Hello Colorado!
I’m in Los Angeles today as part of my Through the fellowship, I will report on the rise of youth suicide in Colorado, including how the issue is affecting communities across the state and whether enough is being done to help teens.
We want to hear from our readers about how teen suicide is affecting them. If you have a story to tell, consider filling out this form and I’ll be in touch.
You can read more about the project
Opioid crisis brings 1,022,073,725 prescription pills to Colorado
New data from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and made provide a new look at the U.S. opioid epidemic. The data follows the path of each pill — from manufacturer to distributor to pharmacy — sold in the U.S.
The data shows that more than a billion oxycodone and hydrocodone pills poured into Colorado between 2006 and 2012. Among the hardest-hit counties was Alamosa County, which saw more than 9.4 million pills — or 88 pills per person per year — distributed during the seven-year period.
Read more here.
Health officials warn of hepatitis A outbreak among Denver’s homeless population
Denver health officials said last week they are working to curtail an outbreak of hepatitis A, a contagious liver infection, in the city. So far, four individuals in Denver have been diagnosed with hepatitis A, according to Denver Public Health.
Denver’s outbreak is tied to a larger one that has been taking place nationwide since 2016. Hepatitis A cases have also appeared in southern Colorado.
The outbreak is affecting people experiencing homelessness and those with substance-use issues. My colleague Andrew Kenney wrote about how local health authorities are undertaking a vaccination effort to slow the outbreak, hoping to prevent the kind of crisis that has hit other cities.
You can read more here.
Health-must reads:
- Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver is in the “final stages” of restarting organ transplants a year after suspending services. Porter, which provides kidney, pancreas and liver transplants, suspended operations voluntarily in 2018.
- Planned Parenthood is considering expanding in Colorado as more women travel here for abortions.
- Metro State University is testing an office for carcinogens after multiple employees were diagnosed with cancer.
- Health premiums on Colorado’s insurance exchange could drop by an average of 18.2 percent, if the federal government approves the state’s reinsurance program. State lawmakers passed a bill to create the reinsurance program last session.
- Advocates are concerned about E.coli in Boulder Creek and calling for more attention to the issue.
Here’s what I’m reading:
- The number of flesh-eating bacteria cases is up . — Tampa Bay Times
- A U.S. House subcommittee has at schools and summer camp. — The Washington Post
- A new study shows that diplomats who complained of odd mental symptoms while working in Cuba and China — The New York Times
- Southwest Virginia is among the regions . — The Washington Post
- In Los Angeles, officials are — Los Angeles Times
Have a story tip or other feedback? Email me at jseaman@denverpost.com. You can also follow me on Twitter at And don’t forget to become a to The Post!
See you in two weeks!
Jessica
