A Call for a Transformative Public Health Training: The Necessity of Abolition.

The societal distrust of public health alongside the complex, intersecting, and large public health crises of today and our future requires a transformation of the education of the next generation of public health leaders. The field of public health's goals of health equity for all cannot be advanced until our field interrogates and resists the prison industrial complex (PIC), which maintains White supremacy and (re)produces health inequities. As current and former public health students, we propose incorporating abolition of the PIC as a political vision, structural and power analysis, and organizing strategy into the public health curriculum. We highlight gaps in the public health curriculum and the existing similarities between stated goals of abolition and public health. We propose calls to action for individuals, faculty, and schools of public health to interrogate the carceral nature of public health and work toward contributing to the positive project of an abolitionist future.

Differential Alcohol Use Disparities by Sexual Identity and Behavior Among High School Students.

AIMS: Sexual minority youth (SMY) use alcohol at disproportionate rates compared to their heterosexual peers. However, sexual orientation is multidimensional. Analyzing alcohol use disparities only by one dimension of sexual orientation may result in critical disparities being obscured. METHODS: Data from state and local versions of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey were pooled (2009-2017), resulting in a large, diverse sample (n = 201,671). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to analyze associations between sexual identity/sexual behavior and three alcohol use outcomes among sexually active youth: age at first drink, binge drinking and current drinking. RESULTS: SMY, when categorized by sexual identity and sexual behavior, reported greater alcohol use than their heterosexual peers, though the magnitude of these disparities varied by subgroup. Both those who identified as bisexual and those who reported sexual behavior with both males and females reported the greatest levels of alcohol use. Decomposition analysis revealed that youth whose reported sexual behavior was not aligned with stereotypical behavioral expectations based on their sexual identity had higher odds of current drinking and drinking before 13 years as compared to other youth. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the need to incorporate multiple methods of sexual orientation measurement into substance use research. Interventions based solely on identity, rather than both identity and behavior, may not be sufficient; targeted research into the causes of alcohol use disparities is needed, especially for bisexual youth, youth whose sexual behavior and sexual identity are not stereotypically aligned, and youth who report a sexual identity of 'not sure.'

Addressing the Disproportionate Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Sexual and Gender Minority Populations in the United States: Actions Toward Equity.

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations may be affected disproportionately by health emergencies such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Health professionals must take immediate steps to ensure equitable treatment of SGM populations. These steps are to (1) maintain and increase cultural responsiveness training and preparedness for SGM populations, (2) increase use of sexual orientation and gender identity measures in surveillance, (3) conduct research on the impacts of COVID-19 on SGM populations, and (4) include equity-focused initiatives in disaster preparedness plans. These actions toward equity would begin to allow for our current health system to care more appropriately for SGM populations.