Stay informed with the latest public health research, insights, and evidence-based analysis from our team of experts.
“Sorry, I’m just feeling foggy today.” We’ve all said it. Maybe after a bad night’s sleep or a stressful week. But what if that fog didn’t lift after a nap or a weekend off? What if it lingered for months—or years? According to recent research, brain fog is far more than a fleeting annoyance. It […]
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What if your ZIP code mattered as much as your treatment plan? For people recovering from substance use disorder (SUD), the place they call home might be one of the most powerful tools in their journey toward health. A new systematic review reveals that recovery housing—structured, abstinence-based group homes—can do more than just offer a […]
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No white coats. No pill bottles. Just soil under your fingernails, sunlight on your back, and the slow, satisfying rhythm of pulling weeds or planting seeds. For thousands of people living with chronic conditions, that might be exactly what the doctor should order. A sweeping new review of 23 studies, involving over 4,500 participants from […]
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What if the secret to better adolescent mental health wasn’t found in a therapist’s office, but in the streets, schools, and parks of a community? That’s the promise of place-based approaches (PBAs)—collaborative efforts between multiple sectors, like public health officials, schools, and community groups, to improve health by changing the environments where young people live. […]
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As we potentially sit on the edge of a recession, what happens when you can no longer afford the little joys in life—an occasional night out, a concert, or even a small luxury like a nice watch? Most of us understand the financial strain of hard times, but new research suggests that cutting back on […]
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In 2020, suicide became the fifth leading cause of death among Latinx individuals in the United States. Behind this statistic are complex stories—working-aged men who struggle in silence, women facing mounting mental health stressors, and young adults navigating cultural identity conflicts. The increase in suicidal ideation and attempts among Latinx adults is alarming, yet existing […]
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What does it really mean to be “in recovery”? For millions of people overcoming substance use disorders (SUDs), the answer can shift daily. Some days, the identity feels strong—a source of pride and purpose. Other days, it wavers, making the journey more challenging. A recent study sheds new light on this dynamic experience, showing that […]
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In one part of the world, a mother watches her child suffer in agony from advanced cancer, unable to get the pain relief he desperately needs. In another, a man battles opioid addiction, his life unraveling due to a prescription he was given years ago. These are the two faces of the global opioid crisis—one […]
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Have you ever felt alone in a crowded room? Imagine that feeling persisting, day in and day out, exacerbated not just by a lack of companionship but also by the very environment you live in. For many older adults in the United States, loneliness isn’t just a temporary condition but a persistent reality influenced by […]
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Imagine you’re a public health official in Massachusetts. After weeks of routine overdose data reporting, a sudden spike in deaths hits your desk: an alarming five extra fatalities in just one day. What caused this? A bad batch of fentanyl? A sudden lapse in services? These are not just hypothetical questions. They highlight the challenges […]
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Imagine this: A single mother in Illinois struggles to balance work, childcare, and her battle with opioid use disorder (OUD). The COVID-19 pandemic, which upended daily life for millions, seems like it could provide a silver lining: telehealth services, offering remote access to essential treatment. But for her and many others on Medicaid, the promise […]
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A colleague and I were talking about an assessment process, and someone raised a good question. Are all types of gambling equal? That is, are problem gambling rates the same in BINGO halls as they are for sports betting apps. So we went to the literature and found a semi-recent study from Massachusetts that sheds […]
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