In 2023 fentanyl overdoses ravaged the U.S. and fueled a new culture war fight
Fentanyl fueled unprecedented carnage with 112,000 fatal overdoses. The nation is increasingly divided over how to respond.
Health & Safety
What is hospice care? 6 myths about this end-of-life option
Recently ex-President Jimmy Carter went into hospice, which often is for patients in the last stages of incurable diseases. Contrary to popular belief, starting hospice doesn't mean giving up on life.
How rock-bottom prices drive shortages of generic drugs used in hospitals
Hospitals rely on scores of generic drugs given by injection. But these workhorses are often in short supply. Cheap prices have led to factory closures that leave the supply chain vulnerable.
From glacier babies to a Barbie debate: 7 great global stories you might have missed
Here are our editors' picks for stories from 2023 that we wish more people would see: from an elephant safari for teens to mating glaciers in Pakistan to a debate about Barbie's skin tone in India.
Two years after opening, Guilford County Behavioral Health Center sees urgent-care services highly utilized
The Guilford County Behavioral Health Center opened in Greensboro in 2021 to provide services for children, adolescents, and adults experiencing a mental health crisis. One of the goals is for it to be a more suitable location for those who might otherwise end up in an emergency room.
Piedmont companies wracked up significant OSHA fines in 2023
Several local companies wracked up hefty fines from the state’s Occupational Safety and Health Division th
Doctors are pushing Hollywood for more realistic depictions of death and dying on TV
Clinicians who work with people at the end of life say the most common television depictions of death aren't representative of what happens in the real world. They want to flip the script.
Fentanyl overdose deaths spark debate over treatment
As the drugs fentanyl and xylazine spread, 2023 emerged as a devastating year for Americans struggling with addiction.
Health workers struggle to prevent an infectious disease 'disaster in waiting' in Gaza
Public health experts say conditions in war-torn Gaza are ripe for the spread of infectious disease. Health workers are struggling to spot and contain outbreaks, even as the health system teeters.
Concern grows over infectious disease outbreaks in Gaza
The war between Israel and Hamas has devastated Gaza's health infrastructure and overwhelmed the remaining hospitals. Health professionals are growing concerned about infectious disease outbreaks.