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New studies tie unrecognized deaths and health problems to Maui and LA wildfires
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New studies tie unrecognized deaths and health problems to Maui and LA wildfires

  • By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer

Three new studies highlight the severe health impacts of recent wildfires on Maui and in Los Angeles. Researchers found that the August 2023 Maui fire, one of the deadliest in a century, left 1 in 5 people with lung damage and half with symptoms of depression. The fire also nearly doubled suicide and overdose death rates. In Los Angeles, a study found over 400 deaths linked to the fires due to health care disruptions and other factors. Experts say these findings emphasize the broader health risks of extreme climate events. The studies were published Wednesday in two American Medical Association journals.

San Francisco overdose deaths on rise
Bay Area
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San Francisco overdose deaths on rise

  • By Alise Maripuu Bay City News
  • Updated

The San Francisco Department of Public Health is aiming to treat the underlying cause of drug addiction to mitigate the city’s overdose deaths…

Fewer US overdose deaths were reported last year, but experts are still cautious
National

Fewer US overdose deaths were reported last year, but experts are still cautious

  • By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer

The number of U.S. fatal overdoses fell last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the numbers Wednesday. CDC officials noted the data is provisional and could change after more analysis, but that they still expect a drop when the final counts are in. The agency says about 107,500 people died of overdoses in the U.S. last year. That's down 3% from 2022. It's too soon to know what spurred the decline, but experts reacted cautiously. They say the decline as relatively small. They also note that the last time a decline occurred — in 2018 — drug deaths shot up afterward.