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The proportion of overdoses involving fentanyl and a stimulant — most commonly cocaine and methamphetamine — increased more than fiftyfold from 2010 to 2021, a study published Thursday in the journal Addiction found. “The roots really did start with overprescribing prescription opioids, but now it is really characterized by stimulants and fentanyl,” said Chelsea Shover, an assistant professor-in-residence at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, who co-authored the study. (Sullivan, 9/14)

There are stark regional differences in the use of xylazine, a powerful veterinary sedative increasingly mixed with illicit fentanyl that can cause skin-rotting wounds, according to a new report from the drug testing lab Millennium Health. (Millman, 9/14)

The American Red Cross has declared a national blood shortage in the wake of a record catastrophic year for weather and climate disasters across the country. The nonprofit organization announced on its website Monday that the national blood supply has fallen nearly 25% since early August, and the shortage is fueled by a sequence of natural disasters. Hurricane Idalia, which two weeks ago slammed through Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, caused more than 700 units of blood and platelets to go uncollected, the Red Cross said. (Arshad, 9/13)

From dangerously warm temperatures to vast species extinctions, humans are living on a planet that is becoming inhospitable — with only three key health markers considered safe, according to a new scientific study. Researchers have run a full fitness examination on Earth by analyzing nine boundaries that define a safe operating space for humanity. Six out of these have been crossed so far and pressure on all of them is increasing, according to a research paper published Wednesday in the journal Science Advances. (Millan, 9/13)

A person’s sense of purpose declines leading up to and following a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive decline, according to a new study. “Purpose in life is the feeling that one’s life is goal-oriented and has direction. It is an important component of well-being,” said Dr. Angelina Sutin, lead author of the study published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Network Open. (Holcombe, 9/13)

For 40 years, researchers have unsuccessfully tried to explain — or debunk — the “Hispanic Paradox,” the finding that Hispanic Americans live several years longer than white Americans on average, despite having far less income and health care and higher rates of diabetes and obesity. Now, armed with more comprehensive data, powerful genomic tools, and a rich cultural awareness of the communities they study, a new generation of scientists is finally making headway. (McFarling, 9/14)

A smaller share of Gen Z is thriving compared to millennials at the same age, and members of Gen Z are far less likely to describe their mental health as “excellent,” according to a new study. (Shoichet, 9/14)

“This type of work cannot just be exclusively publicly funded,” said Dr. Rita Singhal, the department’s chief medical officer and director of the disease control bureau. “The more revenue for this effort, the better.” In the past, the department said it spent between $1.1 million and $2.3 million annually on testing for STDs. ... “If you’re trying to control a disease that’s spiking, you have to take away any deterrents, any obstacles” to routine screening, said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. (Alpert Reyes, 9/13)

Cleaning products you may be using in your home — even the "green" options — could impact your health, according to new research from a nonprofit advocacy organization. In a peer-reviewed study by the Environmental Working Group that was published in the journal Chemosphere, scientists found everyday products may release hundreds of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. (Moniuszko, 9/13)