Historically, liver disease primarily impacted older men. But over the last several years, doctors say they’ve seen a sharp increase in liver disease, caused by excessive drinking, among younger women under the age of 40. And with alcohol use on the rise amid the COVID-19 pandemic, this shift is becoming[Read More…]
National News
‘Opioid treatment deserts’ abound, study finds
For individuals living in areas without opioid treatment centers, accessing the care they need for long-term recovery can be virtually impossible, according to a new study led by Ohio State University researchers. The study used 2013-2017 data from emergency management services agencies throughout Franklin County. “The study identified clear opioid[Read More…]
Overdose Deaths Surged In Pandemic, As More Drugs Were Laced With Fentanyl
According to preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, synthetic opioid fatalities rose by an unprecedented 55 percent. The head of the National Institute of Drug Abuse says that the spike in overdose deaths is the result of people often consuming fentanyl without knowing it. Read[Read More…]
How Bad Is Our Pandemic Drinking Problem?
The New York Times reports that a growing body of research has begun to confirm that Americans, and women in particular, are drinking more alcohol in response to the COVID-19. A survey conducted in May 2020 by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Maryland,[Read More…]
Overdose Deaths Have Surged During the Pandemic, CDC Data Shows
More than 87,000 Americans died of drug overdoses over the 12-month period, according to preliminary federal data. These staggering statistics surpass even the yearly tolls during the height of the opioid epidemic and mark a reversal of progress against addiction over the past few years. Read the full story here.
Hospital Emergency Rooms Struggle With Overdose Spike During Pandemic
New research from the CDC shows that patients experiencing drug-related crises continued to visit hospital emergency rooms, even while others avoided the ER due to fears over the coronavirus. In an interview with NPR, CDC researcher Kristin Holland said that “people are indeed experiencing poor mental health, suicidal thoughts and[Read More…]