Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention / Public News Service

In 2022, fatal drug overdoses in Philadelphia hit a peak of 1,413, with people of color hit hardest. More than 80% of the overdose fatalities in 2022 involved opioids, almost always fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, July 1, 2024

New Medicaid policy boosts 'street medicine' in PA

Philadelphia is addressing its opioid crisis by deploying mobile medical units to provide Medicaid-funded "street medicine" to the unhoused population…

A new report shows the nation is still a long way from having fully functioning emergency mental health systems in place in every zip code. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Monday, July 1, 2024

Report: CO suicide, mental health crisis lifeline system needs more work

Two years after the National 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline was introduced, a new report by the group Inseparable says Colorado and other states …

In early 2021, around four in ten adults in the U.S. reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. In Colorado, all behavioral health challenges have remained steady or increased since then.(Pcess609/Adobe Stock)

CO community mental health centers struggle with Medicaid drop

It's been about a year since the official end of the COVID public health emergency - which has led to a significant drop in Medicaid enrollments and a…

More Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 die from opioid overdoses than any other cause, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (JITB/AdobeStock)

Rural New Mexico struggles to prevent, treat drug overdoses

More than 1,000 New Mexicans die from drug overdoses each year, and while there's been a slight drop in overdoses from opioids nationwide, it's …

A 2021 Indiana Department of Health report claims the majority of overdose deaths are among people between ages 18 and 60, with males comprising 64% of all overdose deaths. (Adobe Stock)

IN opioid overdoses decrease, other drugs may reverse trend

Drug overdoses are decreasing in Indiana. The data is encouraging, but too late for one mother who lost her son to a heroin overdose. The Centers …

The pandemic brought a new focus on mental-health care needs, but the industry says it's still adapting to increased demands for services. (Adobe Stock)

Mental health care and MN's facility crunch

Human services leaders say Minnesota is in a mental-health crisis, complicating efforts to manage behavioral health facilities. Closure plans for …

TX group works to soften trauma for sexual assault survivors

A north Texas nonprofit organization is working to reduce stress for trauma survivors creates "soft" police station interview rooms. They paint the …

Michigan, Nevada and Washington prohibit most employers from refusing to hire someone based solely upon a positive drug test. (Sherry Young/Adobe Stock)

Workplace policies begin to evolve after Ohio legalizes cannabis use

By Mara O'Malley for Kent State News Lab.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration…

Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana in November 2023. (Konstiantyn Zapylaie/Adobe Stock)

Ohio gears up for legal marijuana sales for adult use

This week, Ohio approved adult-use marijuana sales as part of a 2023 ballot measure, with sales anticipated to start mid-June. Ohioans age 21 and …

Recent statewide figures look promising, but homelessness in South Dakota has risen more than 120% since 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Adobe Stock)

Sioux Falls programs address rising homeless population

Homelessness in South Dakota may be down overall, but the state's urban areas are an exception. New programs in Sioux Falls aim to address it…

Nearly seven in ten suicides in Wyoming were carried out with firearms between 2018 and 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Suicide rate prompts WY lawmakers to invest in mental-health services

Wyoming's suicide rate ranks first in the nation, according to the most recent data, and state lawmakers are taking steps to improve access to mental …

Some groups see disproportionately high rates of suicide, including veterans, racial and ethnic minority groups, people with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ people. (Adobe Stock)

Experts spotlight youth mental health, suicide prevention

Rates of suicide among young people have increased by about 36% in roughly the last two decades and the surge has caught the attention of federal poli…

In March 1961, Dr. Jack Fishman and Dr. Mozes Lewenstein applied for one of the first patents for naloxone. (oasisamuel/Adobe Stock)

'Lazarus drug' may have competition in MI

After more than 50 years of use, some Michigan lawmakers say naloxone may not be the best choice in an overdose situation. Naloxone is sometimes …

Several Mississippi correctional facilities offer both short-term (12 weeks) and long-term (six months) alcohol and drug programs with individual and group counseling for treating alcohol and drug addictions. (Wesley JvR/peopleimages.com)

MS group backs health-center alternative to incarceration

Mississippi prisons often lack resources to treat people who are incarcerated with substance-use disorders adequately but a nonprofit organization is …

The Susbtance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration lists the side effects of methodone use as difficulty breathing, rash, swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, and hallucinations. (Adobe Stock)

IL group eyes legislation linked to opioid treatment options

Legislation in Congress, co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin - D-IL - could expand treatment choices for people with opioid use disorder…

Senate Bill 2019, sponsored by Rep. Shane Reeves, R-Bedford, is expected to be signed by the governor. It would take effect July 1, 2024. (18percentgrey/Adobe Stock)

TN poised to expand access to opioid treatment at Community Health Centers

There is light at the end of the tunnel for Tennesseans struggling with opioid addiction, as a bill has been passed to increase access to treatment …

The Drug Enforcement Administration reported seizing more than 115,000 pounds of methamphetamine in 2020, marking a 55% surge compared with 2018. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Uncovering America's methamphetamine history

Missouri may, at one time, have had a reputation as the "meth-lab capital of the country" - but a five-part podcast uncovers its true history…

Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth, Crime Survivor for Safety and Justice leader Stephanie Hatten and senior staff attorney Katherine Wutchiett for Legal Aid at Work spoke Tuesday in Sacramento on behalf of a bill to allow family members of crime victims to take unpaid leave. (Assembly Democratic Communications Office)

Criminal justice package moves ahead in CA state Legislature

A package to improve public safety is moving ahead in the California state Legislature - with a floor vote in the State Assembly on the first bill exp…

A New Mexico researcher suspects sports gambling and drinking feed off each other. (motortion/AdobeStock)

NM Research: Sports betting and booze fuel risky behavior

In just six years, the U.S. has pivoted from a complete ban on sports betting to a place where it is legal in most states, and young men could be …

A new walk-in program provides immediate, in-person support for urgent mental health and substance use needs for anyone, regardless of their ability to pay, whether or not they are an existing client, or speak English. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Mental health urgent-care facility now available in northeast Boulder

Boulder and Broomfield County residents can now access mental health services the same way they can access urgent medical care. Dr. Nadia Haddad…

Montana's homelessness problem is a combination of unprecedented growth, mental health problems and higher housing costs, according to groups working to shelter more people. (2023 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report)

MT homeless population increase leads the nation

A new report shows Montana has the nation's most rapidly rising homeless population. Advocates for more affordable housing call the situation …

First Day Forward staff offer free Narcan and program pamphlets. (Northeastern Kentucky Substance Use Response Coalition via Facebook)

Reentry program for people incarcerated offers a model for others

By Taylor Sisk for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collabor…

As of 2023, 29 of Nebraska's 93 counties had no behavioral health professionals. (Adobe Stock)

NE behavioral health advocates, consumers question $15 million funding shift

A 2023 study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center concluded the number of Nebraskans with a mental health or substance abuse disorder has pr…

As more states expand access to legalized sports betting, Wisconsin policymakers face more pressure from supporters to approve a more robust law for live wagers. (Adobe Stock)

WI monitoring side effects of sports betting

March Madness is in full swing, and depending on where you live, you might be able to place a bet on a college basketball tournament game. Wisconsin …

Mental-health treatment is rare in jails and prisons, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (lagano/Adobe Stock)

Care, Not Criminalization: alternative to MI incarceration for mental health

March is National Criminal Justice Month, and advocates say people with mental illness are over-represented in jails and prisons. According to the …

A new bill would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to carry out a new grant program, to fund a 24/7 helpline for parents and youths. (Raushan_films/Adobestock)

Bill would fund National Parent & Youth Helpline

The new National Parent & Youth Helpline has already taken 6,700 calls, texts and live chats since its inception in January, and now the U.S…

A new survey of parents in predominantly Appalachian Ohio counties find most had positive experiences with a new social work model called Ohio Sobriety Treatment and Reducing Trauma. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Peer-mentor centered program helps Ohio families struggling with substance use

An evidenced-based social work model to help parents struggling with substance use stay connected to their children is offering hope to Ohio counties …

Women have worked at the historic Wyoming State Hospital as doctors, nurses, administrators, secretaries, security guards, and in departments such as the post office, purchasing, and scheduling. Some families have several generations of women who have worked at the facility. <br />(Courtesy of Save the Old WSH)<br />

Wyoming women’s history rooted in hospital campus set for demolition

The state has plans to demolish 26 Wyoming State Hospital buildings in Evanston, but some local residents believe the site, which dates back to 1886…

Colorado's community mental health centers provide a wide range of behavioral health services to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. (Adobe Stock)

Filling behavioral care gaps for Coloradans with acute mental illness

Behavioral health providers in the Denver metro area are tapping new technologies to ensure people with acute mental health needs don't fall through t…

The stigma around mental health issues continues to be a barrier for many to access care. (Adobe Stock)

Getting help to San Luis Valley residents with severe mental illness and addiction

Coloradans struggling with persistent and severe mental illness in the San Luis Valley are getting special outreach and support, and that effort is …

Oregon lawmakers could make changes to Measure 110 during their short, month-long session this year.(Only 4K Ultra HD/Adobe Stock)

Advocates push back on legislative efforts to recriminalize drug possession

As the Oregon legislative session opens, lawmakers could make changes to a voter-passed measure that decriminalized small amounts of drugs and opened …

More than half (59%) of Kentucky residents have experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience or ACE, according to data from the Kentucky Department for Public Health. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY communities address ACEs to prevent substance-use disorders

Communities across the Commonwealth want to minimize traumatic experiences for the state's youngest residents - as a way to help stem the drug epidemi…

Report: Utah ranks among top 10 states for overall health and well-being

Utah ranks among the top 10 states in the 2023 America's Health Rankings report, which "aims to understand the comprehensive health and well-being of …

According to the United Health Foundation's latest America's Health Rankings report, Florida is 46th in the nation when it comes to people being uninsured. (Pixabay)

FL sees drop in national health rankings among states

Florida has dropped to the 31st position among states in national health rankings. It's a decline from last year's 27th spot. Local public health …

For a person in a relationship with someone struggling with an addiction, experts recommend asking for help in planning any holiday gatherings, which allows you to avoid some stress while still supporting your partner. (Adobe Stock)

Navigating the holidays for families experiencing addiction

Celebrating the holiday season can be complicated for households with a loved one dealing with an addiction. A South Dakota expert said there are …

A CARE Court treatment plan lasts up to two years and can assist with housing, medical care, addiction treatment, counseling, and more. (SB Arts Media/Adobe Stock)

CARE Court program opens in California's largest county

The state's largest county has just opened the new CARE Court system, designed to get help for severely mentally ill people in Los Angeles. CARE …

According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, more than 400,000 people nationwide received methadone as part of their addiction treatment in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Methadone prescription bill could ease restrictions for West Virginians

Senate lawmakers are soon expected to vote on the Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act, legislation introduced this year by Republican Sen…

There have been more than 400 overdose deaths each year in New Hampshire for the past eight years, leading many grandparents to take on the role of full-time caregiver to their grandchildren. The majority of the deaths involved fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Opioid crisis prompts NH grandparents to 'step up' for their families

As the opioid crisis continues, more New Hampshire grandparents are seeking financial help to raise their grandchildren. Already struggling with the …

Eleven nonprofit organizations have been selected to receive funding from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky's Funding for Recovery Equity and Expansion program. (Ally Wells)

KY substance abuse groups focus on recovery equity and expansion

A new statewide program in Kentucky is providing addiction advocacy groups and recovery centers with flexible funding to focus on resource equity and …

Sen. Holly Thompson, R-Scott City, sponsored legislation to decriminalize fentanyl testing strips, which used to be considered drug paraphernalia. (luchschenF/Adobe Stock)

Newly legal fentanyl testing strips help fight overdose deaths in MO

The rise in deaths involving synthetic opioids or fentanyl have overdose-prevention advocates looking for solutions across the nation. Gov. Mike …

KFF reported in 2021 the state saw 2,230 opioid overdose deaths, which accounted for 85% of drug overdose deaths in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA group sets record straight on substance-use disorder

During National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, a Virginia group is working to help those dealing with substance abuse. The state's Department of …

The Fort Lyon campus has a long history in Colorado, dating back to 1860 as a military post, veterans hospital, neuropsychiatric facility, and state correctional facility. (Alexis Whitham)

Fort Lyon celebrates 10 years of recovery-based housing

It's been ten years since Fort Lyon, a 19th century military post in rural Bent county, opened its doors to people experiencing homelessness with …

Aimee Clemson-Rich was recently honored with the 2023 PCSAO Child Advocate of the Year award. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Ohio caseworkers strive to keep families together, reduce trauma for kids

The opioid crisis continues to plaque communities across Ohio, and according to the state Department of Job and Family Services, more than 3,000 Ohio …

The 340B Drug Pricing Program, a part of the 1992 Public Health Service Act, provides outpatient drugs at deep discounts to safety net providers. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Missouri community healthcare centers face 340B uncertainty

While large hospitals and pharmaceutical manufacturers battle over drug costs, Missouri community health centers see themselves as collateral damage…

Among 12- to 17-year-olds nationwide, 2.08 million or 8.33% report using drugs in the last month. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina fights back against youth overdose epidemic

In the wake of the devastating overdose epidemic in North Carolina, the state's Department of Health and Human Services is stepping up to aid …

Intimate-partner violence includes violence, abuse and controlling behavior committed by a partner or former partner. It can result in long-lasting adverse mental-health outcomes, and is a leading cause of homelessness and housing instability. (Adobe Stock)

Housing First Model Helps Domestic-Violence Survivors

Victims of domestic violence who are able to access housing -- at their own pace, and with support for as long as the survivor needs help -- …

There are more than 13,000 people in Washington state prisons. (doc.wa.gov)

WA to Extend Medicaid to People Close to Release from Prisons, Jails

Washington will allow people nearing release from state prisons and jails to qualify for Medicaid health coverage. The expansion starts in July 2025…

A national coalition of more than 130 organizations recently released a roadmap for lawmakers and public health officials for distribution of more than $50 billion in opioid settlement funds.(Adobe Stock)<br />

WV Communities Map Path for Opioid Settlement Funds

This week, Gov. Jim Justice announced five new appointments to the West Virginia First Foundation, the private foundation responsible for the …

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