John Haws

John Ryan Haws

Talked to Willam L Caron, Jr. , President of Maine Health : (207) 661-7029 concerning the city of Portland, Maine.

The first main public health issue is a huge problem with smoking cigarettes. This is especially a concern in the lower half of the city, where more people live on welfare and are away from the coast. This is a generational trend, where kids are smoking because they have grown up with their parents smoking. Public health education has targeted Elementary schools on the dangers of cigarettes.

Another public health issue that Portland has been having is with teen pregnancy. Again this trend has been noticed on the lower side of the city. Poor or little concern for education among teenagers combined with deeply engrained cultural patterns has led to high rates of promiscuity. High rates of teen pregnancy have correlated with an increase of STDs

                A recent public health concern has been with the illegal use of marijuana. In recent years the increase of marijuana use in Portland has originated in the northern part of the state where most of the marijuana is grown and traveled downward. Marijauana use is prevalent in high school, so elementary schools have been targeted to warn of the dangers of marijuana, especially as a gateway drug.

The flu is especially concerning in Porland, Maine. The cold and humidity make for a deadly combination during flu season. The elderly population in the lower side of the city is especially at risk for developing serious cases of pneumonia. At risk populations include young children, immune compromised, and the elderly. Vaccinations are heavily promoted right before flu season.

                Finally, malnutrition has plagued Portland and Maine for years. Much of the population is not only overweight but obese. Fast food is common in the lower side of Portland where a good percentage of the population is on welfare. Lack of exercise is the norm, and unfortunate it is common to see individuals with very poor dental hygiene. Efforts to promote healthy lunches and lifestyles at schools have been implemented.