Tag Archives: public health

Today we look at the local effects of COVID-19 in and around the major cities of Italy and then we’ll widen our view to try to see the socio-political impacts of governmentality in the face of a crisis like a pandemic. Using both lenses we hope to find a focus that often escapes us when confronting the global and seemingly …

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to change life on the outside for people all over the world, the prison population stands to suffer immensely in these times. Last week, we spoke to someone in Italy, who described the riots and protests inside and outside the prisons in areas around that country. This week, we are sharing messages from people all …

It’s a felony to have a syringe in Indiana. Prosecuting attorneys can level a felony charge against a defendant, if they’re arrested in possession of a needle. In Monroe County, the number of arrests for needle possession doubled over the last year, despite the Monroe County Prosecutor’s office agreeing to throw out many syringe charges. Needle exchanges were allowed to …

The Indiana Recovery Alliance and the Shalom Community Center handed out Hepatitis A vaccinations in Bloomington this afternoon. Indiana Recovery Alliance Founder and Director Chris Abert said the area organizations handed out around a dozen vaccinations for the disease. Abert said people experiencing homelessness and drug addiction are the among the most susceptible demographics to contract the disease, which is …

The city of Bloomington is proposing a ban on new addictions treatment facilities. The drafted ordinance would place a moratorium on the further development of rehab facilities within city limits. According to a press release from the city, the ordinance was written after meeting with representatives from for-profit and non-profit treatment centers in the Bloomington area. Ordinance 18-14 blocks any …

The Indiana Recovery Alliance, based in Bloomington, is closing in on reversing 2,000 overdoses. The announcement comes as a new study puts into context the economic impact of the opioid crisis on Indiana. Founder and Director Chris Abert says while that’s a de-humanizing perspective to approach the public health crisis from, it helps to convince legislators why harm-reduction efforts are …

A program that provided afternoon snacks to Fairview Elementary School students has hit a roadblock; A 17-year-old from Mooresville is being tried as an adult for an incident which included an attempt to shoot a Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputy; A local property management company was the target of protest last week; The Monroe County Solid Waste Management Board has approved …

The Indiana Recovery Alliance, which started its needle exchange program in February of this year, is expanding its services into Lawrence County starting tomorrow. The Alliance was also recently re-approved by the state to continue the needle exchange program in Monroe County for another year. Needle exchange programs provide drug users with clean needles and prevent the spread of Hepatitis …

Five Indiana counties have established syringe-exchange programs, also known as SEPs, following a change in Indiana law last year. The State Department of Health reports that while Fayette, Madison, and Wayne counties have SEP programs; the vast majority of participants, nearly 90 percent, are in Scott and Monroe Counties. That’s according to a story by Indiana Public Media. Scott County …