A study by researchers at the University of Colorado and the University of Minnesota uses long-term data on twins to assess the impacts of cannabis legalization
substance abuse
Posted inOpinion Columns
Opinion: The other pandemic: alcohol addiction
It is a clinically diagnosable mental health condition, and we must remove its stigma if we expect people to rethink their relationship with booze.
Posted inOpinion Columns
Nicolais: Looking for safe, sober socialization? The Karma House could be your spot
Run as a 501(c)(3) organization and set in a quiet Lakewood neighborhood, the eclectic mix between a coffee shop and bar provides an alcohol-free alternative for people to get together
Posted inNews
To keep people from returning to jail, Mesa County follows other communities’ reentry roadmap
Many people transitioning from jail or prison struggle to reenter society without support. Mesa County’s new program helps with housing, jobs, transportation and mental health services.
Posted inCrime and Courts, Health, News, Politics and Government
Denver jail lacks strategy to deal with mental health, fails to adequately monitor array of contracts, audit says
The Denver jail keeps unreliable data on its mental health programs, is failing to adequately monitor its contracts with mental health providers and could not show whether its transgender inmates are housed according to their preference, according to an audit released Thursday. The Denver Sheriff Department offers an array of programs to help inmates deal […]
Posted inCOVID, Equity, Health, News
As maternal mortality rate rises, Colorado health organizations tackle mental health and drug abuse
Birth looked different during COVID-19, said Jessica Anderson, a member of the Colorado Maternal Mortality Committee. What’s supposed to be one of the most magical — and gut-wrenching — moments of a parent’s life became isolating. “By wearing masks, there’s so much connection that, you know, comes with facial expressions,” Anderson said. “It looks different, […]
Posted inColoradans, COVID, Health, News, Politics and Government
Lack of child care prevents moms from getting drug treatment in Colorado. Here comes “RV Honey.”
Rewa Bailey’s office inside a substance abuse treatment center has an infant swing in the corner. Baby gates strategically placed throughout the building corral toddlers while their mothers try to focus on group therapy sessions. And as often as possible, the staff at Aspen Center in Westminster switches out the toys in an attempt to […]
Posted inHealth, News, Politics and Government
We’re dealing with a pandemic, but remember the opioid crisis? Coronavirus is likely to make it worse.
The coronavirus pandemic overshadowed a long list of other problems that suddenly seemed less urgent in the wake of a deadly virus and its economic destruction. Included at the top of that list: the opioid epidemic. That crisis is still raging in Colorado and predicted to get even worse thanks to the stress, isolation and […]
Posted inHealth, News
A decade into the opioid crisis, Colorado hospitals have changed the way they treat opioid-exposed babies. And it’s helping.
Two years ago, Colorado babies born addicted to opioids often were given doses of methadone or morphine and, on average, stayed in the hospital for 17 days as nurses weaned them off the drugs. Now, the average hospital stay for a newborn going through opioid withdrawal has dropped to 6.5 days. And instead of treating […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Why we need to reach hard-to-count Coloradans. There’s a lot at stake.
“Census undercount” is a daunting phrase arriving in most households with a thud, like “infrastructure decline” or “education reform.” It definitely sounds like a problem, somebody else should certainly be doing something about it, now what’s going on with Harry and Meghan? So we’re going to get specific right away, before we lose you. Let’s […]