U.S. sees record high of 96,000 drug overdose deaths in 12 month period

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded over 96,000 deaths from drug overdoses in a twelve-month period ending in March 2021, according to provisional data released Wednesday.

Why it matters: It’s a nearly 30% jump over the preceding 12 months and coincides with one of the deadliest periods of the COVID-19 pandemic, when stay-at-home orders radically changed daily life for most Americans.

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• In July, the CDC reported that drug overdoses had hit a high in 2020, in large part due to the increased prevalence of the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

Of note: The data presented is provisional as many cases require “lengthy investigation” to confirm a cause of death, per the CDC.

By the numbers: The reported number of overdoses in the 12-month period ending in March 2021 was 96,779. The predicted number of cases for the same period is 99,106 deaths.

• It’s a 29.6% increase in reported deaths from March 2020.
• All but 3 states saw increases in overdose deaths with Vermont experiencing the largest – 85.1% – jump.

What they’re saying: “It is important to remember that behind these devastating numbers are families, friends, and community members who are grieving the loss of loved ones,” Regina LaBelle, acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, told CNN.

Watch: A conversation on COVID-19 and America’s opioid crisis

Go deeper: Fentanyl is the deadliest drug in the U.S.

• Explore Axios’ complete coverage of the opioid crisis

Source: https://www.axios.com/cdc-record-drug-overdose-deaths-march-2021-7a7d2ca6-aee0-49c8-a5b2-f60bd1fca2f7.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Noah Garfinkel

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How tracking grizzly bears is helping veterans find way back from trauma

A project in western Canada lets former military service members put their skills to use tracking bears with wildlife experts and helps both groups overcome mental and physical wounds

On a recent crisp sunny morning, a small group of wildlife guides and British and Canadian military veterans, reached a ridge in the mountains of British Columbia and found themselves within 15 metres of a grizzly bear.

“He knew we were there. He could smell us but he was just doing his thing,” said Joe Humphrey, a former Royal Marine. The bear walked past them and ambled further up the valley.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/10/canada-veterans-trauma-grizzly-bears-guides
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Julian Borger

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‘I wouldn’t be alive without it’: wild mustangs and veterans find healing together

At a stable in rural New York, traumatized soldiers and horses teach each other to leave the past behind

Sierra doesn’t trust humans. She is quick to jump back in fear at loud noises or sudden movements. A bright sorrel color – much like the red rocks of the desert canyons in her home state of Nevada – Sierra grew up as one of the tens of thousands of wild horses that roam 10 western states in the US.

Captured from Nevada and shipped to the opposite side of the country by the Bureau of Land Management, she has never experienced human contact. Her mane is matted down, as no one has been able to groom her since she first arrived here in rural Monroe County, New York, 10 months ago.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/09/wild-mustangs-veterans-healing-together
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Jess McHugh

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Psychopaths make up 4.5% of the adult population, according to a new meta-analysis

A meta-analysis conducted by researchers at Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain estimates the “prevalence rate of psychopathy in the general adult population at 4.5%.”

The rate is higher in males and lower in females. It found that “psychopathy levels are higher in North American male and female prisoners than in European male and female prisoners.” — Read the rest

Source: https://boingboing.net/2021/08/05/psychopaths-make-up-4-5-of-the-adult-population-according-to-a-new-meta-analysis.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=psychopaths-make-up-4-5-of-the-adult-population-according-to-a-new-meta-analysis
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Mark Frauenfelder

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U.S. Life Expectancy Has Biggest Fall Since WWII Amid Covid-19 and Drug Overdoses

As expected, the first year of the covid-19 pandemic has lowered the collective life expectancy of Americans. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported this week that life expectancy at birth dropped 1.5 years from 2019 to 2020, with most of the decline attributed to the pandemic. The…

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Source: https://gizmodo.com/u-s-life-expectancy-has-biggest-fall-since-wwii-amid-c-1847334892
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Ed Cara

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The More Teeth You Lose, the Greater Your Dementia Risk, Study Suggests

The more teeth you lose over a lifetime, the greater your odds of developing dementia, a new review of existing evidence suggests. However, older adults who get dentures to replace their lost teeth may be better protected against this increased risk.

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Source: https://gizmodo.com/the-more-teeth-you-lose-the-greater-your-dementia-risk-1847259237
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Ed Cara

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How to Not Fear Death, According to Socrates

Socrates didn’t fear death. Even though he met a gruesome demise (he was executed by the state for the alleged crime of corrupting Athenian youth), Socrates didn’t flee or plead before his executioner. If we are to take his beliefs and teachings—that death is an inevitability that might be good, actually—to heart, we…

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Source: https://lifehacker.com/how-to-not-fear-death-according-to-socrates-1847202671
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Sam Blum

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Back to not-so-normal: Psychologists eye pandemic stress as U.S. reopens

Some psychologists say there could be a connection between pandemic-related mental health issues and behavioral changes that are starting to manifest across the country.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/back-not-normal-psychologists-eye-pandemic-stress-us-reopens-rcna1204
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Thor Benson

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267 mass shootings recorded in U.S. so far this year

Mass shootings in three states overnight has taken the total number of such events for this year to 267, the Gun Violence Archive announced Saturday.

Driving the news: The nonprofit research group has since Friday recorded seven incidents of gun violence across the U.S. that meet its definition of a mass shooting — when four or more people have been shot.

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• The group recorded mass shootings on Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio, (three deaths and four injuries); Austin, Texas (13 injuries, including two critical); Chicago, Illinois (one killed nine injured).
• On Friday, mass shootings were recorded in Savannah, Georgia (one death, seven injuries); Winston Salem, North Carolina (one killed, three injured); Dallas, Texas (five wounded) and; Seattle, Washington (two deaths, two injuries).

What they’re saying: James Alan Fox, a criminologist and professor at Northeastern University, told AP there had been a “worrisome … blend of people beginning to get out and about in public” as pandemic restrictions lift.

• “We have lots of divisiveness,” he said. “And we have more guns and warm weather. It’s a potentially deadly mix.”

The big picture: The Gun Violence Archive’s announcement comes five years on from the Pulse Nightclub shooting in which 49 people were killed and 53 others were wounded.

• While many Democrats have pressed for reforms to gun laws to reduce gun violence, some Republicans have pushed back on changes, citing concerns about government overreach and the Second Amendment.

Go deeper: Biden calls Pulse Nightclub “hallowed ground” on mass shooting anniversary

Source: https://www.axios.com/267-mass-shootings-recorded-us-this-year-21e3aff6-d429-4a14-8b2b-e23d936a0fa1.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Rebecca Falconer

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Capitol Police welcome emotional support dog to force

Capitol Police have added another member to their force in the form of an emotional support dog.”We are thrilled to welcome the newest member of our Department!” the Capitol Police tweeted on Wednesday. Along with…

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/news/557698-capitol-police-welcome-emotional-support-dog-to-force
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Sarah Polus

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Pandemic created ‘perfect storm’ for eating disorders in teens

Many patients “would never have developed an eating disorder if it weren’t for the pandemic,” one expert said.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pandemic-created-perfect-storm-eating-disorders-teens-n1268331
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Erika Edwards and Ali Galante and Stephanie Gosk

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San Francisco could break drug overdose record

San Francisco could potentially break its record for drug-related deaths, one year after it recorded its deadliest year for overdoses….

Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/554985-san-francisco-could-break-drug-overdose-record
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Joseph Choi

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Gender-affirming surgery linked to better mental health, study finds

“We should be expanding gender-affirming care, not limiting it,” the report’s lead author said.

Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/gender-affirming-surgery-linked-better-mental-health-study-finds-n1266033
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Dan Avery

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MindMed to become second psychedelic drug developer to go public in the U.S.

MindMed tomorrow is set to become the second psychedelic drug developer to go public in the U.S., with a third right around the corner.

Why it matters: Wall Street is eagerly volunteering for a high-risk trip, tempted by a massive addressable market for mental health treatments.

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The big bet: Most clinical-stage biotech bets are binary, but MindMed has the added challenge of its active ingredient being considered Schedule 1 drugs. In other words, it needs to worry as much about the DEA as the FDA.

• Another complicating factor is that MindMed believes its products should be taken under medical supervision, although it’s unclear if FDA approval would accept telepresence in lieu of in-person.
• In other words, this is a very different legalization process than with cannabis, which is as much about recreational use as it is medical use.

Capital markets: New York-based MindMed went public last year on Toronto’s NEO Exchange, after failing to secure a second round of VC funding.

• “VCs had blinders on when they saw those three letters: LSD,” says MindMed founder and co-CEO JR Rahn. “We got laughed out of most rooms. Where we found patient capital was up in Toronto.”
• Rahm adds that the move to Nasdaq will allow institutional investors to take larger positions in the company, although it will keep its NEO listing active.
• Fellow psychedelics developer Compass Pathways went public last year and currently has a $1.33 billion market cap. ATAI Life Sciences, backed by Peter Thiel, just filed for its own IPO.

The bottom line: Psychedelics have been studied for decades, but were mostly ignored by investors until the past year. What seems to have changed in the past year was the pandemic, which increased public awareness of the scale of mental health ailments, and the relative paucity of available treatments and treatment infrastructure.

Source: https://www.axios.com/psychedelic-drug-developer-mindmed-public-1b3a5fa9-d6e0-4272-b0f3-3f89f0dcfe41.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Dan Primack

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Scientists discover over 500 genes common to both anxiety disorders and depression in major breakthrough

A new study by researchers in Australia has found hundreds of commonly shared genes in people living with both anxiety disorders and depression, in a significant step towards tackling two of humanity’s intractable mental enemies.

Scientists at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Australia identified 509 genes common to both anxiety and depression by parsing the records of 400,000 participants in the UK Biobank, grouping genomes as they went, compiling a list of 28 individual and shared traits. 

They then deployed a number of modelling tools to search for overlap and tested the results against a database of 1.9 million people with self-reported anxiety or depression. 

“We identified 674 genes associated with either depression or anxiety – and importantly about three quarters of those genes were shared,” says psychiatric geneticist Eske Derks from QIMR Berghofer.

“Not a lot has been known, until now, about the genetic causes of why people may suffer from depression and anxiety.” 

Also on rt.com

Magic mushroom treatment on par with pharma drugs for combating depression, study finds

Anxiety disorders cover a broad spectrum of conditions which often share similar symptoms but boast ultimately different characteristics, ranging from panic attacks to certain types of phobias and everything in between. 

One commonality shared by all is a sense of worry, agitation and concern about the future which can often manifest in physiological changes such as heightened blood pressure. 

Meanwhile, depression can run the gamut and manifest itself with feelings of intense demotivation all the way to self-harm and suicidal thoughts. 

An estimated two to six percent of the global human population is believed to share a diagnosis of depression in one form or another at any given time. 

Despite their apparent differences, approximately 75% of people with anxiety disorder also exhibit symptoms of depressive disorders, so tracking down the genes common to both conditions, tied to neurotic personality traits can shine a light on some of the darkest battles humans fight in their everyday lives. 

Genetic variation has already been found to play a key role in the degree to which a person might exhibit some degree of neuroticism, but now mental health professionals have a more detailed roadmap to finding the answers to some of the major unknowns about why some people can experience such mental distress while others do not. 

Also on rt.com

Mood disorder diagnosis: Scientists develop blood test to identify mental health issues including depression

Genes unique to depression were previously linked to higher levels of triglyceride fat levels in the blood while other genes associated with anxiety were related to blood pressure, underscoring previous research which drew connections between hypertension and anxiety disorders. This new database of genomic information will help provide structure to future genetic and psychiatric research.

It marks but the first step in the long path to mapping out the complex set of conditions which combine to plague tens of millions of people around the world with both depression and anxiety disorders, and could one day lead to dramatic breakthroughs ahead in terms of alleviating human psychological suffering.

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Source: https://www.rt.com/news/521278-500-genes-depression-anxiety-discovered/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS
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The Article Was Written/Published By: RT

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Why Do I Feel Like I’m Dying During a Panic Attack?

If you would like to know what it feels like to die, while at the same time continuing to live, you have a number of solid options. You can eat fast food quickly on a 90-degree day; you can lay awake all night mentally rehearsing your greatest failures and then board a packed bus to work; you can experiment, for days…

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Source: https://gizmodo.com/why-do-i-feel-like-im-dying-during-a-panic-attack-1846618805
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Daniel Kolitz

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CDC declares racism “a serious public health threat”

Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, on Thursday declared racism “a serious public health threat.”

Driving the news: Walensky highlighted the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus pandemic on communities of color, pointing to case and death counts, as well as economic and social effects.

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What she’s saying: “[T]he disparities seen over the past year were not a result of COVID-19. Instead, the pandemic illuminated inequities that have existed for generations and revealed for all of America a known, but often unaddressed, epidemic impacting public health: racism,” Walensky said in a statement.

• “What we know is this: racism is a serious public health threat that directly affects the well-being of millions of Americans. As a result, it affects the health of our entire nation,” she added.
• “Racism is not just the discrimination against one group based on the color of their skin or their race or ethnicity, but the structural barriers that impact racial and ethnic groups differently to influence where a person lives, where they work, where their children play, and where they worship and gather in community.”
• “These social determinants of health have life-long negative effects on the mental and physical health of individuals in communities of color.”

What to watch: Walensky said the CDC will continue to study the impact of social determinants on health outcomes and make investments in racial and ethnic minority communities to address disparities related to COVID-19 and other health conditions.

• The agency also launched a new web portal, “Racism and Health” that “will serve as a hub for the agency’s efforts and a catalyst for greater education and dialogue around these critical issues.”

Go deeper: How the winter surge changed COVID disparities

Source: https://www.axios.com/cdc-declares-racism-serious-health-threat-covid-58216a9d-112f-47b5-abed-9a6361f6ba4f.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Axios

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This Is Why Stress Makes Your Hair Fall Out

Scientists at Harvard University say they might have figured out how stress can cause us to lose our hair. In mice, they found evidence that a major hormone linked to stress made it harder for hair follicles to regenerate. The findings could very well lead to more effective treatments for hair loss someday, though…

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Source: https://gizmodo.com/this-is-why-stress-makes-your-hair-fall-out-1846598693
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Ed Cara

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‘We are desperate for human contact’: people breaking lockdown for sex

For nearly 12 months, single people have been unable to form new relationships. With their chances to start a family or find love slipping away, many are now ignoring the rules

Last summer, shortly after the first lockdown was relaxed enough to allow strangers to meet outdoors, Rosie, 35, an editor based in London, joined a man for a first date on Hampstead Heath. “He said: ‘I brought some wine with me, but the glasses are in my flat, round the corner.’ I’d only met him for an hour. Even in normal times, I wouldn’t be up for that.” She can’t be entirely sure if he was suggesting an illicit drink or a very quick-off-the-bat shag, but it wasn’t a dilemma, at least. “Maybe people’s pheromones have gone funny,” Rosie says, “or maybe I secretly have Covid and can’t smell anyone properly, but I’ve had more smouldering frisson at the supermarket than I have on a date. I’ve had sex just four times since March.”

For nearly a year, give or take the odd month, the rules introduced to fight the spread of coronavirus mean that, in England, sex between single people, or established couples who don’t cohabit, has in effect been either illegal, or against regulations, or only allowed outdoors. To give that a sense of scale, 40% of people – rising to 71% among 16- to 29-year-olds – don’t live in a couple.

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Source: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/feb/11/we-are-desperate-for-human-contact-the-people-breaking-lockdown-to-have-sex
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The Article Was Written/Published By: Zoe Williams

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Virtual reality is effective training for lucid dreaming, according to scientific study

A lucid dream is one in which you’re aware of the fact that you’re dreaming and can often control what happens. It’s a powerful skill to develop for the sake of fun but also as a way to enhance creativity and manage the psychological stressors of waking life. — Read the rest

Source: https://boingboing.net/2020/12/15/virtual-reality-is-effective-training-for-lucid-dreaming-according-to-scientific-study.html
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The Article Was Written/Published By: David Pescovitz

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