Congress should listen to addiction patients -
not corporate interests - about confidentiality
The Overdose Prevention and Safety Act (H.R. 6082), which has passed the House of Representatives and is now under consideration in the Senate, would take away a patient's right to give permission before information about his or her substance use treatment is disclosed to a broad range of individuals and entities for the purposes of treatment, payment, and health care operations.
Cash Assistance for Pennsylvanians in need returns
The general assistance program provides about $205 a month to eligible recipients who are unable to earn an income for a limited number of reasons and in many cases, for a limited period of time.
The reinstatement of this safety net program that ended six years ago stems from a state Supreme Court ruling last month. The court struck down a state law, dubbed Act 80 of 2012, that ended the program, saying the House and Senate violated a constitutional provision that requires all legislation to be considered in each chamber on three separate days before it is put to a vote. Community Legal Services argued the case that returned general assistance back to the books (read more) For Eligibility go here. To Apply go here
Bleak News: 72,000 Overdose Deaths in 2017
Encouraging signs from states prioritizing public health & recovery
Drug overdoses killed about 72,000 Americans last year, a record number that reflects a rise of around 10 percent, according to new preliminary estimates from the Centers for Disease Control.The death toll is higher than the peak yearly death totals from H.I.V., car crashes or gun deaths. The picture is not equally bleak everywhere. In parts of New England, where a more dangerous drug supply arrived early, the number of overdoses has begun to fall. That was the case in Massachusetts, Vermont and Rhode Island; each state has had major public health campaigns and has increased addiction treatment. Preliminary 2018 numbers from Massachusetts suggest that the death rate there may be continuing to fall. (read more) | 
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