Category: News

CDC Releases Survey on Substance Use Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among High School Students (April 30, 2023)

In 2021, substance use was common among U.S. high school students and varied by substance. Approximately one third of students (30%) reported current use (i.e., defined as use in the past 30 days) of alcohol or marijuana or prescription opioid misuse. Among current use measures, alcohol (22.7%) and marijuana (15.8%) were the most commonly reported substances used by U.S. high school students (Table 1). Current binge drinking was reported by 10.5% and current prescription opioid misuse by 6.0%. Among lifetime use measures, 47.4% of U.S. high school students reported alcohol use, 27.8% marijuana use, 12.2% prescription opioid misuse, 8.1% inhalant use, and 6.5% synthetic marijuana use. Among lifetime use measures, ecstasy (2.9%), cocaine (2.5%), methamphetamine (1.8%), injection drug use (1.4%), and heroin (1.3%) were less commonly reported.

Trend data were available for all substance use measures except current prescription opioid misuse. All substance use measures with available trend data decreased linearly over the period assessed (2009–2021 for most substances, 2015–2021 for lifetime synthetic marijuana use, and 2017–2021 for current binge drinking and lifetime prescription opioid misuse). From 2019 to 2021, prevalence of current substance use decreased for alcohol (from 29.2% to 22.7%), marijuana (from 21.7% to 15.8%), and binge drinking (from 13.7% to 10.5%). No change was observed in prevalence of current prescription opioid misuse. Lifetime alcohol use, marijuana use, cocaine use, and prescription opioid misuse also decreased from 2019 to 2021; lifetime inhalant use increased from 6.4% to 8.1%.

Compared with males, females had a higher prevalence of current substance use in 2021 for alcohol (26.8% versus 18.8%), marijuana (17.8% versus 13.6%), binge drinking (12.2% versus 9.0%), and prescription opioid misuse (8.0% versus 4.0%) (Table 2). Females also had a higher prevalence of lifetime alcohol use (53.2% versus 42.0%), lifetime marijuana use (30.9% versus 24.8%), lifetime prescription opioid misuse (14.8% versus 9.5%), and lifetime inhalant use (9.4% versus 6.8%) compared with males. However, males had a higher prevalence of lifetime heroin use (1.6% versus 0.8%) and injection drug use (1.7% versus 0.9%).

Changes in substance use from 2019 to 2021 varied by sex (Table 2). Current alcohol use decreased for both females and males. Males also had a 3.7% absolute decrease and a 30% relative decrease in binge drinking and a 2.1% absolute decrease and a 30% relative decrease in current prescription opioid misuse. Among lifetime use measures, alcohol and marijuana use decreased among both females and males. Decreases also were observed in ecstasy use, cocaine use, and prescription opioid misuse for males. However, for females, a 2.5% absolute increase and a 40% relative increase occurred in inhalant use from 2019 to 2021.

To view the study, click here.

PA HELPS Now Accepting Applications for School Mental Health Interns (April 30, 2023)

The PA Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) is now accepting applications from local education agencies (LEA) interested in participating in the PA Mental Health Education Learning Program in Schools (PA HELPS), a state-funded program to support Pennsylvania students with completing internships required for certification and employment as a school nurse, school counselor, school social worker, or school psychologist.

The funds are awarded and disbursed to the LEA where the student completes their internship.

To be considered for PA HELPS an LEA must:

  • Be located in Pennsylvania;
  • Be a school district, intermediate unit, area career and technical school, charter school, regional charter school, or cyber charter school;
  • Complete and execute a PA HELPS LEA Application and Agreement;
  • Provide PHEAA with a copy of the agreement establishing the internship between the LEA and the school the intern is attending for their Educational Specialist Preparation Program;
  • Employ a site supervisor for the intern that holds a certification in the same field that the intern is pursuing; and
  • Use 100% of the awarded funds to compensate the intern for their internship.

All LEAs are encouraged to apply.

For more information about the application process and student eligibility, please visit www.pheaa.org/PAHELPS.

PA House Ed. Committee Passes Bill to Address Teacher Shortage (April 27, 2023)

On April 24, 2023, the PA House Education Committee voted to approve a bill that would help to address the teacher shortage in the Commonwealth. HB 141, known as the Time for Pennsylvania to Grow Our Own Educators Act, would amend the Public School Code to develop talent recruitment by providing for a Talent Recruitment Account, as well as establishing the Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant Program and grow-your-own educator career pathways. The 12-9 committee vote for legislation, which would encourage paraprofessionals and other school support personnel to attend postsecondary schools to obtain their teaching credentials, was along party lines with no Republicans voting for its passage. It has now been re-committed to the House Appropriations Committee.

Shapiro Administration Committed To Helping Pennsylvanians Amid Major Federal Changes To Medicaid Renewals, SNAP (April 22, 2023)

​As a result of federal changes to Medicaid and CHIP which return to pre-pandemic renewal requirements, everyone who receives their health coverage through the state will need to complete a renewal sometime in the next year. Thus, Pennsylvanians who receive health coverage through the state must be aware of changes to Medicaid and CHIP programs and take action so they can protect themselves and stay covered. Importantly, they must keep their contact information up to date with the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) to stay covered.

The federal public health emergency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic allowed for individuals to remain enrolled in Medicaid even if they became ineligible based on regular eligibility criteria, except in certain circumstances. This was also known as the Medicaid continuous coverage requirement. However, a federal law ended the continuous coverage requirement on March 31, 2023. Thus, all Pennsylvanians receiving Medicaid or CHIP must complete their annual renewal when it is due to maintain their Medicaid or CHIP coverage. No one will lose Medicaid or CHIP coverage without first having an opportunity to renew their coverage.

Pennsylvanians can update their contact information, report changes in their personal circumstances, and check their renewal date:

● Online at www.dhs.pa.gov/COMPASS

● Via the free myCOMPASS PA Mobile App

● By calling 1-877-395-8930 (215-560-7226 if they live in Philadelphia)

● By calling 1-800-986-KIDS (5437) if they are currently enrolled in CHIP

Renewals will be completed over 12 months at a person’s usual time of renewal, and renewals due in April 2023 will be the first to be affected by the end of continuous coverage. If a person is found ineligible for coverage or does not complete their renewal on time, their Medicaid coverage will end. Pennsylvanians who are no longer eligible for Medicaid will be referred to other sources of affordable medical coverage, like CHIP and Pennie®, so they have no lapse in quality, affordable health care.

Pennie is specifically tailored for Pennsylvanians by providing access to a wide variety of affordable, quality plan options, particularly for those found ineligible for Medicaid or CHIP. If cost is a barrier to coverage, many customers can find plans for under $10 per month.

Pennie® is Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace and the only place to get financial assistance to help lower the cost of high-quality coverage and care. Those who are no longer eligible for Medicaid coverage can apply for coverage at pennie.com, and some individuals will have their information securely transferred from Medicaid or CHIP for an easier enrollment process. Customers can simply call Pennie Customer Service at 1-844-844-8040 or find Pennie-certified pros at pennie.com/connect.

In addition to changes to Medicaid renewals, those who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits saw a decrease in payments in March due to the end of federal pandemic-era policy. Since early 2020, SNAP recipients have been receiving an extra Emergency Allotment (EA) payment every month, but SNAP recipients will now receive just one SNAP payment moving forward. All SNAP households will lose a minimum of $95 a month in SNAP benefits with a statewide average loss of $181 per household. Additionally, a recent change to Social Security Income following the 2023 cost of living adjustment will cause some seniors and people with disabilities to experience, on average, a further $40 decrease in monthly benefits due to the end of SNAP EAs.

Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal to increase the minimum SNAP benefit for household with seniors and individuals with disabilities by 50% and provide universal free breakfast to all children in public school is designed to help combat the effects of the benefit decrease on the most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.

To learn more about the end of SNAP extra payments and resources in your community, visit www.dhs.pa.gov/SNAPCares.

To learn more about Medicaid and CHIP renewals and access educational resources, visit www.dhs.pa.gov/phe.

For more information on health insurance options available to Pennsylvanians, visit www.pa.gov/healthcare.