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On today’s episode of The Confluence: Deaths due to a drug overdose have hit a new record nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and we learn where Pennsylvania data fits into the trends; the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank is trying to help facilities struggling with the infant formula shortages; and we examine a plan to create affordable housing through collective home ownership.Today’s guests include: Jennifer Smith, the state Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Programs; Denise O’Connor, founder and executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Mothers’ Milk Bank; and Margaret J. Krauss, senior reporter at WESA.
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On today’s program: Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Jen Smith reflects on how the pandemic and end to Gov. Tom Wolf’s opioid disaster declaration has affected the department’s work; Spotlight PA reporter Ed Mahon explains why an investigation into exactly how many people are using medical marijuana to treat opioid addiction in the commonwealth has been stalled by state agencies; and a listener asks why trolley tracks continue to exist on Chestnut Street, as part of our Good Question series.
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On today’s program: A recent investigation by SpotlightPA and Kaiser Health News found some drug and alcohol addiction treatment facilities in the state repeatedly violated state rules and continued operating; Pittsburgh Mercy’s distribution of COVID-19 vaccines has been complicated by a pause in administering the Johnson & Johnson vaccine; and a part of the slowdown in COVID-19 vaccinations can be traced to hesitancy among Republican-leaning communities.
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When it comes to prescribing pain medications for patients with chronic diseases, Pennsylvania is doing OK – but could be doing better.That’s according to…
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Health care providers wrote 259 million prescriptions for painkillers in 2012, enough for every adult in the U.S. to have a bottle of pills, according to…