Health

The Trump administration's budget cuts to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have led to the near-closure of a crucial team dedicated to preventing drownings, exacerbating the risk for Black communities around swimming pools.

A new campaign, "You Have the Power to Save Lives," is being launched to address the disparities in overdose deaths in Black communities, with a focus on increasing the availability of free naloxone and educating residents on the risks of fentanyl.

The U.S. Department of Justice has eliminated $500 million in grants aimed at preventing gun violence, affecting programs in Oakland, Detroit, and St. Louis that offered free physical and mental health care to gun violence survivors.

Healthcare costs have surged, tripling since 2005, disproportionately impacting Black and Hispanic families who lose a greater portion of their wages to rising premiums, while wage growth has lagged at 84% over the same period.

The drug overdose epidemic continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans, who suffer the second-highest mortality rate from overdoses. Organizations like Elmcor and the Council on Black Health are advocating for culturally relevant care and behavioral health services, alongside holistic support strategies, to address the underlying trauma that leads to substance use.

The Trump Administration's proposed budget cuts would disproportionately affect Black Americans, causing millions to lose access to healthcare, food stamps, and reproductive healthcare, while pushing the poor deeper into poverty and benefiting the wealthy.

Ohio Congresswoman Shontel Brown has put forth the Health & Endocrine Research on Personal Care Products for Women, or HER Act, a legislative proposal aimed at examining the presence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in beauty and hygiene products targeted at women of color. This initiative seeks to enhance women's health outcomes by addressing the reproductive health disparities disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic women.

Ananda Lewis, a prominent Black TV personality renowned for her role as an MTV VJ, has passed away at the age of 52 due to breast cancer. Despite her advocacy efforts to raise awareness and urge Black women to undergo mammograms, Lewis succumbed to the disease she had been battling.

Overdose deaths in New York state have decreased by 32%, a decline attributed to the expansion of harm reduction and addiction treatment services. However, racial disparities in mortality persist, highlighting ongoing challenges in achieving equitable health outcomes.

Recent studies indicate that stress may play a role in both the onset and progression of cancer, with beta blockers showing potential in mitigating these effects. However, larger clinical trials are necessary to validate these findings and establish their efficacy in improving cancer outcomes.