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EMERGENCY NEWS
DUKE + LCHC MICRO CLINICS
Duke Family Medicine & Community Health and the Lincoln Community Health Center have formed a partnership to create three community “micro” clinics that serve as primary care locations for low-income residents. Each offers a full range of services including employment exams, sports physicals, preventive testing, counseling, well-child exams, lab testing, routine immunization, urgent care, and referrals to specialists:
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Holton Wellness Center (401 N Driver St, 919-530-8210)
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Lyon Park Clinic (1313 Halley St, 919-536-4205)
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Walltown Neighborhood Clinic (815 Broad St, 919-416-1254).
DURHAM COUNTY-WIDE COMMUNITY HEALTH ASSESSMENT SURVEY
The Durham County Department of Public Health is asking county residents to take this anonymous survey to help the county figure out our health (physical, mental, and quality of life) needs, so they can be better met in the future. Partners Duke Health, El Centro Hispano, North Carolina Central University, and the Partnership for a Healthy Durham are aiding in collecting this information, but you can click here to take the survey.
THE LATEST ON COVID-19
Now that the COVID-19 numbers (infections, hospitalizations, deaths, etc) are going down substantially, we’ll be hearing less and less about the pandemic (unless the numbers start rising again). The official COVID emergency declaration ended in may-2023, which means that the White House has shut down its COVID response team. Some activists feel that those actions were premature. Vaccinations will still be available at the Durham County Department of Public Health free of charge.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has stopped publishing its COVID Data Tracker Weekly Review, but you can still view the main tracker, which will run indefinitely. Click here for the national numbers, and click here to see what’s happening here in Durham County.
The updated Pfizer COVID-19 booster vaccines are available for children ages six months through four years at the Durham County Department of Public Health (414 E Main St). The clinic is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9am to 4:30pm (and closed for lunch from noon to 1pm). Walk-ins are welcome.
Click here to find vaccines for not only COVID-19, but also influenza (flu) and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus).
NC Medicaid covers most health services, including primary care, hospital services, maternity and postpartum care, vision and hearing services, prescription drug benefits, behavioral health services, preventive and wellness services, dental and oral health services, and medical-related devices and other therapies.
Here’s how to apply for Medicaid on your own:
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Online via ePASS; click here.
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Download the application, print it out, and mail it in or drop it off; click here.
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Visit the Durham County Department of Social Services (DSS) at 414 E Main St; click here for more info.
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Make a phone call to DSS; click here for more info.
Click here to visit the Medicaid website for an overview and more info.
NAMI DURHAM CLASSES AND MEETINGS
The NAMI* Connection Recovery Support Group is a free, peer-led support group for those age 18+ who are living with a mental illness. Group members will be able to share successes with each other and discuss challenges with the help of NAMI-trained facilitators. This month’s meetings will be held on Tuesdays, July 8 and 22, 7:30–9pm; click here to register in advance for this Zoom meeting.
* National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI Durham hosts an online Stress & Anxiety Support Group for African-Americans every Thursday from 7 to 8:30pm. Black people often push down their fears and problems because they’ve been told that seeking help is a sign of weakness. The weekly confidential discussions encourage African-Americans to reach out and to realize that “You are not alone.” Share experiences without judgment, exchange tips, and gain access to helpful resources. Click here for more info; if you’d like to attend a meeting (on Zoom), click on “Calendar” and then click on the particular Thursday to register for that day’s meeting.
Health and research studies
Here are some health studies being run by local universities:
DUKE BEACON STUDY
919-660-6820, BEACON@duke.edu, website https://bit.ly/4hflgw8
Duke’s BEACON (Bridging Equity and Access in Care and Outcomes for DemeNtia) Study asks what is most important to caregivers when seeking medical care. Researchers are trying to figure out how to improve care for people living with dementia (including Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia). If you’re a caregiver and would like to help by answering a few questions, click here to fill out the contact information form. If you’re chosen for the study, you’ll have a 1-hour conversation with a staff member and will then receive a $50 gift card for your participation.
DUKE HEALTH MUSIC SLEEP STUDY
919-681-7041, PetrovskyResearch@duke.edu, website
The Duke University Medical Center School of Nursing is trying to develop ways to help people with memory problems who also have a tough time sleeping. Researchers have put together this research study with the goal of using music to promote healthy and restful sleep for older adults who are living with memory loss. You’re eligible to participate in this study if you’re caring for someone age 60+ with memory problems who live at home and have trouble sleeping. You and your loved-one will be trying out a new mobile music-listening app for a week. During that week you’ll answer a few questions over the phone, describing your experience with the app. At the week’s end, you’ll answer additional questions during a visit over Zoom. You and your loved-one will receive a $50 gift card. Click on the website above for more info, and if you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact lead researcher Darina Petrovsky.
DUKE HEALTH PACT STUDY
919-668-3154, PACTStudy@duke.edu, website
Researchers at Duke Health are conducting a study to see if Alzheimer’s disease can be prevented with cognitive training. The PACT* Study is looking for people age 65+ who would like to volunteer to participate in the study and undergo computerized training exercises that are designed to reduce that risk.
To qualify, participants should be age 65 and older, with no neurological disorders or cognitive impairments and no history of stroke or brain injury. The potential benefits of taking the computerized training exercises can include enhanced mental quickness, improved gait and balance, and protection against depression. The length of the study will be approximately 3 years, with three study visits of up to 2 hours each. The 45 1-hour computer training sessions will be done in your own home.
* PACT = Preventing Alzheimer’s with Cognitive Training
DUKE HEALTH NONINVASIVE STUDY TO ASSESS RETINAL BLOOD VESSELS IN THE EYE
Duke Neurological Disorders Clinic, 932 Morreene Rd, 919-681-0281, iMIND@duke.edu
The research team is looking for volunteers with Alzheimer’s , frontotemporal dementia, mild cognitive impairment, traumatic brain injury, and related conditions to have pictures taken of the retinas. The study visit should take a half hour and no xrays or eyedrops will be involved. Candidates might be eligible if they don’t have significant head tremors, are not in a wheelchair, and have not had prior retina surgery. After the undilated photos are taken the participant will be compensated for their time and travel.
UNC–CHAPEL HILL IFE4HER STUDY
919-391-0231, IFE4study@gmail.com
Durham Housing Authority residents who are women age 18+ are invited to book free appointments for visiting a mobile health van that offers blood-pressure checks, blood-glucose checks, HIV tests, and PrEP consultations. Doing so will enter you in an IFE4Her health-service study. If you’d like to participate, click here; call or write to if you have any questions.
UNC–CHAPEL HILL BRAIN ON DESSERT STUDY
919-966-3113, Joseph_Palmiotto@med.unc.edu
Principal investigator Dr Janice Hwang is seeking volunteers between the ages of 30 and 55 who are normal weight and also some who are overweight who will agree to participate in a 3-month study to see how sugar affects the brain while desserts are being consumed. Participants will have physical exams, neurological testing, blood work, oral glucose tolerance test, IV glucose infusion, and MRI scans over three visits. Candidates can receive compensation up to $275, depending on their level of participation. Contact Joseph Palmiotto at Joseph_Palmiotto@med.unc.edu for more info and to express interest in this study.
VELOCITY CLINICAL RESEARCH
Velocity Clinical Research has developed several Weight-Loss Studies. People who are having trouble losing weight, even after making serious lifestyle changes, are invited to call or to sign up at to learn about these studies. Eligible participants can receive compensation, with the amount depending on the study. You can also learn about upcoming trials by downloading the VISION Engage app from the App Store or Google Play.
INFORMATION ABOUT CANCER; SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT
Learn all about cancer from the American Cancer Society:
Skin cancer
Other types of cancer (choose one)
Here’s more locally based information from the American Cancer Society’s
North Carolina chapter: NC ACS website.
COMMUNITY HEALTH COALITION
308 Crutchfield St, Suite D, 919-470-8680, website
Listen to Dr Veita Bland MD’s podcast, It’s a Matter of Health. Dr Bland discusses various health topics with a wide variety of interesting guests. Click on the radio to start listening.
HOPE4NC HELPLINE
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is offering the Hope4NC helpline for people needing mental-health support due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone can get free and confidential emotional support and helpful resources 24/7 via telephone, text, or chat. This service is also available in Spanish. The Hope4NC helpline number is 855-587-3463; click here for more info, to start a chat, send a text message, and to get help in Spanish.
Feel free to explore the NCDHHS’s COVID-19 website here for more resources and information on staying both physically and mentally healthy during the pandemic.
Formed by a partnership of Safe Kids North Carolina, the Riverkeepers of North Carolina, NC State Bureau of Investigation, Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of North Carolina, and local law enforcement agencies, Operation Medicine Drop is an initiative that helps people safely dispose of expired and unused medications. A common practice is to flush them down the toilet, but that poisons the waters and endangers wildlife. Simply tossing them in the trash is also a bad idea. Someone could come along, fish them out, and use them as recreational drugs. Many overdoses and other drug-related problems happen because someone didn’t get rid of over-the-counter medications properly.
Operation Medicine Drop provides safe dropoff points for those who want to get rid of their old medications easily and safely. Here are the Durham County locations:
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Durham County Justice Center (510 S Dillard St, in the lobby, 919-560-0854)—weekdays 8:15am–5pm; call first
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Durham County Sheriff’s Office, North Station (11821 US Hwy 501 N, in Rougemont, 919-560-0930)—weekdays 8am–4:30pm
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Durham District 2 Police Substation (5285 N Roxboro Rd, 919-560-4322)—weekdays 8am–5pm; call first
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Durham District 3 Police Substation (#8 Consultant Pl, Shannon Rd near MLK Pkwy, 919-560-4600)—weekdays 8am–5pm; call first
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Durham Police Department Headquarters (602 E Main St, 919-560-4600)—anytime (24/7).
Click here for more info.
Here are some additional locations, as provided by the Lincoln Community Health Center:
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Durham County Department of Public Health (414 E Main St, 919-560-7632)—weekdays 8:30am–5pm; pharmacy 1st floor, Clinic 3 dropbox in the lobby; accepts controlled substances, separate disposal for sharps
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Central Pharmacy (2609 N Duke St, Suite 103, 919-220-5121)—weekdays 9am–5:30pm, Saturdays 9am–noon; accepts controlled substances but no sharps
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CVS (3573 Hillsborough Rd, 919-383-0171)—accepts controlled substances but no sharps, aerosols, inhalers, illicit drugs, or chemotherapy waste
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CVS (2103 TW Alexander Dr, 919-957-2989)—accepts controlled substances but no sharps, aerosols, inhalers, illicit drugs, or chemotherapy waste
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Triangle Pharmacy (1700 E Hwy 54, 919-544-1711)—weekdays 8am–8pm, Saturdays 8am–6pm, Sundays noon–6pm; accepts controlled substances but no sharps
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Walgreens (3905 N Roxboro St, 919-471-1534)—accepts controlled substances; call first
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Walgreens (6406 Fayetteville Rd, 919-544-6430); call first.
AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES
The American Red Cross will host the following pop-up Blood Drives. (Blood/platelets can also be donated just about every day at the American Red Cross office (4737 University Dr).) Click here for more info and to set an appointment.
Wednesday, July 2
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Hope Valley Baptist Church (6900 Garrett Rd), 10am–3pm
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North Regional Library (221 Milton Rd), noon–4pm
Thursday, July 3
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Chick-fil-A (3429 Hillsborough Rd), noon–5pm; look for the BUS
Tuesday, July 8
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Behavioral Health Center (Duke Regional Hospital, 3643 N Roxboro St), 9am–3pm
Friday, July 11
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Streets at Southpoint (6910 Fayetteville Rd), noon–6pm
Saturday, July 12
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WinGS Outreach & Worship Church (5441 Lumley Rd), 9am–2pm
Wednesday, July 16
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Grace Lutheran Church (824 N Buchanan Blvd), 10am–2pm
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Veterans Administration Medical Center (508 Fulton St), 10am–3pm; look for the BUS
Tuesday, July 22
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Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health (8 Searle Center Dr), 9am–3pm
Friday, July 25
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Streets at Southpoint (6910 Fayetteville Rd), noon–6pm
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Grove Park Chapel (605 Sherron Rd), 12:30–5pm
Saturday, July 26
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Aria Cultural Center (2609 N Duke St), 9am–2pm
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Sikh Gurudwara of NC (3214 E Banner St), 9am–2pm
Tuesday, July 29
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St Matthew Catholic Church (1001 Mason Rd), 1–6pm
Wednesday, July 30
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Mary Duke Biddle Trent Semans Center for Health (8 Searle Center Dr), 1–6pm
Thursday, July 31
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First Presbyterian Church (305 E Main St), 1–6pm
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HemoSonics (4020 Stirrup Creek Dr), 10am–3pm; look for the BUS
Friday, August 1
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Southwest Regional Library (3605 Shannon Rd), noon–5pm
Saturday, August 2
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The River Church (4425 Ben Franklin Blvd), 9am–2pm
Tuesday, August 5
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American Legion Durham Post 7 (408 E Trinity Ave), noon–5pm
Thursday, August 7
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Lincoln Community Health Center (1301 Fayetteville St), 10am–2:30pm
Friday, August 8
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Streets at Southpoint (6910 Fayetteville Rd), noon–6pm.
BLOOD CONNECTION BLOOD DRIVES
The Blood Connection hosts mobile Blood Drives throughout Durham. Here’s a partial schedule of the pop-up locations (in the most public spaces). Click here to see the full list of locations and dates:
Wednesday, July 2
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Kohl’s (5241 McFarland Rd), 11am–7pm
Wednesday, July 9
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Durham Technical Community College (White Building, 1637 E Lawson St), 10am–2pm
Thursday, July 10
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University Ridge Apartments (3611 University Dr), 4–7pm
Friday, July 11
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SECU (2421 E Hwy 54), 10:30am–1:30pm
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Berkeley at Southpoint (1400 Laurel Springs), 3:30–7pm
Wednesday, July 16
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Park Point Campus (4001 E Hwy 54), 9am–2pm
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Durham Technical Community College (1637 E Lawson St, White Bldg), 10am–2pm
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Underwriters Laboratories (12 Laboratory Dr), 10am–3pm
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Legacy at Meridian (1101 Exchange Pl), 2–7pm
Tuesday, July 22
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Sprouts (105 W Hwy 54), 10:30am–1:30pm
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Marquis on Ellis Crossing (400 Advancements Ave), 3:30–7pm
Thursday, July 24
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Bonefish Grill (7820 Hwy 751), 4–7:30pm
Saturday, July 26
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Fairfield HOA Social Committee (7611 Rosemont Pkwy), 10:30am–1:30pm
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Kohl’s (5241 McFarland Rd), 11am–7pm
Sunday, July 27
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Ellis Crossings (2115 Watchorn St), 11am–3pm
Thursday, July 31
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Almac (4238 Technology Dr), 9:30am–1:30pm.
Click the graphic and add
your ZIP code to find out.
THAT ALL MAY READ
The National Library Service in Washington DC, in cooperation with libraries across the country, hosts the That All May Read program. People with temporary or permanent low vision, blindness, or a physical disability that keeps them from reading or holding a book can have braille or audio books delivered to them free of charge. You can choose physical books or free downloads. Click here to get started.
NAR-ANON
Relatives and friends of people with addictions are invited to attend their own 12-step program to help figure out ways to understand and support their loved-ones. Get your questions answered and identify community resources while meeting others who are in similar circumstances. NAR-ANON meetings are held every Thursday, 5–6pm, at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church (2200 S Alston Ave).
NORTH CAROLINA READING SERVICE
211 E Six Forks Rd, Suite 103, Raleigh,
The North Carolina Reading Service is a free service helps blind and visually impaired people keep up with the news and entertainment worlds. Volunteers read local news stories, editorials, obituaries, books, and advertisements from a variety of publications. They also read special programs that discuss specific topics like education, tech tips, and legal matters. Users can then listen via their smartphone and tablet apps, the NCRS website, or with any “Alexa”-enabled device.
Listeners who don’t have internet access can borrow specially tuned receivers free of charge. Donations to NCRS help cover the average price of $70 per receiver, and some listeners make donations if they’re able to. Click here to see the various ways of enjoying the broadcasts and to see the list of podcasts included with the service. Visit the website if you’d like to make a monetary donation or if you’d like to be a volunteer reader.
EPILEPSY YOUTUBE CHANNEL
If you’d like to learn about epilepsy from an advocate who has it, check out Roxanne Davenport’s ‘Seize’ure the Day show on YouTube, which airs live every other Tuesday at 7:30pm. Click here to go to the ‘Seize’ure the Day YouTube channel.
MEN’S HEALTH
The Durham County Department of Public Health has put together a Men’s Health Initiative Exercise guide, which includes descriptions and videos for strengthening the core, improving balance, increasing oxygen intake and heart rate, and developing more flexibility. Click here to check it out.
HEALTH EQUIPMENT LOAN PROGRAM
4206 N Roxboro St, Suite 100, 919-748-1022, website
Project Access connects people who don’t have health insurance with medical services that are affordable or free of charge, and HELP, the Health Equipment Loan Program, helps everyday folks gain access to medical equipment that they couldn’t otherwise afford.
If you any have walkers, wheelchairs, canes, knee-scooters, reachers (pickup or grabber sticks), tub-transfer benches, etc, it would be greatly appreciated if you can donate them. Everything will be sanitized and repaired if necessary so they can be loaned out to people for easily renewable 3-month periods regardless of their insurance status. HELP is open Tuesdays (10am–2pm) and Fridays (1–5pm). Visit the website or call and ask for the manager for more info.
