Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention / Public News Service

Stigma continues to be one of the biggest barriers for addressing mental health, and telehealth provides a confidential option. (Adobe Stock)

Post-Pandemic Telehealth Visits Remain High for Mental Health

The use of telehealth has dropped since its peak during the height of the COVID-19 public health emergency, but more Coloradans continue to opt for …

To curb the dramatic spike in drug overdose deaths, largely due to fentanyl, federal funding was made available to states in 2021 for the purchase of rapid fentanyl test strips. (Harald/AdobeStock)

TX Governor Signals Support for Legalization of Fentanyl Test Strips

Texas may soon join other states with legalized fentanyl test strips, used by those with drug addictions to detect the presence of the often lethal …

More people in the United States are dying prematurely, including a notable increase in drug deaths, according to a new report released by United Healthcare. (krisana/Adobe Stock)

Report: Drug Overdoses Killing More People in Indiana, Nationwide

More Indianans are struggling with substance use disorders, according to the latest America's Health Rankings report. State data show six Indiana …

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more than 107,000 people in the United States between January 2021 and January 2022, according to the American Medical Association. (Adobe Stock)">

Report: Drug Overdoses More Deadly in Iowa, Nationwide

More Iowa communities are struggling with fatal drug overdoses, according to the latest America's Health Rankings report. State data show Iowa's …

More than 80,000 people died from drug overdoses in the U-S between 2019 and 2020, the largest number of overdose deaths during a 12-month period ever recorded, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Over-the-Counter Naloxone Spray Could Hit Shelves in 2023

West Virginians could soon be able to purchase naloxone, brand name Narcan, without a prescription. Earlier this month the Food and Drug …

Over the life of the program, Tennessee has trained more than 2,000 Certified Peer Support Specialists, according to the Dept. of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

TN Peer Recovery Specialist Program Reaches Milestone

Tennessee now has over 1,000 people across the state who are actively using their past experience with mental-health and substance-use challenges to h…

Tamara Loertscher holds her son, Harmonious Ellner, weeks after his birth in 2015. Loertscher was detained and incarcerated in Taylor County, Wis., during her pregnancy after health officials alleged she was using drugs while pregnant, an allegation she denies. (Photo courtesy of Loertscher.)

Policing Pregnancy: WI ‘Fetal Protection’ Law Forces Treatment or Jail

By Phoebe Petrovic for Wisconsin Watch.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for Wisconsin Watch-Public News Service …

The city-run Engagement Center is a low-barrier day facility, which serves a few hundred people each day from the nearby

Engagement Center Finding Success Near Boston’s Troubled 'Mass and Cass'

Boston's 'Mass and Cass' area, with its large homeless population and open-air drug market, remains a trouble spot for city officials, but staff at …

All Juul e-cigarettes have a high level of nicotine, but a single Juul pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes, according to the manufacturer. (Adobe Stock)

Efforts to Curb Youth Vaping Fall Short

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the U.S., yet efforts to prevent kids from picking up the habit continue to …

More than three million U.S. middle- and high-school students reported current use of any tobacco product in 2022, representing approximately one in six high-school students and one in 22 middle-school students. (Adobe Photo)

Experts: Teens Want to Talk About Risks of Vaping

Today marks the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, an effort meant to encourage those who smoke or vape to quit, especially younger …

Since 1999, the number of opiate-related deaths has increased every year, and overdoses have risen by 44% since the onset of the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Moving Opioid Treatment into Primary Care to Expand Access

Each year some 68,000 people in Colorado and across the U.S. die from opiate overdoses, largely due to lack of treatment, and federally qualified …

According to the opioid cost calculator, the Virginia counties with some of the highest financial burdens are Fairfax County at $251,803,959, Richmond at $216,315,353, and the city of Virginia Beach at $199,838,514. (Jim Gimpel/Adobe Stock)

New Tool Examines Financial Cost of Opioid Crisis in VA

A new tool is calculating the financial impact of the opioid crisis in Virginia. The opioid cost calculator opioid cost calculator developed by the …

Ohio hospitals had more than 14,000 encounters for opioid overdoses in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Nurse to Candidates: Opioid Crisis Should be "Front and Center" in Ohio

Overdose deaths in Ohio are on track to fall below the record pace of last year, but the opioid crisis is far from over. The group Harm Reduction …

Nine bipartisan candidates running for local office in Charleston have joined forces to tackle the region's most pressing issues, including the overdose crisis, broadband access and cannabis decriminalization. (Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan Candidates in WV Capital Join Forces to Combat Drug Crisis

A bipartisan group of candidates running for city council in Charleston say the city needs to tackle the region's drug crisis by decriminalizing canna…

The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky named Denise Hall recipient of its 2022 Gil Friedell Award for her career spent serving youths in Trimble County through substance-use prevention efforts. (Adobe Stock)

KY School District Takes Lead on Mental Health, Drug-Use Prevention

In Trimble County, school staff are expanding services for students and families aimed at curbing vaping, marijuana and opioid use, and increasing …

Across the nation, one in five children is living with a mental health disorder, but fewer than half will ever receive treatment. (Adobe Stock)

Moving the Needle on Children’s Mental Health

Children's Hospital Colorado has increased its mental-health inpatient, outpatient and day services by more than 50% to address what it called a …

The synthetic opioid Fentanyl was present in 93% of the drug-overdose deaths in 2021 for which a toxicology screen was performed, according to the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health. (Adobe Stock)

Narcan Trainers Enlist Public’s Help in Preventing MA Overdose Deaths

At libraries, colleges and even movie theaters, more people in Massachusetts are learning how to prevent an opioid overdose death by administering …

According to the Recovery Ecosystem Index Mapping Tool, a little more than half of drug-related deaths between 2015 and 2019 in New Hampshire were white people with at least a high school education, ages 15-64. (Adobe Stock)

New Tool Maps Substance-Use Recovery Hotspots

A new tool is locating areas in the U.S. in need of robust recovery systems for people dealing with substance abuse. The Recovery Ecosystem Index …

Data from a national survey of adults found that excessive drinking increased 21% during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Sober October Highlights Health Benefits, Raising Money for Charity

Missourians who want a new health challenge can participate in Sober October. In addition to the sobriety pledge, it offers the chance to raise money …

Sober October Highlights Health Benefits and Raising Money for Charity

Marylanders who want a new health challenge can participate in Sober October, which -- in addition to the sobriety pledge -- offers the chance to …

Excessive drinking is more prevalent among males than females, and adults ages 18 to 44 compared to age 45 and older. (Adobe Stock)

Going Sober in October Can Help You and Others

Ohioans are encouraged to participate in a new national challenge to improve their health and the lives of others. During the Sober October event…

According to the Recovery Ecosystem Index Mapping Tool, 61.8% of drug-related deaths between 2015 and 2019 in the state of Virginia were white people with at least a high school education, ages 15 to 64. (Waseem Ali Khan/Adobe Stock)

New Tool Maps Substance-Use Recovery Hotspots

As part of National Recovery Month, a new tool identifies different areas in the U.S. in need of a stronger recovery system for people dealing with …

Children of color are more likely than white kids to experience the death of a parent, as are children living in rural areas. (Adobe Stock)

Conference on Grieving in Lincoln to Focus on Supporting Kids

Nebraska is one of six states participating in "No Child Grieves Alone," a series of regional conferences aiming to help communities recover after the…

In 2021, there were fewer than 12,000 coal miners employed in West Virginia, according to state data. (Adobe Stock)

West Virginians Draw from Within to Rebuild Communities

By Quincy Gray McMichael for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for West Virginia News Service, Reporting for the YES! Media-Public News …

Fentanyl and carfentanil, a derivative used to anesthetize elephants, are driving overdose deaths in Tennessee and across the nation, according to the Tennessee Department of Health.(Adobe Stock)

TN Officials Work to Separate 'Fact from Fiction' on Fentanyl

Across the state on Wednesday, events are being held to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day in Tennessee. State data showed in 2020…

Advocates say the crackdown on prescription opioids unintentionally pushed people with addictions toward illegal and more deadly drugs. (Adobe Stock)

'Dopesick' Author Speaks in Ohio: Addiction Not a Moral Failure

With more than a billion in opioid settlement dollars coming to Ohio, advocates argued it must be directed to evidence-based strategies. Ohio ranked …

In 2020, Arizona crisis counselors received more than 2,000 calls daily ranging from people seeking information to individuals people experiencing thoughts of suicide. (Syda/Adobe Stock)

New 988 Suicide-Prevention Hotline Will Save Arizonans Time, Lives

Mental-health advocates say the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline could save the lives of many Arizonans and others facing a crisis. The new three-…

According to the Indiana Department of Health, opioid overdose deaths spiked by more than 50% from 2019 to 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Survey Aims to Create Holistic Picture of IN Addiction-Recovery Needs

The State of Indiana wants to learn more about Hoosiers' experiences with substance-use disorder and addiction-recovery services. Administered by …

Imitation prescription pills often look real but can contain fatal doses of fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)

Fake Pills Influencing Ohio's Historic Overdose Rates

Ohio's overdose crisis has been heavily linked to the use of prescription painkillers or heroin, but it is not the case anymore. Health officials now …

Nationwide, overdose deaths from synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl and methamphetamine, rose 15% in 2021 compared to the previous year, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)

Social Media Drives Sales of Illicit Pills Laced with Fentanyl

Online sales of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl are on the rise, and experts say social media apps like Snapchat and TikTok are …

A recent study ranked Oregon as having the highest prevalence of mental illness in the country. (sewcream/Adobe Stock)

Peer Support Helps Reduce Stigma of Mental-Health Care

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and there are many stressors for people right now, from the pandemic to the economy. There is a high …

Ohio teens are 4% less likely to have used drugs in the past month than the average teen in the United States. (Prevention Action Alliance)">

Ohio Youth Council: Drug, Alcohol Use is Not the Norm

Hundreds of Ohio teens join together today to bust myths about teenage substance use. The "We Are The Majority" rally promotes the fact that most …

Unhoused residents who apply to live at Albuquerque's Hope Village must meet the federal definition of homelessness, have a documented mental, emotional or behavioral disorder and income at or below 30% of the Area Median Income. (courtesy Hope Village)

Albuquerque Opens Center of "Hope" for Homeless Population

In the midst of the pandemic, hope was in the air as construction proceeded on a one-of-a-kind housing project to serve a portion of Albuquerque's …

At least 269 people experiencing homelessness passed away in Denver in 2021, an increase from the previous year. (Adobe Stock)

New Health Center Serves Homeless-Shelter Residents Onsite

People experiencing homelessness in Denver can now access medical and behavioral care at a new health center set up inside a shelter operated by Denve…

The pandemic led more people to be isolated from friends and family, increasing the risk that they started coping by drinking too much. (daniilvolkov/Adobe Stock)

Alcohol Awareness Month: Pandemic Worsens Dangerous Drinking

April is Alcohol Awareness Month, highlighting serious consequences of drinking too much. Excessive alcohol use contributes to more than 95,000 …

Two out of three drug-overdose deaths in New Mexico in 2019 involved an opioid, including prescription opioids, heroin, or fentanyl, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. (brown.edu)

NM Joins Other States in Decriminalizing Fentanyl Testing Strips

For the past two decades, New Mexico has had one of the highest rates of overdose deaths in the nation, increasingly linked to fentanyl. But until …

More than 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

KY Experts: Increasing Fentanyl Penalties Doesn’t Address Overdose Crisis

Kentucky lawmakers are considering a bill that would increase criminal penalties for fentanyl distribution. But critics say the legislation will …

Roughly one in five minors reports drinking alcohol, although research shows underage consumption can disrupt normal growth and development. (Adobe Stock)

Underage Drinking Prevention Gets Boost from Congress

Programs designed to help curb a prevalent problem among Ohio teens are poised to get a financial boost. The $1.5 trillion spending bill passed by …

The opioid epidemic has shifted from prescription medications to heroin and now, synthetic opioids, which health experts say are much more potent. (Adobe Stock)

Harm Reduction Shines as Pathway Out of Opioid Epidemic

As the nation shifts toward ending the pandemic phase of COVID-19, another health crisis appears to be worsening. A new bipartisan Congressional …

North Carolina stands to receive about $750 million through opioid settlements, if all the state's counties and municipalities with populations of more than 10,000 agree to participate. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Counties Plan for Best Use of Opioid Money

McDowell County is slated to receive roughly $200,000 a year over the next 18 years from a massive national opioid settlement. Community leaders say …

A spokesperson for the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services says COVID outbreaks among staffers and patients have led to temporary halts to addiction-treatment admissions during the pandemic. (Google Maps)

Union: CT Must Address Staffing at Addiction Treatment Centers

A Connecticut health-care workers' union is raising concerns over what it calls a "staffing crisis" in addiction services that led the state to close …

Drug overdose deaths topped more than 100,000 in 2021, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

2021 Saw Record Number of NC Overdose Deaths

Advocates and faith groups are calling for more investments in harm reduction across the state, as new provisional data shows overdose deaths have …

In 2021, the Pueblo Community Health Center delivered one out of every three babies born in Pueblo County. (Adobe Stock)

New "Green" Health Center Expands Access in East Pueblo

When the Pueblo Community Health Center opened its 14,000 square-foot facility in 2003, Pueblo's east side, home to mostly minority residents…

Across the United States, 38 states operate some kind of needle=exchange program. (Wikimedia Commons)

ME Recovery Advocates: Access to Fresh Syringes Saves Lives

Death rates in Maine have been on the rise among people who use drugs, not only from overdoses but also complications due to injection drug use…

Narcan, or Naloxone, can help treat an opioid overdose in an emergency situation. (Flickr)

ME Advocates Urge Expansion of Good Samaritan Law

A bill before the Maine Legislature would expand the state's Good Samaritan law, which protects people seeking help for an overdose from arrest or …

Children who have access to good early childhood education are far less likely to go to prison, while children of those incarcerated are far more likely to end up in the criminal-justice system. (Adobe Stock)

$240 Million Prison Project Draws Criticism

Critics of Gov. Pete Ricketts' call for the Nebraska Legislature to fund a new prison argue the money would be better invested in programs with …

A letter sent to Congress by 240 groups in part calls for $69.5 million for increased access to overdose prevention, harm reduction, and syringe service programs through the CDC's Infectious Diseases and the Opioid Epidemic program. (Flickr)

As Overdoses Climb, NY Groups Seek Solutions

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced another staggering new death count amid the pandemic: more than 100,000 fatal drug overdo…

State health officials say Minnesota has some of the worst disparities in the United States when it comes to fatal drug overdoses. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Opioid Overdose Concerns, CPR Training Effort Emerges in MN

Minnesota is still grappling with the impacts of opioid use, and now, an emerging effort aims to provide CPR training in marginalized communities to …

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