Corporate marijuana dispensaries flex financial muscle, overtake Arizona’s social equity program
Arizona’s social equity program created a path to entrepreneurship for individuals harmed by previous marijuana laws when the state legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021. But nearly two years since 26 social equity applicants were drawn from a lottery, existing corporate dispensaries have wielded their power to get a stake in at least half of the…
The uncounted: People of color are dying at much higher rates than what COVID data suggests
Unspecific, unknown deaths rose 10 times more among Black, Hispanic and Indigenous people than among white Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new analysis.
Community response helped reverse COVID’s devastating toll on Indigenous communities in Arizona
When COVID-19 first hit the U.S. in early 2020, urban centers like New York City became a focus of national attention. But as the disease spread throughout the U.S. later that spring, the Navajo Nation emerged as a disease hotspot, with case rates rising higher than anywhere else in the country. Newly compiled data reveals…
Pandemic accelerated Arizona’s years-long decline in childhood vaccination rates
The impact of missed preventative medical care during the pandemic is beginning to emerge in the form of drastic declines in childhood vaccination rates among Arizona youth, now at lower levels than at any point in the past decade. The plummeting rates follow a years-long decline in immunizations among Arizona students overall—one that has put…
Youth access to mental health care improved under Jake’s Law, but persistent barriers hamper its reach
Jake’s Law has covered behavioral health services for students who otherwise may not have received treatment. But provider shortages and other challenges have made it difficult for some children and their families to access care.
Permanent funding solution elusive as mental health provider shortage plagues Arizona schools
Temporary grants have let Arizona schools make incremental gains to address inadequate ratios of campus mental health professionals to students. But as youth mental health issues persist, the state lacks a permanent solution.
CDC report finds barriers to cooling center access for vulnerable residents during extreme heat
With record-breaking heat and an increasing number of days exceeding triple digit temperatures, a CDC report reveals that Arizona residents seeking refuge from extreme heat may face barriers to indoor, air-conditioned centers designed to shield them from dangerous heat.
A national epicenter for Valley fever infections, Arizona gets first major state funding boost in 15 years
Top researchers from the state’s public universities will get $3.1 million to pinpoint hotspots and infection patterns for Valley fever, a fungal disease that each year sickens thousands and kills dozens in Arizona. The funding marks the first significant state investment targeting the respiratory condition in at least 15 years.
Repeat safety violations, critical resource shortages put Arizona dialysis patients at heightened risk
Since 2019, nearly three-quarters of Arizona’s 130 outpatient dialysis clinics were cited for health and safety violations that could put patients at an increased risk for life threatening infections. COVID-19 has further compounded those risks as clinics face nationwide medical staffing and supply shortages.
Patient deaths at Arizona State Hospital raise questions about staffing levels, lack of oversight
The state agency that oversees Arizona’s psychiatric hospital says patient safety is a top priority. But, in October, two patients fatally injured themselves in as many weeks.
Valley fever vaccine for dogs shows promising results, first step toward human trials
A Valley fever vaccine for dogs appears to provide a safe and effective defense against the fungal illness that sickens thousands of pets in Arizona each year, and it also marks a significant milestone that could lead to a similar vaccine for humans.
Unsafe housing jeopardizes success of community living for chronically mentally ill
Some of the sickest people in Arizona live in some of the worst places, like unlicensed boarding homes considered by many to be a thing of the past.
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