Expanding access to Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) in jails: A comprehensive program evaluation.

Introduction: Individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) transitioning from jails or prisons to the community are at high risk of overdose-related death shortly after release. Buprenorphine, methadone, and extended-release naltrexone are FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) to reduce overdose risk and increase treatment engagement. Despite the evidence, many correctional facilities in the United States do not provide MOUD to their incarcerated population.

Need for Improved Timeliness of Reporting on Drug Overdose Fatalities: The HEALing Communities Study.

Objective: Timely data on drug overdose deaths can help identify community needs, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and allocate resources. We identified variations in death investigation and reporting systems within and between states that affect the timeliness and accuracy of death certificate information.

Methods: The HEALing Communities Study (HCS) is a community-engaged, data-driven approach to combating the opioid crisis in 67 communities in 4 states: Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio.

What is the prevalence of and trend in opioid use disorder in the United States from 2010 to 2019? Using multiplier approaches to estimate prevalence for an unknown population size.

Opioid-related overdose deaths have increased since 2010 in the U.S., but information on trends in opioid use disorder (OUD) prevalence is limited due to unreliable data.

An analysis of mercury exposures among the adult population in New York State.

The extent of methylmercury exposures among adults in New York State (NYS) has not been well characterized. Over the past few years, the NYS Heavy Metals Registry (HMR) has seen an increase in both blood mercury tests being reported, and nonoccupational exposures to mercury, which appear primarily due to fish consumption. This study will, (1) Characterize the adults who are tested for blood mercury in NYS; (2) Examine the circumstances for blood mercury testing; and (3) Characterize this population in terms of exposure history, specifically those individuals who are non-occupationally exposed through a diet of seafood consumption in reference to blood mercury levels.

Exposure sources and reasons for testing among women with low blood lead levels.

Previous research has focused on highly elevated blood lead (PbB). This study examined reasons for testing and potential sources of exposure among women with PbBs less than 0.72 μmol/l (15 μg/dl).

Evaluation of a communications campaign to increase physician reporting to a surveillance system.

While all states have regulations requiring reporting of diseases from healthcare professionals and facilities, underreporting is substantial. To improve reporting to the New York State (NYS) Occupational Lung Disease Registry (OLDR), the NYS Department of Health's Bureau of Occupational Health initiated a multimedia campaign to increase case ascertainment and establish communication channels and partnerships for conducting prevention. The outreach campaign was successful in raising physician awareness about the OLDR, familiarizing physicians with reporting forms and procedures, and increasing physician reporting.

Maternal low-level lead exposure and fetal growth.

Background: Limited epidemiologic studies have examined the association between maternal low-level lead exposure [blood lead (PbB) < 10 µg/dL] and fetal growth.

Objective: We examined whether maternal low-level lead exposure is associated with decreased fetal growth.

Methods: We linked New York State Heavy Metals Registry records of women who had PbB measurements with birth certificates to identify 43,288 mother-infant pairs in upstate New York in a retrospective cohort study from 2003 through 2005.

Adult blood lead reporting in New York State, 1994-2006.

Objectives: Laboratories that test New York State (NYS) employees and adult residents for lead exposure are required to report blood lead test results to the NYS Department of Health's Heavy Metals Registry. This registry is used to monitor exposures and to identify new high-risk occupational and nonoccupational activities.

Methods: We used interviews conducted with people having blood lead levels of > or = 25 micrograms/deciliter (microg/dL) reported to the Heavy Metals Registry to determine the primary source of lead exposure.

Surveillance of work-related asthma in new york state.

Objective: The objective of this paper is to determine the percent of adults with asthma attributable to work and describe characteristics of the work-related asthma population in New York State. Sociodemographic and control characteristics of those with and without work-related asthma are compared.

Methods: Data from three population-based surveys and one case-based surveillance system were analyzed.

Lead exposure among target shooters.

The New York State Heavy Metals Registry receives reports on all New Yorkers tested for lead. The Registry was reviewed for information on individuals who had lead exposure from target shooting. Overall, 598 individuals have been reported with exposures from target shooting.

The effect of message type on physician compliance with disease reporting requirements.

Objective: Despite the existence of mandatory reporting laws, the underreporting of disease conditions to public health authorities is widespread. This article describes an evaluation of the effects of using different appeals to promote complete and timely reporting to the New York State Occupational Lung Disease Registry (NYS OLDR).

Methods: Three-hundred sixty-eight physicians who had not reported patients were randomly assigned to receive correspondence emphasizing either the legal obligation to report, the public health benefits of reporting, or both.

Characteristics of patients with work-related asthma seen in the New York State Occupational Health Clinics.

Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize the work-related asthma population seen by the New York State Occupational Health Clinic Network (OHCN) to determine which industries, occupations, and causal agents are associated with work-related asthma in New York State (NYS).

Methods: The OHCN patient database was analyzed to identify those patients with a diagnosis of work-related asthma and medical charts were then abstracted for data on demographics, clinical history, disease severity, industry, occupation, and putative agent.

Results: The OHCN patients with work-related asthma were most commonly employed in the service and manufacturing industries.

The NIOSH Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program: a New York case study illustrating the impact of a farm manure pump PTO entanglement.

The New York Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) program is designed to identify and study fatal occupational injuries in New York State. The New York FACE program is supported by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and administered by the New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) in cooperation with Cornell University. New York FACE investigators evaluate information from multiple sources, conduct objective on-site investigations, and then summarize their findings in narrative reports that include recommendations for preventing similar events in the future.