‘It’s the worst feeling’ – young New Zealanders regret their vaping addictions but feel unsupported to quit
Many young vapers feel regret, guilt and intense self-blame for becoming addicted. A new study shows they feel stigmatised and hide their vaping to avoid judgement, increasing feelings of isolation.
Read at The ConversationWe can’t quit smartphones, but we can manage digital junk food better
Amy, a 27-year-old software developer, has struggled with disordered eating since she was a teenager. “But after learning to code, I got much better,” she said in a research interview. “I often code for ten or more hours without stopping.” Her psychiatrist, however, worried that Amy has replaced one compulsive behaviour with another.
Read at The ConversationHow UnitedHealth’s Playbook for Limiting Mental Health Coverage Puts Countless Americans’ Treatment at Risk
United used an algorithm system to identify patients who it determined were getting too much therapy and then limited coverage. It was deemed illegal in three states, but similar practices persist due to a patchwork of regulation.
Read at ProPublicaHer Mental Health Treatment Was Helping. That’s Why Insurance Cut Off Her Coverage.
Providers, patients and even some federal judges say progress-based insurance denials harm patients at key moments of mental health treatment.
Read at ProPublicaBehind the betel nut smile: the quiet epidemic of oral cancer in Papua New Guinea
Chewing betel ‘quid’ is culturally ingrained in PNG. But it is also linked to high oral cancer rates. A new project aims to improve early detection and reporting.
Read at The ConversationWhat I Learned Reporting in Cities That Take Belongings From Homeless People
Some cities take people’s belongings — ignoring their own policies and court orders — and then fail to store them. Our reporting shows there are more effective and compassionate ways to deal with homeless encampments.
Read at ProPublicaA Hospital Helped a Beloved Doctor’s Practice Flourish Even as It Suspected He Was Hurting Patients
Hailed as a savior upon his arrival in Helena, Dr. Thomas C. Weiner became a favorite of patients and his hospital’s highest earner. As the myth surrounding the high-profile oncologist grew, so did the trail of patient harm and suspicious deaths.
Read at ProPublica“Can’t Look Away”: Documentary Examines the Dark Side of Social Media
Can’t Look Away is a new documentary that examines the tragic consequences that the algorithms of Big Tech companies can have on children and teens.
Read at Democracy Now!A social media ban for Canadian kids sounds simple, but Bill C-34 has major limitations
Like many other countries, Canada wants to restrict young people’s access to social media. Can Bill C-34 achieve its intended goals?
Read at The ConversationHeroin found in cocaine and ‘ice’, and snorting a line can be lethal
Accidentally taking heroin when you thought it was cocaine or methamphetamine can be deadly, new research confirms. Here’s what to watch out for.
Read at The Conversation