-
Jay Bradley/LehighValleyNews.comDespite not being approved for human consumption, veterinary tranquilizers are infiltrating the illicit drug supply in Pennsylvania. Harm reduction specialists and health care professionals say these overdoses can't be approached solely with naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug. -
Makenzie Christman/LehighValleyNews.comXylazine, an animal-grade tranquilizer that's not approved for human use, has taken Pennsylvania's illicit drug supply by storm. Known on the streets as "tranq," it accounted for almost 1 in 4 overdose deaths in Pennsylvania by 2023. Last year in Lehigh County, it was a contributing cause of death in 20 of the 112 deadly overdoses, or 17.9 percent of cases.
-
WLVR's Megan Frank talks with journalists Brittany Sweeney and Jay Bradley. -
The Allentown Police Department and public officials are again looking at launching a pilot program to change the city’s response to mental health emergencies.
-
Lehigh Valley Health Network and Lehigh County Drug & Alcohol are training high school and college students for medical careers. The program aims at bringing more support to the community to make it a safer place to live.
-
An art show centered around mental health and disabilities is opening in an unlikely place. Midnight Gallery is in the showroom of Vollux Autowerks, a car repair and diagnostics shop in Lehigh County.
-
Students, who college officials said are a demographic experiencing an "epidemic" of mental health issues, say they're excited for the new space and see its potential.
-
A group of firefighters dressed as superheroes to brighten the day of pediatric patients at St. Luke's University Health Network. The group is called Humble Heroes of the Fire Department of the City of New York.
-
Allentown School District is giving its high school students access to ‘Counslr,’ an app that provides 24-hour text-based sessions with licensed counselors to schools and businesses.
-
Listen to the Dissonance: Songs & Conversations About Mental Health will be at 2 p.m. Feb. 4 (doors and vendors open at 1:30) in the Charles Brown Icehouse, 56 River St., Bethlehem. Offered by Your Next Favorite Band podcast, the show will offer interviews and solo performances by five regional performers, then a songwriter roundtable with all the participating artists.
-
Getting physical and mental health in check is a popular new year resolution. Lehigh Valley health leaders are explaining how they plan to accomplish their goals for 2024.
-
Lawmakers in Harrisburg passed nearly three dozen laws last week in a final burst of action as they held their last voting session of the year.
-
An upcoming event in the Lehigh Valley aims to educate people about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. It’s a topic not often talked about that plagues a number of new parents.
-
A mental health summit at St. Luke's hosted healthcare workers, legislators, and community members. The panel addressed issues treating mental health problems and how to work towards fixing the crisis.
-
A suicide prevention bench was dedicated to Moravian University. Students lined up to participate in the unveiling.
-
Lehigh County officials determined the proposed legislation had more than a dozen problems, making it too problematic to present to Allentown voters. The bill would have dispatched an EMT and mental health professional to certain calls and prohibited other first responders from going.
-
Halloween and Christmas decorations are up early again this year. How are members of the community reacting?
-
Decluttering a home can help decrease stress and anxiety, according a Lehigh Valley psychologist and a professional organizer. Both say back to school time is usually when they see people wanting more organization.
-
A program that brings mindfulness to schools continues their efforts through summer. The Mindful Child Initiative serves more than 350 classrooms throughout the year and visits playgrounds throughout the summer.
-
The virtual town hall will be streamed on Zoom at 7 p.m. Thursday. Lehigh Valley Stands Up is planning to host an in-person watch party.
-
Lehigh County’s mental health line switched from Warmline to PeerLine in cost cutting move. A new company is answering calls after more than 2 decades.
-
Dr. Amy Jibilian is LVHN's new chief wellness officer. She will oversee the development of programs that promote a healthy work environment as well as help physicians avoid burnout.
-
The monthly Artists in Recovery Art Exhibit has seen a drop in attendance since the pandemic, but organizers hope to change that. The Bethlehem nonprofit offers mental health services.
-
Those who have served in the Lehigh Valley living with pulmonary fibrosis and other lung conditions now have a support group. It was created by the Wescoe Foundation for Pulmonary Fibrosis, an organization founded by Jennifer Wescoe in honor of her late father, Ron, who served as a marine.
