Study finds disparities in prescriptions to treat addiction across the Commonwealth   

The Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine completed a study using data from the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Findings suggest that the dissemination of buprenorphine rose by 217 percent in the last 10 years.

As of 2002, this drug became a federally approved treatment method for patients with opioid use disorders, although there are not enough practitioners who prescribe the medication – particularly in rural areas. 

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PA students among least likely to access paid internships

Pennsylvania ranks 11^th in the nation in its share of unpaid internships (just below 16 percent of all internships).

Data also suggests that 43 percent of unpaid internships are offered by for-profit organizations.

Information was sourced from Chegg Internships and cross-referenced with industry rates in each state.

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Program prepares students with special needs for future employment 

Four off-site programs in the Philadelphia School District help students under 21 years old and who have special needs as they prepare for employment after graduation.

Project Career Launch offers internships and life skills classes.

Seventy percent of the 2022 class has successfully secured employment, though that rate was 100 percent prior to the pandemic.

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Detroit scholarship and support programs share outcomes 

Detroit Promise offers scholarships to high school graduates to help with community college costs.

Detroit Promise Path offers various support services to students as they advance along their higher education journeys.

A brief detailing the findings from the fourth-year program evaluation has been released.

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Report reveals intricacies of combined employment and recovery services

Programs throughout the country have begun integrating substance abuse support with employment services.

Five such programs include Avivo Treatment and Recovery in Minnesota, Community Recovery Program in Virginia, IKRON Corporation in Ohio, Access to Recovery in Massachusetts, and Women in Recovery in Oklahoma.

Interviews with program staff detail experiences regarding the nature and content of service provision, as well as organizational partnership. 

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Virginia expands access to broadband connection   

Virginia is one of the first states to use existing electric utility infrastructure and work with internet service providers to widen internet connection and broadband access.

This effort focuses on ‘middle-mile connections’ – networks of major data routes linked with the segments that connect local providers to customers.

Overall, the state supports 429,000 homes and businesses but the aim is to bring universal rapid connection to 233,493 more structures.  

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