Public Health Out Loud

Meeting People Where They're At to Support Recovery

National Recovery Month has been observed in September in the US since 1989 as a time to promote and support the nation’s strong, diverse, and resilient recovery communit

Community-Led International Overdose Awareness Day Efforts Fuel Action to Save Lives

International Overdose Awareness Day is August 31. It’s a time to honor the lives lost to overdose, support families and people we care about who continue to grieve, and

Was It Something I Ate? Avoiding Cyclosporiasis and Other Foodborne Illnesses

As the national cyclosporiasis foodborne outbreak continues to grow, so do questions and concerns. In this episode, Dr. Brendalee Viveiros, Chief of RIDOH’s Center for Fo

Don't Touch Raccoons...and Other Rabies Prevention Tips

Rhode Islanders have been hearing frequent news reports about animals testing positive for rabies in heavily populated areas. While we are seeing an increase here in the

Preparing the Workforce for a Healthy Rhode Island

Rhode Island’s healthcare shortage, workforce gaps, and other challenges affect access to care for all who live here. But a movement has been underway for some time to en

Keep Calm and Carry On: How States and People Can be Prepared for Biothreats

Viruses like Ebola, hantavirus, and measles are common in today’s news, and can be a cause for concern, especially during large events like the FIFA World Cup. As thousan

More Than Just Swimming Lessons: Everyone Plays a Role in Water Safety

Drowning is a leading cause of death in childhood, especially for children age 1 to 4. But prevention measures are needed at all ages. In this episode, Pediatric Emergenc

Preventing Gun Violence: What Does the Evidence Show?

In this episode, Yale School of Public Health’s Dean, Dr. Megan Ranney, talks about what the data show and what can potentially be done to address gun violence and mass s

Lights, Camera, ACTION: New Film Aims to Improve Care

A new, independent film coming to Rhode Island this weekend. The Chaplain and the Doctor follows ICU physician, palliative care doctor, and filmmaker, Jessica Zitter, and

The Blunt Truth About Cannabis-Impaired Driving

When Rhode Island voted to legalize cannabis use for adults in 2022, it signaled a shift in public attitudes toward the drug. But as cannabis becomes more widely used, he

Beyond What the Eye Can See: The Problems With Microplastics

They're in our air, our water, and even our bodies! Microplastics are tiny - even microscopic - but their impact on our health and our environment is anything but. U

Kindness Wins - Strategies to Prevent Bullying

Bullying is a major public health issue that can have a long-term impact on health and development. Unfortunately, despite its seriousness, the issue is common and widesp

Dress Warm and Donate Blood! How Bad Weather and More Impacts the Blood Supply

There’s no doubt that donating blood can save lives. But winter is one of the most difficult times of year to collect enough blood products. Holiday schedules, seasonal i

World-Dominating Consciousness or Helpful Tool? A Look at How AI is Revolutionizing Healthcare

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing our culture and the way we live our lives in so many ways.  While we may not understand its full potential yet, we do know it can

More Than Just Soap: How Hygiene Insecurity Affects Our Communities

It’s called “hygiene insecurity” and while you may not be aware of it, there is an overwhelming need for hygiene products in the state. An estimated 38% of Rhode Island f

Health on the Rocks: The Harms of Excessive Alcohol Use

Alcohol is the most used substance among adults in the United States despite being known to cause cancer, liver disease, cardiomyopathy, and more.  Approximately 600 peop

Flu, COVID, RSV, and a Partridge in a Pear Tree: Preventing Respiratory Viruses During the Holiday Season

The holidays are upon us but respiratory viruses like COVID-19, Flu, and RSV don’t make great gifts. In this episode, Dr. Suzanne Bornschein, State Epidemiologist at the

No Matter Why You Use

While much of the national conversation about overdose focuses on younger populations, a new campaign spearheaded by our state health and behavioral health agencies aims

Young People Have the RIght to Know

It’s not easy for adults and adolescents to know where to find accurate and trusted sexual and reproductive health information. In this episode, Karin Wetherill, co-direc

Tylenol - Is There Evidence of Harm?

There’s been a lot of talk about Acetaminophen, also known as Tylenol, in the news – specifically the claim that there is a link between this over-the-counter pain reliev