Latest news with #RxandIllicitDrugSummit
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
North Dakota farmers feeling effects of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s health kick
Secretary of U.S. Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 24, 2025. (John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s push to 'Make America Healthy Again' is making some North Dakota farmers queasy. Kennedy's MAHA movement shuns highly processed foods and dyes. But it also includes an attack on oils made from seeds such as sunflowers and canola, with North Dakota being a leading producer of those specialty crops. These oils are among what has become known as the 'Hateful Eight,' oils from canola, corn, cottonseed, grapeseed, soy, rice bran, sunflower and safflower targeted by the MAHA movement. During a roundtable discussion last week in Fargo with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, representatives of crops such as sunflowers, canola, soybeans and lentils said the MAHA movement is troubling for their members. Rollins is part of a MAHA Commission, created by President Donald Trump, with Kennedy as the chair. John Sandbakken is executive director of the National Sunflower Association, headquartered in North Dakota but representing growers around the country. He said he has heard from farmers in multiple states concerned about the Rollins' role on the MAHA Commission, led by Kennedy. 'There's a lot of misinformation out on the internet about seed oils, and we are hoping, as groups, that you will be a strong advocate for seed oils and the healthy benefits that they do bring to our consumers,' Sandbakken said. Rollins responded that Kennedy is a 'unique voice.' 'My commitment is to be a vigorous and persistent advocate for all agriculture, including the great people that you represent,' Rollins said. The American Heart Institute is among the groups siding with seed oils advocates that they are healthy. Kennedy is backing beef tallow, a cooking oil that fell out of favor for being high in saturated fat. US ag secretary hears concerns about federal staff cuts during North Dakota visit An oil that is low in saturated fat is canola oil. Tim Mickelson, a Rolla farmer who is president of the U.S. Canola Association, encouraged Rollins to 'follow the science' on health and ag research. Mickelson said he fears the anti-seed oil movement is gaining momentum among consumers, which is just one of the problems facing canola growers. Mickelson farms near the U.S. border with Canada, where most canola is grown. He said canola prices in the U.S. follow the prices on Winnipeg Commodity Exchange and prices are also affected by the Canadian dollar. 'So if you're pushing ideas of a tariff on Canada, and it's hitting canola, you're going to hit the futures price negatively. You're also going to hit the Canadian dollar negatively,' Mickelson said. 'So canola is getting a double whammy.' He said even the rumors of tariffs hurt the canola market. 'Anytime somebody would sneeze on the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange about a tariff, canola would just be plummeting down,' Mickelson said. He said the market fell about 20% in March as tariffs with Canada were making headlines. 'Anything that disrupts the flow of canola between the United States and Canada is detrimental to the entire industry,' Mickelson said. While the canola market has rebounded, he said the tariff talk and market drop was happening as farmers were making final decisions about what to plant in the 2025 growing season. The United States had a record year for canola production in 2024, most of it coming from North Dakota, according to the U.S. Canola Association. There were 2.7 million acres planted to canola in 30 states last year, led by North Dakota with more than 2.1 million acres. Mickelson said with farmers concerned about changing consumer demand for canola oil and the timing of the tariff talk, canola acres could be down by 20% this year. Mickelson said he was grateful that Rollins came to North Dakota. 'I think she has very good intentions on taking what we talked about today and trying to implement the things that need to be changed,' Mickelson said, but acknowledged that she has less influence on the MAHA movement than the health secretary. 'That's a big challenge,' Mickelson said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Time Business News
28-04-2025
- Health
- Time Business News
Health Secretary Kennedy Addresses Drug Addiction Crisis in Nashville with Personal Testimony and Calls for Community Action
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a deeply personal and wide-ranging address at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Nashville two days ago, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confronted the nation's drug addiction crisis by sharing his own journey through heroin addiction, recovery, and spiritual awakening. Speaking before an audience of nearly 3,000 health care professionals, law enforcement officials, and community leaders, Kennedy called for a renewed focus on prevention, community connection, and practical support for those struggling with substance use disorders. A Personal Story of Struggle and Recovery Kennedy's speech marked a rare moment of vulnerability from a senior government official, as he recounted his 14-year battle with heroin addiction that began in his teenage years. He described addiction as 'a source of misery, but also a symptom of misery,' emphasizing the internal emptiness and pain that often drive individuals toward substance use. 'Every addict feels that way in one way or another – that they have to fix what's wrong with them, and the only thing that works are drugs. And so threats that you might die, that you're going to ruin your life are completely meaningless,' Kennedy told the crowd. He traced his first encounter with drugs to the summer after his father's assassination in 1968, when he was introduced to LSD and then opioids by neighborhood acquaintances. 'By the end of the summer, I was shooting heroin, which was my drug of choice the next 14 years,' he recalled. Kennedy described the cycle of addiction as one of broken promises and self-betrayal. 'I didn't want to be someone who woke up every morning thinking about drugs,' he said, noting his 'total incapacity to keep contracts with myself' during the depths of his addiction. His recovery began after a 1983 arrest and subsequent treatment, which he credited with saving his life. Kennedy said his path to sobriety involved a profound spiritual awakening, inspired in part by the writings of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung. 'I knew I needed a spiritual awakening,' he said. 'I did not want to be that person'. Prevention, Community, and Practical Solutions While Kennedy acknowledged the value of medication-assisted treatments such as Suboxone and methadone, and the importance of making rehabilitation centers available to anyone ready to seek help, he placed particular emphasis on prevention. 'We have this whole generation of kids who've lost hope in their future,' Kennedy said. 'They've lost their ties to the community'. He argued that the erosion of familial, communal, and spiritual bonds is a root cause of the addiction crisis. Kennedy suggested policy reforms to help restore these connections, including educating parents about the value of shared meals without cellphones and creating service opportunities for youth. Kennedy also proposed that banning cellphones in schools could help reduce drug addiction, citing a Virginia school that saw improved academic performance, reduced violence, and increased student interaction after implementing such a policy. Faith, Responsibility, and the Role of Spirituality Throughout his speech, Kennedy referenced God and spirituality more than 20 times, framing faith as a crucial element in recovery for many individuals. He advocated for daily practices that foster purpose and connection, such as waking up each morning and praying, 'Please make me useful to another human being today'. He acknowledged, however, that spirituality is not a universal solution. University of Washington researcher Caleb Banta-Green, who was escorted out after interrupting the speech, later commented, 'Spirituality is an essential part of recovery for some people; 12 step works great for the people it works for, however, it should never be mandated. We have decades of science-based interventions that are proven effective for supporting recovery and reducing death from substance use disorder. The problem we have is massive underfunding'. Kennedy's speech was interrupted several times by hecklers, some of whom criticized his controversial views on vaccines and public health. He responded by emphasizing the importance of learning from all interactions, even those marked by disagreement. Expert Perspectives: Medical and Social Work Voices To provide additional context to Kennedy's remarks, medical and social work professionals weighed in on the complexities of addiction and recovery. Kosta Condous, a Medical Assistant and Co-founder at Higher Purpose Recovery, highlighted the importance of accessible, evidence-based treatment: 'Medication-assisted treatment like Suboxone and methadone can be life-saving for many of our patients. But what's equally important is a supportive environment where people feel seen and valued. Addiction is not just about the drugs – it's about the pain and isolation that lead people there. We have to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms,' Condous said. Licensed social worker, Stephanie Behrens, who specializes in substance use disorders, emphasized the need for individualized, compassionate care: 'Building trust is the foundation of recovery. Many people struggling with addiction have experienced trauma or stigma, and it takes time to help them believe in themselves again. Our job as social workers is to walk alongside them, celebrate every small victory, and adjust our approach as their needs change. Recovery is a journey, not a destination – and every step forward matters,' Behrens explained. The Role of Social Workers in Addiction Recovery Social workers play a critical role in addressing substance use disorders, providing psychosocial assessments, individualized treatment plans, and ongoing support. Their work often includes: Building trust and rapport with clients to foster openness and engagement. Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to develop comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each individual's needs. Offering individual and group counseling, referrals to healthcare providers, and connections to community resources. Evaluating progress and adjusting treatment strategies as needed, celebrating small victories to maintain motivation. Social workers are also instrumental in removing barriers to treatment, addressing co-occurring mental health or physical health conditions, and advocating for harm reduction and recovery efforts. A Call to Action Kennedy's address resonated with many in attendance, who applauded his candor and advocacy for both practical and preventive measures. He concluded by urging policymakers, families, and communities to focus on rebuilding the connections that give young people hope and purpose. 'The best way to overcome depression and hopelessness is to wake up each morning and pray, 'please make me useful to another human being today,'' Kennedy said. As the nation continues to grapple with the opioid epidemic and rising overdose deaths, Kennedy's speech underscored the need for a multifaceted approach that combines evidence-based treatment, community support, and renewed attention to the social and spiritual factors that shape individual lives. Looking Ahead While Kennedy did not address recent budget cuts or agency reorganizations that some experts fear could undermine progress, his speech marked a call for unity and compassion in the fight against addiction. By sharing his own struggles and recovery, he sought to reduce stigma and inspire hope – both for those currently suffering and for the communities working to support them. The challenge ahead, as echoed by medical and social work professionals, is to ensure that every person struggling with addiction has access to the resources, relationships, and opportunities they need to reclaim their lives. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Coleman highlights youth drug prevention at national summit
Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman highlighted a new youth-focused drug prevention campaign during his keynote address at the 14th annual Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Nashville this week. The summit, launched by Operation UNITE and U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., draws thousands of policymakers, treatment professionals and law enforcement officials from across the country to share strategies for combating the drug epidemic, according to a news release from Coleman's office. During his remarks, Coleman outlined a new statewide initiative titled 'Better Without It,' which aims to steer Kentucky youth away from substance use by promoting healthy lifestyles through relatable role models. According to the release, the two-year, $3.6 million campaign is funded by the Kentucky Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission and features student-athletes and social media influencers to engage young people between the ages of 13 and 26. 'This message is going out to where young people are—on social media, podcasts, and around college campuses,' Coleman said in the release. 'We're able to speak directly to a way that the data says will actually break through the noise and have a lifesaving impact.' The 'Better Without It' campaign was officially launched earlier this year in partnership with coaches and players from the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville, and Western Kentucky University. The initiative leverages name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements to amplify its message across the state. Kentucky lawmakers including U.S. Reps. James Comer and Brett Guthrie also took part in the summit, joining Rogers for a panel moderated by Rogers' Chief of Staff, Karen Kelly. Kentucky Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Lambert, Commonwealth's Attorney Jackie Steele, and Lt. Col. Jonathon Wesely of the Kentucky National Guard were among other state leaders presenting at the event. More than a million lives have been lost nationwide since the start of the drug crisis. Events like the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, Coleman noted, are helping equip states with the tools needed to drive meaningful change.
Yomiuri Shimbun
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yomiuri Shimbun
RFK Jr. Recounts Heroin Addiction and Spiritual Awakening, Urges Focus on Prevention and Community
The Associated Press Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the Rx and Illicit drug Summit, Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a personal story of his own heroin addiction, spiritual awakening and recovery at a conference on drug addiction Thursday and emphasized that young people need a sense of purpose in their lives to prevent them from turning to drugs. Kennedy called addiction 'a source of misery, but also a symptom of misery.' In a speech that mentioned God more than 20 times, he pointed to his own experience feeling as though he had been born with a hole inside of himself that he needed to fill. 'Every addict feels that way in one way or another — that they have to fix what's wrong with them, and the only thing that works are drugs. And so threats that you might die, that you're going to ruin your life are completely meaningless,' he said. Speaking to about 3,000 people at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, Kennedy did not address recent budget and personnel cuts or agency reorganizations that many experts believe could jeopardize public health, including recent progress on overdose deaths. Kennedy drew cheers when he said that we need to do 'practical things' to help people with addictions, like providing them with Suboxone and methadone. He also said there should be rehabilitation facilities available for anyone who is ready to seek help. But he focused on the idea of prevention, signaling his view of addiction as a problem fueled by deteriorating family, community and spiritual life. 'We have this whole generation of kids who've lost hope in their future,' he said. 'They've lost their ties to the community.' Kennedy said policy changes could help reestablish both of those things. Though Kennedy offered few concrete ideas, he recommended educating parents on the value of having meals without cellphones and providing opportunities for service for their children. The best way to overcome depression and hopelessness, he said, is to wake up each morning and pray 'please make me useful to another human being today. ' He suggested that cellphones are a pernicious influence on young people and that banning them in schools could help decrease drug addiction. He cited a recent visit to a Virginia school that had banned cellphones, saying that grades were up, violence was down and kids were talking to one another in the cafeteria. Kennedy told attendees that he was addicted to heroin for 14 years, beginning when he was a teenager. During those years, he was constantly making promises to quit, both to himself and to his family. 'I didn't want to be someone who woke up every morning thinking about drugs,' he said, noting that one of the worst parts of addiction was his total 'incapacity to keep contracts with myself.' Kennedy said he eventually stumbled upon a book by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung that claimed people who believed in God got better faster and had more enduring recoveries, so he worked to rekindle his faith and started attending 12-step meetings. Kennedy was interrupted several times by hecklers shouting things like, 'Believe science!' He has been heavily criticized by scientists and public health experts for pushing fringe theories about diet, vaccines, measles and autism, among other things. One heckler was escorted out of the ballroom with a raised middle finger. Without responding directly to the hecklers, Kennedy said that he tries to learn from every interaction, even with people who give him the finger because they don't like his driving. 'God talks to me most through those people,' he told the group. University of Washington researcher Caleb Banta-Green was among those escorted out after he stood up and shouted, 'Believe science! Respect spirituality! Respect choice! Respect government workers!' 'Spirituality is an essential part of recovery for some people; 12 step works great for the people it works for, however, it should never be mandated,' Banta-Green said in an email after the program. He added, 'We have decades of science-based interventions that are proven effective for supporting recovery and reducing death from substance use disorder. The problem we have is massive underfunding.'
Japan Today
24-04-2025
- Health
- Japan Today
RFK Jr recounts heroin addiction and spiritual awakening, urges focus on prevention and community
By TRAVIS LOLLER U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told a personal story of his own heroin addiction, spiritual awakening and recovery at a conference on drug addiction Thursday and emphasized that young people need a sense of purpose in their lives to prevent them from turning to drugs. Kennedy called addiction 'a source of misery, but also a symptom of misery." In a speech that mentioned God more than 20 times, he pointed to his own experience feeling as though he had been born with a hole inside of himself that he needed to fill. 'Every addict feels that way in one way or another — that they have to fix what's wrong with them, and the only thing that works are drugs. And so threats that you might die, that you're going to ruin your life are completely meaningless,' he said. Speaking to about 3,000 people at the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Nashville, Tennessee, Kennedy did not address recent budget and personnel cuts or agency reorganizations that many experts believe could jeopardize public health, including recent progress on overdose deaths. Kennedy drew cheers when he said that we need to do 'practical things' to help people with addictions, like providing them with Suboxone and methadone. He also said there should be rehabilitation facilities available for anyone who is ready to seek help. But he focused on the idea of prevention, signaling his view of addiction as a problem fueled by deteriorating family, community and spiritual life. 'We have this whole generation of kids who've lost hope in their future,' he said. 'They've lost their ties to the community.' Kennedy said policy changes could help reestablish both of those things. Though Kennedy offered few concrete ideas, he recommended educating parents on the value of having meals without cell phones and providing opportunities for service for their children. The best way to overcome depression and hopelessness, he said, is to wake up each morning and pray 'please make me useful to another human being today. ' He suggested that cell phones are a pernicious influence on young people and that banning them in schools could help decrease drug addiction. He cited a recent visit to a Virginia school that had banned cell phones, saying that grades were up, violence was down and kids were talking to one another in the cafeteria. Kennedy told attendees that he was addicted to heroin for 14 years, beginning when he was a teenager. During those years, he was constantly making promises to quit, both to himself and to his family. 'I didn't want to be someone who woke up every morning thinking about drugs," he said, noting that one of the worst parts of addiction was his total 'incapacity to keep contracts with myself." Kennedy said he eventually stumbled upon a book by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung that claimed people who believed in God got better faster and had more enduring recoveries, so he worked to rekindle his faith and started attending 12-step meetings. Kennedy was interrupted several times by hecklers shouting things like, 'Believe science!' He has been heavily criticized by scientists and public health experts for pushing fringe theories about diet, vaccines, measles and autism, among other things. One heckler was escorted out of the ballroom with a raised middle finger. Without responding directly to the hecklers, Kennedy said that he tries to learn from every interaction, even with people who give him the finger because they don't like his driving. 'God talks to me most through those people,' he told the group. University of Washington researcher Caleb Banta-Green was among those escorted out after he stood up and shouted, "Believe science! Respect spirituality! Respect choice! Respect government workers!' 'Spirituality is an essential part of recovery for some people; 12 step works great for the people it works for, however, it should never be mandated,' Banta-Green said in an email after the program. He added, 'We have decades of science-based interventions that are proven effective for supporting recovery and reducing death from substance use disorder. The problem we have is massive underfunding." AP Medical Writer Carla K. Johnson in Washington state contributed. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
