Rachel Cassandra, Alaska Public Media - Anchorage
Rachel Cassandra covers health and wellness for Alaska Public Media. Reach her at rcassandra@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Rachel here.
Last year was Alaska’s deadliest on record for opioid overdoses
Alaska lost 342 people to opioid overdose in 2023 and had the highest increase in deaths per capita in the nation.
Medication is an important tool for people struggling with alcohol addiction in Alaska
There are more options than ever for treating alcohol use disorder in Alaska, including several medications that can make it easier for some people to reduce or stop drinking.
Public health officials revamp efforts to protect Alaskans against lead poisoning
Fewer children get tested for lead in Alaska, so officials are launching new programs to encourage testing and provide follow-up care.
A collective of doulas and midwives is helping Alaska Native mothers stay connected to their roots
The Indigenous birthworkers will attend medical appointments with mothers, advocate for them and help connect them to traditional practices.
Pop-up medical clinic will provide free care in Anchorage and Fairbanks in April
The clinics will offer medical, dental, eye check-ups and care.
Anchorage Health Department to offer low-cost baby check-ups
Families can bring babies up to 2 years old to the clinic for routine and preventative care.
Southcentral Foundation to place a school nurse and counselors in 3 rural schools
The grant-funded program will provide a registered nurse and behavioral health consultants to McGrath, Nikolai and Takotna.
Alaska Native Medical Center begins emergency services expansion
The first phase of expansion will offer more patient beds, surgery recovery spaces, and behavioral health treatment spaces.
Huslia man reflects on father’s legacy of mental illness, recovery, and helping villagers in crisis
Lee DeWilde grew up outside of Huslia in the 1960’s, when it was a 160-person village in Interior Alaska. He remembers that his father, Lloyd DeWilde, faced some mental health struggles growing up. But despite those struggles, Lloyd later became a resource for his village.
New online tool connects Alaskans with traumatic brain injury to care
The tool lists providers who work with brain injury patients across the state.
Psychologist sues state over license application she says is unconstitutional and discriminatory
Dr. Jennifer Poon says the state board should not require a full release of medical and mental health records to apply for a psychology license.
CVS to pay Alaska $10M in settlement for role in opioid crisis
Alaska reached a settlement with CVS March 7, for the role the company played in the opioid crisis in the state. CVS settled the complaint and did not admit wrongdoing.
As public guardians in Alaska remain buried in cases, their director searches for solutions
A state program that serves some of the most vulnerable people in Alaska is overwhelmed. Its director is searching for solutions.
Alaska midwives speak out against an executive order that would dissolve their board
The executive order dissolving the midwife board is one of 12 that the governor submitted in January to the Legislature.
Kenai Peninsula man is the first person to die of Alaskapox virus
Experts say to be cautious when handling small mammals in the state, but infection is rare and death unlikely.
An Anchorage woman is working to offer water cremation and other natural death care options in Alaska
Rachel Bernhardt is starting to offer water cremation and natural burial, which have lower environmental footprints.
More women in Alaska will be covered by Medicaid during pregnancy and for the year after giving birth
The expansion will cover mothers during their first year, when they’re vulnerable to physical and mental illness.
Psychedelic medicine task force would lay groundwork for therapeutic use in Alaska
The task force would look at the role psychedelics could play in addressing Alaska’s mental health crisis.
Alaska organization trains salon and beauty professionals to recognize domestic abuse signs
The training will focus on identifying signs of emotional and physical abuse, how to talk with people about abuse safely, and how to direct people to resources.
Anchorage middle school reports suspected mumps case
Romig Middle School staff canceled after-school activities Thursday when they learned of the case. The school is being disinfected, pending test results.