In the News: COVID-19 Pandemic Leading to Surge in Overdose Deaths in Chicago and Beyond

NEWS

Puff Bar Exploiting Pandemic to Sell Its E-Cigarettes to Teens, Legislators Say The makers of Puff Bar, a disposable e-cigarette, are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to market their product to teens, according to the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy. Read More Juul Asks Judge to Pause Lawsuits Alleging Company Fueled Public Health Crisis Juul Labs has asked a federal judge in San Francisco to dismiss or pause hundreds of lawsuits that allege the company fueled a public health crisis by creating a youth vaping epidemic, Reuters reports. Read More   Frequent Alcohol Use in College Has Greater Impact on Women’s Academics Frequent alcohol use in college is more likely to affect the academic performance and mental health of female students compared with their male peers, a new study suggests. Read More During this time of uncertainty, we're still here to support families.   COVID-19 Resources COVID-19 Pandemic Leading to Surge in Overdose Deaths in Chicago and Beyond The COVID-19 pandemic is leading to a surge in overdose deaths in Chicago and other areas around the country, ProPublica Illinois reports. Read More Almost 90,000 Americans Report Anxiety or Depression as a Result of Pandemic Almost 90,000 Americans say they have developed anxiety or depression as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report by the nonprofit group Mental Health America. Read More Help Us Continue to Empower Families:   Donate Now Tell a Friend Other Headlines of Interest COVID-19: Online and Remote Resources for Addiction Support (Partnership for Drug-Free Kids + Center on Addiction) Racism and Substance Addiction: A Message from our CEO, Creighton Drury (Center on Addiction + Partnership for Drug-Free Kids) How to reform American police, according to experts (Vox) Online Treatment, Virtual Check-Ins: Dealing With Addiction In A Pandemic (WBUR) Roy Halladay’s wife reveals heartbreaking accounts of his addiction (The New York Post) For Opioid Users, Pandemic Means New Dangers, But Also New Treatment Options (NPR) Group asked N.J. kids for coronavirus silver linings. This is what they said. (NJ.com) Smoking and COVID-19 — why now is the time to quit (Today) How Technology Can Help Us Navigate The Opioid Epidemic During The Pandemic (Forbes) Treating an opioid epidemic during the coronavirus pandemic: University Hospitals pivots peer-support program to telehealth (Cleveland.com) 'We knew this was coming:' May overdose spike was expected (Cincinnati Enquirer) Coronavirus can’t stem central Ohio opioid abuse (The Columbus Dispatch) The fight against Covid-19 should also be the fight against tobacco (CNN) Risk for drug abuse higher in older lesbian, gay, bisexual adults, study finds (UPI) Column: Dependent babies: the most innocent casualties of opioid crisis (The Columbus Dispatch)

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Coming Out of COVID Quarantine Safely

A GIFT FOR YOU.... Dear Friends, A lot of us are transitioning out of quarantine and back into the community. It’s exciting to think about getting out again, but it’s also a bit scary. That’s why PDA created a worksheet to help all of us develop a unique, Coming Out of Quarantine Safety Plan. The worksheet can be used by anyone working with vulnerable populations: clinicians, peer specialists, wellness nurses, employment specialists. We even made a short video explaining how to use the safety plan with folks. The worksheet and video are FREE to download.  Please spread the word. We can help save lives with it.  Thanks for all you do. GET THE WORKSHEET & VIDEO Sent by Pat Deegan PhD & Associates, LLC PO Box 208 • Byfield, MA • 01922

Don't lose hope: God is bigger!

Message from the Founder Dear Partner, I pray you are healthy and safe, and I thank you for your support of our ministry. Please click on my video above to watch a short video for an update. It's hard to believe the state of our country. I take heart knowing that our God is bigger than anything this world or Satan throws at us. As I watch the news, I remind myself of what Paul says in Ephesians 6: our war is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities in unseen worlds. Satan is at work, that is for sure, but as we stand firm in our faith, united together as children of the King, and remain unmoved by our emotions, we will have the victory. I encourage you to read the book of Ephesians. It will bless you and remind you of important truths! Recently I received a message from one of our inmate family members, Calvin. From his dorm room at Avon Park Correctional he wrote to me and said, "Sister Kristi, the men here at the facility are losing hope fast." He went on to tell me how difficult the quarantine has been for the inmates there as they are completely isolated from the world, from each other, from family, and even from chapel programs. Add to this the current threats of riots, and it is a terrible situation. I praise God that we have a vehicle of hope that can reach these men and women behind bars while they are completely shut off from the world. Victorious Living is a tool God uses to go into the deepest parts of prison and restore hope, and bring salvation to the lost and discouraged. Every week we are receiving requests from new facilities saying, "Please, send us more materials. The men are desperate for something to read, and they need to read about the hope they have in Jesus!" We are answering their requests by mailing in cases of magazines to whoever requests them. But this comes at a high cost to our ministry. Will you help us send these materials into prisons around the nation? Every $1 you give sends in a magazine to a prison facility. And, every $1 impacts multiple lives! Up to 10 inmates read each copy! Thank you! CLICK HERE TO DONATE! Ministry Update Our new bilingual edition of Victorious Living, (Issue 3, 2020) goes to press in late July. Our expanded edition will now allow us to reach the Hispanic population behind bars which is 32% of our nation's prison population! Our correspondence outreach continues to grow daily as inmates reach out to us seeking fellowship and support in their walk with Christ. We mentor 1000s of inmates and are adding 100s of new inmates monthly. MORE MONDAY More Mondays with Kristi Overton Johnson aired its 8th episode this week. We are excited that More Monday is able to be made available to inmates through our partnership with EDOVO tablet system.  You can view all past shows on Kristi's YouTube Channel or by clicking here. Please be sure to like and subscribe to the YouTube channel and share with your friends. You can also like and follow on Kristi Overton Johnson FB Page VL HIGHLIGHT This month we highlight Blaine Whitt's story: "Know Your Enemy." Blaine experienced an abusive childhood that left him angry and fighting the world. When he finally discovered his real enemy, he was able to win the war. You can read 100s of inspiring stories and download every issue of VL mag on vlmag.org. Click here to read. Ministry Impact Incarceration is a journey our family never thought we'd walk, and at times knowing my husband is behind prison bars is too much to bear. When I called the Victorious Living's team, I was met with compassion and love. Connecting with people who understand our family's situation has encouraged my heart and given me the strength and support I need to face the uncertainty of each day. I am a part of the VL family now, and I look forward to connecting other families who are walking through incarceration to find support through VL, too! - Denise Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Hebrews 13:3 NLT Call us at 352.478.2098 Kristi Overton Johnson Ministries, P.O. Box 120951, Clermont, FL 34712, (352) 478-2098