public health

Drug addiction is a big concern to rural Americans, according to a new poll from NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

NPR Poll: Rural Americans Are Worried About Addiction And Jobs, But Remain Optimistic

4:36pm October 16, 2018

What's on people's minds in rural America? A new poll shows that the addiction crisis and economic issues have people worried. But many retain an upbeat outlook about the future of their communities.

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The conversation around gun violence in the U.S. usually focuses on homicides, urban crime and mass shootings. But the overwhelming majority of gun deaths are suicides.

Sharp Increase In Gun Suicides Signals Growing Public Health Crisis

4:47pm July 26, 2018

by Brian Mann

The overwhelming majority of gun deaths in America don't involve bad guys with guns — they're caused by people deliberately harming themselves. The U.S. experiences more than 60 gun suicides daily.

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The resolution at the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May was aimed at promoting breastfeeding.

Trump Administration Denies Threatening Ecuador Over A Breastfeeding Resolution

7:40pm July 10, 2018

by Merrit Kennedy

A State Department official says "reports suggesting the United States threatened a partner nation related to a World Health Assembly resolution are false." The New York Times says the U.S. did.

During his life, Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was known not only for his novels, but for his scientific research and public health advocacy.

A Twist On Charles Dickens: He Was A Public Health Pioneer Too

1:11pm July 05, 2018

by Joanne Silberner

A new museum exhibit in London reveals a hidden side of the literary great. It turns out he was prolific not just as a novelist, but also as a promoter of public health and medical discoveries.

Student Journalists

Now I Understand

3:58pm June 15, 2018

by Olivia Boone

Olivia Boone had a normal childhood—or so she thought—until she learned

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A screenshot from a public service announcement by White House and Truth Initiative to warn youth about opioid abuse.

With Real-Life Stories, White House Ad Campaign Aims To Prevent Youth Opioid Abuse

7:10pm June 07, 2018

by Sarah McCammon

Four new national ads will focus on warning young people about how easy it is to fall into opioid addiction.

Maps showing the suicide rate by state in 2014-2016 and the percent increase between 1999 and 2016.

Health & Safety

CDC: U.S. Suicide Rates Have Climbed Dramatically

5:58pm June 07, 2018

by Nell Greenfieldboyce

Guns are the most common method used for suicide, accounting for the deaths of almost half the people who kill themselves, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study finds.

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