Opioid Overdoses Surveillance Report available for 2020-2021
More than 2,000 Arizonans lost their lives to opioid overdoses in 2021, with fentanyl the most commonly reported drug in opioid overdoses. You'll find this and other key information in the just-published Opioid Overdoses Surveillance Report, 2020-2021. Producing this report is just one way ADHS continues to battle a crisis in which five Arizonans die on an average day from [...]
Pregnant? Protect your baby by not drinking alcohol
Those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant share the goal of having a healthy baby. In addition to getting proper prenatal care, there's one more step prospective parents can take: Avoid drinking alcohol while pregnant or trying to become pregnant. September is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Month and Sept. 9 — the 9th day of the 9th month [...]
We’ve improved our monthly report on COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status
For months, our report detailing COVID-19 outcomes by vaccination status has provided a telling look at the benefits of getting vaccinated. Now we've updated this monthly report to look at outcomes for those who are up-to-date for all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including recommended booster doses, and those who have received at least one COVID-19 vaccination but aren't up-to-date with all [...]
You can make a difference in preventing suicides
As the 10th-leading cause of death in Arizona – and the second-leading cause of death among those age 10 through 34 – suicide is a major public health concern in our state. But knowing what to do when someone you know is at risk for self harm may make the difference in preventing a suicide. Governor Doug Ducey has proclaimed [...]
Booster targeting latest variants are especially important for older Arizonans
Even with COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths declining in recent weeks, it's an inescapable fact that older individuals remain at greatest risk of severe outcomes should they be infected with the current Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. In the past six months, 81% of Arizona's COVID-19 deaths have been among those 65 and older, while another 16% have been among [...]
Maricopa County report of 3 measles cases puts focus on vaccination benefits
Today's report of three measles cases in Maricopa County is a sobering reminder that this rare and highly contagious disease can flare among those who aren't vaccinated. Before the U.S. introduced a vaccination program, measles was a common illness in infants, children, and young adults. It can be severe: Approximately two out of 1,000 people with measles die and one [...]