Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Oct. 15, 2024
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How Might Climate Change Affect Health and Drug Demand?
Within the last two weeks, Hurricanes Helene and Milton ravaged communities throughout the southeastern United States, causing injury, death, and destruction. As climate change increases the risk of extreme weather events, it's important to recognize that disasters can also cause adverse health effects long after a storm subsides.
A new RAND study assesses the long-term effects of climate change on certain chronic conditions. The results suggest that climate change will lead to an increase in the prevalence and mortality of asthma and Alzheimer's disease by 2040. Evidence also points to increased mortality among people with cardiovascular disease.
And as health care demand increases, the rising demand for asthma and Alzheimer's medicines is likely to strain medical supply chains.
"Developing strategies to protect Americans based on this knowledge will be critical to ensuring health and safety and saving lives," says lead author Mahshid Abir.
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More on Climate Change and Disasters
- The hurricanes may be disrupting election procedures in Florida and North Carolina by damaging voting infrastructure and making it harder to deliver and submit mail-in ballots. Earlier this year, RAND's Quentin Hodgson warned about the growing risk of such disruptions--and explained what election officials can do to prepare and respond.
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- Conspiracy theories falsely suggested that the storms were created by geoengineering, the intentional manipulation of the climate. While these claims are baseless, the adoption of geoengineering could present geopolitical challenges, according to a 2021 RAND analysis.
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- What can be done to counter such misinformation? RAND researchers explain how social media users can help counter false narratives in the wake of disaster.
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Enlisting AI to Fight Hate
Last year, 49 percent of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were victims of a hate act in the United States. A recent RAND report reveals that community organizations need more support to connect with and help these people. AI could be a valuable tool, say Douglas Yeung and Lu Dong, coauthors of the study. For example, a victim-service chatbot could help people report hate incidents, enter incidents into databases, offer support resources, and more. Developing such a chatbot would take a lot of work, but thoughtfully created AI tools could "transform the healing capacity of communities ... ensuring that no one is left unseen or left behind."
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Exposing Russia's Lies About Chemical Weapons
Russia continues to deny using chemical weapons against Ukraine despite credible evidence to the contrary. In fact, Moscow falsely claims that Ukraine conducts chemical attacks. (This tactic, known as "fake mirroring," is a tool from Russia's disinformation playbook.) According to RAND's John Parachini and Svitlana Slipchenko, deputy executive director of VoxUkraine, the international community should recognize Russia's claims for what they are: lies. It's time to hold Moscow accountable for violating the global ban on chemical weapons, they say.
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** RAND Recommends
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- Are you a graduate student? Do you want to work at RAND next summer? Applications for our Summer Associate Program opened today. Apply by December 2nd.
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- RAND's Bradley Martin discusses national security, global supply chain risk, and U.S.-China competition in The Diplomat.
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- In the Chicago Tribune, RAND's Wendy Troxel--a sleep expert and marathon runner--outlines tips for supporting healthy sleep before a big race.
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** Events
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Policy Lab: Generative AI and Information Warfare
Thursday, October 24, 2024 (Online)
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Addressing Imploding Health Care Systems: Is Primary Care Reform Really the Answer?
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 (Online)
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