All unmatched U.S. doctors who graduated from U.S. medical schools in good standing should be given the opportunity to serve in communities throughout the country where they are most needed in this pandemic.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
March 31, 2020

All unmatched U.S. doctors who graduated from U.S. medical schools in good standing should be given the opportunity to serve in communities throughout the country where they are most needed in this pandemic.

This month, more than 1,200 U.S. medical school seniors learned they did not match to a medical residency. In addition, an untold number of prior-year medical school graduates did not match to a residency. In fact, since 2011, each year a total of approximately 2,000 current-year grads and prior-year graduates haven’t matched.

After spending four years on an undergraduate education, those who enter medical school have gone through a highly competitive and rigorous process to get one of the limited number of seats available in U.S. medical schools. Those who commit eight years of their lives to a very specialized education have a reasonable expectation that they will be able to practice medicine. That a doctor has invested eight years of his or her life in an intellectually demanding field of study and is then shut out of the process is a tremendous violation of the social contract in America.

We call on President Donald Trump, Vice President Pence, Dr. Anthony Fauci, VP Pence’s coronavirus team, Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, the AMA, The Match, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, the Association of American Medical Colleges, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons and the heads of U.S. medical colleges to work together to deploy those unmatched, and willing to serve. In turn for their commitment to serve for one year, we ask that they be given one-year residency equivalency.

For interviews, contact Maria Fotopoulos at 310.479.2002 or mfotopoulos@pfirdc.org, Los Angeles.

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Studies show that parents are the leading influencers of their children’s decisions about whether or not to drink or use other drugs. We want to help parents with these sometimes uncomfortable conversations because they are so vitally important to preventing bad decisions that can lead to tragedy.”

WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
March 31, 2020

With schools and extracurricular activities canceled around the nation and many adults working at home, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and national presenting sponsor Nationwide are encouraging parents to take this extraordinary time of family togetherness to talk to their children about the risks of underage alcohol and drug use.

Every year, as part of MADD’s Power of Parents program, Spring is designated “PowerTalk 21” — a time for parents to initiate or revisit conversations about upcoming events where alcohol or drugs may be more prevalent. This year, MADD is expanding the online availability of PowerTalk 21, “Weed Out Fact from Fiction,” to reach the many families who are at home and social distancing. New research on the effects of marijuana use and teens, in addition to the well-known facts about the dangers of underage drinking, are featured in this year’s program.

“Traditionally, this has been a crucial time to start having conversations or to renew them. The spring months are filled with milestone events like spring break, prom and graduation, occasions that can increase the presence of alcohol and other drugs,” said MADD National President Helen Witty. “We recognize that many of these events have been canceled or could be canceled in the coming weeks. We also recognize that in time, our children and grandchildren will return to school. Local businesses will reopen. And the risks of underage alcohol and drug use will remain.”

Witty will provide a free, Facebook Live presentation of the latest research and tips for parents to start conversations with their underage children on Wednesday, April 1 at noon Eastern on MADD’s Facebook page @MADD.Official. The following week at the same time and location, Dr. Robert Turrisi, PhD, Penn State professor of Biobehavioral Health and Prevention Research Center, will discuss “Coping with Stress” during this challenging time and how that ties in to preventing underage drinking and drug use. He will return April 15 with a Q&A on new research about teen marijuana use. The series will continue every Wednesday at noon through April 29. Local MADD offices across the country, which typically hold in-person programs within their communities, will also host presentations via video conferencing to ensure parents are still able to access this crucial support. In addition, a free download of the Power of Parents Handbook for parents of middle school and high school students is available at http://www.madd.org/powerofparents.

“Studies show that parents are the leading influencers of their children’s decisions about whether or not to drink or use other drugs,” Witty said. “We want to help parents with these sometimes uncomfortable conversations because they are so vitally important to preventing bad decisions that can lead to tragedy.”

MADD is grateful to presenting sponsor Nationwide for supporting MADD’s mission to prevent the consequences of underage drinking and impaired driving.

“At Nationwide, we exist to protect people, businesses and futures with extraordinary care,” said Martha Frye, Senior Regional Vice President at Nationwide. “Part of being a trusted, caring and customer-focused protection company is educating young people on the dangers of underage drinking and drug use. We’re proud to continue to partner with MADD to equip parents and teenagers with the resources they need to have these critical conversations and to ultimately prevent senseless tragedies from occurring on our roadways.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive drinking is responsible for more than 4,300 deaths among underage youth each year and can lead to early addiction as well as many other dangerous outcomes. In addition, marijuana is the leading cause of substance dependence other than alcohol in the United States.

According to new research, 1 in 3 middle school students have consumed marijuana by the time they finish middle school, and 1 in 8 middle school students reported consuming marijuana in the past month.

This new research also shows:

• 
  By the age of 20, approximately 50% of youth have used marijuana in their lifetime.
• When recent marijuana use is examined, 1 in 5 reported using in the past month.
• 1 in 3 youth who drink alcohol have also combined alcohol with marijuana. This combination resulted in 2 to 3 times more problems than when alcohol alone was consumed.

MADD’s Power of Parents program wants to help parents “weed out” fact from fiction. Some of the common myths about marijuana:

1) “Marijuana is safer than alcohol.”

• Both are drugs and are associated with serious problems especially if used by those under the age of 21 while the brain and body are still in a rapid period of development.

2) “Marijuana makes me a better driver.” It is not safer to drive after marijuana consumption.

• Studies have shown that, of seriously injured drivers admitted to trauma centers, more than 1 out of 4 tested positive for marijuana. In another study of fatally injured drivers, more than 1 in 10 tested positive for marijuana.

3) “You cannot get addicted to marijuana.”

• Marijuana is currently the leading cause of substance dependence other than alcohol in the United States. Studies show that marijuana accounts for over 50 percent of the 7 million people aged 12 or older who are dependent on or abusing a drug.

For more information or to download free Power of Parents handbooks for parents of middle school and high school students, visit http://www.madd.org/powerofparents.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 390,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit http://www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.

About Nationwide®

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit http://www.nationwide.com . Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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We are experiencing a historic economic event brought on by this global pandemic. Americans need immediate financial assistance and support to get their households and families through this crisis.

BOSTON (PRWEB)
March 31, 2020

Americans are feeling the economic pain of the global COVID-19 pandemic, and their confidence in the U.S. economy has been badly shaken, according to a new poll by American Consumer Credit Counseling.

The ACCC Financial Health Index found nearly 80 percent of those surveyed have been impacted by the shutdown of entire economic sectors and other effects from the spread of the novel Coronavirus to more than 740,000 people worldwide, and over 140,000 in the U.S. alone. COVID-19 has claimed over 35,000 lives around the globe.

“Our Financial Health Index was created to measure how Americans are feeling about their household finances as well as the overall U.S. economy. As we find ourselves amid an unprecedented crisis, the picture right now is bleak,” said Steve Trumble, President and CEO of American Consumer Credit Counseling. “Income security, financial stability, and household debt levels are all major pressing issues on the minds of American consumers.”

The poll of 430 Americans – aged 25-65 with incomes of $100,000 or less – found that 29 percent have been “significantly impacted” financially by COVID-19, while close to 50 percent have been at least “somewhat impacted.”

Additionally, a combined 55 percent of those polled said they were either “not so confident” or “not confident at all” in the U.S. economy right now. In comparison, just 13 percent reported being “very confident.” Forty-one percent of respondents said they were “uncomfortable” in some way with their current household income, and 40 percent lack confidence in their ability to reduce their household debt by at least 10 percent over the next six months.

The ACCC Financial Health Index poll has a margin of error of plus-or-minus 6 percent. (An infographic is attached below depicting select results.)

A record 3.3 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the past week, according to the Labor Department – more than four times the prior historical peak of 695,000 unemployment claims during one week in 1982. Thousands of businesses have been shuttered nationwide as a result of quarantines, stay-at-home orders, social distancing measures, and the resulting plummet in demand for almost anything not considered essential goods or services. Lawmakers in Washington have approved a $2 trillion economic stimulus and relief package to try and shore up the economy as the U.S. grapples with COVID-19 and tries to control the rapid pace of infection.

Those who are in the most-dire circumstances responded in smaller, but not insignificant, numbers. The poll found 12 percent consider their current employment “very unstable,” 16 percent have lost all confidence in the U.S. economy, and 16 percent have almost no ability to pay down debt.

“We are experiencing a historic economic event brought on by this global pandemic. Americans need immediate financial assistance and support to get their households and families through this crisis,” Trumble said. “They will also require budget counseling, assistance from creditors through forbearance and payment deferral, and flexibility from mortgage banks and landlords on housing payments.”

Some positive findings: The Financial Health Index found 70 percent of respondents consider their current employment “stable,” and 60 percent still feel confident in their prospects for continued employment six months from now. The poll also found 52 percent feel their debt-to-income ratio is either “somewhat healthy” or “very healthy,” with 60 percent still in a position to pay down debt.

Financial counselors at ACCC continue to provide callers with budget counseling and assistance with creditors, while providing further assistance through ConsumerCredit.com and the ACCC Talking Cents blog. Counselors are also directing clients to resources such as the Ready.gov section on financial preparedness, and the downloadable EFFAK (Emergency Financial First Aid Kit) guide.

About American Consumer Credit Counseling

American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC) is a nonprofit credit counseling 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering consumers to achieve financial management through credit counseling, debt management, bankruptcy counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, and financial education concerning debt solutions. To help consumers reach their goal of debt relief, ACCC provides a range of free consumer personal finance resources on a variety of topics including budgeting, credit and debt management, student loan assistance, youth and money, homeownership, identity theft, senior living, and retirement. Consumers can use ACCC’s worksheets, videos, calculators, and blog articles to make the best possible decisions regarding their financial future. ACCC holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and is a member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®). For more information or to access free financial education resources, log on to ConsumerCredit.com or visit http://www.consumercredit.com/financial-education.aspx

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