Â鶹ŮÓÅ

Call centers for 911 have a more technical name: public safety answering points, or PSAPs. People who work at these centers can do a lot, but they have limited resources and training to address behavioral health issues. That is in part why, more than a year ago, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline became the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, transitioning to a three-digit number and expanding its focus to include mental health crises. (Stephanie Brooks Holliday, 11/14)

Last week those of us who work in reproductive health care celebrated a historic victory in Ohio: Voters overwhelmingly favored Issue 1, which enshrines a right to abortion into the state constitution and makes the six-week ban many of us feared unenforceable. As an abortion provider in Cleveland, I’m relieved that my patients’ freedom to access abortion care, miscarriage care, and contraception is protected. But obstacles still prevent patients from receiving the care they need and make life challenging for practitioners. (Emily Freeman, 11/13)

For the more than 100 million American adults with obesity, medications such as semaglutide (known by its brand names Wegovy and Ozempic) and tirzepatide, a version of which the Food and Drug Administration approved last week, could be transformative. These drugs are remarkably effective in reducing weight, managing diabetes and reducing cardiovascular complications. (Leana S. Wem, 11/14)

Should all babies have their genomes sequenced at birth? The question has been hotly debated for the past 15 years. Unlocking the genome’s 3.2-billion-letter code promises understanding of both health and disease. But practical and ethical challenges loom large. (Richard Scott and Zornitza Stark, 11/13)

Scientists and doctors agree that most medications are still effective past their expiration date. The reality is that their full potency cannot be guaranteed past that date. This distinction is important in the ongoing fentanyl crisis in the United States, where naloxone, a drug that reverses an opioid overdose, has become a lifesaving tool. (11/14)

Chances are, you or someone you know has been affected by colon cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, Connecticut had nearly 61 cases of colon cancer per 100,000 residents in the early 2000s. In 2020, the incidence decreased by half. You may ask, why is that? The answer is: screening, early detection and early intervention. (Arianna Burkard, 11/14)