Communities observe National Prevention Week
Each year, National Prevention Week aims to address many of the underlying factors that can lead to substance use issues.
Prevention Week is an opportunity to raise awareness of substance misuse and mental health issues, and to collaborate on creating effective solutions and resources according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Chairperson for the Mercer County Coalition for Healthy Communities Candace Harless said that early prevention can affect everything from mental and physical health to social and financial status.
'Early prevention helps individuals live healthier lives, more stable lives and have better relationships, education and employment outcomes,' Harless told 59News.
One crucial aspect of prevention comes in the form of connection and community involvement, factors that can decrease risk for substance use and mental health issues, according to Fayette County Health Department Prevention Coordinator, Katie Johnson.
'We know that boredom or lack of success are a couple of reasons that kids experiment with drugs,' she said.
National Prevention Week will be observed from May 12 – May 17, offering a prime opportunity for folks to get involved and get educated on prevention.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa legislators cheer fentanyl reclassification, federal spending cuts
President Donald Trump signs the HALT Fentanyl Act, July 16, 2025, in the East Room of the White House. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is second from the right. (Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok) This week in the nation's capital, President Donald Trump signed a fentanyl reclassification act led by Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa legislators cheered the passing of a federal rescission bill through Congress and House members helped send a $832 billion defense appropriations bill through the GOP-led chamber. The Grassley-led HALT Act permanently reclassifies fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule 1 drug. In February 2020, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration issued a temporary scheduling order reclassifying fentanyl-related substances to Schedule 1. Congress has since extended this order a total of 10 times. The act has received criticism from advocacy groups such as the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights stating that classwide drug rescheduling may exacerbate incarceration rates and sentencing. The president's signing of the HALT Act Wednesday was attended by several Iowa officials including Grassley, Attorney General Brenna Bird and Rep. Randy Feenstra. 'The HALT Fentanyl Act is now the law of the land, marking a major victory in America's fight against fentanyl,' Grassley said in a press release. 'By permanently classifying fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I, the HALT Fentanyl Act will save American lives and prevent deadly fentanyl knockoffs from making their way into Iowa communities.' 'This bill is a huge win for Iowa and the entire country,' Bird said in a press release. 'As a mom and prosecutor, I am deeply aware of the devastating effects fentanyl has had on our communities. And as Attorney General, I hear about this issue from Iowans regularly. 'I applaud President Trump for signing into law the HALT Fentanyl Act and taking decisive action to keep fentanyl and other poisonous substances out of our country.' Feenstra stated. 'In conjunction with our work to secure the border, this legislation will help law enforcement confiscate dangerous drugs, combat the drug cartels, and save lives.' Rep. Ashley Hinson stated: 'This bill will help end the scourge of the opioid epidemic that has taken too many American lives — we will continue working together to get dangerous drugs off our streets & ensure dealers are punished for their crimes.' Rep. Zach Nunn also stated he 'proudly cosigned' the HALT act for its ability to 'crack down on traffickers,' keep 'deadly substances off our streets' and ensure consistent penalties for fentanyl distributors. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks stated in a press release: 'As an original cosponsor in the House, I was proud to help lead the fight to get this bill across the finish line. With this law in place, we're going on offense. We're giving law enforcement what they need to crack down, take control, and stop this poison from claiming more lives.' Miller-Meeks also reintroduced a bipartisan bill Thursday requiring social media companies and other communication service providers to alert law enforcement officials when illegal drug distributions occur on their platforms. All of Iowa's delegates voted in favor of Trump's rescission bill to axe $9 billion in previously approved funding for programs including the U.S. Agency for International Aid, The Corporation for Public Broadcasting and National Public Radio. The rescission bill passed both chambers of Congress Friday with a vote of 51-48 in the Senate and 216-213 in the House. This marks the second time in over three decades Congress has approved a presidential rescission request. Ernst praised the cuts to USAID, citing 'abuses' such as an alleged $148,000 sent to a pickle-maker in Ukraine through USAID and $20 million spent on Sesame Street programming in Iraq. 'If we are ever going to get serious about our debt crisis, Congress needs to pass a rescissions bill like this every single week,' she stated in a press release. Hinson responded to the bill with a statement on X: 'President Trump is the first president to actually deliver on real savings for the American people and end the culture of wasteful spending in Washington.' Grassley took to X as well to state 'Fed govt is $36 TRILLION in debt Last night Sen Republicans voted to roll back DC's out of control spending.' He added that Republicans plan to build on the provisions in the 'big, beautiful bill' going forward. Miller-Meeks called the rescission cuts a one of two 'big wins for the American people' in an X post. She also cheered the passing of a defense appropriations bill increasing military spending. Democrats in both the House and Senate voted against passing the rescission bill. Several Democratic legislators criticized the rescission bill for cutting funding from public broadcasting that will impact rural news sources and withdrawing U.S. support from countries in need. Ernst led an amendment to the defense appropriations bill to require all defense spending be posted on the public website This amendment will directly target 'Other Transaction Agreements' which are flexible spending agreements not subject to standard acquisition laws and requirements. 'I am ending Pentagon bureaucrats' game of hide and seek with your tax dollars,' Ernst stated in a press release. 'Americans have a right to know where their hard-earned dollars are going. I've long been working to make the Pentagon more transparent and accountable and will continue to work to review the hidden receipts.' The expansive defense bill passed through the House with a split vote of 221-209 on Friday. It allocates nearly $832 billion for provisions such as: Basic pay increase for all military members by 3.8% starting 2026 Codifies Trump's executive order to end military diversity, equity and inclusion programs $13 billion for missile defense and space programs $7 billion for 'classified space superiority programs.' $2.6 billion for hypersonic missiles. $1.15 billion for counterdrug programs $500 million for Israeli Missile Defense $500 million for Taiwan Security Operative Miller-Meeks responded to the provisions in a press release stating: 'This bill gives our troops the pay raise they deserve and the resources they need to defend this country.' The bill moves to the Senate for reconciliation. Cedar Rapids is set to receive $25 million in federal funding through the Grassley-backed Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021. The funding is allocated for a 'flood resiliency project' and road improvements on highway I-380. 'I'm happy to announce that the City of Cedar Rapids is receiving a $25 million award to improve its flood resilience and infrastructure,' Grassley said in a press release. 'You can imagine how important this funding is for Cedar Rapids, after the city has been hit by devastating floods. These federal dollars will be put to good use to strengthen the Cedar Rapids community.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
USA Today
03-07-2025
- USA Today
MIRA Reports Potent Inflammatory Pain Relief from Non-Psychoactive Marijuana Analog Mira-55 in Animal Model, Matching Morphine Without Opioid Risks
With Mira-55 and Ketamir-2, MIRA is advancing complementary non-opioid therapies for two of the largest pain markets MIRA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MIRA) ('MIRA' or the 'Company'), a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing novel therapeutics for neurologic, neuropsychiatric, and metabolic disorders, today announced positive preclinical data demonstrating that Mira-55, the Company's proprietary non-psychotropic marijuana analog, delivered morphine-comparable pain relief in a validated model of inflammatory pain-without causing local inflammation. Mira-55 is a next-generation analog of marijuana, engineered to selectively activate CB2 cannabinoid receptors, which are associated with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Unlike THC, Mira-55 minimizes activation of CB1 receptors, reducing the risk of euphoria, sedation, and pro-inflammatory side effects. 'These results reinforce the value of Mira-55 as a differentiated cannabinoid-based therapy with real clinical potential,' said Erez Aminov, Chairman and CEO of MIRA. 'We believe the drug's ability to match morphine's pain relief-without the baggage of addiction, sedation, or THC-like effects-makes Mira-55 an ideal candidate for large, underserved inflammatory pain markets. It's another step in building a non-opioid pain franchise that addresses both inflammatory and neuropathic pain.' Study Overview and Key Findings Mira-55 was tested using the formalin model, a gold-standard preclinical method for studying inflammatory pain. In this model, formalin is injected into the rat's paw, producing a pain response that mimics human inflammatory pain. Pain sensitivity was assessed using Von Frey Filament testing, which measures tactile pain thresholds, and inflammation was measured by paw edema volume. Key findings: Mira-55 reduced pain sensitivity by approximately threefold, restoring thresholds to near-baseline levels. Its analgesic effect was equivalent to morphine, the standard opioid comparator in the study. No sedation or inflammatory swelling was observed with Mira-55 treatment. Importantly, following a scientific review, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) determined that Mira-55 is not classified as a controlled substance. This designation supports the compound's long-term clinical and commercial viability and removes key barriers typically associated with cannabinoid-based drug development. These results build on prior data from a separate inflammatory pain model conducted by a leading U.S. academic research center, where Mira-55 blocked both thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia without increasing inflammation. In contrast, low-dose THC in that model exacerbated inflammation-further validating Mira-55's selective pharmacological profile. 'Mira-55 offers the pain-relieving potential of cannabinoids without the liabilities traditionally seen in THC-based drugs,' said Dr. Itzchak Angel, Chief Scientific Advisor at MIRA. 'Its novel structure and unique profile with CB2 selectivity and non-scheduled DEA status make it a compelling candidate for treating inflammation-driven pain conditions that are poorly managed by today's standards.' Strategic Fit Within MIRA's Pain Portfolio Mira-55 complements Ketamir-2, MIRA's clinical-stage NMDA receptor antagonist, which is advancing through Phase 1 development for neuropathic pain. While Ketamir-2 addresses nerve-related pain through central mechanisms, Mira-55 targets inflammatory pain through the endocannabinoid system. Together, they represent two mechanistically distinct, non-opioid approaches to treating chronic pain. 'With Mira-55 and Ketamir-2, we now have two highly differentiated drug candidates with the potential to transform how inflammatory and neuropathic conditions are treated,' added Aminov. 'We're advancing each asset methodically, and we're energized by the momentum we've built across the pipeline.' Corporate Update on SKNY Merger MIRA also announced continued progress on its previously disclosed acquisition of SKNY Pharmaceuticals, the developer of SKNY-1, a novel investigational therapy targeting both obesity and nicotine addiction. In recent studies, SKNY-1 demonstrated a 30% reduction in body weight without muscle loss, along with a reversal of nicotine cravings-highlighting its potential as a differentiated treatment in two major markets. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has completed its review of the merger proxy with no comments, allowing MIRA to proceed with shareholder approval and the final steps toward completing the transaction. 'We are pleased to report that the SEC had no comments on our merger filing, which reflects the quality of our regulatory and business preparation,' said Aminov. 'This milestone allows us to advance toward shareholder approval with clarity and confidence as we prepare for the next phase of growth.' Next Steps MIRA Pharmaceuticals is advancing Mira-55 toward an Investigational New Drug (IND) submission, with ongoing activities supporting future clinical development in inflammatory pain. The Company remains focused on progressing both lead programs-Mira-55 and Ketamir-2-toward their next regulatory and clinical milestones. About MIRA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. MIRA Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:MIRA) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel therapeutics for neurologic, neuropsychiatric, and metabolic disorders. The Company's pipeline includes oral drug candidates designed to address significant unmet medical needs in areas such as neuropathic pain, inflammatory pain, obesity, addiction, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release and the statements of MIRA's management related thereto contain 'forward-looking statements,' which are statements other than historical facts made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements may be identified by words such as 'aims,' 'anticipates,' 'believes,' 'could,' 'estimates,' 'expects,' 'forecasts,' 'goal,' 'intends,' 'may,' 'plans,' 'possible,' 'potential,' 'seeks,' 'will,' and variations of these words or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Any statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be deemed forward-looking. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on MIRA's current expectations, estimates, and projections only as of the date of this release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties (many of which are beyond MIRA's control) that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including related to MIRA's potential merger with SKNY Pharmaceuticals, Inc. These and other risks concerning MIRA's programs and operations are described in additional detail in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and the Form 14A filed by MIRA on June 18, 2025, and other SEC filings, which are on file with the SEC at and on MIRA's website at MIRA explicitly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except to the extent required by law. Contact: Helga Moya info@ (786) 432-9792 SOURCE: MIRA Pharmaceuticals View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
Miami Herald
02-07-2025
- Miami Herald
Doctor in training stole fentanyl meant for children at WA hospital, feds say
A 35-year-old doctor in training is accused of stealing fentanyl from children at a Washington hospital, federal officials said. Andrew Voegel-Podadera was charged with two counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, fraud, deception and subterfuge, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said in a July 1 news release. Voegel-Podadera, an anesthesiologist resident, told investigators he stole medication from both children and adult patients over the course of a year, and would sometimes administer it intravenously while working, authorities said in a federal complaint. 'Drug addiction spares no one. It can impact anyone. And the literature, in particular, shows greater incidents of drug addiction among medical practitioners than other segments of society because of their exposure and access,' his attorney, Ronald J. Friedman, told McClatchy News by phone July 2. 'Dr. Voegel is responding to the matter as best as he can. He's enrolling in a Washington Physicians Health Program in Washington state designed to help medical professionals stabilize and treat their addiction.' An investigation into Voegel-Podadera was prompted Dec. 27, when a doctor he was working under at the Seattle Children's Hospital suspected he was 'diverting controlled substances,' a special agent said in the complaint. That day, Voegel-Podadera treated three children at the hospital, authorities said. A record of the medication given to those patients said he administered fentanyl and hydromorphone — both potent and powerful narcotics, the agent said. His records indicated there was wastage in the syringes, yet when the hospital tested them it found nothing but saline solution, according to the complaint. The physician also suspected Voegel-Podadera was working while under the influence of drugs because of his behavior and 'unexplained delays and absences from the operating room,' officials said in the DEA release. During the investigation, Voegel-Podadera told authorities he had been stealing medicine since January 2024 while on rotations at the University of Washington Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center, prosecutors said. He told authorities he would draw up the medication, take some and give some to patients, the special agent said. He is accused of stealing fentanyl, remifentanil, sufentanil and hydromorphone, among other medications, prosecutors said. The DEA suspended Voegel-Podadera's prescribing abilities June 12, and he was arrested June 24. 'Diverting medicine away from infant patients is despicable, doubly so if the person involved is a doctor,' David F. Reames, special agent in charge for the DEA Seattle Field Division, said in the news release.
