An American born in 2024 can expect to live to be 79, on average. But people in other wealthy countries can expect to live longer.
overdose deaths
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How a friend’s overdose drove a leading addiction scientist to look for answers
After Nabarun Dasgupta lost a close friend to an overdose, he dedicated himself to addiction research and trying to empower drug users with lifesaving information.
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Drug deaths plummet among young Americans as fentanyl carnage eases
U.S. drug deaths dropped by roughly 40% last year among people under the age of 35. It’s a welcome pivot for families and communities devastated by fentanyl.
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RFK Jr. is shrinking the agency that works on mental illness and addiction
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration has seen its staff cut by more than a third, and it’s facing deep budget cuts. Progress on overdose deaths could be lost, experts warn.
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Fentanyl deaths in the U.S. have dropped faster than expected, CDC says
If the downward trend holds, this year is expected to be the first since 2020 to see overdose deaths fall below the 100,000 mark. However, Black and Native American communities remain vulnerable.
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The pipeline of deadly fentanyl into the U.S. may be drying up, experts say
Street fentanyl has long been viewed as unstoppable. Now many experts say the supply of the deadly synthetic opioid is suddenly drying up in many parts of the U.S. and fatal overdoses are dropping.
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2 doctors are charged in connection to ‘Friends’ actor Matthew Perry’s ketamine death
Five people, including two California doctors, have been charged in connection with the 2023 death of the Friends actor, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Posted inHealth, Local
Overdose deaths in R.I. fell for the first time in five years
Fatal drug overdoses in Rhode Island declined for the first time in five years, with similar dips in other New England states, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Health. Rhode Island overdose deaths last year fell about 7 percent. In Massachusetts, overdose deaths last year dropped 10 percent; Connecticut reported an […]
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Providence’s crackdown on homeless encampments complicates efforts to prevent overdoses
Outreach worker Amy Santiago had not seen her homeless client, Tracy, in more than a week. Not since a woman in the encampment where Tracy was living died of a drug overdose. “When you have emergency medical personnel and the police come into your encampment,’’ Santiago said, “it’s a frightening experience.” Santiago and her co-workers […]
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U.S. drug deaths declined slightly in 2023 but remained at crisis levels
Powerful synthetic opioids and drugs like meth and cocaine still flood U.S. communities, fueling historically high overdose deaths.
