Critical Releases in Homeland Security: June 15, 2022

From the Introduction from the Surgeon General: "Years ago, when I was training to be a physician, the older, more experienced doctors passed down a morsel of wisdom to those of us who were just beginning our careers: 'Never stand when you can sit. Never sit when you can lay down. And never stay awake when you can sleep.' They knew then what we would come to discover: that health workers, across clinical and community settings, whether caring for patients or managing a public health crisis, have long faced difficult, irregular hours in challenging, and extraordinarily stressful, working environments. That so many health workers have been able to persevere and perform despite those conditions is a testament to our training, our teammates, and the ideals that have called us to serve. But day after day spent stretched too thin, fighting against ever increasing administrative requirements, and without the resources to provide our patients and communities with the care they need, drove many nurses, doctors, community health workers, and public health staff to the brink. Then came COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]. The pandemic has accelerated the mental health and burnout crisis that is now affecting not only health workers, but the communities they serve. [...] Addressing health worker burnout is about more than health. It's about reflecting the deeper values that we aspire to as a society--values that guide us to look out for one another and to support those who are seeking to do the same. Health workers have had our backs during the most difficult moments of the pandemic. It's time for us to have theirs."

From the Document: "We have the incredible opportunity to take action and become a climate-resilient nation. After all, we have no choice. To become climate resilient requires collective action. Our efforts must take a Whole-of-Government and Whole Community approach. The 'Resilient Nation Partnership Network' is working to address this through partnership. The result of our collective action is this 'Building Alliances for Climate Action' resource. It is the work of many organizations and individuals, including federal representatives, faith leaders, community-based organizations, mayors and many more. At a time when many are searching for direction on how to address the climate crisis, this resource represents a unifying voice, helping guide the Whole Community forward. 'Building Alliances for Climate Action' is more than a resource. It tells a story of a future that is hopeful and bright. The only way we achieve that future is together."

From the Introduction: "COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] has intensified the nation's troubling long-term trends for alcohol, drug, and suicide deaths. [...] Five years ago, Trust for America's Health and Well Being Trust started the Pain in the Nation report series to examine the alcohol, drug, and suicide crises in the United States and called for a comprehensive National Resilience Strategy. [...] The first Pain in the Nation report projected that, if mortality trends held steady, drug-induced deaths would reach 28.4 deaths per 100,000 people in 2025. In reality, that projection was low and was reached by 2020--within half the time expected. Despite the various federal and state programs and policies implemented, they have not slowed the trends, and likely were insufficient--especially considering that the worldwide pandemic further exacerbated existing problems. The latest provisional data show fatal overdoses exceeding 100,000 Americans annually, driven by a significant rise in synthetic opioid and psychostimulant overdoses. Policymakers, health officials, and all Americans must recognize the shortcomings of existing policy efforts to address the ever-changing and escalating drug overdose crisis and also consider how to make progress in the years ahead. This brief includes three sections: (1) a look back at the past two decades of the drug overdose crisis and a reconsideration of policy priorities; (2) a review of the latest mortality trends from alcohol, drugs, and suicide; and (3) an outline of key policy solutions and recommendations to stem and reverse these trends."