Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Being Homeless In San Francisco Dramatically Raises Your Death Risk
Los Angeles Times: San Francisco's Homeless Population 16 Times More Likely To Die Suddenly Than Housed Neighbors, Study Finds
Unhoused people living in San Francisco are 16 times more likely to die suddenly than their fellow residents who are housed, according to a new study led by researchers from UC San Francisco. The study, which was published Monday in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine, tracked the autopsies of 868 people — 151 of them homeless — who died suddenly in San Francisco County over an eight-year period that ended in 2018. (Garrison and Gerber, 10/23)
On psychedelics and marijuana —
The New York Times: Psychedelic Mushrooms Hit The Market In Oregon
This summer, the state debuted a first-of-its-kind legal market for psilocybin mushrooms, more widely known as magic mushrooms. Far from the days of illicit consumption in basements and vans, the program allows people to embark on a therapeutic trip, purchasing mushrooms produced by a state-approved grower and consuming them in a licensed facility under the guidance of a certified facilitator. (Baker, 10/23)
Columbus Dispatch: Ohio Among Cheapest States For Medical Marijuana, New Study Says
Ohio has some of the cheapest medical marijuana prices in the country, according to a new study. Leafwell, a medical marijuana card service and research group, analyzed over 130,000 menu items at medicinal marijuana dispensaries across the United States to find which states offer the cheapest average price for cannabis per gram. The study, released Monday, revealed Ohio is among the cheapest states for medical marijuana. (Behrens, 10/23)
Politico: Legislative Progress Galvanizes Anti-Cannabis Club On Capitol Hill
Fighting weed legalization on Capitol Hill can feel like a lonely struggle these days. Marijuana is just as popular as ever. More than half of Americans now live in states where adults can legally possess the drug, and just over two-thirds support federal legalization. In Congress, more and more lawmakers — on both sides of the aisle — express some form of support for legal cannabis in the states. Yet a small but vocal, ad-hoc coalition of lawmakers — almost all Republicans — is keeping the anti-weed fight alive in Washington. And they’re not exactly losing. (Fertig, 10/23)
On the opioid crisis —
CBS News: Officials Say Narcan Is Now Stocked In NYC Public High Schools, But Some Principals Say They Haven't Received It Yet
The opioid crisis is a new challenge for schools this fall. As fentanyl fears remain high among teens, New York City Public Schools officials say Narcan, the medicine used to reverse opioid overdoses, is now stocked in its high schools. CBS New York has been following the opioid crisis and the push to get Narcan in schools. (Bisram, 10/23)
CBS News: M Health Fairview Partners With Minneapolis' Roosevelt High School For Naloxone Training
M Health Fairview on Monday trained students at Roosevelt High School on how to use naloxone, a drug that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose and save someone's life. Twenty teens who are in the health careers program opted in to learn how to administer the medicine and package 500 naloxone kits for city residents to pick up at access sites. (Cummings, 10/23)
Axios: Fentanyl Addiction Treatment For Kids And Teenagers Lags Far Behind Demand
An alarming rise in overdose deaths among children and teenagers is colliding with an inadequate pediatric mental health system — including a lack of addiction treatment. Limited treatment options and coverage gaps mean that many kids aren't getting needed care that could help prevent them from developing a deeper and potentially deadly addiction. (Owens, 10/24)
