Nation Dec 30 Using a rideshare app this New Year’s Eve? Buckle up While most people nowadays make sure children in the rear are in car seats or buckled up, transportation officials say it’s fairly common for adults in back not to wear seat belts, especially when they’re riding in taxis and ride-hailing… By Jenni Bergal, Stateline
Health May 16 It’s not just opioids. Deaths from cocaine and meth are surging. The same lethal drug that has been driving the nation’s spiraling opioid epidemic is also causing an historic surge in overdose deaths among cocaine users. By Christine Vestal, Stateline
Health May 01 Desperate to prevent opioid overdoses, states urge greater prescription of naloxone In an effort to reduce opioid overdoses, a handful of states are requiring doctors to give, or at least offer, a prescription for naloxone to patients taking high doses of opioid painkillers. Naloxone saves lives by reversing the effects of… By Christine Vestal, Stateline
Health Apr 26 After devastating Midwest floods, crisis resources gear up to support distressed farmers This spring's devastating Midwest floods increased concerns about the mental health and well-being of farmers who already were struggling with years of economic uncertainty. By April Simpson, Stateline
Apr 19 Police are now taking roadside blood samples to catch impaired drivers By Jenni Bergal, Stateline While it’s easy for police to screen drivers for alcohol impairment using a breath-testing device, there’s no such machine to screen for drug impairment. As a result, more police are ordering electronic warrants and drawing blood roadside, sparking concerns about… Continue reading
Apr 17 Southern states slowly embracing harm reduction to curb opioid epidemic By Max Blau, Stateline In the Bible Belt, many Southerners who held conservative views often criticized harm reduction as something that encouraged — not ended — the use of drugs. But attitudes have shifted. Continue reading
Apr 02 How confusing labels contribute to our food waste problem By Elaine S. Povich, Stateline Inconsistent and unclear date labels are causing U.S. consumers to discard tons of food that is safe to eat. Continue reading
Aug 15 The year after childbirth is the deadliest for addicted women By Christine Vestal, Stateline Growing evidence suggests that women should receive continuous medical attention during what is now called the “fourth trimester” — a period lasting at least a year after childbirth. Continue reading
Jul 05 Pedestrian deaths are up nationwide, fueled by people who walk while drunk By Jenni Bergal, Stateline When alcohol impairment factors into a pedestrian death, it’s more often the pedestrian than the driver who is drunk. But nationwide, little has been done to address drunken pedestrian deaths. Continue reading