iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Session is over. Stay tuned for more from me on this.

000

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

"We're angry because no one's listening," Ousterman said.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Sharon White speaking now, talking about a family member.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Gail Groves Scott, public health researcher and advocate, is speaking now and criticizing what she calls the trust's secrecy.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

A county commissioner was called next, but said he was just there to learn. He thanked the board.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Carla Sofronski of PA Harm Reduction Network talking now and she's criticizing money going to what she considers wasteful programs.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

"I'm tired of being shut out. ...I still do not feel heard," she said.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Advocate Marianne Sinisi is speaking now. She's talking about her child that she lost, and she's also talking about families aren't being given a say in these settlement spending decisions.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Those programs often rely on fear-based messaging, information only approaches which aren't effective or personal testimonies that do not resonate with youth, Hanley said.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

What type of prevention doesn't work? One-time presentations, assemblies or classroom talks rarely build skills, change attitudes or reduce substance use, Jeff Hanley told the opioid trust.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Now up is Jeff Hanley with the Commonwealth Prevention Alliance. He's talking about the importance of spending settlement money on prevention programs that are proven to work, that are effective or evidence-based.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Next speaker was with the Institute for Research, Education and Training in Addictions.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Andrew Capone, an attorney and official with the Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania, is speaking now. He's urging the trust to remove guidance discouraging settlement funds from being spent on public defenders. @dtohl.bsky.social and I wrote about the conflict last year.

110

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

Listening session starting now. Event link is available here: www.paopioidtrust.org/meetings/202...

paopioidtrust.org

Pennsylvania Opioid Trust - 20250821 Public Listening Session

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

About 17 people signed up, VanKirk said. But only 10 people responded to a follow-up outreach for confirmation, he said. Trust is going to reconvene for that session at 1 p.m.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

A listening session is scheduled for later today at 1 p.m. Info to view virtually is also available here: www.paopioidtrust.org/meetings/202...

paopioidtrust.org

Pennsylvania Opioid Trust - 20250821 Public Listening Session

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

The board for the Pennsylvania Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust is meeting now. Info to view virtually is available here. www.paopioidtrust.org/meetings/202...

paopioidtrust.org

Pennsylvania Opioid Trust - 20250821 Public Board of Trustees' Meeting

110

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

Big fay: I have TWO photos in Spotlight PA’s weekday newsletter. One was for a news article. The other was inspired by my kids’ obsession with the “Hamilton” soundtrack.

120

Reposted by Ed Mahon

Asha Prihar @ashaprihar.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Pennsylvanians: Do you know someone who deserves recognition for doing good in their PA community? Nominate them to be featured in our monthly PA Local Heroes series! You can submit their name & a few lines about them here: forms.gle/9WBuEgLrTkxS... Examples of some previous profiles in thread 🧵

forms.gle

PA Local Heroes nomination form

Know a person in your community who deserves some praise? Let us help. Spotlight PA is spotlighting one community do-gooder each month with a feature, sponsored by Ballard Spahr, in our PA Local newsl...

103

Reposted by Ed Mahon

Aneri Pattani @aneripattani.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Great reporting out of West Virginia - by great student journalists - about where opioid settlement money is going in a state that's long been considered the epicenter of the opioid and overdose crisis.

044

Reposted by Ed Mahon

Aubrey Whelan @aubreywhelan.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

As the Senate passes unprecedented Medicaid cuts, my colleague Sarah Gantz profiled five Philly-area families who are worried about affording food, medications, and mental health services going forward: www.inquirer.com/health/medic...

inquirer.com

The ‘big, beautiful bill’ is poised to cut Medicaid. Here’s what’s at stake for five Philly-area families.

Medicaid insures one in four Pennsylvania residents, and it is poised for cuts under President Donald Trump’s first major policy package, “The Big Beautiful Bill."

021

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

One of Jessica Berry's overdoses ended up in a news article, she said, and some of the online comments questioned why people like her were even worth saving. “It really broke my heart,” she said. “But it also lit a fire in me.” www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/06...

spotlightpa.org

Real stories of recovery shape Spotlight PA’s addiction reporting.

How Spotlight PA used community conversations, a survey, and data tools to elevate public voices in Pennsylvania’s opioid settlement rollout.

000

Reposted by Ed Mahon

Drew Hawkins @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

Tons of great stories in here — guarantee you’ll get some ideas! Great working on this with @edmahon.bsky.social and @aneripattani.bsky.social

052

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

A big list of 30 opioid settlement story ideas and 30 other public health story ideas: docs.google.com/spreadsheets... I created this with @aneripattani.bsky.social and @wadrewhawkins.bsky.social .

docs.google.com

60 opioid settlement and other public health story ideas - (IRE)

041

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Laughlin also said: "That is why I believe Pennsylvania needs a dedicated Cannabis Control Board. A focused regulatory body would bring clarity, accountability, and consistency to both the medical marijuana program and the growing gray market of unregulated intoxicating hemp-derived products."

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

"Even after the courts overturned a flawed vape product recall, the Department chose to appeal rather than reconsider its position, wasting taxpayer dollars in the process," he also said.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Laughlin added: "In many cases, the Department has been slow to issue guidance or has refused to act altogether, whether it involves workplace policies, pharmacist staffing under Act 44, or remediation efforts that have taken years instead of months."

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Laughlin said: "The issues include delayed product approvals, inconsistent enforcement of regulations, and testing requirements that increase costs without improving patient safety."

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

So that's the March statement with the more detailed defense of DOH oversight. I also reached out to Laughlin's for more details on his criticism of the current oversight. (His statement didn't mention the doctor oversight issue that other lawmakers have expressed concerns about.)

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

"significantly decreased the time for reviewing and approving products and marketing materials, and increased transparency by providing data both online and at the Medical Marijuana Advisory Board meetings."

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

The spokesperson added: "Since the start of the Shapiro Administration, the Department of Health has added staff, developed standard operating procedures, enhanced staff training, improved communications with Medical Marijuana Organizations and stakeholders ..."

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

A DOH spokesperson said: "The Bureau of Medical Marijuana seeks to continuously improve our processes and procedures to ensure we operate a program that prioritizes patient safety and provides access to medical marijuana for patients with serious medical conditions."

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Back in March, DOH offered a more detailed defense of its oversight.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

I recently asked the Pennsylvania Department of Health about Laughlin's proposal. A spokesperson told me: "The Department will closely monitor the bill when it is introduced and moves through the legislative process."

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

Laughlin proposed creating a Pennsylvania Cannabis Control Board to "assume oversight of both the state’s Medical Marijuana Program and the currently unregulated products proliferating throughout the Commonwealth."

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

"Since the enactment of Act 16 of 2016, the Pennsylvania Department of Health’s oversight of the Medical Marijuana Program has been plagued by regulatory inconsistencies, lack of transparency, and inefficiencies that have frustrated patients and businesses alike," Laughlin wrote on March 31.

100

Ed Mahon @edmahon.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

I've written about efforts to increase oversight of medical marijuana laboratories and doctors in Pennsylvania. State Sen. Dan Laughlin (R., Erie) has proposed an arguably bigger change. www.palegis.us/senate/co-sp...

palegis.us

Senate Co-Sponsorship Memo 46264 Information; 2025-2026 Regular Session - PA State Senate

View the details of the Co-Sponsorship Memo, including the subject, who circulated it, and whether it has become PA Legislation.

100