Author: Al Cross
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As pensions threaten school-nurse programs, schools can get new Medicaid money for both physical and behavioral health
Deputy Secretary Kristi Putnam —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Many of Kentucky’s school districts have long struggled to pay for school nurses, let alone professionals in behavioral health...
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Kentucky leads the way on many opioid-related efforts, and was well represented at the four-day drug abuse summit in Atlanta
U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers spoke at the 2019 National Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit in Atlanta. (Photo via Twitter) —– By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News Kentucky officials, researchers...
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Effort mounted to find and treat hepatitis C, which is spreading; most people who have it probably don’t know they have it
“We can’t afford to ignore it,” Gov. Bevin said. (Darla Carter photo) —– “A multimillion-dollar effort to fight hepatitis C was introduced Thursday in Louisville with the help of Gov. Matt Bevin as well...
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Kentucky teens’ use of electronic cigarettes and vapes doubled from 2016 to 2018, and is higher than national rates, survey finds
By Melissa Patrick and Al Cross Kentucky Health News A survey of Kentucky teenagers shows that their rate of using electronic cigarettes and vapes doubled from 2016 to 2018, and...
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Walgreens will raise age for tobacco sales to 21 on Sept. 1
“Walgreens has decided to raise its minimum age for tobacco sales several weeks after a top federal official chastised the drugstore chain for violating laws restricting access to cigarettes and other...
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Smoke-free advocates say the policy can be more palatable if part of a wellness campaign; also say to include smokers at the table
Onjewel Smith of the Southern States Regional Project of the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation discussed smoke-free campaigns in rural communities at the 2019 Kentucky Tobacco Conference. (Photo by Melissa Patrick) —–...
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Report offers five strategies to fight opioid epidemic in Appalachia; central part of region had high death rate from overdoses
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News The third report in a series that offers “replicable best practices” for Appalachian communities to improve their health offers strategies to address the opioid...
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In last decade, cost of opioid-related treatment at UK rose 733% and number of opioid patients rose 481%, Herald-Leader reports
Traffic rushes past Chandler Hospital in this slow exposure. —– There are several ways to measure the depth of the opioid epidemic that has spread across Kentucky and much of...
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UK gets $87 million federal grant to reduce opioid-overdose deaths in 16 counties by 40 percent in the next four years
The National Institutes of Health has awarded the University of Kentucky up to $87 million over the next four years, with the goal of reducing opioid-overdose deaths by 40 percent in 16 counties: Fayette,...
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Report offers Appalachian residents four strategies to decrease high obesity rate, aimed at deadly obesity-related diseases
By Melissa Patrick Kentucky Health News A new report offers practical strategies to help Appalachian communities tackle their high rates of obesity, which is causing many in the region to...