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New DHS director plans to build on Allegheny County's data-driven approach

New DHS director plans to build on Allegheny County's data-driven approach

Alex Jutca has been selected as the next director of Allegheny County's Department of Human Services after a national search. County leaders say the former analytics chief will continue the agency's data-driven approach to addressing homelessness, behavioral health, child welfare and other services
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Measles cases rise across Pennsylvania. What about in Allegheny?

Measles cases rise across Pennsylvania. What about in Allegheny?

Measles cases continue to rise across Pennsylvania, but health officials say Allegheny County is not considered an outbreak area.
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Mother Recounts Son's Opioid Addiction and Death After Teenage Colon Surgery, Advocates for New Hospital Role

Mother Recounts Son's Opioid Addiction and Death After Teenage Colon Surgery, Advocates for New Hospital Role

Cammie Wolf Rice shares the tragic story of her son, Christopher, who developed an opioid addiction after being prescribed 90 opioid pills following colon surgery at age 13. Christopher was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, leading to a colectomy and an ostomy pouch. Despite completing college, he struggled with opioid dependence for 14 years, eventually dying from an overdose at 32 in 2016. Rice recounts the lack of education provided to her about the risks of opioids and the importance of tapering. In response to her experience, she and her husband founded CWC Alliance (Christopher Wolf Crusade) in 2018, which developed the 'Life Care Specialist' (LCS) position for hospitals. LCSs provide opiate education, alternative pain management strategies, and mental/emotional coping strategies to patients and caregivers, aiming to prevent substance misuse at first exposure.
Rochester Democrat and ChronicleRochester Democrat and Chronicle
Overdose deaths in Monroe County fall as cocaine remains widespread

Overdose deaths in Monroe County fall as cocaine remains widespread

Monroe County recorded 243 overdose deaths in 2025, down 17% from a year earlier, though cocaine remained involved in most fatalities.
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Pennsylvania Authorities Seize 143,000 Illegal THC Products and $18.7 Million in Statewide Trafficking Investigation

Pennsylvania Authorities Seize 143,000 Illegal THC Products and $18.7 Million in Statewide Trafficking Investigation

Pennsylvania authorities have announced the results of a nearly two-year statewide investigation into an illegal THC trafficking operation, leading to the seizure of over 143,000 illegal THC products and more than $18.7 million from bank accounts connected to the alleged operation. Attorney General Dave Sunday revealed that 12 individuals have been charged in connection with the network. The investigation uncovered three warehouses in Plum (Allegheny County), Bensalem (Bucks County), and Pittston (Luzerne County) that served as distribution hubs for storefronts selling the products. An informant and undercover officer conducted controlled buys at the Plum warehouse, purchasing THC gummies, vape cartridges, and pre-rolled marijuana joints, with most of the approximately 20 products testing positive for illegal THC. Investigators also traced money moved through LLC fronts to conceal illegal proceeds, uncovering numerous bank accounts with significant balances. The grand jury heard testimony from a Westmorela...
USA TodayUSA Today
Congress set to discuss this once taboo topic in women's health

Congress set to discuss this once taboo topic in women's health

Congress will talk about vaginal estrogen and hot flashes at its first-ever hearing on menopause Wednesday, Sept. 16.
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South Korean Telemedicine Drug Delivery Expansion Faces Strong Opposition Over Patient Safety Concerns

South Korean Telemedicine Drug Delivery Expansion Faces Strong Opposition Over Patient Safety Concerns

A petition in South Korea calling for the government to abandon plans to expand prescription drug delivery for telemedicine patients has garnered over 50,000 signatures in approximately ten days. The petition, titled 'Petition for the Complete Withdrawal of the Telemedicine Drug Delivery Policy,' was launched on the National Assembly's public petition website on September 3rd and reached the 50,000-signature threshold by September 8th, qualifying it for formal consideration by the National Assembly. The government is currently considering expanding drug delivery to a wider range of telemedicine patients, moving beyond the existing limited groups such as residents of remote areas, long-term care beneficiaries, individuals with disabilities, and patients with infectious or rare diseases. This proposed expansion would necessitate amendments to current laws and has met significant resistance from pharmacists who cite patient safety as their primary concern. Pharmacists have utilized social media platforms to h...
The Columbus DispatchThe Columbus Dispatch
Gov. DeWine signs new Ohio law bringing big change to state schools

Gov. DeWine signs new Ohio law bringing big change to state schools

Here's what House Bill 462 does and how it changes allergy treatment in Ohio schools.
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Allegheny County approves satellite election offices, expanded ballot return sites

Allegheny County approves satellite election offices, expanded ballot return sites

Allegheny County voters will have more options to vote and return ballots ahead of the November general election.
Springfield News-LeaderSpringfield News-Leader
Health department seeks opioid settlement money for resource mapping

Health department seeks opioid settlement money for resource mapping

The Springfield-Greene County Health Department has requested up to $500,000 in opioid settlement funds for a health care mapping project.
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California Study Tracks Adolescent Cannabis Use Disorder After Legalization

California Study Tracks Adolescent Cannabis Use Disorder After Legalization

A recent study in California is tracking the incidence of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) among adolescents following the state's cannabis legalization. This research distinguishes between the impact of the law's passage and the subsequent retail implementation, analyzing diagnosis patterns across a large health system population. The study's findings indicate that a rise in recorded CUD diagnoses could represent either an actual increase in disorder, improved recognition and diagnosis, or a combination of both. It emphasizes the importance of tracking incident disorder diagnoses as a specific clinical outcome, rather than solely focusing on general cannabis use prevalence. The research highlights that while the 'should we digitize' question has been largely addressed, the complexities of 'what comes after go-live' are now at the forefront of policy considerations.
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Pennsylvania reports third measles-related death of 2026

Pennsylvania reports third measles-related death of 2026

Pennsylvania reported its third measles-related death of the year after a woman, 40, died from complications related to the disease.