• U.S. life expectancy sees 'massive' decline, especially in Black and brown communities

    U.S. life expectancy sees 'massive' decline, especially in Black and brown communities

    Jun 24, 2021 10:30 PM EST

    ... an undercurrent in our country? Dr. Steven Woolf: Well, it's important to know it did not go away. And, in fact, it looks like overdose deaths have increased during the pandemic. Having said that, though, although opioid deaths and drug overdoses are the leading cause of rising mortality rates ...

  • Europe's human rights body seeks probe into Czech Roma death

    Europe's human rights body seeks probe into Czech Roma death

    Jun 23, 2021 08:19 PM EST

    ... officer responding to a call over an altercation knelt on his neck. Police say the man's death last week was due to a drug overdose, and the country's prime minister backed their handling of the incident. But Roma activists reject the police explanation and are planning a protest ...

  • 'I am proud.' Demi Lovato comes out as nonbinary

    'I am proud.' Demi Lovato comes out as nonbinary

    May 19, 2021 04:53 PM EST

    ... message of pride,” Ramos said in a statement. The singer behind such hits as “Sorry Not Sorry,” “Heart Attack” and “Stone Cold” recently shared their personal struggles with mental health and addiction in a YouTube documentary, which followed their journey prior to and following a near-fatal overdose in 2018.

  • It’s time to recognize the damage of childbirth, doctors and mothers say

    It’s time to recognize the damage of childbirth, doctors and mothers say

    May 07, 2021 09:50 PM EST

    More than half of these women -- 52 percent -- died after delivery. The total numbers are likely higher than reported, as deaths from suicide and drug overdoses among people who recently gave birth may not be listed as postpartum deaths. Black women are more than twice as likely to die as ...

  • U.S. lifts barriers to prescribing opioid addiction treatment

    U.S. lifts barriers to prescribing opioid addiction treatment

    Apr 27, 2021 09:02 PM EST

    ... many parts of the country, patients couldn't find a prescriber. Ironically, doctors could prescribe buprenorphine for pain without the extra training. U.S. drug overdose deaths have climbed during the coronavirus pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 90,000 drug overdose deaths in the 12 months ...

  • Prince fans headed to Paisley Park five years after death

    Prince fans headed to Paisley Park five years after death

    Apr 21, 2021 02:58 PM EST

    ... is the first time the urn has returned to the atrium for display to the public. Prince died April 21, 2016, of an accidental fentanyl overdose at age 57, shocking fans and setting off waves of grief around the world. Since then, Paisley Park was turned into a museum and ...

  • WATCH: Trial of Derek Chauvin, charged with killing George Floyd - Closing arguments

    WATCH: Trial of Derek Chauvin, charged with killing George Floyd - Closing arguments

    Apr 19, 2021 01:18 PM EST

    ... certain defense theories about Floyd's death as “nonsense," saying Chauvin killed Floyd by constricting his breathing. https://youtu.be/cvdTFRqHIpw Schleicher rejected the drug overdose argument, as well as the contention that police were distracted by hostile onlookers, that Floyd had “superhuman” strength from a state of agitation known ...

  • News Wrap: Kim Potter charged with second-degree manslaughter after shooting Daunte Wright

    News Wrap: Kim Potter charged with second-degree manslaughter after shooting Daunte Wright

    Apr 14, 2021 10:50 PM EST

    ... and continue to reach every adult who wants to be vaccinated by the end of May. Judy Woodruff: Also today, new federal data showed drug overdose deaths began rising again before the pandemic, and accelerated once it hit. The CDC said that more than 87,000 Americans died in the ...

  • George Floyd's brother remembers him as a caring 'leader' in Chauvin trial testimony

    George Floyd's brother remembers him as a caring 'leader' in Chauvin trial testimony

    Apr 12, 2021 10:52 PM EST

    Dr. Jonathan Rich: I can state with a high degree of medical certainty that George Floyd did not die from a primary cardiac event and he did not die from a drug overdose. Jerry Blackwell: Do you have an opinion, to a reasonable degree of certainty, as to whether Mr ...

  • Rapper DMX dead at age 50

    Rapper DMX dead at age 50

    Apr 09, 2021 04:41 PM EST

    ... Earl Simmons, had struggled with drug addiction since his teenage years. His lawyer, Murray Richman, had earlier said he could not confirm reports that DMX overdosed. DMX made a splash in rap music in 1998 with his first studio album, “It’s Dark and Hell is Hot,” which debuted No ...