Poll shows more than half of Ky. adults have no dental insurance and many go without essential dental care

Routine dental care is essential to overall health, but a new poll shows 1.7 million Kentucky adults do not have dental insurance. That is more than times the number of people who will be at Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby, notes the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which co-sponsored the poll.

The poll also showed that many Kentucky adults are going without the dental care they need. While the poll found that few owe money for dental bills, only 61 percent said they visited a dentist or dental clinic within the past year. The national figure is 70 percent.

“Oral health is essential to overall health,” said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the foundation. “Yet, our research indicates a majority of Kentuckians do not have dental coverage, so it is not surprising that a large number of adults do not have a personal dentist or oral health provider.”

Poor oral health or oral pain can lead to poor nutrition and can reduce someone's quality of life by making it difficult to sleep, work or interact with others, and having dental insurance is an important factor in determining whether someone is getting the dental care they need.  More than 50 percent of poll respondents indicated not having dental insurance of any kind, and almost half of that group said they skipped getting dental care or check-ups in the past year due to its cost.

Whether or not someone has a normal source of care is also an important factor in determining health care outcomes because those with a personal dentist or doctor are more likely to seek care. Almost 40 percent of poll respondents, however, said they do not have a personal dentist or oral health provider, and almost 80 percent of those respondents said its been more than five years since they last visited a dentist or dental clinic.

The poll was funded by the foundation and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. The poll was conducted last year from Sept. 20 through Oct. 14 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of 1,680 adults from throughout Kentucky was interviewed by telephone, including landlines and cell phones, and the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 points.

Kentuckians tell pollsters they are concerned about air quality, but don't seem to put their concern into action

A recent poll shows that more than half of Kentucky adults, especially women, are concerned about air quality in their community, but only 48 percent say they change their behavior when an air quality alert is issued.

Perhaps they have never heard of an air quality alert, which is issued by a local or state air-pollution authority to protect the public's health from air pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency monitors air quality and uses an Air Quality Index to warn the public when the amount of particle pollution or ozone in the air may harm their health.

When pollution gets to a level of concern, alerts or action days are issued in participating areas, which in Kentucky are Louisville, Lexington and the Mammoth Cave area (primarily Edmonson County). This could explain why almost 30 percent of poll respondents from Louisville said they were very concerned about air quality in their community, and only 13 percent of respondents from Appalachia indicated this level of concern.

Almost 60 percent of Appalachians said they are not concerned at all about the air quality in their community, compared to 26 percent of Louisville respondents that aren't at all concerned. Few Eastern Kentucky counties are part of an air-quality monitoring program. In addition to the areas monitoring for alerts or action days, 37 Kentucky counties (colored in the map) participate in the monitoring program. Click here to compare counties.

Counties covered by an air-quality monitoring program are colored.

The poll indicated that just 20 percent of Kentucky adults said they change or limit their activities a lot when air quality alerts are issued, and about 30 percent said they change their behavior a little.  Respondents from the Louisville region were most likely to change or limit their activities, while those in the Lexington area were the most likely to not change or limit their behavior at all. 

When air quality is at an unhealthy level, people can protect themselves by limiting outdoor activities or avoiding heavy exertion.  These protective measures are even more important for those sensitive to air pollution, such as people with heart or lung disease, the elderly and children.

“The quality of our air impacts all of us, but is particularly important for sensitive groups, such as children with asthma. When an air quality alert is issued, we can protect ourselves and our families by avoiding heavy exertion and limiting outdoor activities,” said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which co-sponsored the poll. “We can also do our part to limit emissions and protect our neighbors by turning off our car’s engine while we are waiting.” 

Almost 30 percent of Kentucky adults and 40 percent of Western Kentucky adults said they never turn their car’s engine off when waiting in their car and not moving, as in a traffic jam, train crossing or drive-through. Including those who never turn off their cars, more 60 percent said they wait at least four minutes before turning off their car’s engine when waiting in the car and not moving. Experts recommend turning off a waiting car’s engine after just ten seconds in order to save gas and limit emissions.

The poll was funded by the foundation and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati and was conducted last year from Sept. 20 to Oct. 14 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of 1,680 adults from throughout Kentucky was interviewed by telephone, including landlines and cell phones and the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Most Kentucky adults don't know that drug overdose is the leading cause of death in the state, but those in the east do

Drug overdoses, driven largely by prescription drug abuse, overtook motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of unintentional deaths in Kentucky back in 2010 and remain the state's leading cause of death. From 2000 to 2010, the number of drug-overdose deaths in Kentucky rose a staggering 296 percent, highlighting the state's drug abuse epidemic that now kills more than 1,000 Kentuckians a year. But a recent poll suggests many Kentuckians are not fully aware of the state's drug problem.

In an effort to gauge awareness of the problem, the Kentucky Health Issues Poll asked Kentucky adults whether traffic accidents, falls, firearms or unintentional drug overdoses resulted in the highest dumber of deaths in the state each year. Only 44 percent of Kentucky adults correctly indicated that drug overdose is the leading cause of unintentional Kentucky deaths; 43 percent incorrectly identified traffic accidents as the leading cause.

Respondents from Eastern Kentucky, where the problem is most prevalent  were more likely to correctly identify it as the leading cause of death, at 69 percent. However, only 29 percent of Louisville-area respondents did.

“Experts have reported significant prescription pain reliever abuse in eastern Kentucky,” said Susan Zepeda, presient of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which co-sponsored the poll.  “It is no surprise that the Kentuckians most aware of this issue are those who are living in this region.  Awareness is the first step towards curbing this trend – it is up to all of us to get involved and take action to reduce the toll of this health crisis.”

The poll was conducted for the foundation and The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati from Sept. 20 through Oct. 14 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of 1,680 adults throughout Kentucky was interviewed by land line and cell telephones, and the poll's margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Poll shows Kentucky health-care providers often fail to discuss HIV testing with patients

A new poll suggests that most Kentucky health-care providers follow guidelines for discussing HIV screening with their patients, despite the the importance of early treatment to prevent its progression to AIDS.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends routine HIV screenings for most patients, just 32 percent of Kentucky adults aged 18 to 64 report discussing HIV testing with their medical provider, according to the Kentucky Health Issues Poll.

About 40 percent of Kentucky adults reported they had never been tested for HIV. It’s estimated that 4,500 Kentuckians are living with HIV infection and it is estimated nationally that one in five people who have HIV do not know they do.

“It made headlines earlier this month when a little girl - the second person in history - was cured of HIV. As exciting as this development was, for most people, HIV remains a life-long condition that must be managed through medication to keep it from progressing to AIDS. The CDC’s recommendations are meant to improve the overall population health by detecting HIV so treatment can begin,” said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which co-sponsored the poll.

“It appears that Kentucky providers are either not adhering to the routine screening recommendations or not communicating this message clearly to patients,” she said.

The poll, co-sponsored by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, was taken Sept. 20 through Oct. 14 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of 1,680 adults throughout Kentucky was interviewed by landline and cell telephones. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points

Survey suggests Great Recession has harmed the health of Kentuckians

A recent poll shows continuation of a trend threatening Kentucky's overall health: as the number of Kentuckians living in poverty goes up, the percentage of adults who report their health as excellent or very good goes down.

Just over four in 10 Kentucky adults in the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll described their health as excellent or good. In 2008, almost half used those descriptions.

People with higher incomes have consistently reported better health since the poll began tracking the health status of Kentucky adults 2008. Since research has shown a strong link between higher income and better health, the Great Recession and the resulting increases in unemployment, underemployment and poverty appear to be harming the overall health of Kentucky’s population.

In the accompanying graph, showing responses by income categories, FPL stands for federal poverty level, which in 2011 was a yearly household income of $22,350. Among the categories, 58 percent in the highest category said their health is excellent or good, but only 25 percent of those living in poverty used those descriptions.

Although the health status for each income category has remained fairly constant, the poll reflects federal data that show more people living in poverty. More than 33 percent in the latest poll were earning less than the federal poverty level; in 2008, that was only 19 percent. The polls, which used self-reporting of income and survey methods that differ from federal methods, showed much higher poverty rates than federal data.

“We know there is a direct relationship between income and good health, and these data reflect that,” said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, a sponsor of the poll. “While changes in our health-care delivery system may provide more health-care opportunities for low-income Kentuckians, these results show how vital a strong economy, and jobs that pay well, are to our population’s health.”

The poll, co-sponsored by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, was taken Sept. 20 through Oct. 14 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of 1,680 adults throughout Kentucky was interviewed by landline and cell telephones. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky gives UK $1 million for endowed co-chairs in rural health policy

Tyrone "Ty" Borders in the University of Kentucky College of Public Health's Department of Health Services Management, and Brady Reynolds in the UK College of Medicine's Department of Behavioral Science, have been named the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky endowed co-chairs in rural health policy.

A $1 million gift from the foundation to the College of Medicine was matched by the state Research Challenge Trust Fund, better known as "Bucks for Brains." The gift has the goal of enriching Kentucky's research capabilities in regards to rural health issues and rural health policy.

Reynolds earned doctoral and master's degrees in life-span developmental psychology from West Virginia University. He also holds a master's degree in general/experimental psychology and a bachelor's degree (magna cum laude and with distinction) from James Madison University. His research has focused on nicotine use by adolescents, drug use, gambling and other addictive behaviors. In recent years Reynolds has begun research to promote smoking cessation among pregnant smokers in rural Appalachia.

Borders earned doctoral and master's degrees in health administration, as well as a master's degree in epidemiology from the University of Iowa, and a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Kansas. His research focuses on the conduct and analysis of population-based studies to identify subgroups of persons at risk for poor health and problems obtaining health services, with an emphasis on rural populations.

“Drs. Reynolds and Borders have skills in intervention research and rural health policy expertise that can help the University remain at the forefront of rural health policy work in today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment,” said Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the foundation.

The mission of the foundation is to addresses the unmet health care needs of Kentuckians. Mission objectives are advanced through two initiative areas: promoting responsive health policy and a new children’s initiative named “Investing in Kentucky’s Future.” Foundation work aims to improve access to health care, reduce risks and disparities, promote health equity and healthy lifestyles. Since 2001, over $22 million has been invested in health policy research and demonstration grant projects across Kentucky

Poll finds four out of five Kentuckians are comfortable seeing a nurse practitioner or physician assistant for routine care

New poll figures indicate the majority of Kentuckians are comfortable seeing a nurse practitioner, physician assistant or mid-level clinician for their routine care, especially if they have been treated by such clinicians. The findings come as the General Assembly considers a bill that would allow physician assistants to practice more independently.

In the Kentucky Health Issues poll last fall, 79 percent of Kentucky adults said they would be comfortable seeing a nurse practitioner for routine health care, and half of those people said they would be very comfortable. Eighty-one percent said they would be comfortable seeing a physician assistant for routine health care, and 42 percent of those respondents said they would be very comfortable.

Reported comfort was higher among people who had received care from a nurse practitioner or physician assistant in the past year; 86 percent of those people said they would be comfortable seeing an NP again for routine care. Eighty-eight percent of those who had received care from a PA in the past year said they would be comfortable doing that again.

The poll also inquired about a proposed new “mid-level” profession: advanced dental hygiene practitioners. These practitioners would provide routine dental care, including diagnostic and preventive services such as filling cavities. Although advanced dental hygiene practitioners cannot currently be licensed to practice in Kentucky, polling data indicated 73 percent of Kentucky adults would be comfortable with such a practitioner providing routine dental care.

"As providers move to create a system of care that includes a range of skill sets and training in its care teams, new strategies emerge that hold promise to increase access to affordable care – not just in urban centers but also in rural and underserved communities,” said Dr. Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which sponsored the poll. “The data suggest that the public is very receptive to health care services from different types of clinicians.”

The poll, co-sponsored by the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, was taken Sept. 20 through Oct. 14 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of 1,680 adults throughout Kentucky was interviewed by landline and cell telephones. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 2.5 percentage points. (Read more)

28% of Ky. adults 18-64 say they lack health coverage; 41% lacked it sometime in last year; employer coverage down since '08

Nearly three in 10 working-age adults in Kentucky are not covered by any form of health insurance, and the number who get health insurance from their employer, or their spouse’s employer, has plummeted since 2008, the first year of the Great Recession, according to the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll. The decline accelerated in the last year, and was accompanied by a big jump in the percentage on public insurance.

The poll, taken Sept. 20 through Oct. 14, found that 28 percent of adults aged 18 to 64 said they had no health insurance at the time they were interviewed, and 41 percent said they had been uninsured at some point in the previous year.

The survey found that 37 percent get their insurance from an employer or spouse’s employer, well below the 55 percent figure in a similar poll in 2008. Conversely, 27 percent are now covered by some form of public insurance, way up from the 10 percent in 2008.

Medicaid in Kentucky covers households with incomes up to 70 percent of the federal poverty threshold; 43 percent of working-age adults living at or below that level reported being uninsured last fall. Among those with incomes more than double the poverty level for their size household, 15 percent said they were uninsured.

The poll was conducted for the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and the Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. Pollsters contacted a random sample of 1,680 adults throughout Kentucky by telephone, including landlines and cell phones. The poll questioned only working-age adults about insurance because 98 percent of seniors have some form of health coverage. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.

Ky. parents strongly favor increasing school dropout age, a step that could make future high-school students healthier

A statewide poll has found that Kentucky parents overwhelmingly favor increasing the state’s school dropout age, and doing so might help future high-school students' health, according to the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which sponsored the poll.   

After being told the legislature may raise the dropout age to 18 from 16, 85 percent of Kentucky parents said they favor the move, and 77 percent of parents said they strongly favored it.

Besides their homes, school is where children spend most of their time, and the overall health and well-being of students affect their ability to learn.  Healthy kids learn better and students’ academic achievement in turn affects their ability to be healthy and stay well in the future.

“People may not realize that education is a health issue, but research tells us that completing high school is directly related to our health status in later life,” said Dr. Susan Zepeda, President and CEO of the foundation. “Increasing the dropout age is one strategy aimed at improving the graduation rate in the state. We hope this polling data will encourage a deeper conversation among parents, education experts and policy makers to explore this and other strategies to help our children succeed at school and lead a more healthy life.”

The dropout-age question was part of the Kentucky Parent Survey, which provided a snapshot of parental views on a number of issues involving health care, school and home life. It surveyed parents, step-parents, grandparents, foster parents or other legal guardians of children in Kentucky.

The poll was conducted in July and August 2012 by the Center for Survey Research at the University of Virginia.  More than 1,000 parents and guardians of children under 18 from throughout the state were interviewed by telephone, including landlines and cell phones.  The survey's margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points. 

Kentucky Health News is an independent service of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky, with support from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

Molly Burchett is new chief writer for Kentucky Health News

Kentucky Health News welcomes a new reporter, writer and blogger: Molly Burchett, a master's student in health communication at the University of Kentucky.

Burchett graduated from Transylvania University in 2009 where she studied business and communication.  She was president of the Student Government Association and a yearbook editor.  Her jobs before UK included development director for a Lexington medical practice. She started her master's program in August 2012 and is focused on raising awareness about community health issues in ways that can encourage positive changes in health behavior.

She is from Prestonsburg, where her father and mother are the lead physician and manager of Prestonsburg Primary Care. She is a graduate of Prestonsburg High School. At KHN she follows Tara Kaprowy and Amy Wilson, who have both returned to freelance journalism.

Kentucky Health News is funded by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky but is independently reported and edited by UK's Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues.

Kentucky parents' overall perception of Kentucky children's health doesn't match the statistics, foundation survey finds

Many Kentucky parents' perception of their children's health doesn't match statistics, suggesting that many health problems are going undetected or untreated.

That is the upshot of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky's first Kentucky Parent Survey, conducted by the University of Virginia's Center for Survey Research this summer and released today.

Only 4 percent of Kentucky parents said a health professional had told them their child was obese, but the National Survey of Children's Health in 2007 found that almost 37 percent of Kentucky children were obese.

Just 5 percent of Kentucky parents said they had been told that their child had depression or anxiety, but about 25 percent of children 13 to 18 will have struggled with anxiety and 11 percent will have battled depression, according to a 2010 national study. And a recent study found that Kentucky teens were more likely than the national average to have attempted suicide.

About 17 percent of Kentucky parents reported that their child had decayed teeth or cavities, but a national survey of third graders in 2001-02 revealed that 35 percent had untreated dental issues.

Only 3 percent of parents said their child was diagnosed with a hearing problem, but 15 percent of children nationally have measurable hearing loss. And 14 percent reported being told their child had a vision problem, but about one in four preschoolers nationally have vision issues.

Parents also seem not to get enough advice from health care providers about how to treat their children's health issues, even though there are high rates of children suffering from tooth decay, vision problems, asthma, ADHD, depression/anxiety, obesity, hearing impairment and diabetes, the survey found.

While 92 percent of parents said their child had a regular doctor, just 80 percent said their child had a regular dental care provider. And a 74 percent majority of parents surveyed said they were always encouraged by their child's healthcare provider to ask questions during visits. "The exceptions are worth noting," said Susan Zepeda, president and CEO of the foundation. "If three in four parents said their child's provider always encouraged questions, this means that one in four were not always encouraged to ask questions." (Read more)

Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky looking for grant applications for programs that cut chronic disease risk for school-age kids

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky is looking for applications for grants that will fund innovative programs to reduce chronic disease risk for school-aged children. Because chronic disease occurs at higher rates in Kentucky than in surrounding areas, the foundation sees this new "Investing in Kentucky’s Future" initiative is seen as having particular urgency. It anticipates awarding grants to five to 10 communities statewide.

This five-year, $3 million program seeks to find ways to limit those diseases that decrease quality of life and increase the risk of early death. These include conditions like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, even substance abuse and some mental illness.

Susan Zepeda, CEO of the foundation, explains that the organization's "goal is to help communities make positive changes that will help children start and sustain healthy habits to last a lifetime. Whether the challenge is access to needed routine medical check-ups, safe places to play or nutritious foods, or caring adults to show ways to communicate and avoid risky behaviors, we want to help communities find new pathways to positive solutions.”

The deadline to submit a letter of intent to apply for grant funding is Nov. 16. Following a letter of intent, the foundation will invite applicants to submit a full proposal. The deadline for the receipt of the full proposal is Feb. 28, 2013. For a complete copy of the Request For Proposal, and additional information regarding grant opportunities through the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, visit www.healthy-ky.org or call (toll-free) 877-326-2583.

Free webinars and annual forum to be hosted by Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky will host several educational events in an effort to help communities improve their health.

On Wednesday, Aug. 8, the foundation will host a webinar about evidence-based policies and programs that improve health. The talk, called "Stop Reinventing the Wheel: A Useful Guide to Evidence-Based Health Programs," will be presented by Katherine Wilson, dissemination and implementation team leader with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To register, click here. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Aug. 7.

An Aug. 29 webinar will look at ways communities can keep programs going when funding ends. Dr. Stephen Orton, deputy director of the Office of Executive Education with the North Carolina Institute for Public Health, will lead the talk. To register, click here. The deadline is Aug. 28.

On Sept. 17, the foundation will host its annual Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum at the Embassy Suites in Lexington, with the theme "No Wrong Door: Integrating Care for Better Health." It will feature several speakers working at state and federal levels. Breakout sessions include:
• Respect: Working Across Disciplines for Patient-Centered Care
• Good Medicine is Good Business
• Health Home Opportunities, Focus on Outcomes
• Advocating for What You Need in the System You Have
The forum is free. Civic leaders, medical health and behavioral health providers, public officials, public-health professionals, business owners, policymakers, faith-based leaders, researchers and academics, coalitions and advocates are encouraged to attend. The forum runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 17. To register, click here.

143 groups in state working to improve health, directory lists

A directory that lists all the local groups working on health-related issues in the state has been released by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. It identifies 143 groups — at least one impacting each county — and lists the primary contact person at each location.

"These are local residents working on solutions to health issues in their cities and towns," said Susan Zepeda, CEO of the foundation. "As these groups work to make their community a healthier place to live, work, study and play, they are improving the overall health of our state."

Whether in the form of coalitions, collectives, consortia, associations or networks, the groups are working to improve the health of their communities. Some are looking at ways to increase access to healthy food and physical activity, others are planning screenings and education for people with chronic diseases like diabetes, and others are working toward getting smoke-free ordinances passed.

The directory can be viewed by clicking here. It will be updated periodically.

4 of 5 Kentuckians think child obesity is a problem, and more than half favor a statewide smoking ban, poll finds

More than four out of five Kentuckians think too many children are overweight, and more than half want a statewide smoking ban. These are two of key findings of the Kentucky Health Issues Poll, which also asked respondents about prescription drug abuse, depression and access to health care.

Poll findings are available by clicking here. Findings have been broken down by region: Western Kentucky, greater Louisville, greater Lexington area, Northern Kentucky and Eastern Kentucky.

Statewide, the poll found 54 percent of Kentuckians favor a statewide smoking ban, up from 53 percent the year before. In 2010, Kentuckians were split down the middle, 48 percent to 48 percent.

A whopping 84 percent of Kentuckians feel childhood obesity is a problem, which is timely since 33 percent of children, 60 percent of women and 80 percent of men in Kentucky are overweight or obese, "Shaping Kentucky's Future: A Community Guide to Reducing Obesity" reports.

The poll also found more than one in three Kentuckians know someone who has misused prescription drugs; 65 percent of adults dispose of their prescription drugs in an unsafe way; nearly half keep guns in their homes; and 1 in 2 Kentuckians have a family member or friend with a serious problem of depression. Nearly 90 percent of people asked favor providing access to affordable, quality health care for all Americans.

"The Kentucky Health Issues Poll provides an excellent snapshot of how various health related issues are viewed throughout the commonwealth," said Dr. Susan Zepeda, CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which helped fund the poll. "The survey's methodology lets us compare responses and learn about regional differences in Kentucky views about health."

The poll was also funded by The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. It was conducted Sept. 27 to Oct. 27 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of adults across Kentucky were interviewed, including 1,313 landline interviews and 308 cell-phone interviews.

2 out of 3 Kentuckians disposing of prescription drugs improperly, poll finds

By Tara Kaprowy
Kentucky Health News

At a summit on prescription drug abuse last week, Attorney General Jack Conway spoke of experiences he's had talking to middle schoolers about prescription drugs. When he asks if they know someone who has tried drugs that haven't been prescribed to them, 70 to 80 percent of hands go up. But when asked to keep their hands up if their parents keep their medicine cabinets locked, "all hands go down," Conway said. "This is a problem that is starting in our homes," he said. "It's a culture we have to break."

Not only are most medicine cabinets not locked, they are usually not cleaned out in the proper way, according to the latest Kentucky Health Issues Poll. Sixty-five percent of Kentucky adults dispose of prescription drugs by throwing them away (37 percent) or flushing them down the drain (28 percent). Only 6 percent take them to a recycling center and just 4 percent take them to a government or police facility where they can be safety discarded — though those are the two methods of disposal recommended by the Food and Drug Administration.

The drugs that are thrown in the garbage or flushed down the drain eventually reach the water supply, posing potential harm to people and wildlife. In a 2008 inquiry, The Associated Press found trace amounts of antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones in the drinking water of 24 major U.S. metropolitan areas, including Louisville. Though the concentrations were tiny, "the presence of so many prescription drugs — and over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen and ibuprofen — in so much of our drinking water is heightening worries among scientists of long-term consequences of human health," AP reported.

The Health Issues Poll found that nearly 50 percent of respondents aged 18-29 threw unused or expired prescriptions in the trash. That percentage steadily decreases as people get older, with just 23 percent of people 65 and older likewise trashing the drugs, though they were more likely to flush them down the drain (33 percent). Education levels do not seem to be a factor.

The FDA recommends disposal through take-back programs, which offer locations for people to bring unused or expired drugs. The next National Drug Take Back Day will be April 28. On the last Take Back Day, 377,086 pounds of unwanted or expired drugs were turned in. Also, Kentucky has 76 drop boxes in 46 counties (yellow on map; counties with pending sites in blue) where people can dispose of drugs. To find a listing of these drop box locations, click here.

The poll was funded by The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati and the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. It was conducted Sept. 27 to Oct. 27 by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. A random sample of adults across Kentucky were interviewed, including 1,313 landline interviews and 308 cell-phone interviews. For more information about the findings, click here.

Directory listing 2,500 substance-abuse treatment resources in Kentucky released; every county has at least one facility

There are 2,500 resources for substance abuse treatment in Kentucky, with at least one in each county, research at the University of Kentucky has found.

"In addition to the 345 state-certified substance abuse treatment providers listed in the directory, the peer- and faith-based resources it includes can be just as important for getting someone back on the road to recovery," said Van Ingram, executive director of the Kentucky Office for Drug Control Policy.

The 2011 Kentucky Substance Abuse Treatment Provider Directory is available online by clicking here and can also be obtained by sending an e-mail to michael.childress@uky.edu. The directory is the result of a collaborative effort between Foundation for Healthy Kentucky, which funded the project, the University of Kentucky's College of Communications and Information Studies and UK's Center for Business and Economic Research.

Nationwide, 23.5 million Americans 12 and up needed treatment for drugs or alcohol abuse in 2009, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. About 8 percent of 12+ Kentuckians used illicit drugs and 21 percent were binge alcohol drinkers in the past month, SAMHSA reports. On one day in March 2009, there were more than 19,000 people in Kentucky's substance abuse treatment facilities for either drug or alcohol abuse or both, the 2009 National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services showed. (Read more)

Sept. 13 forum in Somerset will explore how rural communities can get healthier and get better care at lower cost

"In an era of tight budgets and strained resources, Kentucky and its rural communities can no longer afford 'business as usual' in the delivery of health care services," write Susan Zepeda and Amy Watts of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. "As health care costs increase and health status declines, the question becomes: How can we ensure rural Kentuckians get better health care at lower costs?"

Zepeda, the foundation's president, and Watts, is senior program officer, see "promising opportunities" for rural communities to reshape health care, such as working with local health departments and civic leaders to "create communities that support healthy behaviors" and better integrate the health system, with special attention for the chronically ill.

These and other issues and ideas for rural health are on the agenda of the foundation's ninth annual Howard L. Bost Memorial Health Policy Forum, to be held Tuesday, Sept. 13 at the Center for Rural Development in Somerset. The forum will include state and national leaders. "Rather than wait for solutions from Washington, forum speakers will share strategies Kentucky’s civic leaders can put into place at the local, state and regional levels. Many will share ways that Kentucky is already doing this," Zepeda and Watts write in an op-ed article distributed to Kentucky newspapers.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Len Nichols, who founded and directed Health CEOs for Health Reform, a group that helped policymakers see that reform of health insurance and health-care can be reformed together. Dr. Kavita Patel, a physician and former RAND Corp. researcher now at the Brookings Institution, will bring insights on how to achieve better care and better health at lower costs. Other experts from Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina will share "practical policy strategies for positive health change in these challenging times," and smaller sessions will allow participants to engage with the speakers, Zepeda and Watts write, saying the forum's goal is to "provide accessible, safe and effective health care to nearly half of Kentucky’s citizens who call rural Kentucky home." More information is available on the foundation’s website, http://www.healthy-ky.org/.

Webinar Wednesday will focus on lobbying, advocacy in Health for a Change series

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky will host another webinar this Wednesday as part of its Health for a Change training series. This session will focus on the differences between lobbying and advocacy work done by non-profit organizations. The session will be presented by April Carson, a legislative advisor and counsel at Alliance for Justice.

The free, one-hour webinar starts at 3 p.m. EST. To register, click here.

Another training webinar will be hosted at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 and will focus on communication with policymakers. It will help listeners learn about the basic rules needed to figure out how public policy is made in state, county and local governments and how to become involved in the policy-making process.

The Health for a Change training series is geared to community health coalitions, agencies, businesses, advocacy organizations and individuals looking to improve skills, create community participation and create health changes at the local level. The sessions run until December. (Read more)

Most Kentuckians in favor of banning cell phone use while driving

Though three of four Kentuckians admit to talking on the phone while driving, just as many would support a law banning cell phone use while operating a vehicle, the Kentucky Health Issues Poll has found.

"Although most Kentucky adults use their cell phones while driving, interestingly, they seem to recognize that this isn't a safe behavior," said Dr. Susan Zepeda, CEO of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which co-sponsored the poll. "Research has shown that drivers who are talking on a cell phone perform similarly to drivers who are legally drunk."

The poll found that more than 80 percent of Kentucky adults have a cell phone. Nearly 30 percent said they never use their cell phone when behind the wheel; 25 percent said they almost never do; 30 percent said they occasionally talk on the phone while driving; 10 percent said they talk on the phone almost every time they're in the car and 6 percent said they make calls every time.

While they do use their cell phones to talk, 8 out of 10 Kentucky adults do not text while driving, which is banned in Kentucky. Just 1 in 7 Kentucky adults said they occasionally or rarely use their cell phone to text or write emails when driving. Another 2 percent said they text every time they drive.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has identified texting as the most alarming road distraction and attributed 5,500 deaths on American roads to distracted driving in 2009. About 200 of those deaths happened on Kentucky roads.

The poll, conducted annually by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati, is jointly funded by the foundation and The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati. Its statewide sample of 1,677 results in a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points; regional samples are smaller and have higher error margins, around 5 percentage points. The foundation is the principal funder of Kentucky Health News. Other poll results can be found by clicking here.