The Journal of adolescent health : official publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine
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To examine the policies state governments pursued and enacted across the United States in the 5-year period after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2006, including the timing and number of bills introduced, the policies proposed, and the legislative success of HPV vaccine policy proposals. ⋯ Nationwide, states responded to the new HPV vaccine by introducing policies designed to increase the availability of information about the vaccine, provide funding, and regulate private insurance coverage rather than require vaccination for school entry.
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Supervised injecting facilities (SIFs) provide a sanctioned space for injection drug users and are associated with decreased overdose mortality and HIV risk behaviors among adults. Little is known about SIF use among youth. We identified factors associated with use of the Vancouver SIF, the only such facility in North America, among street youth. ⋯ This study, the first to examine SIF use among street youth in North America, demonstrated that the facility attracted high-frequency young drug users most at risk of blood-borne infection and overdose and those who otherwise inject in public spaces.
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Adequate levels of physical activity are essential for health, but participation in sports and recreational physical activities is associated with an increased risk of injury. The present study quantifies the impact of sports- and recreation-related injuries (SRIs) for middle and high school-aged Kentucky children. ⋯ The present study revealed one fifth of all Kentucky ED visits, and ED charges billed for unintentional injury among youth aged 10-18 years were related to sport and recreation. In the absence of a dedicated SRI surveillance system, ED administrative records provide meaningful utility for conducting statewide assessments of adolescent SRIs.