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Who should pay for the opioid epidemic? – In latest lawsuit, drug stores say it's the doctors

It’s lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit as blame, accountability and, eventually, restitution is sought as the opioid epidemic's damage is sorted out across courtrooms in America. The latest turn in the road is that major drug store chains are now suing doctors in the bell-weather area of northeast Ohio with a claim that it is those with the pen and prescription pad that need to own the responsibility for the rampant opioid abuse across the country. “CVS, Walgreen Co., Walmart, Rite Aid and other major pharmacy chains said opioid prescribers bear responsibility for the prescription narcotic crisis, but unlike the drugstores, have not been sued by Cuyahoga and Summit counties. In legal papers filed Monday, they contended that doctors and other prescribers should have to pay some of the penalty if the drugstore chains are found liable at trial.” January 07 - Washington Post With billions at stake and the fates of big-pharma, drug stores and distributors, and now doctors now in the hands of the justice system – what’s next? How long will these lawsuits be tied up in court? Will the victims and families of the hundreds of thousands of Americans impacted by the opioid epidemic ever see compensation? And is this a matter of finding one sector or segment accountable or in these instances, will it be shared? There are a lot of questions to be asked, and that’s where the experts from the University of Connecticut can help. Alexandra Lahav is an expert in complex litigation, class actions, and mass torts, and is the author of a prize-winning book, In Praise of Litigation. Alexandra is available to speak with media regarding the mass of opioid epidemic lawsuits – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.

MEDIA RELEASE: Changes to Out-of-Country Medical Coverage Now in Effect

CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) is reminding travellers that changes to out-of-country medical coverage in Ontario are now in effect, prompting the need to review travel insurance coverage. “We are working to educate travellers to make sure they know what they are buying. We are an organization founded to help keep our members safe, and coverage while travelling abroad is a big part of that,” said Elliott Silverstein, director, government relations, CAA Insurance. “Travel insurance protects from unexpected and costly emergencies and it’s important to evaluate available coverage, based on personal needs, to determine how to best safeguard you and your family. This is even more important now that there is no coverage through OHIP.” Some of the key things to consider when it comes to buying travel insurance are how many trips you are taking a year; if you want comprehensive coverage or medical-only insurance; and whether or not the insurance provider offers additional assistance such as interpreters, hospital recommendations and other coordination services. Additional tips to consider when buying travel insurance Ask questions. Speak to a knowledgeable travel insurance advisor that understands your needs. Be honest. It is important that you answer any questionnaire accurately to disclose any pre-existing conditions, and ensure you have the proper coverage suited specifically for you, so you can travel with peace of mind. Build travel insurance into your travel plans. Purchasing travel insurance must be done in your home province. As you begin to consider your next destination, add travel insurance to your “to do” list. Don’t base your decision on price alone. Look at what coverage is most appropriate for your circumstances and consider all different types of plans and levels of protection. Questions to ask: What are the eligibility and exclusions? What is the pre-existing and stability clause? What are the benefit limits? How many days am I covered? Is there a deductible? Do they offer upfront payment if a claim occurs? It’s important to remember that the intent of travel medical insurance is to treat emergency conditions, and return you to your home province for ongoing treatment once your medical condition is stabilized.   Emergency travel medical insurance may require completion of a medical health questionnaire depending on age. Medical questionnaires determine premium, NOT coverage. Always answer questions related to your health accurately If you aren’t sure how to answer, ask your physician to help you. For more information resources on travel insurance and what you need to know before you travel, go to: https://www.caasco.com/insurance/resource-centre/travel.

If Iran counterattacks on-line – what should we expect and what are the likely targets?

Since the drone ordered attack and killing of Iran’s Qassem Suleimani, American authorities have been waiting for the promised retaliation from Iran. Though embassies and properties abroad — especially in the Middle East — are on heightened alert, it could be in cyberspace where the first strike takes place. The Department of Homeland Security issued a bulletin from its National Terrorism Advisory System. “Iran maintains a robust cyber program and can execute cyber attacks against the United States,” the alert said. “Iran is capable, at a minimum, of carrying out attacks with temporary disruptive effects against critical infrastructure in the United States.” Another bullet point noted that “an attack in the homeland may come with little or no warning.” Shortly after, hackers claiming to be affiliated with Iran took over the Web site of the Federal Depository Library Program, an American government agency that distributes government publications, and inserted a picture of Trump being punched in the face, with blood dripping from his mouth. “Martyrdom,” the accompanying message read, was Suleimani’s “reward for years of implacable efforts. With his departure and with God’s power, his work and path will not cease, and severe revenge awaits those criminals who have tainted their filthy hands with his blood and the blood of the other martyrs of last night’s incident.” The hackers signed off with an additional threat: “This is only [a] small part of Iran’s cyber ability! We’re always ready.” It was a sophomoric attack on an obscure federal agency, but those last two sentences are unassailable. January 06 – The New Yorker Michigan State University’s Thomas J. Holt is a professor in the School of Criminal Justice and a renowned expert in the areas of hacking and cybercrime. He shared his opinion on what could be next from Iran.   “We should expect attacks from Iranian hackers (or those sympathetic to their cause) who appear to be civilians without nation state sponsorship will hit low level targets on the basis of ideological/national pride,” says Holt. "There will likely be nation-state sponsored attacks though it is unclear how quickly they will launch or how effective they may be. Historically the US has been involved in cyberattacks that are able to severely affect Iranian capabilities, such as Stuxnet. Their counterattacks have been less public and seemingly less effective. However, they’ve already begun as with that web defacement against a US government website reported Sunday that appears to have Iranian ties or origination.” What comes next, what gets hit and when – has a lot of people watching and waiting – and if you are a reporter covering this topic, that’s where our experts can help with your questions, stories and ongoing coverage. Thomas J. Holt is a professor in the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University whose research focuses on computer hacking, malware, and the role of the Internet in facilitating all manner of crime and deviance. His work has been published in various journals including Crime and Delinquency, Deviant Behavior, the Journal of Criminal Justice, and Youth and Society. Professor Holt is available to speak with media about these issues – simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.

All about impeachment – and does it really matter?

It’s dominating the news and the airwaves, but an event that was once expected to rival the trial of O.J. Simpson seems to be getting caught up in what most government hearings tend to be – boring, bureaucratic and not really captivating viewing for those living outside the beltway. And for some, the reality is the impeachment process seems to be coming with self-fulfilling expectations. Unfortunately, in these hyper-partisan times, the result may likely not be dictated by the facts presented. Despite what compelling evidence is presented by either side, the House will impeach, and the Senate will acquit. That’s how the game will play out. Though procedure will be followed – will it matter? "But in fact, McConnell has repeatedly said he would indeed hold a trial — too many times to reverse himself, in all probability, as the Hill reports: “Under the impeachment rules of the Senate, we’ll take the matter up. The chief justice will be in the chair … We intend to do our constitutional responsibility,” he said. McConnell had previously indicated that he would have “no choice” but to take up impeachment if the House passes articles, though he has also [run] a Facebook ad over the recent two-week recess positioning himself and the GOP-controlled Senate as a roadblock to Trump being removed from office." New York Magazine – November 13 If you’re a reporter covering the impeachment hearings and want to know what to expect, what does matter and how this event will influence politics and government moving forward – then let our experts help. Mark Caleb Smith is the Director of the Center for Political Studies at Cedarville University. Mark is available to speak with media regarding Trump, impeachment and what follows. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

Is there a link between economic stress and opioid abuse? Let our experts help if you are covering

Recent media coverage is pulling back the curtain to reveal another angle on opioid abuse. The facts are startling, and it seems there is a direct relation between those facing economic stress and hardship and abusing opioids. “In 2015, Jennifer Silva, a professor of sociology and anthropology at Bucknell University, began interviewing people in the coal region of northeastern Pennsylvania. She was working on a project, which would become the book We’re Still Here, about how poor and working-class Americans were affected by the collapse of the coal industry—the major job provider in the region. She was curious how the regional decline might have shaped her subjects’ politics. But she quickly noticed a startling trend alongside the growing unemployment: Her subjects and their families were struggling with opioid abuse. At community meetings, doctors and coroners would debate solutions to the problem. Should they be arresting people? Should they be creating support groups? She describes one desperate parent who asked whether Donald Trump’s proposed border wall would keep black tar heroin from getting to Pennsylvania. Silva’s interviewees might have been representative of an awful connection between job loss and opioid abuse, a connection that continues to be bolstered by research. A study published on Monday in the journal JAMA found that counties with automotive assembly plants that closed had, five years after the closure, 85 percent higher rates of opioid-overdose mortality, relative to counties where automotive assembly plants remained open.” January 02 – The Atlantic The opioid epidemic has seen approximately 700,000 Americans dies since 1999. And there are many people who have become victims – rich and poor. However, this recent finding may show a link that public health officials, law makers and addiction experts can further focus on, especially in areas of America facing current or impending economic strife. There are a still lot of questions and that’s where we can help. Dr. Marc Sweeney is the Founding Dean of the School of Pharmacy at Cedarville University and is an expert in the fields of drug abuse, prescription drug abuse and Opioid addiction. Marc is available to speak with media regarding this growing issue. Simply click on his icon to arrange an interview.

Experts in the media: University of Connecticut experts weigh in on the assassination of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani

The killing of Iranian military leader Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani by an American ordered drone strike has put the world is on edge. As leaders call for calm, hundreds of thousands are protesting across the Middle East and war seems almost inevitable. As news broke of the attack late last week, media were scrambling to find experts to lend their perspective, opinions and expertise about what’s next. That’s where the University of Connecticut’s Director of Middle East Studies Jeremy Pressman was able to help. Pressman said it’s “too early to say” what kind of repercussions the killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani will have in Iran, Iraq or in other countries like Saudi Arabia or Lebanon, in part because it’s not known yet how much planning went into the decision. “The Trump administration is an administration that, on foreign policy, has not demonstrated that it usually plans much in advance,” he said. “You want to have thought what ways Iran could respond, and how you are going to defend yourselves in those situations and respond to those situations.” January 03 – Middletown Press If you are a reporter covering this ongoing and progressing situation – the let our experts help with any of your questions or stories moving forward. Jeremy Pressman (MIT, PhD) studies international relations, the Arab-Israeli conflict, Middle East politics, and U.S. foreign policy. He is the Director of Middle East Studies at the University of Connecticut and is available to speak with media, simply click on his icon to arrange an interview today.

There’s no Tour de France for women; it’s time to address the inequity in professional cycling

Since the Passing of Title IX, there have been many improvements in accessibility for girls and women in sports. This trend has not been as strong for some sports, like competitive cycling. “We know that when we look at numbers for licensed riders in the U.S., 15% are women, and that means 85% of competitive cyclists are men,” said Erin Ayala, Ph.D. “Because races are generally run by private organizations, they don’t fall under the Title IX umbrella. It looks very different. They can say that because only 15%  of women are in the field, they think they don’t need to add more races so women can participate. This then creates concerns regarding skill development and safety while racing.”   As a cyclist who races nationally, Dr. Ayala can attest that women cyclists are treated very differently than men.   “I did a large national investigation on the experiences to find out what the factors are that affect participation for women in competitive cycling. A lot of women spoke of importance of creating an encouraging and supportive atmosphere. They'd say, 'If I have people on sidelines cheering me on, that means the world to me.'   “Another piece was that race promoters and directors sometimes combine women with master’s men, 50-60-year-old men, to help with field sizes, but that can create a toxic environment because women are racing with older men who may not want them to be there. Women are also paired with younger junior cyclists, which can feel condescending and patronizing because it results in shorter or easier races.   “In a lot of races women race shorter distances or durations than the men, which can feel insulting. There’s no Tour de France for Women. It’s a tough atmosphere. Then there are the podium girls, women in high heels and makeup whose job it is to stand next to the male racers to give them their prizes and a kiss on the cheek. The underlying assumption is those women are there to accessorize the male racers. It speaks to the gender dynamics in those sports.   “Things that decrease participation are unsupportive environments where women feel they do not belong, inequitable fields, and unequal prize pools; sometimes men are paid more money to win the same race as women. We have good hard data to talk about it. We need to do better, and one of biggest themes that came out of it was ‘Build it and we will come. Invest in us, and we will start to show up more often.’ We are hoping to create some change in communities and nationally to make more room for women in a sport that does not have many women. Are you a journalist covering this topic and looking to book an interview? That’s where we can help.   Dr. Erin Ayala is a licensed psychologist and core faculty member in the counseling psychology doctoral program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota.  She is also an expert in the areas of women’s health and sports psychology. To book an interview with Dr. Ayala – simply click on her icon to arrange a time. Read more on Dr. Ayala's research:  https://doi.org/10.18666/JOREL-2020-V12-I1-9912.

Ask our experts - Self-care a necessity for graduate students; what are programs doing to help?

Life doesn’t stop when you’re in a doctoral program. Erin Ayala, Ph.D., has done extensive research into self-care, stress, and quality of life of students, particularly those in human service doctoral programs (like medical students and those in nurse anesthesiology, psychology, and counseling). She knows the recipe for stress and burnout: • These stressful programs tend to attract high achievers. It’s already in their nature to balance several commitments and responsibilities. • These programs and professions have a high level of responsibility. • Students in these programs are frequently at an age where they are also going through significant developmental milestones (marriage, children, purchasing homes). “When you bring all of that together, it can be really difficult to prioritize time for self-care,” she said. “Prevention and health promotion are really important, and it’s not just about mental health. It’s not just about being reactive and addressing distress or burnout when it hits. The question is what can we do on the front end to help prevent negative consequences down the road.” What is self-care? Often, Dr. Ayala said, media romanticizes and glamorizes self-care with advertisements for fizzy bath bombs and manicures. “What we have found is that it is completely personalized,” Dr. Ayala said. “For women, social support is really important. Ultimately, there needs to be time to disconnect, whether it’s doing nothing, or just taking a break from your dissertation. You’ve got to give yourself permission to do that. “Nutrition, exercise, hydration, spiritual life, different people have a different recipe for what their self-care looks like. It ebbs and flows just like any exercise or meditation or spiritual practice. Some weeks we’re doing great and other times we’re not, and that’s part of the process.” Dr. Ayala’s most recent research involves analyzing qualitative data, coming from over 200 students throughout the U.S. in clinical counseling and school psychology, all high achievers in the middle of doctoral programs. She’s investigating what faculty are doing to model or not model the importance of physical and psychological wellness. “Students might know that self-care is important, but it can be hard to act on it if they're in an environment that doesn’t support it,” she said. “The biggest supportive theme that came up was faculty simply encouraging them to do it, asking their students, ‘What did you do this weekend for self-care?’ They take the time to check in with their students and give them permission to take time for themselves. That takes zero effort.” “What can we do to make sure faculty are also able to model self-care for their students? The behaviors students are picking up now pave the foundation for the rest of their career. If faculty are working themselves to the bone, it sets an expectation for their students that they are supposed to do the same. If faculty model self-care and talk about its importance, students may be more likely to do it themselves.” Dr. Ayala said when her team asked students what programs can do to support self-care, answers ranged from formal programming and talking about it in the classroom, to referrals for therapists, discounts for gym memberships, or places to meditate on campus — ways to make self-care easier to access. When students are asked what the biggest barrier to self-care is, the answer wasn’t surprising. The majority of students responded that time was an issue. “That’s a tough one because there’s only so much programs can do to minimize the amount of work required,” Dr. Ayala said. “Students have to balance all these professional responsibilities and don’t know what to give up.”  Are you looking to know more about self-care and other similar topics when it comes to high education? Or, are you a journalist covering this topic and looking to book an interview? That’s where we can help. Dr. Erin Ayala is a licensed psychologist and core faculty member in the counseling psychology doctoral program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. To book an interview with Dr. Ayala – simply click on her icon to arrange a time.

Is your social media ready for when the next crisis strikes? Let our experts help!

At the National Institute for Social Media, response plans are the priority. A response plan is the high-level look, or the umbrella overview, that crisis management falls under. Your response plan details how you respond to positive, negative feedback, and any neutral feedback that comes your way.   Take a compliment and make the most out of it: Positive feedback feels like you’re off the hook. If feedback is all positive, you feel like you don’t have to do anything. But that’s your opportunity to nurture and strengthen those who are already your supporters. They then become your brand champions.   Avoid the neutral zone traps – react and respond accordingly: Questions or posts that aren’t really positive or negative land in neutral space, and that’s really not crisis communication, responding to those is just good customer service.   When crisis strikes: If you have a crisis, most people associate it with an isolated event, and sometimes you can plan for it, sometimes you can’t. A few years ago, when Nordstrom’s discontinued Ivanka Trump’s clothing line, they anticipated a negative backlash by those who would accuse them of being politically motivated. They stated sales was the reason, and 100 percent came out neutral, but they could anticipate that particular feedback. Whereas, in the viral video of a passenger being physically dragged off an airplane, the airline couldn’t have anticipated that event. However, with an online response plan, they would have been prepared to respond to the unexpected event. A quick response is important but an informed response is more important than anything else. If it fits the situation, you may buy yourself time to do a little research by commenting that you’ve passed their question on and will respond soon.   If you don’t have a strategic plan to fall back on, and you respond quickly but poorly, you run the risk of doing more harm than good. With an online response plan, people understand how to assess a given situation.  Respond: To show transparency, we want everyone to see we are responding to customer; we have a planned response where we acknowledge the customer. Take offline: Give them an offline option for sharing additional information.  Resolve: This allows the customer to have their issue resolved and be heard but discourages them from sharing ugly details on that highly visible platform. The plan is for a social media manager to have a path when they don’t know what to do. The viral airplane video is one example because by the time their social media people saw it, it was already going viral. They had every indication they should be panicking. Did they have a person to talk to help them make the decision about how it needs to be addressed? For those crises we can’t anticipate, there needs to be a clear path to a leader who can help with this difficult situation.   One of my favorite things to tell people is that you don’t have to be victimized online just because you’re a professional organization. You can set up community guidelines. Some businesses think, what if someone starts using racial slurs or inappropriate comments? You can post community guidelines that state these are our expectations of how our customers can participate respectfully, and we reserve the right to delete your content. You can set the expectation that you want people to engage respectfully.   You have to get to the heart of what people are really asking or wanting. In the case of Ivanka Trump’s clothing line, nobody was upset because Nordstrom’s wasn’t carrying the clothing line; what they were really upset about was that a large organization could be taking a political stance against the at-that-time republican candidate.   Are you looking to know more about how corporations and institutions need to be prepared and how they need to react when bad news goes viral? That’s where we can help.     Amy Jauman is social media expert, consultant, writer, and professor at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Dr. Jauman authored a (National Institute for Social Media) NISM textbook for social media strategists and is available to speak to speak with media – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.

What's Ahead for California's Gig Workers?

A new law is set to take effect in California on January 1 that could significantly shift the landscape for the "gig economy" and freelancers across the state: Assembly Bill 5 (or AB 5) will require businesses to reclassify workers like ridesharing and food app delivery drivers as employees and not contractors, giving them access to minimum wage and benefits such as overtime, workers' compensation and health insurance.  Another group that's targeted in the legislation are freelance journalists. (Vox Media, the parent company of sports site SB Nation, has already taken action and laid off hundreds of freelancers before the law goes into effect.)  Villanova University professor Cheryl Carleton, PhD, is an expert on labor economics and the workforce who, in conjunction with Mary Kelly, PhD, recently published research on alternative work arrangements and job satisfaction. "By making them regular employees of the company, workers that firms do hire would gain some benefits, and the government may gain some unemployment insurance payments," Dr. Carleton said about California's AB 5 legislation. "Such a law may be great for them. However, other workers will be worse off because they will be losing just what they wanted—the ability to work when and where they want." "Some of these workers may already have needed benefits through a spouse or significant other or through another job," she continued. "Perhaps they are retired and already have access to those benefits. Still, other workers may not be able to take a regular job with its rigid hours, so they will not be able to work at all." Dr. Carleton also noted that there is a larger issue about how benefits are provided in our economy.  "Benefits such as medical insurance, pensions and sick and disability leave are provided through one's place of employment. To the extent that these other working arrangements are growing in popularity, the best approach may be for us to rethink how such benefits are offered," she shared. "It may be that more should be offered by the government to citizens, which then would allow them the ability to choose the job(s) they want that fill the needs they have." To speak with Dr. Carleton or Dr. Kelly, please click on the "View Profile" links featured on this page.