Jared Norrell: Time for the Federal Drug Administration to protect kids
Southern Preparatory Academy, located in Camp Hill, Alabama, is honored to serve as the official military school for Alabama. We are proud of our esteemed history and the unique opportunities we are able to provide young men from 6th – 12th grade to grow and learn under a structure of discipline and self-reliance. At Southern Prep, we are committed to admitting students who would benefit most from the structure of our school – many who have struggled under traditional school systems, navigated disciplinary challenges, or come from lower-income families. Above all, it is our top priority to ensure that our students are set up for success both in and outside of Southern Prep, now and in the future. One of my most urgent concerns today about the welfare of many of our students is related to healthcare and the need for our political leaders to encourage the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to do more to address the growing vaping epidemic among middle and high school students. I, like most educators, have noticed the growing prevalence of disposable vapes in our schools and the numbers don’t lie. Since 2019, the CDC’s National Youth Tobacco Survey shows that youth usage of disposable vaping products is up to alarming levels. More than 2.5 million kids used e-cigarettes in 2022, including 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of middle school students. The rise is fueled by disposable vape products that are shamelessly targeting youth. These products come in colorful packages and kid-friendly flavors like pink lemonade, birthday cake, and peanut butter cup that are pushed on social media. Some disposable vapes look like school supplies, making vaping at school even easier and our job harder. These manufacturers are also making their products stronger and cheaper so kids who might not have a lot of spending money can still get hooked. Disposable e-cigarettes sold in the U.S. nearly tripled in nicotine strength, quintupled in e-liquid capacity, and dropped in price by nearly 70% between 2017 and 2022, according to a recent Truth Initiative® study published in Tobacco Control. What is so frustrating is that disposable, flavored vapes are not supposed to be sold in the U.S. In 2020, the FDA began cracking down on vaping by requiring e-cigarette manufacturers to get regulatory approval in order to sell their product. To date, the agency has authorized only 23 specific e-cigarette products, all of which are tobacco-flavored alternatives to cigarettes, targeted at adults. Adults should be free to choose, but illegal products — most notably the disposable and flavored vapes that are most popular among youth and teenagers—should not be marketed to our children. The presence of vapes seems to be becoming normalized for students and their awareness about the harm that these products can cause to the user and those around them remains stubbornly low. But we know the risks. The U.S. Surgeon General has warned that vaping poses significant risks, including damage to the heart, lungs, and parts of the brain that control attention and learning, as well as an increased risk of addiction to other substances. Beyond their physical health, vaping can also negatively impact a student’s academic success. A 2021 study found that students who began to use e-cigarettes missed assignments, skipped classes, and reported lower GPAs than those who didn’t use tobacco products. At Southern Prep, our parents and teachers are doing what we can to help students make healthy choices, but we need help. The FDA must do more to get the illegal vapes targeting kids off the shelves. I hope our politicians will encourage the FDA to do their job. Jared Norrell serves as President of Southern Prep Military Academy.
Jared Norrell: Creating better access to health care should be top priority for Alabama lawmakers
As an advocate who is helping to foster and build the next generation of strong leaders in our state, it troubles me to see the ever-increasing cost of health care burdening families more and more each year. We must fix our complex, costly health system now, or it will be left to the next generation of young people. Without stronger solutions to repair the system and lower the cost of care for families, Alabamians will be surely hindered from reaching their full potential. We all want a stronger foundation for vibrant and successful communities in Alabama. This is the principal aim of Southern Preparatory Academy, where I serve as president. We are helping our future leaders succeed, grow, and learn how to serve others. But as we all saw very starkly during the COVID-19 pandemic, limited access to affordable health care quickly became an obstacle to growth for countless people in our state. Moving forward, creating better access to health care at an affordable cost should be a top priority for our Alabama lawmakers. When examining our healthcare industry, Alabamians consider access to care as one of their top health concerns, specifically in rural towns and for other populations that are disproportionately held back by a lack of healthcare providers. A lack of providers in certain areas often leads to increased out-of-pocket costs, as well as extra travel expenses and logistics. Alabamians are facing an increasingly fragile, complex, and expensive healthcare system that is becoming more financially overwhelming. Increased consolidation among large hospital systems is one trend that is driving patient prices even higher. There are several negative side effects of hospital consolidation that families and patients should be aware of – namely, a hike in medical costs due to new ownership of certain medical facilities through consolidation. When large hospitals buy up independent practices and small labs or treatment centers, they bump up the prices of regular appointments and treatments, even though the delivery of service itself has not changed. Understandably, patients are confused and frustrated when they see their bills go up unexpectedly after a doctor’s appointment. Alabamians of all ages and backgrounds need access to quality and affordable care options. Not only does our state have a high prevalence of multiple chronic conditions compared to the rest of the country, but our residents also have higher rates of obesity and premature deaths. We also know that our state has higher levels of income inequality. Put together, all these factors are worsening the chasm in public health as thousands of Alabamians cannot afford the quality health care they need. Lack of transparency in hospital billing only intensifies the public health battles we are already grappling with in our state. I am glad to see that there is a solution to address unfair hospital billing in Congress. The Facilitating Accountability in Reimbursements Act (FAIR) in the House and the Site-based Invoicing and Transparency Enhancement Act (SITE) in the Senate would implement fair billing practices that reflect the service received – not the location or ownership of the facility. Remarkably, fair billing policies – which can lead to site-neutral payment reforms like those in the SITE Act – are projected to reduce national health expenditures by as much as $672 billion. It is up to our leaders like Representative Terri Sewell and her fellow Alabama Representatives in Washington to propel the FAIR Act forward in the House, and for Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville to follow suit with the SITE Act. I am a fervent believer in investing in the next generation to build a stronger, more secure future in our state and across the country. This effort needs the support of collective voices – educators, students, veterans, patients, healthcare professionals, and more. Affording health care is imperative for all of us. We must ensure people can utilize our healthcare system to take care of themselves and their families now and in the future. Solutions today to improve our healthcare system are critically important for tomorrow’s success. Jared Norrell is a retired Lt. Colonel from the United States Army and the former President of Southern Preparatory Military Academy in Camp Hill, Alabama.
Jared Norrell: A solution for Alabama’s biggest challenge
Home to the civil rights movement, the Crimson Tide, a robust agriculture industry, and much more, Alabama has left an indelible mark on the history and future trajectory of the United States. While we are deeply proud of our leadership and contributions to America here in the Yellowhammer State, our public health is lagging. Only three states have a higher disease frequency and mortality rate than Alabama, and just two states have a lower life expectancy. We also suffer from extremely high rates of heart disease and opioid abuse. Moreover, we have one of the worst healthcare systems in the nation, and we spend less on healthcare per resident than any other state in the country. Altogether, this makes Alabama particularly vulnerable to public health emergencies like COVID-19 and the opioid epidemic, which overwhelmed our healthcare providers and wreaked havoc on thousands of our families. While I am concerned about our state’s capacity to adequately respond to future public health emergencies, I am optimistic we can be prepared if we take advantage of the new resources at our disposal. Philips and the Department of Defense (DoD) have successfully harnessed the power of artificial intelligence to develop an algorithm that can detect COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses days before symptoms arise. The Rapid Analysis of Threat Exposure (RATE) algorithm has already been commercialized into conveniently worn devices like off-the-shelf wearables, with more products being developed as we speak. Through RATE, countless individuals can finally be proactive as opposed to reactive against extremely dangerous and unpredictable viruses. Imagine being able to quarantine before you have had the opportunity to spread the virus to your loved ones. RATE’s benefits are so profound that the United States Military is already relying on it to detect and suppress the spread of infections across personnel. In addition, RATE has been instrumental in informing troop readiness for deployments, helping officers further understand the health and preparedness of personnel before making tactical deployment decisions. These factors have contributed to Congress’ recent announcement of an additional ten million dollars for Philips and DoD to continue expanding RATE’s capabilities. This is a welcome first step, but more is needed, and we have one of the best Representatives in Congress to build on this momentum. For 20 years, we have been represented by Congressman Mike Rogers, a consistent force who has delivered for this community time after time. Congressman Rogers has been a great friend of Southern Preparatory Academy, the official military school for the state of Alabama, which I was proud to lead for so many years. As Chair of the Armed Services Committee and former Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, you will not find a member of Congress more dedicated to public safety and bolstering our military than Congressman Rogers. I am confident he will use his platform in D.C. to ensure innovative programs like RATE and others that support the military and our public health receive the support they need to reach their full potential. Alabamians are resilient, a trait we have demonstrated over a deep history of leadership and perseverance. Improving our state’s public health is the next great challenge at our doorstep, and I know we can overcome it, achieve a healthier state, and provide another reason we are the greatest state in the nation. Jared Norrell is a retired Lt. Colonel from the United States Army and the former President of Southern Preparatory Military Academy in Camp Hill, Alabama.
