Latest Morning Briefing Stories

¿Metanfetamina o trastorno mental? Policías muchas veces no pueden darse cuenta

KFF Health News Original

Cerca de 9,2 millones de adultos en los Estados Unidos enfrentan tanto un problema de salud mental como de drogas, o ambos. Y les resulta difícil acceder a atención especializada.

If Power Outages Are California’s New Normal, What About Home Medical Needs?

KFF Health News Original

Those who rely on plug-in health devices or medicine that requires refrigeration are scrambling to find ways to avoid potentially life-threatening disruptions now and in future fire season shutdowns.

Meth Trip Or Mental Illness? Police Who Need To Know Often Can’t Tell

KFF Health News Original

The calming techniques that officers learn during training to intervene in a mental health crisis don’t seem to work as well when a suspect is high on meth. Meth calls can be much more dangerous, police say.

‘Invincible’ Teen Vapers Face Fears, Ask For Help

KFF Health News Original

Starting to vape is easy, but quitting a nicotine habit can be tough, teens are finding. Some vaping cessation programs have begun to reach out to teens where they live — on their phones.

California Fires Illuminate Trauma And Resilience

KFF Health News Original

The chaos and evacuations prompted by wind-fueled wildfire in Sonoma County pose special challenges for people in need of ongoing medical treatment. Volunteer medical personnel have stepped up to provide care and a sense of stability.

Hospitals Take Shot At Opioid Makers Over Cost Of Treating Uninsured For Addiction

KFF Health News Original

A few hundred hospitals have banded together to sue drugmakers in state courts, but far more are staying on the sidelines to avoid ‘unflattering attention’ about their role in the opioid crisis.

Farmworkers Face Daunting Health Risks In California’s Wildfires

KFF Health News Original

October marks not only fire season in California, but also the peak of the grape harvest. In areas not imminently threatened by the explosive Kincade Fire in Sonoma County’s fabled vineyards, workers labored through heat and smoke, or faced lost wages.

Snooze You Can Use: California Legislates More Sleep For Better Health

KFF Health News Original

Other states may follow California’s new law requiring later start times for middle and high school students. The new law highlights the importance of better sleep, which will once again be on people’s minds as most of America — but not all — sets the clock back an hour early next month.

Vape District en Los Angeles, una puerta de entrada al mercado negro

KFF Health News Original

Una sección de cinco cuadras del centro de Los Ángeles que solía ser parte del Toy District se ha convertido en la zona cero del país para el comercio de cannabis falsificado.

Pharma Sells States On ‘Netflix Model’ To Wipe Out Hep C. But At What Price?

KFF Health News Original

Manufacturers of lucrative drugs say they’re offering discounts off the high sticker prices ― but taxpayers footing the big bills might never know what the state is paying or if it’s getting a good deal.

Los Angeles Vape District A Black-Market Gateway

KFF Health News Original

A seedy section of downtown Los Angeles has become the go-to place for those who trade in wholesale — and sometimes counterfeit — vaping products. As more people fall ill with a mysterious lung disease linked to e-cigarette use, the manufacture and distribution of vaping products face increased scrutiny.

As Vaping Devices Evolve, New Potential Hazards Emerge

KFF Health News Original

The technology for vaping has changed over the years, and researchers are finding more evidence that the way vaping devices and e-liquids interact could harm consumers.

Compression Garments Can Ease Lymphedema. Covering Costs? Not So Easy.

KFF Health News Original

Private insurance plans vary in coverage for compression garments, and some fall short of meeting patients’ needs. Although Medicaid programs cover some of these expenses, Medicare does not.

For Generation Juul, Nicotine Addiction Happens Fast And Is Hard To Shake

KFF Health News Original

One in 4 high school seniors report vaping in the previous month. Teens talk about how quickly vaping became ingrained in teen culture and how hard it is to quit vaping nicotine.