools could get more funding and reduce their chances of ongoing financial problems. There would have been 40 districts that qualified for the changes. Still, the governor vetoed the bill and strongly suggested that districts find another way to address the issues. The goal is to avoid increasing how much families pay in property taxes, and it is a decision that should be taken seriously.

The governor continues to propose raising the tax on wealthy people, but defenders of the original bill argue that none of the money from an increase on wealthy people’s taxes would actually go to the districts that need the funding. According to the New Jersey School Board Association, the governor is also mistaking the bill’s actual effects. That Association states that the bill was thought out carefully, and would have helped school districts without causing the significant and unrestricted increases in property taxes the governor implied.

KE Andrews: Property Tax Consultants

Pennsylvania ranks 37th best in new economic outlook analysis

The Center Square

Pennsylvania finished 37th

in a study

by the website Rich States, Poor States that examined the 50 states’ economic outlooks based on 15 weighted policy measures.

The economic outlook ranking for Pennsylvania examined such variables as top marginal personal income tax rate (6.95) and top marginal corporate income tax rate (16.88). Other measures examined include property and sales tax burdens, existence of estate or inheritance taxes, debt service as a percentage of tax revenue, and the number of public employees per 10,000 people.

RichStatesPoorStates.org

also ranked states based on their economic performances from 2007 to 2017. In that assessment, Pennsylvania ranked 33rd.

The state’s cumulative gross domestic product from 2007 to 2017, its overall loss of population to other states between 2008 and 2017, and nonagricultural job growth from 2007 to 2017 determined how it fared in the economic performance ranking.

—

State Rankings on Economic Outlook and Performance

State

2019 Economic Performance Ranking

2019 Economic Outlook Ranking

Top Marginal Personal Income Tax Rate

Top Marginal Corporate Tax Rate

Utah

5

1

4.95%

4.95%

Idaho

11

2

6.93%

6.93%

North Dakota

3

3

2.9%

4.31%

Nevada

24

4

4.95%

4.95%

Indiana

32

5

5.25%

5.75%

North Carolina

9

6

5.25%

2.5%

Tennessee

6

7

0%

6.5%

Florida

13

8

0%

5.5%

South Dakota

12

9

0%

0%

Arizona

22

10

4.54%

4.9%

Wyoming

45

11

0%

0%

Michigan

42

12

6.65%

8%

Oklahoma

20

13

5%

6%

Virginia

27

14

5.75%

7.62%

Texas

2

15

0%

2.62%

New Hampshire

19

16

0%

7.7%

Colorado

4

17

4.63%

4.63%

Georgia

10

18

5.75%

6.38%

Mississippi

48

19

5%

5%

Wisconsin

34

20

7.65%

7.9%

Alabama

35

21

4.15%

6.03%

Missouri

37

22

6.4%

6.59%

Arkansas

30

23

6.9%

6.5%

Ohio

38

24

7.5%

3.67%

Iowa

29

25

5.37%

11.64%

Louisiana

39

26

3.78%

6.32%

Kansas

40

27

5.7%

7%

Massachusetts

15

28

5.05%

8%

South Carolina

8

29

7%

5%

New Mexico

47

30

4.9%

5.9%

Alaska

43

31

0%

9.4%

Kentucky

25

32

0%

6.5%

Nebraska

14

33

6.84%

7.81%

Maryland

28

34

8.95%

8.25%

West Virginia

41

35

6.5%

6.5%

Delaware

26

36

7.85%

11.74%

Pennsylvania

33

37

6.95%

16.88%

Montana

16

38

6.9%

6.75%

Washington

1

39

0%

6.75%

Minnesota

21

40

9.85%

9.8%

Connecticut

50

41

6.99%

7.5%

Rhode Island

44

42

5.99%

7%

Maine

36

43

7.15%

8.93%

Oregon

7

44

10.66%

11.65%

Hawaii

23

45

11%

6.4%

New Jersey

49

46

11.75%

11.5%

California

18

47

13.3%

8.84%

Illinois

46

48

4.95%

9.5%

Vermont

31

49

8.75%

8.5%

New York

17

50

12.7%

17.23%

Source:

RichStatesPoorStates.org

/ American Legislative Exchange Council

published here with permission of The Center Square

LEGAL SPORTSBOOKS IN INDIANA TO JOIN NJ

AT THE MOVIES WITH ODDS ON 92ND ACADEMY AWARDS

LAS VEGAS) — Sportsbooks in Indiana have joined New Jersey as the only states offering movie buffs the opportunity to join their favorite actors, actresses, and directors as big winners from the 92nd Academy Awards. A year after New Jersey’s retail and online sportsbooks broke new ground in the United States by offering legal betting on the Academy Awards for the first time, both Indiana and New Jersey will be offering odds on the Oscars, which is set for Sunday, Feb. 9.

To prepare for the movie industry’s star-studded night, PlayUSA has created a complete rundown of the Oscars at

www.playusa.com/sports-betting/oscars

, including odds on every major category, a pick sheet, what sites are accepting bets, and analysis on the races.

“Oscars betting was a hit in its first year in New Jersey, and we suspect that interest will only grow,” said Jessica Welman, betting analyst for

PlayUSA.com

and

PlayIndiana.com

, as well as a movie historian who earned a master’s degree in Film and Media Studies from Indiana University Bloomington and a bachelor’s in Cinema-TV Critical Studies from the University of Southern California. “We saw last year that bettors were less motivated by the favorites and more interested in backing their favorite films and movie stars. This year\’s field of nominees has star power in front of and behind the camera, so that should help drive interest.”

New Jersey sportsbooks accepted an estimated $1 million in bets in the first year that it was offered, according to PlayUSA. Now that the Indiana Gaming Commission has authorized betting on the Oscars at the state’s sportsbooks, which happened on Wednesday, Hoosier State bettors will have the same chance.

The Indiana operations of FanDuel and DraftKings are expected to be the first in Indiana to offer odds in the state, but more will likely follow.

“It is exciting that Indiana has opened the doors to Oscars betting,” Welman said. “The Academy Awards will likely only generate a fraction of the bets of the NFL’s big game, but the interest should still be significant. For Indiana bettors, it will make a fun and new way to enjoy the Oscars.”

DraftKings in New Jersey became the first sportsbook to post the Oscars, followed by FOX Bet, and more are expected soon. DraftKings New Jersey is offering odds on all 24 categories at the Academy Awards. In 2019, most books limited action to the six major Oscars categories, including best picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress.

“The top categories will undoubtedly draw the most interest,” Welman said. “This year, in particular, is shaping up to be a controversial one. Again, critics can point to a lack of diversity in nominations and some films, such as Joker, have received polarizing audience reactions. But instead of fighting with friends about a movie\’s merits, New Jersey movie buffs can quietly put their money where their mouth is.”

The four major acting categories all feature prohibitive favorites. Joaquin Phoenix (-1,667), for Joker, and Renee Zellweger (-1,000), for Judy, are the clear frontrunners for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively. Brad Pitt (-1,000), for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and Laura Dern (-1,000), for Marriage Story, are the favorites for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively. Sam Mendes (-134), for 1917, and Bong Joon Hoo (+225), for Parasite, are leading a tight race for Best Director.

The closest major race appears to be for Best Picture, led by Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (+160) and 1917 (+200).

“Best Picture seems like a two-horse race between the two Golden Globe picture winners, 1917 and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Welman said. “While no one is arguing that Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is Quentin Tarantino\’s best film, the Academy is typically concerned with ensuring deserving nominees get rewarded. This could be the Academy’s last chance to give Tarantino the top prize, and that often carries a lot of weight.”

For more information and analysis on regulated online gaming in Indiana, visit

PlayIndiana.com/news

. For more Oscars information, visit

www.playusa.com/sports-betting/oscars

.

About the

PlayUSA.com

Network:

The

PlayUSA.com

Network is a leading source for news, analysis, and research related to the market for regulated online gaming in the United States. With a presence in over a dozen states,

PlayUSA.com

and its state-focused branches (including

PlayNJ.com

and

PlayIndiana.com

) produce daily original reporting, publish in-depth research, and offer player advocacy tools related to the advancement of safe, licensed, and legal online gaming options for consumers. Based in Las Vegas, the PlayUSA Network is independently owned and operated, with no affiliations to any casino — commercial, tribal, online, or otherwise.

Pennsylvania: Suicide Prevention Task Force Calls for Removing Stigma and Barriers to Care

HARRISBURG, PA (January 2020)–Governor Tom Wolf today announced the initial report of Pennsylvania’s

Suicide Prevention Task Force

based on the statewide listening sessions held throughout fall 2019. The work of the Suicide Prevention Task Force is a complement to the goals and strategies surrounding the governor’s Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters initiative

announced

earlier this month and his Executive Order to protect

vulnerable populations

signed last year.

“My administration is committed to developing a comprehensive suicide prevention plan that will save precious lives, support people in crisis, and help loved ones of attempt survivors and those we’ve lost,” Gov. Wolf said. “We’ve taken a giant first step toward that goal by opening this dialogue with Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth, and I want to thank the members of the Suicide Prevention Task Force for their hard work and all who shared their stories, insights, and experiences at a listening session last year.”

Informed by the testimonies and suggestions of people affected by suicide, mental health professionals, and other stakeholders from across the commonwealth, the report will be used to develop a comprehensive, long-term strategy of significantly reducing the number of suicides in Pennsylvania.

In August, the task force announced a series of 10 public listening sessions to be hosted throughout Pennsylvania. Over the next several months, Pennsylvanians gathered to talk about how suicide has affected their lives and to help inform the task force’s draft prevention plan and work to reduce stigma around discussing topics such as mental health and suicide. More than 800 people – community members, state and local officials, representatives from county suicide prevention organizations, and stakeholders from other sectors of government – attended the sessions.

As a direct result of these listening sessions, the Pennsylvania Suicide Prevention Task Force has identified the following key themes to inform the commonwealth’s four-year suicide prevention strategy:

Stigma associated with mental health, suicide and suicide attempts can affect the likelihood of individuals seeking help or continuing treatment, and how policymakers make decisions that affect mental health systems.

Resources needed to elevate mental health as a public health issue, incentivize the integration of physical and behavioral health, and improve suicide prevention resources at the local level.

Barriers to treatment such as cost and insurance gaps.

Access to more detailed suicide and suicide-attempt data to help policymakers make effective, meaningful decisions.

Issues within the mental-health workforce, such as pay and barriers to entry, to improve quality of care.

With proper resources, Pennsylvania’s schools and educators are uniquely positioned to save lives with suicide prevention strategies and resources.

The Legislature could take direct action to prevent suicides through the passage of a Red Flag law (to provide a means to remove firearms from someone at risk for suicide) or safe storage requirements for firearms.

“On behalf of the entire task force, we are grateful to everyone who took time to share their stories, experiences, recommendations, or even just showed up to listen and learn themselves. The themes and recommendations outlined in this report give us a clear path forward for actionable ways to support and enhance suicide prevention efforts across the commonwealth,” said Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller. “I truly believe elevating this issue and utilizing this meaningful, collective approach to prevention efforts will save lives across Pennsylvania.”

According to a 2018 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. In 2017, more than 47,000 individuals died by suicide nationwide. In Pennsylvania alone, 2,023 individuals died by suicide that year.

Gov. Wolf announced the first-of-its-kind statewide task force in

May 2019

with the goal of developing a four-year plan to reduce suicide in Pennsylvania. The Task Force is made up of leadership and staff from multiple state agencies, members of the General Assembly, and Prevent Suicide PA. State agencies include the departments of Human Services (DHS), Health (DOH), Corrections (DOC), Aging (PDA), Education (PDE), Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), Transportation (PennDOT), Agriculture (PDA), Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP), the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). Task Force members brought forth a wide array of knowledge of constituencies they represent or serve professionally, from their own lived experiences as loss survivors or attempt survivors of suicide, or as individuals who experience or support someone facing mental-health challenges.

The task force anticipates releasing a comprehensive four-year statewide suicide prevention plan in the first quarter of 2020 that will be available for a public comment period. Following updates based on public comment, the task force will publish the final 2020-2024 Pennsylvania statewide suicide prevention plan, which will include:

The landscape and gap analysis of detailed suicide statistics nationwide and in Pennsylvania.

Guiding principles for suicide prevention in Pennsylvania.

Goals and objectives to reduce suicide and suicide attempts in Pennsylvania, including reducing stigma associated with suicide, suicide attempts, and mental health challenges.

Recommendations for local and state policymakers, including public and elected officials, as well as cross-sector partners.

A structure for the implementation and evaluation of Pennsylvania’s statewide suicide prevention plan.

The task force is represented on the Governor’s Special Council to Reduce Gun Violence and the Reducing Suicide by Firearm workgroup and will continue to provide input on the recommendations included in the Council’s report.

“This is just the beginning, and we will deliberately continue on this path of reducing stigma around mental-health issues and encouraging Pennsylvanians in crisis to seek help when they need it,” Gov. Wolf said. “Everyone’s life has value, and things can and will get better.”

To read the task force’s initial report,

click here

.