Vermont Proposal Would Set Opioid Prescription Limits

 Vermont Proposal Would Set Opioid Prescription Limits

Burlington, Vermont – Gov. Peter Shumlin and Health Commissioner Harry Chen, MD today announced proposed changes to the Health Department's rule governing the prescribing of opioids for pain. When finalized in December 2016, the amended rule will, for the first time ever, give guidance to prescribers and set legal limits on the dosage and number of opioid painkillers that may be prescribed. For some minor procedures, the proposal calls for a limit of between nine and 12 pills. 

“Vermont, and the rest of America, will not get a handle on the opiate and heroin addiction crisis until we confront head on the source of the problem: F.D.A. approved opiates that are handed out like candy,” Gov. Shumlin said. “Vermont doctors and providers have been on the leading edge of curbing the irrational exuberance with which opiates are handed out. These proposed limits will solidify that progress and help Vermont continue to lead the nation when it comes to combatting this crisis.”

  

The proposed limits come after Gov. Shumlin identified the over prescription of opiates as a primary challenge in tackling the addiction crisis in America. In his 2016 State of the State Address, the Governor called F.D.A. approval of high-powered opiates the “match that ignited America’s opiate and heroin addiction crisis". The Governor pointed to the fact that in 2010, enough OxyContin was prescribed to keep every adult in America high for an entire month. By 2012, enough prescriptions were written to give every American adult their own personal bottle of pills.

Studies have shown there is a wide variety in prescribing habits among medical professions and even

Michelle Williams, other gospel music leaders to judge Most Powerful Voices

Dallas, Texas - GMC TV, Light Records and Roland Corporation will participate in the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s 4th annual Most Powerful Voices gospel competition. The online gospel singing competition helps the association to educate people about stroke — the No. 4 cause of death and the leading preventable cause of disability in America. Michelle Williams is involved in the contest, because her family has been affected by stroke.

The contest is open to independent artists, groups and choirs who sing gospel, holy hip hop, praise and worship music. Participants, who must be 18 years or older, may sign up at Power.watchgmctv.com and upload a video or MP3 file by Jan. 31. Family, friends — and fans — have until April 5 to vote for their favorite artists. Those who register to compete or vote will receive lifesaving stroke information from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

The top 10 finalists will be judged by gospel music industry leaders, including singer and song writer Michelle Williams (formerly of Destiny’s Child), James Robinson, president of A&R at Light Records, and holy hip hop artist Flame.


The grand prize winner will be announced April 30 and will receive:
The opportunity to perform in the Central Park Summer Stage Concert in New York City with Light Records artists

New Poll Shows the Public Wants EPA to Set Stricter Soot Health Standards

Voters Support Setting Stronger Fine Particle Standards to Protect Public Health

Washington, D.C. — As the December 14, 2012, deadline approaches for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue updated health standards for fine particle pollution (soot), the American Lung Association is releasing polling results that examine public views on updating the standards and whether now is the right time to issue them.

Earlier this year EPA finally proposed updated clean air standards that will prevent thousands of premature deaths and take steps toward clearing hazy air. The EPA's proposal came in response to legal action filed on behalf of the American Lung Association and the National Parks Conservation Association by Earthjustice.

A new national survey of 942 registered voters conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research for the American Lung Association finds that American voters support a proposal to strengthen air pollution