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Closeup shot of athlete's feet wearing a pair of athletes' shoes sitting in a dark long hallway.

Student-athlete substance use during COVID-19

Author: Katherine McLean, Ph.D.
Published:

Article Topics: substance use, prevention, student athletes The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on substance use has been complex and varied, if not entirely unexpected. Despite restrictions in access to both licit and illicit drugs, there is evidence of both increased use, and increased harm, associated with the use of certain drugs. Some experts fear an uptick in alcohol consumption among individuals seeking to cope with stress related to isolation, unemployment and general uncertainty, with recent surveys showing increases in both drinking and relapse among individuals diagnosed with alcohol use disorder . The pandemic may also demonstrate the…
A closeup shot of hands of people with different skin colors holding up together in a circle.

COVID-19 and Social Injustice – A Wake-up Call in 2020(?)

Author: Damon Jones, Ph.D. , Diana Fishbein, Ph.D.
Published:

Article Topics: prevention, community, health, disparities, racial injustice Introduction As 2020 continues, the COVID-19 pandemic has become a way of life. Across the globe, people are engaging in novel routines that these unprecedented times demand to stay healthy, gainfully employed, and connected, and to navigate the roller coaster of emotions. Compounding the personal rigors of managing daily lives is the increasing scarcity of community resources on which people depend. Community leaders and government officials are scrambling to determine the most efficient and effective ways to assist people during a crisis with no apparent end, facing decisions that were, up…
A close shot of Sweden national flag hanging on a Sweden street.

Reflections from Living in Sweden during COVID-19

Author: Lara Fowler, JD
Published:

Article Topics: health, prevention, international, health care This is the second of a three-part post describing my family’s experience as visiting scholars in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this post, I will provide a chronological description of Sweden’s response to COVID-19, including my husband’s personal experience with what was most likely COVID-19. In the final post, I will summarize where Sweden stands now and what can be learned from their experience. Through our personal experiences I hope to shed some light on what is happening in Sweden and to provide recommendations for the future. Introduction As noted in the original post, our…
A close shot of Sweden national flag hanging on a Sweden street.

Reflections from Living in Sweden during COVID-19

Author: Lara Fowler, JD
Published:

Article Topics: health, prevention, international, health care This three-part post will describe my family’s experience as visiting scholars in Sweden during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this first part, to appropriately contextualize our experiences, I will describe the unique dynamics of Sweden including its health care system, its citizens’ trust in government, and population demographics. In the second post, I will provide a chronological description of Sweden’s response to COVID-19, including my husband’s personal experience with what was most likely COVID-19. In the final post, I will summarize where Sweden stands now and what can be learned from…
A women running outdoor in the sunset

Staying Active During a Global Pandemic

Author: Dr. Danielle Downs
Published:

Article Topics: prevention, health, exercise Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials, medical professionals, researchers, and messaging from the media have encouraged people of all ages to regularly wash hands, practice social distancing, wear a mask when advised, and to get outdoors and engage in physical activity. Outside physical activity during a pandemic? On the surface, this guidance seems counterintuitive to county- and state-wide stay at home orders. In Pennsylvania, a three-phrase matrix is used to determine when counties and/or regions can ease restrictions on work and social interactions. Across…
Closeup shot of two unrecognizable people holding hands tightly.

Managing Uncertainty while Serving the Community

Author: Ashley Stauffer, M.S., PMP
Published:

Article Topics: community, homelessness, human services, non-profit, prevention, civic-engagement, Centre County, Pennsylvania Currently, there over 1.7 million total unemployment compensation claims in Pennsylvania, an over 1000% increase in claims since early March, and only second to California . Considering that Pennsylvania is leading the nation in unemployment claims , and other states perhaps soon to follow, a sense of unease about the future settles in. The long-term economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic have yet to be revealed. The statewide “pause” of non-life-sustaining businesses enacted as a necessary prevention and mitigation measure will impact us all. How we live through and…
Lonely man sitting in a dark tunnel.

COVID-19: Implications and Opportunities for Substance Use Disorder

Author: Glenn Sterner, Ph.D.
Published:

Article Topics: substance use disorder, treatment, prevention, Pennsylvania As we learn about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our society it is clear that they are often felt most deeply in disadvantaged and marginalized communities. This public health crisis has exposed the systemic weaknesses that serve these populations, illuminating clear directions for addressing them now, and highlighting the need to rethink our future strategies, policies, and services. Especially vulnerable during this crisis are those affected by substance use disorder (SUD). In the face of the demands on our health care system and policies that protect against virus spread, it is…