The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is working on a plan to create thousands of mental health treatment “slots” by 2030. This is in response to a gap in care that the county is dealing with when it comes to drug treatment and mental health. The five-year plan would expand access to services
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved Journavx, a new pain medication for people with short-term pain. This is the first innovative, novel drug created for pain management in more than 20 years. Designed to treat pain following surgeries or injuries, Journavx can offer an alternative to opioids. It is also an
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie has proposed his first major law since taking office. It aims to address the city's worsening fentanyl crisis. The "Fentanyl State of Emergency Ordinance," unveiled last Wednesday, aims to speed up responses to the city's growing public health and safety issues. It seeks to cut through red tape and
Have you ever wondered about the stories of that guy or girl in the mugshots online? Many counties across America publish mugshots of people who have been arrested, often causing additional strife and grief to people recovering from addiction. The “We Do Recover” campaign in Lubbock County, Texas, Mugshots Facebook page turns this stigma on
Recent research suggests that GLP-1 drugs, known for their weight loss and diabetes management, can also be a valuable tool for treating people with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Recent studies have discovered that these medications, containing the ingredients semaglutide or tirzepatide, also known as Mounjaro or Zepbound, seem to reduce hospitalizations related to alcohol use
Going to the hospital and getting treatment might include one extra step for marginalized teens. A new study by Los Angeles-based researchers finds injured minority teens who present at trauma centers who are Black, American Indian, or Hispanic, undergo drug and alcohol screenings more often than white adolescents. The same is true of female and
Last month, the CDC announced new information about the opioid epidemic, showing a light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to the overdose epidemic. The new numbers indicate a significant and hopeful drug overdose decrease in the US, a development that experts view with cautious optimism. Significant Drop in Overdoses ,Deaths and
Two significant surveys are revealing historic highs in the use of hallucinogens and cannabis among adults. In 2023, the Monitoring the Future survey showed that past-year use of cannabis and hallucinogens remained at historically high levels among adults aged 19 to 30 and 35 to 50. Another, more recent study by the University of Michigan’s
From occupational exposure on the job to accidental contact with contaminated surfaces, children tragically ingesting patches, and other accidental contact, it’s important to understand the risks behind fentanyl exposure. New products and other safety measures can help reduce exposure to this highly dangerous opioid. They can minimize both the long-term and short-term risks associated with
"Tusi," commonly referred to as "pink cocaine," has recently become a trend in nightclubs across the country, from New York to Midwestern cities. Despite the name, "pink cocaine" is misleading as it doesn’t contain cocaine. Instead, it’s more of a marketing term for various substances sold in powder or crystal form. They’re usually pink or
