CHICAGO- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded the State of Illinois one of sixteen available four-year grants to prevent overdose deaths related to prescription opioids as part of the CDC's Prescription Drug Overdose: Prevention for States program. The grant is worth $3.6 million over four years.

This funding will support Illinois over the next four years in implementing prevention strategies to improve safe prescribing practices, reverse the trend on the prescription drug overdose epidemic and give priority to drivers of the prescription drug overdose epidemic, particularly the misuse and inappropriate prescribing of opioid pain relievers.

The funding supports the following strategies:

1.     Enhance and maximize Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs;

2.     Improve opioid prescribing practices;

3.     Implement prevention efforts at the state and community level aimed at preventing overuse, misuse, abuse and overdose; and

4.     Implement "Rapid Response Projects" to address new and emerging problems related to prescription drug overdose.

While the primary purpose of the funding is the prevention of prescription drug overdoses, it also presents opportunities of advance surveillance and evaluation efforts to understand and respond to the increase in heroin overdose deaths, especially at the intersection of prescription opioid abuse and heroin use. As a funded state, Illinois will track heroin morbidity and mortality as an outcome of its work and have opportunities to evaluate policies with implications for preventing both prescription drug and heroin overdoses.

Receipt of this grant allows Illinois to focus on enhancing and empowering community-level prevention and implementing health system improvements to reduce overdose risk. The community interventions will include coordinating intensive prevention efforts in high-burden communities and working with local health departments to disseminate analyses of prescribing and overdose trends. As part of a peer-review function of the PMP Advisory Committee selected members will participate in drug utilization review and adherence to national standards on opioid utilization.

Former Banking Executive turned Author helps others take control of their diabetes

Gerard Gardner, former banking executive / federal banking regulator and diabetic, takes us along a path to managing diabetes under the worst of circumstances. Beset by financial ruin caused by market downturns, multiple job losses, and a bitter divorce, Gardner takes us on a journey that lets us see his route to survival that ends in a victory of sorts. More importantly he leads us through the everyday events that led him to the disease in the first place; something that will benefit nearly any reader whether afflicted or not.

Gardner is a survivor and despite not having access to medications finds a way to manage the disease for nearly three years before getting the medical attention he needed.   This book is a must read guide for anyone facing adversity through relationships, disease, financial hardships and intense stress as Gardner presents a sympathetic character whose visions and goal achievement will surely inspire you.

Born and raised in New England, Gardner has been involved in the Hollywood recording industry, in corporate banking as a manager in three of the nation's largest banks, and is a former resident of the original setting for the Real Housewives of Orange County. His book has a little something for everyone.  It is the first installment of a series aimed at inspiring others to move forward regardless of their circumstances.

BETTENDORF, Iowa, Aug. 12, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Head lice infamously cause stress, disgust and embarrassment for millions of moms whose kids get infested each year. But thanks to the opening of Lice Clinics of America - Quad Cities, moms in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois no longer have to worry about treating the icky bugs themselves.

Lice Clinics of America - Quad Cities provides screening, diagnosis and treatment options for people infested with head lice. The clinic is staffed by certified operators of the AirAllé device, an FDA-cleared medical device that kills head lice and lice eggs using just heated air.

The clinic is owned by Ted and Janet Brown. The Browns, who have been married for more than 25 years, decided to open a lice clinic after their kids got head lice for the third time.

"We know firsthand how tedious it is to treat lice at home," said Ted, who directs a Children's Ministry at a local church. "Yes, you can do it, but given all the hours and stress, wouldn't you rather just have a professional do it?"

"Also, we never felt comfortable putting pesticides on our kids' heads," said Janet, who got a degree in mathematics and applied science from UCLA before becoming a full-time mom and homeschooler to their nine children. "The lice have grown resistant to the pesticides anyway, so we love treating head lice using just heated air."

The Browns said their community seems just as excited about the business as they are.

"Before we even finished the interior of our new clinic or unpacked all our equipment, we had clients calling us for help," said Janet. "None of them cared if the walls weren't yet painted or if the signs weren't installed - they needed help and wanted to be seen right away!"

Lice Clinics of America - Quad Cities is located at 333 15th Street in Bettendorf, Iowa. The clinic is open by appointment only. AirAllé treatments there take about an hour, and come with a 30-day guarantee.

The Quad Cities clinic is one of 85 U.S. clinics in the Lice Clinics of America network.

With 85 U.S. clinics and 105 international clinics, Lice Clinics of America is the largest network of professional head-lice-treatment centers in the world. Lice Clinics of America and AirAllé are brands owned by Larada Sciences, Inc.

DAVENPORT, Iowa - August 11, 2015 -- Registration will close Sunday, August 16 for the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) program being offered to residents of the Quad Cities. To apply for the free program, go to www.genesisphilanthropy.org.

If clinically qualified, selected registrants can participate in a free 10-week intervention. Individuals participating in the 10-week program need to have access to a computer with high speed Internet (many libraries offer this service).

The MetS initiative includes a program called Naturally Slim™ and has been offered to employees of Genesis Health System since 2009.  Since 2009, more than 55% of the Genesis employees who had MetS in 2009 no longer have metabolic syndrome because of the healthy lifestyle techniques taught by the Naturally Slim™ class.

Each weekly session is about 30 minutes long (the first "kick-off" session is 90 minutes), which can be viewed via the web at any time throughout the week.  The value of this program is $500.  Only those who can commit to completing the 10-week program will be accepted.

The last group participating in the MetS initiative and Naturally Slim™ lost a total of 1,015.3 pounds. There was an average weight loss of 14.6 pounds and 47 participants lost more than 10 pounds. Other highlights from the last MetS Initiative group were a 63 percent reduction of high blood pressure and a 48 percent reduction in triglycerides.

Genesis Philanthropy MetS Initiative is now accepting applications from individuals interested in participating in the program who live or work in the greater Quad Cities. Financial need will be a consideration for selection.

To learn more about the regional impact of a charitable investment in Genesis Philanthropy, contact Missy Gowey, Executive Director, (563) 421-6860.