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Ohio officials approve co-responder program for behavioral health calls
A MetroHealth social worker will respond with Parma and Parma Heights police and firefighters to mental health, substance use, homelessness and other crisis calls
These stunning luxury audiophile headphones just hit a new lowest price, and I’m stunned by the £220 discount
The old but gold Bowers & Wilkins Px8 offers style and substance
CMS Approach to Work Reporting Requirement Won’t Work for People with Substance Use Disorders or Mental Health Conditions
By Deborah Steinberg, Senior Health Policy Attorney, Legal Action Center A few weeks ago, CCF explained how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a new interim final rule with comment period (IFR) that went far beyond its authority to implement the new work reporting requirements. H.R. 1 – the budget reconciliation law […]
Scientists used AI to crack one of water's biggest mysteries
Water’s odd behavior becomes even more dramatic when it is supercooled, but scientists have struggled to compare the many different ways of describing its microscopic structure. Researchers at the University of Osaka used an AI model trained on computer simulations to evaluate 16 different structural descriptors. The system identified the most effective ways to distinguish between water’s two competing liquid states, providing a clearer framework for studying one of nature’s most mysterious substances.
Why scratching a mosquito bite makes it so much worse, according to science
Scratching activates mast cells that release histamine and substance P, creating a prolonged itch-scratch cycle that worsens skin inflammation.
Why scratching a mosquito bite makes it so much worse, according to science
Scratching activates mast cells that release histamine and substance P, creating a prolonged itch-scratch cycle that worsens skin inflammation.
Science news this week: James Webb telescope finds a never-before-seen substance, China's 'Great Green Wall' grows faster than natural trees, and a Medici murder mystery is solved
July 4, 2026: Our weekly roundup of the latest science in the news, as well as a few fascinating articles to keep you entertained over the weekend.
Scientists devise new method for tracing environmental PFAS contamination better
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer products because of their resistance to heat, water and oil. However, ...
Register to attend Rural Health Initiative series on substance use
Experts from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and WVU School of Public Health will discuss their experiences working with patients who use substances in rural areas and potential areas for future research projects from noon to 1 p.m. July 16 on Zoom.
Recent Research on How Experiencing Racial Discrimination Impacts Health
This brief provides an overview of the relationship between racial discrimination and health and highlights research examining mechanisms underlying health outcomes linked to experiences of racial discrimination, including biological changes, chronic stress, mental health, substance use, pregnancy-related outcomes, and sleep.
Cost and utilization of inpatient mental health and substance use treatment - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker
Approximately 1 in 5 people with private health insurance have any mental illness, and 1 in 20 have a serious mental illness. This brief examines inpatient mental health and substance use treatment admissions in 2023 among adults aged 18-64 with large employer-sponsored health insurance plans. Private insurance enrollees constitute roughly a quarter (26%) of mental […]
Rescheduling marijuana would put politics ahead of science
The Drug Enforcement Administration is considering a proposal to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would recognize all cannabis products as havi…
Rescheduling marijuana would put politics ahead of science
The Drug Enforcement Administration is considering a proposal to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act, which would recognize all cannabis products as havi…
Scientists find molecular-level evidence for two structures in liquid water
A study published in Nature Physics provides new molecular-level evidence from simulations that liquid water is not a single uniform substance, but a constantly shifting mixture of two distinct microscopic ...
Louisville doctor, nurse and nonprofit founder charged in federal health care fraud crackdown
Federal prosecutors in the Western District of Kentucky announced charges in four separate cases involving alleged schemes to defraud Medicare and Medicaid, misuse medical credentials and controlled substances, and submit
Michigan health department awards $3.75M in opioid settlement funding for youth substance use prevention
CMS Ignores the Law (Again) – This Time Taking Health Insurance Away from Individuals with Substance Use Disorders, Mental Health Conditions, and Serious Health Conditions
Just a few weeks ago, we explained how the Center for Medicare and Medicaid’s (CMS) proposed regulation on state directed payments goes far beyond the statutory authority in H.R. 1 to incredibly harmful effect. Now it has happened again. This time CMS has issued an interim final rule on work reporting requirements (the “IFR”) that […]
Regulatory investigations reveal systemic failures among Commercial California Health Plans in delivering timely behavioral health care
Commercial California health plans are failing enrollees who need access to behavioral health services for mental health and substance use disorder care, recent investigations have shown. Across three rounds of investigations, the California Department of Managed Health Care found 70 Knox-Keene Act violations and 35 barriers to care across 14 health plans, spanning national, regional, and county-based plans.
WHO Step-by-Step programme recognized as a promising innovation for mental health in humanitarian settings
WHO, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and Lebanon’s National Mental Health Programme, showcased Step-by-Step at the World Bank Group’s biennial Fragility Forum in Washington, DC. The forum convened more than 1500 representatives from governments, international organizations and civil society to advance the development agenda in the world’s most fragile and crisis-affected communities. WHO was invited to demonstrate Step-by-Step – a digital self-help intervention for depression, alongside innovations presented by Stanford University and Google. The World Bank Group selected Step-by-Step from among more than 50 innovations that they reviewed in the lead up to the Forum.About Step-by-StepStep-by-Step is a free digital tool developed by WHO in collaboration with Lebanon’s National Mental Health Programme and other partners, that helps people manage depression and anxiety on their own, with light guidance from a trained supporter. It uses a picture-based story to walk users through evidence-based techniques for managing common mental health conditions. Users complete five modules, with weekly contacts – of around 15 minutes each – from a trained non-specialist helper, such as a community health worker.Evidence-basedClinical trials in Lebanon involving nearly 1250 participants – including 680 Lebanese participants and 569 Syrian participants – showed that Step-by-Step significantly reduced depression, anxiety and stress, and improved daily functioning. By the end of the programme, a reduction in depressive symptoms of more than 50% was reported by almost half (46%) of Lebanese participants and more than one third (37%) of Syrian participants compared to approximately 14% of those who did not use the programme. Cost-effectiveness analyses further suggest that Step-by-Step may offer a cost-saving response to depression in humanitarian emergencies in low- and middle-income countries.Used globallyStep-by-Step is already in use nationwide in Lebanon and Thailand, as part of each country’s mental health system. In India, the NGO – Kaya Guides – has adapted Step-by-Step for delivery through a widely used messaging app. Together, these programmes have provided thousands of people with evidence-based support for depression. The content is freely available from the WHO website for any organization or country to adapt for their own context.A new implementation guideThe Fragility Forum coincided with the recent launch of WHO’s new practical guide: Psychological self-help interventions: delivering self-help for individuals, featuring Step-by-Step and Doing What Matters in Times of Stress (WHO, 2026). The guide is designed to help governments, health workers, organizations and planners bring evidence-based mental health support to more people, particularly in low-resource and crisis-affected settings.
State tries to shut down Evanston psychiatric facility after string of crimes and violations
The state of Illinois is trying to close Albany Care in Evanston, a home for about 170 people with mental health and substance abuse issues. The facility is appealing the order.
Do Michigan parents have a right to see everything in kids’ medical records?
In Michigan, parents may face limited access to certain medical records, such as substance abuse treatment, as their children get older. State Rep. Joe Aragona, R-Clinton Township, would change that.
Somerset public health director calls for safe drug-taking space
Alison Bell says the space could also test the substances and help people if they overdose.
Behavioral Health: HHS and DOJ Offer Grants to Help Human Trafficking Survivors
Given the trauma that survivors of human trafficking have experienced, they may need behavioral health services, such as therapy or substance use...
'A great opportunity': $10 million is transforming how Triad EMS agencies approach healthcare
The 'NC Rural Health Transformation Program' aims to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment services for communities across NC.
County Supervisors Approve Three‑Year Integrated Plan, Funding Behavioral Health Care, Housing and Crisis Services
County Supervisors today approved the region’s first Behavioral Health Services Act (BHSA) Integrated Plan, a three-year roadmap for how the County will use funding to support mental health care, substance use treatment and housing for people with serious behavioral health needs.
Homeland Security Task Force secures clinic owner’s conviction for $52M health care fraud, illegal narcotics distribution and kickback scheme
Tony Brown-Arkah, 78, of New York, was the owner of American Medical Centers, a medical clinic in Brooklyn that purported to provide substance abuse treatment.
Spectrum News: Wright State University and Premier Health receive $2.5M grant to expand street medicine
For people experiencing homelessness or unstable housing, they also often face overlapping challenges like chronic illness, behavioral health conditions and substance use that makes day to day living even more difficult. Often a routine trip to the doctor is the … Continue reading →
Kaua‘i Ups Funding For Homeless Services, Mental Health, Substance Abuse
The funding is part of the county’s nearly $499 million spending plan for fiscal year 2027.
Surveillance data, arbitration bills that worried business get axe from Polis | The Sum and Substance
In veto letters, Gov. Jared Polis wrote that the bills could have harmed the very consumers that they espoused they wanted to help.
Popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs linked to lower risks of addiction and overdose
A massive study of more than 600,000 U.S. veterans suggests that popular GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide may do far more than help with diabetes and weight loss—they could also fight addiction itself. Researchers found that people taking these medications were less likely to develop substance use disorders involving alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, cocaine, opioids, and other drugs, while those already struggling with addiction experienced fewer overdoses, hospitalizations, emergency visits, and drug-related deaths.
Health groups lobby against chemical law changes
Public health and environmental advocates are pressing lawmakers this week to oppose industry-backed changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act.
Cyberdecks are having a moment, rejecting big tech surveillance with style and substance
Over the last few months, these DIY hardware communities have exploded in popularity as people on social media show off their solar-powered game emulators, pocket-sized ereaders, and clamshell purse computers.
The work you can't always see: Beer is political, part 2
Recently I published a piece about beer, politics, and the question of who speaks up and who doesn’t. I meant every word of it. I still do. And then my inbox opened up. Cleveland Prost is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe I’ve been writing about beer since 2014. For most of that time, I kept things deliberately light — taproom profiles, new releases, the people behind the pints. Gradually, over years of building this thing, you gave me something I didn’t expect: permission. Permission to go deeper. To say what I actually saw in this industry and what I actually believed about it. That trust isn’t something I take lightly. It’s why that piece existed at all, and it’s why this one does too. I’m not walking anything back. But I want to go further. In that piece, I wrote that beer has never existed outside the system. That immigration policy affects who staffs breweries and harvests ingredients. That labor policy affects taproom workers. That civil rights policy affects who feels safe walking into a taproom. That “beer does not exist in a vacuum. The idea that it does is comforting. It is also false.” I believe that as much now as I did when I wrote it. But one idea came back at me, in different forms, over and over (from reader emails, comments, and conversations): that beer itself isn’t political — that it only becomes political when someone decides to make it that way. That what we’re really seeing is a choice by individuals to inject division into something that doesn’t inherently require it. It’s a comforting idea. It’s also wrong — and I think it’s worth being precise about why. That framing assumes that breweries operate outside the conditions shaping everything else. That politics is something you choose to bring into a room that was, until then, clean and neutral. That if you stay quiet, you stay clear of it. But the room was never neutral. It was never clean. Politics is already in the room. It’s in who walks through the door comfortably and who hesitates. It’s in whether a space can be used for organizing without fear. It’s in whether helping someone quietly might carry consequences you have to think carefully about in advance. It’s in who staffed the brewery, who harvested the grain, who can afford to be a regular. The idea that you opt out of all that by staying quiet is an illusion. You only change how visible your response to it is. This is, I realize, a hard thing to hear if you came to a beer newsletter for something lighter. I wrote recently that “beer, for me, has always felt like a refuge — a third place in an increasingly fractured world.” I meant that. I still do. But a refuge is not an escape from reality. It’s a place to gather strength to face it. Here’s what I actually missed — and what I want to correct. Multiple people in the industry reached out to me. I’m not naming them and I’m not identifying their businesses, because that’s not my call. If and when they want to be loud about what they’re doing, that agency belongs to them. What I can share is the substance of what they said, because it complicated something I presented too cleanly. The overall message: *You don’t know what we all are doing.* And they’re right. I don’t. One example involved a collaboration brewed quietly to support another business facing serious challenges in a whole different region, with proceeds directed toward solidarity, community, and keeping operations afloat. No announcement. It could have been broadcast widely. The point was never publicity. Another example involved logistical support for community efforts: organizing safe transportation, providing space for meetings on otherwise closed days, facilitating gatherings under difficult conditions. All of it happening while balancing real financial pressure and genuine concern for personal safety. None of what they described is a brewer “deciding to make beer political.” It’s people responding to the conditions around them — conditions that are already shaping who feels safe, who has access, who can gather, who needs help, and who has the capacity to offer it. Politics, again, already in the room. Already shaping choices. Whether anyone announced it or not. I’ve spent decades in taprooms, at barrel releases, at festivals, in back offices and brewing floors, talking to the people who built this industry from nothing. I know how much happens that never makes it onto social media. I know the owner who quietly comp’d a tab for someone having a crisis. The brewer who drove an hour to pick up a stranger who needed a safe ride. The taproom that stayed dark on a Tuesday so a community group could use the space without it becoming A Whole Thing. None of that gets a post. Most of it never will. So when I wrote recently about silence — when I said that “silence right now doesn’t feel neutral, it feels like complicity” — I was writing about what I could see. And I was right about what I saw. The public silence of breweries that have the platform, the stability, and frankly the safety to say something and choose not to? That still troubles me. I’m not softening that. But some of what I read as silence is actually something else entirely. It’s people doing the work with their hands instead of their phones. It’s people who are genuinely afraid — not of being canceled, but of real consequences for their families, their employees, their ability to keep the doors open at all. That deserves more than a footnote. It deserves to be named clearly. Here’s the tension I want to sit with honestly: public statements matter. They matter because people can’t rally around something they can’t see. Visibility creates awareness and solidarity. It helps people find each other. It tells someone standing outside your taproom door, uncertain whether they’ll be welcomed inside, something they need to know — or whether it’s even safe for them to be in public at all. That’s not performative. I wrote recently that the craft beer movement “was built on collective defiance. It was built on rejecting consolidation. On pushing back against homogeneity.” I believe that too. And I’ll extend it: breweries should be at least as loud about their values as they are when they drop a new seasonal. Your hazy IPA gets a full rollout — the label art, the tap handle photo, the countdown post. Human dignity deserves the same energy. Be as loud about human rights as you are about your beer. There is no reason those two things should require different levels of courage from you. But visibility isn’t the only form of courage. And not everyone can be visible right now without real consequences — financial, personal, sometimes physical. There are people in this industry doing hard, unglamorous, sometimes risky work in the background, and announcing it would compromise it or paint a target on someone who’s already stretched thin. That’s not silence as complicity. That’s operational discipline under pressure. What I want to push back on — clearly, not gently — is the idea that behind-the-scenes action and public visibility are in competition with each other. The person organizing quietly in the back room and the person posting a statement of solidarity on a Tuesday morning are both doing something real. We need both. We need the quiet infrastructure and we need the visible signal. We need people to know that this industry — at its best, at its most independent, and human — gives a fuck. I closed that piece with a question: “Reactive and fearful? Or clear and values-driven?” That question still stands. But having heard from you, I’d add a corollary: the values-driven path isn’t always the loudest one. Sometimes it’s a phone call and a recipe. Sometimes it’s a room made available on a closed Tuesday. Sometimes it’s a drive across town for someone who needed a safe ride home. All of it is political. All of it was always political. You don’t get to opt out of that — you only get to decide what you do with it. I’ve spent more than a decade writing about this industry because I believe it can be exactly that. I’ve been lucky enough to build an audience that lets me say so plainly. That’s a privilege I intend to use. The work is happening. Some of it you’ll see. Some of it you won’t. Support it either way. Cleveland Prost is a reader-supported publication covering beer and brewing across New York state. To receive new posts and support this work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Cleveland Prost is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Subscribe
Study links childhood trauma and simultaneous substance use to higher rates of depression in college students
Research findings suggest the need for integrated strategies in college health programs.
After years in limbo, a new crisis center opens in Lynnwood
Operated by community health provider Sea Mar, the center will offer urgent mental health and substance use care and take drop-offs from first responders.
New laws extend tax credits for business expansion, childcare contributions | The Sum and Substance
One bill offers tax credits for companies creating 20 new jobs. The other gives tax breaks to Coloradans donating to childcare providers.
A Chemical Production Loophole Could Delay the Recovery of Earth’s Ozone Layer by Up to 11 Years
A new study reveals that if left unchecked, unaccounted-for emissions of ozone-harming substances could delay the layer’s full recovery by almost a decade.
Is Salem's REACH team the 'missing puzzle piece' for people in crisis?
Four months after its launch, a new three-person team is staying busy responding to mental health crisis and substance use disorder calls in Salem.
Governor Gianforte Announces Montana Secures Federal Funding to Establish Behavioral Health Clinics
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte and Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) Director Charlie Brereton today announced the Trump administration selected Montana as one of ten states to receive federal funding to expand access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment across the state.
Hidden driving danger when edible cannabis and alcohol mix
Using cannabis edibles and alcohol together may make drivers far more impaired than either substance alone, according to new research from Johns Hopkins. Even more concerning, common field sobriety tests often failed to detect the cannabis-related impairment.
Medicaid’s Vital Role in Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care
Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to recognize Medicaid’s essential role in helping people access mental health care and treatment for substance use disorder. As the nation’s largest payer for mental health and substance use disorder care, Medicaid covers approximately twenty two million non-elderly Americans with these conditions who rely on the program’s essential […]
EPA Extends TSCA Health and Safety Reporting Rule Deadline to 2027
What: On May 22, 2026, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended the Toxic Substances Control Act’s (TSCA) Health and Safety Data Reporting rule deadline to May 21, 2027.Why: The Health and Safety Data Reporting rule was finalized in la
Camp Zama Soldiers Connect With Community at Mental Health Awareness Fair
Camp Zama’s Army Substance Abuse Program hosted a Mental Health Awareness Day event May 20 to provide various information and resources for community me...
Department of Population and Public Health Sciences 2025–2026 Annual Report highlights innovation, discovery and community impact
Related News PhD student Angel Arizpe receives grant to study the implications of substance use among Hispanic cancer survivors May 24, 2024 Alumni Spotlight: Meet Iona Cheng, PhD, MPH, building […]
MAPS 4 Mental Health Crisis Center final plans approved
MAPS 4 includes $12.27 million to build the new crisis center and expand access to critical mental health and substance use intervention resources for Oklahoma City residents. The Arnall Family Foundation also contributed $3 million to the project.
2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship Award
Undergraduate senior biochemistry student Lillian Ott (Mohanty group) has been awarded the 2026 National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship, one of the country’s most prestigious honors for graduate students in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). The program, jointly sponsored by the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force, supports doctoral students across a broad range of scientific and technological fields of strategic importance. This highly competitive fellowship provides full tuition, fees, and a monthly stipend for three years. In 2026, only 102 fellowships were awarded nationwide. Lillian also received an honorable mention for the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Studying biochemistry at UCLA, Lillian became excited about how her physical science background could be applied to solve environmental issues. She joined the Subsurface Engineering Analysis Laboratory (SEA Lab) led by Professor Sanjay Mohanty in the Samueli’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. In the SEA lab, she has studied the fate and transport of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS are ubiquitous “forever chemicals” and known carcinogens that impact water quality worldwide. This fall, she will begin her Ph.D. in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University with Professor Nina Zhao. Her research will be focused on metabolomics and the discovery of unrecognized chemical determinants of environmental and human health. “I have seen the serious and unforeseen environmental and health consequences from man-made chemicals like PFAS and microplastics, which are often only appreciated after the damage has been done. I hope that my research can lead to more sustainable chemical design and inform policy and solutions-based innovation in public health and water quality engineering,” Lillian said. Penny Jennings, UCLA Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, penjen@g.ucla.edu.
Legal, business groups push back on arbitration-reform bill now before Polis | The Sum and Substance
The bill seeks to limit consumer and employee costs with arbitration, disqualify some arbitrators and force losing parties to pay up.
Biggest bombshells from Hayden Panettiere’s book ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning’
Hayden Panettiere's book, ‘This Is Me: A Reckoning,' includes revelations about her career, Hollywood romances, substance abuse struggles, and more.
Surgical patients with mental health conditions who receive music therapy are more medically complex, study finds
A new study from University Hospitals Connor Whole Health found that patients with mental health and/or substance use disorders who undergo surgery and receive music therapy are more medically complex ...
Care Out Loud launches in Jacksonville with mental health awareness event
A new mental health coalition in Onslow County held its first event in Jacksonville, connecting hundreds of residents with local mental health and substance abuse resources.
Rocket Science Health validates targeted olfactory-cleft deposition in non-human primates ahead of the 4th Nasal Formulation & Delivery Summit
As the pace of modern drug discovery accelerates, the industry is increasingly recognizing that a breakthrough molecule is only as effective as its ability to reach the target site.
Michigan Health Department releases findings about project on contaminants in firefighters’ blood
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has released findings from a project to determine concentrations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in blood of Michigan firefighters.
WHO warns nicotine pouch brands targeting youth as sales surge
The World Health Organization (WHO) today issues a strong warning over the rapid global expansion of nicotine pouch products, which are being aggressively marketed to adolescents and young people. WHO notes that regulation in many countries is limited or absent, raising concerns about youth nicotine addiction and related health risks.
2026 Colorado legislative analysis: A year in which business concerns were heard | The Sum and Substance
Business groups stopped bills they deemed harmful and passed several proactive measures in a legislative session they should remember fondly.
Public health officials warn fentanyl may now be mixed with substances not approved for human use
Public health officials warn fentanyl is now being combined with new substances that aren’t approved for human use and are often undetectable to the user.
Sponsors kill two bills to roll back $450 million in business tax breaks | The Sum and Substance
The bills sought to pare down two notable business tax breaks and to decouple state policy from federal tax laws speeding up depreciation.
5 Key Facts on Adolescent Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
Nineteen percent of adolescents experience moderate to severe anxiety and 2 million have a substance use disorder. This analysis covers the latest data on adolescent mental illness, suicide and drug overdose trends, and access to care.
Learner spotlight: Vivian’s path to rights based mental health advocacy
For Vivian Anyango Aola, mental health is deeply personal. Growing up she witnessed people around her struggling with emotional distress without access to support, understanding or solutions. Those early experiences laid the foundations for her work today as a mental health advocate at St. Daniel Comboni mission in Nairobi, Kenya.“Mental health is about feelings – something we all experience every day,” Vivian explains. “Ensuring people are supported in those feelings is what drives my work.” Creating safe spaces and challenging stigmaIn her role, Vivian works closely with people living with mental health conditions and psychosocial, intellectual and cognitive disabilities. Through dialogue, listening and shared learning, she helps create safe spaces where people feel seen, heard and respected. However, stigma and discrimination remain significant barriers.“Witnessing stigma only strengthens my resolve to fight for inclusion, acceptance and equal treatment for all,” she says. Vivian enrolled in the WHO ‘QualityRights in Mental Health’ online, self-paced course available on the WHO Academy learning platform to strengthen her knowledge and advocacy skills. The six-module course provides the foundation for challenging stigma and discrimination and for promoting person-centred, rights-based approaches in mental health.“The course gave me a new perspective,” she says. “It showed me how to support people in ways that respect autonomy and promote recovery, rather than focusing only on treatment.”The importance of language and cultureSince its launch, more than 141 000 people have enrolled in the course globally, and it is now available in 17 languages on the learning platform – the highest number of languages of any WHO course. For Vivian, accessibility is key to transforming mental health systems. “Language is a bridge between professionals and communities,” she explains. “When mental health resources are available in local languages, they reduce misunderstanding, build trust and encourage people to seek help. It also empowers health workers to deliver care in ways that are culturally sensitive and relevant.”In a global evaluation of the course, which analysed data from over 3000 learners, attitudes toward people with mental health conditions improved by 22.78% overall after completing the course, with even greater shifts in low- and middle-income countries (29.18%) compared to high-income countries (20.58%)[1].“The course equips participants with the essential knowledge and skills to transform mental health into a more rights-based, inclusive and recovery-oriented system,” explains Vivian. “It reinforces that change is possible. When people understand rights, dignity and recovery, the entire system can begin to shift.”Mental Health, Brain Health and Substance Use[1] Breaking stigma, discrimination and promoting rights: global evaluation of the World Health Organization QualityRights e-training on mental health, recovery and community inclusion
Sponsors heed business and utilities' pleas, make changes to PUC reauthorization bill | The Sum and Substance
The bill extends the life of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission by seven years and makes several changes to its operations.
Scientists successfully transfer longevity gene and extend lifespan
Scientists at the University of Rochester pulled off a remarkable experiment: they transferred a longevity-related gene from the famously long-lived naked mole rat into mice, and the mice ended up healthier and lived longer. The special gene boosts production of a substance called high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which appears to protect against cancer, reduce inflammation, and support healthier aging. The modified mice showed stronger resistance to tumors, healthier guts, and lower levels of age-related inflammation.
Black licorice compound shows promise against inflammatory bowel disease
Researchers have developed a stem cell-based model of the human intestine that may transform how new IBD treatments are discovered. After testing thousands of compounds, they identified glycyrrhizin — a natural substance found in black licorice — as a promising anti-inflammatory candidate. In both lab-grown tissue and mice, the compound reduced intestinal damage and cell death linked to IBD.
Mental Health Awareness Month highlights rising needs across western North Carolina
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Nearly 30 million people across the U.S lack access to affordable, comprehensive mental health and substance treatment.
Linked to health risks | Democratic lawmakers in Pa. are seeking to regulate kratom
Kratom, a substance advertised as an energy booster, mood lifter, and pain reliever, is skyrocketing in popularity and is easily accessible, including at gas stations.
DOJ targets tech-driven health fraud on West Coast
A new team, including the DEA and FBI, is meant to combine and align resources to detect and dismantle healthcare and controlled substance schemes in Arizona, Nevada and California.
House passes tax package to end $555 million in business tax breaks | The Sum and Substance
Four bills roll back state tax breaks or decouple from federal tax incentives in order to raise revenue for a new Family Affordability Credit.
Hurricane Helene shattered lives — and the systems that keep people sober
Recovery from substance use disorder requires community. What happens when a disaster tears that apart?
Rodriguez introduces new AI bill, drawing kudos from business and consumer groups | The Sum and Substance
The bill requires disclosures on use of AI in consequential decisions, lets the AG's office intervene if algorithmic discrimination is found.
Delaware bill looks to tackle insurance hurdles for mental health care
Lawmakers in Dover recently introduced a bill focused on making mental health and substance use disorder care more accessible for Delawareans.
‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ review: Sequel all style, no substance
“The Devil Wears Prada 2” gives us a lot to look at, but it’s flat Champagne: maybe worth drinking in a pinch, but unsatisfying, writes Moira Macdonald.
Mental Health Parity Index
This first‑of‑its‑kind, open-access tool uses real‑time data to reveal where mental health and substance use disorder care falls behind physical health care. Learn more.
Behavioral health urgent care set to open in Robeson County
The facility will be open 24 hours a day to help patients who are experiencing a mental health or substance misuse crisis.
Gravitational waves may have created dark matter in the early universe
In the chaotic first moments after the Big Bang, ripples in spacetime may have done more than just echo through the cosmos—they could have helped create dark matter itself. New research suggests that faint, ancient gravitational waves might have transformed into particles that eventually became the invisible substance shaping galaxies today.
Critical Access Toolkit for Substance Use Disorder
The toolkit produced by PHI's Bridge program was developed by experts in addiction medicine. It provides educational videos and downloadable resources on need-to-know information about critical access to medications for opioid use disorder and overdose prevention tactics.
Our unsung hero of science: Friedrich Miescher, the man who discovered DNA
Working on human pus in a medieval castle, Miescher discovered a substance that would eventually unlock our understanding of how life works.
Health department to lead all street outreach teams
The City’s outreach teams work with people struggling with housing and substance use issues.
Partnership offers one-stop site for mental health, recovery services in Manchester
Manchester officials on Tuesday announced a partnership with the Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester (MHCGM) to enhance the city's response to homelessness, substance use disorder and mental health issues.
Behavioral health data exchange challenges impede interoperability, says ONC
Technical barriers, workforce limitation, privacy concerns and cost may all contribute to lower rates of electronic exchange of health information by mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities, a new analysis shows.
These Salmon Got High on Cocaine. That Wasn’t the Craziest Part.
Scientists in Sweden made an unexpected discovery when they exposed the fish to the illegal drug as well as another substance.
Trump Backs Psychedelic Research
By HealthDay Staff HealthDay ReporterMONDAY, April 20, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Psychedelic drugs could soon play a larger role in mental health care. Over the weekend, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting federal research into substances like psilocybin, LSD and MDMA
April 20 "Colorado Chamber Office Hours": The housing debate from a business lens | The Sum and Substance
A leader in the homebuilding industry and a Senate Republican offer opposing viewpoints on this year's housing package.
How Trump is pushing psychedelics reform through the health agencies
Trump directed the federal government to rush access to psychedelic treatments and reevaluate their status as controlled substances.
Behavioral Health Urgent Care Set to Open in Robeson County
The facility in Lumberton will be open 24 hours a day to help patients who are experiencing a mental health or substance misuse crisis.
Trump Signs Order To Accelerate Legal Access To Psychedelics For Patients With Mental Health Conditions
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at expanding and expediting research on the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics, a move aimed at making substances such as psilocybin, ibogaine, LSD and MDMA more readily available to patients in clinical settings. The move will “dramatically accelerate access to new medical research and treatments based […]
Data highlights gaps in finding in-network mental health coverage
Americans across 43 states enrolled in health plans from the nation’s four largest commercial health insurers face potential disparities in finding in-network coverage for mental health care and substance use disorder treatment relative to physical health care, according to the Mental Health Parity Index released by the Kennedy Forum.
Enhancing workforce training to prevent substance use disorders
KU researchers have updated training materials that prepare health care providers to prevent, identify and treat substance use disorders across Kansas.
Britney Spears enters substance abuse treatment facility weeks after her arrest on suspicion of DUI
Britney Spears has entered a substance abuse treatment facility | News and Talk Radio 840 AM
Britney Spears enters substance abuse treatment facility weeks after her arrest on suspicion of DUI
Britney Spears has entered a substance abuse treatment facility | KCBS All News 106.9FM and 740AM
Britney Spears enters substance abuse treatment facility weeks after her arrest on suspicion of DUI
Britney Spears has entered a substance abuse treatment facility | 1010 WINS
King County’s mental health expansion 'moving way too slowly,' Zahilay says
We sat down with King County Executive Girmay Zahilay to discuss his vision for mental health and substance use care amid shaky federal and state funding.
Goodwill closes behavioral health services program in Grand Island
Goodwill is shutting down behavioral health programs in Grand Island, which served those struggling with developmental disabilities, brain injuries, mental health, substance use and more.
JD Vance's mom to speak at county GOP fundraiser
Beverly Aikins has become a public speaker since her son took office, often sharing her story about recovering from substance use.
Schematic Diagram of Semiartificial Photosynthesis
A semiartificial photosynthesis system composed of photocatalysts (purple), electron mediators (red), and biocatalysts (green) works together to convert carbon dioxide into useful substances using sunlight.
Kavita Fischer: I lost $400,000 betting on sports
I lost more than $400,000 gambling. I’m also a psychiatrist who works with individuals struggling with substance use and behavioral That combination...
Preparing the Next Generation of Alcohol and Drug Counselors
UNO’s Clinical Mental Health Counseling program is expanding its reach and impact by offering students a pathway to dual licensure in both mental health and substance use counseling. In just two additional courses beyond their required coursework, students can become eligible for Nebraska’s Provisional Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (PLADC) credential.
Business-backed bill to review regulations clears committee on unanimous vote | The Sum and Substance
The bill would require agencies to review regulations every five years, looking for those that are redundant, outdated or not beneficial.
Employers, legislative leaders seeking change in business atmosphere with bill | The Sum and Substance
Shortly after Steve Swinney and his partners founded Kodiak Building Partners in 2011, they acquired two local companies that they viewed as core to the...
Midjourney engineer debuts open source Pretext to revolutionize web design
It allows developers to treat text as a fluid substance that can be recalculated every single frame without dropping a beat.
Scientists Discover Hidden Behavior in Water That Helps Explain Why Ice Floats
Water exists in two different liquid forms, which might be why it behaves differently than other substances.
Availability of Care for Older Adults in Outpatient Behavioral Health Facilities
Behavioral health (BH) conditions are rising among older adults, who are less likely to receive mental health (MH) or substance use disorder (SUD) treatment compared to younger adults. This study examined the availability of care for older adults in outpatient BH facilities across the United States both quantitatively and qualitatively.
Improving Connecticut’s Public Health Through Cross-Sector Data-Sharing
The Prevention Data Portal, launched in 2018 by Connecticut’s State Epidemiological Outcomes Workgroup (SEOW), houses data from local, state, and federal sources to advance health promotion and substance use prevention in the state.