Health

Health
COVID boosted efforts to track diseases in wastewater
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, wastewater sampling wasn't routinely done for public health purposes. But as the case number climbed scientists and public health officials saw the value of getting a sneak peek of where the virus was spreading, and where the next hot spot might be.
‘Identical patients’: A Minneapolis ER doc remembers the COVID-19 surge
Dr. John Hick saw Minnesota’s busiest emergency department fill with patients, many struggled to breathe. Five years later, health care is still dealing with the pandemic’s aftermath.
About 30,000 fewer Americans die each year from street drugs. Survivors in one of the most drug-scarred cities say their community is trying to help, but the safety net feels dangerously thin.
Driving while high is hard to detect. States are racing to find a good tool
Police are experimenting with various methods to determine whether drivers are under the influence of marijuana, but unlike alcohol, a number of factors make that difficult to know with certainty.