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Worker Wellness Blog thru Apr 5, 2026

This week’s edition of our Worker Wellness blog takes a look at the hypocrisy of DC interfering with states on prop betting and yet staying mum on wagers involving national security (i.e., downed pilot, etc.)—to how HR should handle grief and trauma at work—to the impending impact of AI on degrees and careers for next month’s college graduates.

 

Focal Point: This week I wish to revisit a topic I have addressed in the past but must update as the landscape continues to change. Many of those who read this blog know that I am a huge supporter of being prepared…as in, carrying Narcan: The drug that reverses opioid overdoses. To this end, I have 2 questions:

 

            1) Why would Jeff City consider discontinuing level-funding support towards a product that protects its own citizens and has positive outcome metrics?

Earlier this week, I saw Dr Rachel Winograd, UMSL Professor-MIMH, on the local TV news. She was interviewed about the impact from proposed cuts to the budget that provides free Narcan in most communities across the state of Missouri.[1] To be sure, I can attest to the life-saving value of Narcan and saw, firsthand, why this drug is called the ‘Lazarus’ drug.[2]

 

            2) Is Jeff City even aware that we are in the 4th phase of the opioid crisis?

In the world of substance misuse, many experts view the opioid crisis as a dynamic—not static—matter of Public Health. For context, I will provide a brief overview of these phases:

                        1st) Overprescribing/Diversion: from about 1990 – 2002

                        2nd) Heroin: from about 2003 to 2015 (Narcan begins to play a key role)

                        3rd) Fentanyl: from about 2016 to 2021

                        4th) Polysubstances: 2022 to present

With respect to the 4th phase, many of you have heard stories of people taking a pill (i.e., Xanax) and soon thereafter dying. A few years ago, this ‘lacing’ was not uncommon. Herein, dealers and/or Cartels would mix Fentanyl with another drug (i.e., Cocaine, Marijuana, Meth, etc.); meanwhile, many buyers used the drug(s) as they had in the past. However, they died due to the unsuspected introduction of Fentanyl into that supply. This phase has morphed several times since its inception. Just last year, I discussed the introduction of Xylazine (a sedative—not approved for human use—used by pet vets) into the Fentanyl supply that made matters worse. And, more recently, we have observed the introduction of Nitazenes into the Fentanyl supply…as witnessed in our K-12 system.[3] Depending on the source, this strain of drugs can be >20x stronger than Fentanyl alone.

 

So, with this information in hand: Why is Jeff City looking to cut back vs push ahead?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upcoming webinars, etc.:

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: The links provided above are for informational purposes only. None of these serve as a substitute for medical advice one should obtain from his/her own primary care physician and/or mental health professional. Please contact Dr John Gaal, Chief Learning Officer, at stlbtwc@gmail.com with related questions or comments.

 

 
 
 

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