According to an article entitled “Addressing rural area drug addiction key to reducing spread of hepatitis C” by Don Sapatkin, a Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer, new cases of hepatitis C rose one hundred and fifty percent between 2010 and 2013 nationwide, and even more in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. By far the highest rates of new cases were among teenagers and young adults who inject drugs - predominantly in rural areas. After building up a tolerance, users have begun to crush up pills and inject directly into the vein, which requires use of a much larger gauge needle, increasing the possibility of transmitting Hepatitis C. (Sapatkin, 2015) Most rural counties don't have any of the services, from testing to outreach and treatment, which are taken for granted in big cities. It was determined that the main goal is to educate those in rural areas of the effects of sharing dirty needles and also to aim to reduce addiction in the first place, but financial additions need to be made in order for this to be possible. (Sapatkin, 2015) The second article, deals with mental health both in America overall, and in Philadelphia, specifically. The article is entitled “Philadelphia succeeds without ‘asylums’”. This article attempts to show that, even though there has been a movement to attempt to bring back asylums, there is not a necessity for this because of all the programs that have been developed to help with mental illness in Philadelphia. (Evans, Jr, Matlin, Hurford, 2015) Housing has been made available through the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the Office of Supportive Housing, and the Department of Behavioral Health/Intellectual Disability Services (DBHIDS). (Evans, et al, 2015) DBHIDS also has free and anonymous online screenings and regular public engagements at health fairs, in addition to programs like Mental Health First Aid, which is a free training program to help people recognize someone experiencing a behavioral health challenge and offer support. (Evan, et al, 2015) This also helps to decrease the amount of stigma attached to mental illness. Two other community programs involved with treatment of mental illness are the Journey of Hope and Philadelphia’s Day Treatment of Maintenance programs to Community Integrated Recovery Centers. (Evans, et al, 2015) I think that these articles could fall under both community health and public health, because they both have the main goal of encouraging, preserving, and sustaining the community’s health. These are both issues that are in the public as a general population and in our community’s on a more personal level. All communities deal with both mental illness and drug addiction and can benefit from studies being done and learning about new programs that have been successful or effective teaching strategies that have made positive strides in combating these illnesses.
Evans, Jr, A., Matlin, S., & Hurford, M. (n.d.). Philadelphia succeeds without ‘asylums’. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/public_health/Philadelphia-succeeds-without-asylums.html#8xdfrlVCHW3mCOeg.99
Sapatkin, D. (2015, May 17). Addressing rural area drug addiction key to reducing spread of Hepatitis C. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2015, May 18 from http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/public_health/Philadelphia-succeeds-without-asylums.html#8xdfrlVCHW3mCOeg.99