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Low-Income Energy Assistance Available

Households in Pender County with a person aged 60 or more, or someone receiving disability and services from the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services may qualify for a one-time vender payment to help pay their heating bill during the cold winter season. Depending on the primary heating source, eligible households will receive $300, $400 or $500 toward their heating bill.

To be eligible, you must meet certain requirements and apply in person from December 2-31.
More information can be found here: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/…/low-i…/low-income-energy-assistance

NCDHHS: Lung Injury Cases Related to Vaping Increase; E-cigarette Use on the Rise

Lung Injury Cases Related to Vaping Increase; E-cigarette Use on the Rise

Raleigh

Oct 29, 2019

The number of North Carolina cases of severe lung injury associated with e-cigarette use or vaping continues to rise with 61 cases in people ranging in age from 13 to 72. The North Carolina cases are among a rising outbreak reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of 1,604 cases and 34 deaths in the United States and the US Virgin Islands as of Oct. 22. The acute lung injury cases have occurred in the context of a rapid rise of e-cigarette use by young people.

Lung injury cases are being reported in younger adults and teenagers. Approximately 79% of patients are under 35 years of age, 40% are 18-24, and 14% are younger than 18. All patients reported a history of using e-cigarette or vaping products, with most reporting a history of using THC-containing products. THC is the primary psychoactive component in cannabis. Eighty percent of North Carolina cases interviewed reported vaping THC; 75% of North Carolina cases interviewed reported vaping flavors, 70% vaped nicotine, 50% vaped THC and nicotine, and 30% vaped CBD. No single product or source has been linked to all lung injury cases.

NCDHHS has joined the CDC’s efforts to urge people to consider not using e-cigarette or vaping products, especially e-cigarette or vaping products that contain THC.

“Those who use e-cigarettes or vaping products should not obtain them through informal sources and should not modify or add any substances,” said Dr. Zack Moore, State Epidemiologist.

The acute lung illness outbreak is occurring on top of rapidly rising rates of e-cigarette use among youth. The biennial 2017 North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey found that although cigarette smoking was the lowest ever recorded among high school students at 8.9%, e-cigarette use increased 894% since 2011. E-cigarettes have become the most commonly used tobacco product among youth in North Carolina and 9.6% of high schoolers report having vaped cannabis. This rate is expected to rise.

“This severe lung disease epidemic and the rise in youth use of e-cigarettes is deeply troubling,” said Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, State Health Director and Chief Medical Officer for DHHS. “As a pediatrician, I know that nicotine can harm areas of the brain that influence attention, learning, mood and impulse control. Nicotine use at a young age can also rewire pathways in the brain, priming it for future addiction – to nicotine and other substances.” Dr. Tilson testified Opens in New Window Sept. 25 before a House Committee on Commerce and Energy on the topic.

The North Carolina Division of Public Health (DPH) and Department of Public Instruction (DPI) Healthy Schools initiative have worked together to help implement 100% tobacco free schools policies, considering this new and challenging e-cigarette epidemic, and to increase awareness among youth of nicotine levels in e-cigarette products.

DPI and DPH also promote measures to help students, parents and staff recognize youth e-cigarette use as an addiction and to provide evidence-based prevention and tobacco treatment education and counseling, rather than to suspend students who are addicted to nicotine. CATCH My Breath is an evidence-based tobacco use prevention curriculum that addresses middle and high schoolers’ use of e-cigarettes. The curriculum is available free of charge to NC schools. Fifty-six schools in NC have implemented this curriculum serving more than 17,000 students since 2017, and demand is growing.

Another resource, the Truth Initiative, serves as a further resource and has expanded its quit-smoking resources to include a first-of-its kind e-cigarette quit program. To access TRUTH’s new e-cigarette quit program, users can text “DITCHJUUL” to 88709. QuitlineNC Opens in New Window (1-800-QuitNow or 1-800-784-8669) is also available 24/7 with online, text and telephone programs to help young people addicted to any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes.

New clinical guidance for managing acute lung injury Opens in New Window from the CDC and NCDHHS also urges people to receive a flu shot to protect against a combination of the flu and lung injury from vaping. NCDHHS will continue to monitor this outbreak and report any new information weekly at www.tobaccopreventionandcontrol.ncdhhs.gov/ecigs.

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/lung-injury-cases-related-vaping-increase-e-cigarette-use-rise

Medication Disposal Event

FREE Medication Disposal Event!

Saturday October 26th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Dispose of your outdated medications. All medications will be accepted. Syringes and other sharps accepted.

View the flyer for more information and drop-off locations.

Stay Healthy in the Heat

Stay healthy in the heat!

Dangerous heat wave alert for our area today and through the weekend.
Recognize symptoms of heat illness and take action!

Here are some tips to from the National Weather Service to stay safe.

 

Shingles vaccine available at the Pender County Health Department

Shingles vaccine available at the Pender County Health Department.

Immunizations are available on a walk-in basis.
At the following locations:

Pender County Health Department
803 South Walker Street Burgaw NC, 28425
Phone: (910) 259-1230
Open Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm

Hampstead Annex
15060 US HWY 17 Hampstead, NC 28443
Open every Wednesday from, 12:00pm – 5:00pm

For more information please call 910-259-1487

https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/downloads/shingles-factsheet-adults.pdf

ATTENTION MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES: NOTICE OF YOUR RIGHTS UNDER HAWKINS v. COHEN

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA

MARCIA ELENA QUINTEROS HAWKINS, ALICIA FRANKLIN, VANESSA LACHOWSKI, and KYANNA SHIPP, on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated,

 

Plaintiffs,

v.

MANDY COHEN, in her official capacity as Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services,

Defendant.

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Civil Case No.:  5:17-cv-00581-FL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTENTION MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES: NOTICE OF YOUR RIGHTS UNDER HAWKINS v. COHEN

Hawkins v. Cohen (5:17-CV-581 E.D.N.C.) is a federal lawsuit filed in 2017 on behalf of Medicaid beneficiaries in North Carolina. The case concerns improper terminations of Medicaid benefits.

The Court hearing the case has certified it as a class action. This means that the case is to help not just the people who filed the case but other Medicaid beneficiaries whose Medicaid has been or will be terminated improperly.

The Court has ordered the N.C. Medicaid agency to stop terminations or reductions of Medicaid benefits until eligibility under all Medicaid categories has been considered and advance notice of the right to a hearing has been mailed to you.   For example, if you get Medicaid based on having a minor child who is turning eighteen years old, your county Department of Social Services must consider whether you are disabled before they stop your Medicaid.

If you have any questions about this lawsuit or about your rights, you may contact the attorneys who filed the case, the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy. You can reach these lawyers by calling this toll free number: 1-800-936-4971. You can also send the lawyers an email at Hawkinsinfo@charlottelegaladvocacy.org.

You also may contact these lawyers if you want to report that you lost your Medicaid without a decision that you were no longer eligible for Medicaid under any category or without receiving advance written notice that your Medicaid would stop. There is no cost to you for any help that these lawyers provide to you.

A printable version of this information may be found here.

 

Don’t Pay to File your Taxes

United Way has partnered with industry leader H&R Block to help people easily and accurately file both their federal and state taxes through MyFreeTaxes®. MyFreeTaxes is the only free, national, online tax filing product offered by a nonprofit, because United Way fights for the financial stability of every person in every community. United Way is committed to ensuring that people can easily and accurately file their taxes to receive the refunds they deserve.

Please see more information on the flyer below, and click here to set up an account to file taxes through MyFreeTaxes!
A printable version of the flyer is located here.

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