This week, we discuss the advantages that a diverse workforce could have on the UK and U.S. armed forces; why the opioid antidote naloxone may be out of reach for many uninsured Americans; the challenges of using telemedicine to provide abortion care; whether Indo-Pacific countries are backing Taiwan or China; how to encourage students to report threats of violence in schools; and addressing inequities in COVID-19 vaccination.
Photo by MC Paul L. Archer/U.S. Navy
Diversity Enhances Military Effectiveness
What operational and strategic advantages can a diverse workforce create for the UK and U.S. armed forces? That's the question at the center of a new report published by RAND Europe.
The authors—RAND researchers based in both the United Kingdom and the United States—find that embracing diversity in the military offers a wide range of benefits. These include unique and improved information skills that result from neurodiversity; expanded language capabilities; and supporting the development of effective, ethical, and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems.
Realizing these benefits, however, may require changing existing military structures. The researchers provide recommendations that focus on a few key areas: enhancing diversity through recruitment, effectively managing and rewarding a diverse workforce, and continuously strengthening the capacity to retain and promote diversity within the ranks.
A package of Narcan nasal spray, Boonville, Indiana, January 20, 2022
Photo by Denny Simmons/Courier & Press
Uninsured? Naloxone May Be Out of Reach
Naloxone can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose if administered promptly. New laws have made it easier to prescribe and obtain this lifesaving drug, but a new RAND study finds that the cost of naloxone is out of reach for many uninsured Americans. In 2014, the average out-of-pocket cost for a naloxone prescription was $35 for the uninsured. By 2018, it was $250. To address this, policymakers could consider subsidizing naloxone purchases or issuing coupons.
Photo by SDI Productions/Getty Images
The Challenges of Telemedicine Abortion
In the wake of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, providers and health advocates are looking for ways to provide legal abortions. Expanding virtual medical appointments is one popular idea. But there are challenges to using telemedicine, including privacy concerns and barriers to access—especially among women who are young, are poor, or live in rural areas. RAND experts have outlined steps that policymakers and clinics could take to address these issues.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi meets with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen at the presidential office in Taipei, August 3, 2022
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via Reuters
China or Taiwan: Choosing Sides in the Indo-Pacific
Following House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan earlier this month, most Indo-Pacific nations predictably upheld Beijing's “One China” principle. But according to RAND's Derek Grossman, Pelosi's trip also made clear that several countries in the region—Australia, Japan and, to a lesser extent, India—support Taiwan's cause. These nations can hardly be ignored, Grossman says, and China might want to consider tweaking its strategy accordingly.
Photo by nimito/Adobe Stock
What Might Encourage Students to Report Threats in Schools?
Violence in schools is a serious concern for parents, educators, and students. Despite this, little is known about how to ensure that individuals—especially students—report threats of violent incidents such as shootings and self-harm, or other worrying behavior such as drug use. A new report by the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center operated by RAND examines this issue. One key finding: Strong relationships between students and school staff are essential to building robust threat reporting cultures.
People gather around a COVID-19 pop-up vaccination site in Newark, New Jersey
Photo by U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development/Flickr
Putting Equity First in COVID-19 Vaccination
COVID-19 vaccination rates were significantly lower in communities of color than in white communities. This contributed to stark inequities in the effects of the virus. The U.S. Equity-First Vaccination Initiative aimed to close this gap, focusing on community-led efforts to help people overcome barriers to getting vaccinated. New RAND research examines what this initiative accomplished and identifies lessons that could help make the nation's public health system more equitable.
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