Here is your weekly news roundup of articles, reports, resources and webinars you might find interesting.
Summer is Here!
Summer is here; a time for fun! Please continue to follow safe practices that have been instrumental in keeping COVID transmission rate in CT as one of the lowest in the country.  Get a complete list of safety tips from the CDC . 
fun_beach_goggles.jpg
The basics of coronavirus spread haven’t changed now that it’s summer: Coming into close contact with infected people who have coughed, sneezed or breathed heavily or talked near you poses the greatest risk,  according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk of catching the virus from close contact is much higher than from touching shared surfaces, it says. With this in mind, here is some guidance from health experts for common summer situations and activities. Read more .
Check your hand sanitizer! The FDA says the products, manufactured by Eskbiochem SA de CV in Mexico, could contain methanol, which can be toxic when ingested or absorbed through the skin. Read more .
ocean-pier.jpg
According to best-selling author and marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols, merely being close to a body of water, be it sea, river, lake, or  ocean , promotes mental health and happiness. As Nichols noted,  research proves  his theory that being near water can help us all achieve "an elevated and sustained happiness." That elevated  level of happiness  happens because, according to Nichols, water helps in "lowering stress and anxiety, increasing an overall sense of well-being and happiness, a lower heart and breathing rate, and safe, better workouts." Find out the other benefits of being near water .
Boats & Alcohol Don't Mix!
Did you know: A boat operator is likely to become impaired more quickly than a driver, drink for drink?

When it comes to drinking alcohol, a boat is no difference than a vehicle. In fact, drinking alcohol is even more hazardous on the water than on land. The marine environment motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray accelerates a drinker's impairment. These stressors cause fatigue that makes a boat operator's coordination, judgment and reaction time decline even faster when using alcohol. Learn more about BUI and get boating safety tips.

U.S. Coast Guard data shows that in boating deaths involving alcohol use, over half the victims capsized their boats and/or fell overboard. The best thing to do is avoid alcohol all together when boating. However if you choose to consume alcohol, the US Coast Guard recommends:

  • To plan to have a party ashore at the dock, in a picnic area, at a boating club, or in your backyard. Choose a location where you'll have time between the fun and getting back into your car or boat.

  • If you dock somewhere for lunch or dinner and drink alcohol with your meal, wait a reasonable time (estimated at a minimum of an hour per drink) before operating your boat.

In addition to being unsafe, boating under the influence is illegal in all states and carries some hefty consequences. Here are the guidelines for Connecticut .
Here are some other general summer safety tips.

Get some fancy glasses and give these a try! Whether you're the designated driver (or boater) or you choose not to drink alcohol, here are some fun summer drinks for you. Get the recipes .
LGBTQ Pride Month Continues
According to the  National Alliance on Mental Illness , the risk of having mental health conditions such as depression and  anxiety disorders  is almost three times higher for those identifying as LGBTQI+. Even more disturbing is the suicide rate among the LGBTQI+ community, which is the second leading cause of death among those ages 10 to 24.  Studies have shown  that abuse of drugs and alcohol are almost twice as likely within the LGBTQ community. Here are 7 tips to keep you on a positive path.


LGBTQIA individuals are victims of violent crime at an alarming rate each year,  according the Human Rights Campaign  (HRC). The organization reports that nearly half of all transgender people are sexually assaulted at some point in their lifetime, while 44 percent of lesbians and 61 percent of bisexual women have experienced rape, physical violence or stalking. Additionally, research from UCLA’s Williams Institute , 85 percent of  LGBT students  have experienced verbal harassment, while 58 percent of LGBT youth have felt unsafe at school. Here are ways to support your friends who are members of the LGBTQIA community.
Please Like and Follow Us Today
We need you to help us grow our Facebook and Twitter communities!
Save the Date for These Training Opportunities!
Enough About Technology Addictions, Let's Talk About Digital Wellness
Wednesday June 24, 2020 | 6:00 - 7:00 PM
Speaker: Nadja Streiter, Clinical Social Worker
and Digital Wellness Therapist
Is your smartphone, social media, or other internet based activity dominating your life? Do you have a child you think is addicted to technology or being negatively impacted by overuse? Nadja will be talking about how to help you find a balance between healthy and adaptive use of technology versus unhealthy overuse, dependence, and addiction. RSVP by email to Kyrsten Bravo or call/text at
 203-570-9623. Join via Zoom . Meeting ID# 498-156-1664
Should Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
Be a Choice?
Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Learning Objectives:
  • Discuss the evidence of medications for opioid use disorder
  • Discuss the consequences of no treatment
  • Discuss barriers to treatment
How to Talk to Your Kids About Race
Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 2:30 - 3:00 PM
With all that's going on in the world, many parents are experiencing anxiety around how to introduce and continue conversations about complex concepts like racism. After all, how we answer our children's questions around race can impact how future generations interact with diversity.
 
Join Sean Rose, M.Ed., Wellness Coach, and Diana Clark, JD, MA, Chief of Clinical Operations for OPG, as they discuss best practices in engaging children in these difficult conversations. Register now .
Free Summer Entertainment
Connecticut has many beautiful outdoor spaces for solitary recreation. From golfing to fishing to self-guided art walks, the state is filled with creative ways to get fresh air while practicing social distance .  Here are some places to check out .

There are few parent-approved pastimes more loved than science experiments, but once summer hits, we naturally want kids (and their sticky creations) outdoors. With these 15 backyard science experiments for kids, all that measuring, mixing, and tinkering can take place on the grass, driveway, or a stretch of sidewalk. Read more .

From yoga to art classes, check out these virtual events from Age Well CT.
Resources & Reports
Resources

Free Flyers: What To Do Following Your COVID-19 Test
Reports
The graphic warnings are a dramatic improvement over the current text-only warnings, which have become stale and unnoticed since they were last updated in 1984. They are supported by  extensive scientific evidence  and will help the United States catch up to the  120-plus countries  that have adopted this best-practice strategy to reduce tobacco use and save lives. By law, the new warnings are required to appear on cigarette packs and ads 15 months after a final rule is issued (June 18, 2021).  Read more .
Vape manufacturers have long been accused of marketing to teens with flavors like mango and cotton candy. Now vaping opponents say vape manufacturers are exploiting the coronavirus with face mask and hand sanitizer giveaways and #COVID-19 discounts. Read more .


Flavorings and easier-to-consume nicotine formulations have been two key drivers of use among young people, says King, the deputy director for research translation at the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health.King will present on the rise of vaping at the upcoming virtual National Conference on Addiction Disorders. Ahead of the event, he spoke with Addiction Professional about why e-cigarettes are a greater risk to youth and young adults, why they are appealing to young people, and what interventions are being implemented to combat the challenge. Read the interview .


An influential federal panel is  recommending  that men reduce their alcohol intake to one drink per day rather than two, and that all Americans should cut back on added sugars.

Collective trauma refers to the psychological repercussions of a devastating event that affects an entire group, country, or population. That includes people of every age group—including adolescents, who may be more vulnerable to trauma than adults. While collective trauma does not impact everyone equally, it has deep and long-lasting implications for both individuals and society as a whole. In the case of a pandemic like the coronavirus, millions of people worldwide experience collective trauma.  Read more .
Short Survey Invite
Curt Kuliga, CEO of Progressive Diagnostics invites you to complete a brief (8 min) survey from Georgetown University to assess Connecticut residents’ opinions and perceptions about testing for COVID-19 antibodies. Antibody testing determines prior exposure and immune response. The survey is anonymous, but the data will be shared with Progressive as they prepare to offer antibody testing services here in Connecticut in July. The first testing centers will be at 2 Trap Falls Road,in Shelton and 120 East Avenue in Norwalk before expanding to the rest of the state with Progressive Mobile. Please feel free to share the survey with your friends, family and work colleagues in CT as it will help Georgetown University and Progressive learn about our communities’ needs, wants and concerns around antibody testing.  Take the COVID-19 Antibody Testing Survey.
Your Daily Dose of Humor