Category: California

Longtime Crusader Against OxyContin Begins To See The Fruits Of Her Struggle

Barbara Van Rooyan lost her son to the drug 15 years ago and has fought ceaselessly since then to hold Purdue Pharma accountable for its role in the opioid crisis.

Longtime Crusader Against OxyContin Begins To See The Fruits Of Her Struggle

Barbara Van Rooyan lost her son to the drug 15 years ago and has fought ceaselessly since then to hold Purdue Pharma accountable for its role in the opioid crisis.

Purveyors Of Black-Market Pharmaceuticals Target Immigrants

Illegal medications, sold in immigrant communities around the United States, can cause serious harm to consumers, authorities say. Law enforcement officers are cracking down, but some think more must be done.

Vaping By The Numbers

The explosive rise in a serious lung illness linked to vaping spotlights the popularity of e-cigarettes among teens and young adults. Vaping is now so pervasive among young people that federal health officials say its use has fueled a sharp reversal in what had been a celebrated two-decade decline in overall tobacco use by teenagers.

California Hospitals And Nursing Homes Brace For Wildfire Blackouts

Facing billions of dollars in legal claims for the role its equipment has played in a spate of deadly wildfires, California utility giant Pacific Gas & Electric plans to step up efforts to cut power to broad regions of the state during high-risk weather conditions. The potential for prolonged blackouts has prompted disaster preparations by hospitals, nursing homes and home care providers.

California Lawmakers Send Contested Vaccine Bill To Governor. Will He Sign It?

The state Senate on Wednesday sent a measure to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom that would tighten the rules for children’s medical exemptions from vaccines. Newsom, who said in June that he would sign the measure after amendments had been made at his request, now wants more changes.

California Requires Suicide Prevention Phone Number On Student IDs

The new law, a response to escalating suicide rates among teens, is intended to ensure students know that immediate help is available if they need it.

California Requires Suicide Prevention Phone Number On Student IDs

The new law, a response to escalating suicide rates among teens, is intended to ensure students know that immediate help is available if they need it.

Governor’s ‘Mental Health Czar’ Seeks New Blueprint For Care In California

Thomas Insel, who ran the National Institute of Mental Health for 13 years before casting his lot with Silicon Valley, is taking a temporary break from his senior position at a health care startup to advise Gov. Gavin Newsom on how to remake mental health care in the Golden State.

Doctors Fight Legislation Prompted By Sex Abuse Scandals

In response to recent high-profile sex abuse cases, some California lawmakers want doctors to give patients more information about pelvic exams, and then get a signature proving they did. Doctors in the Golden State and beyond are pushing back.