Public Health

United States – October 19, 2026 -- Parents can cut the risk of teen drug poisoning by setting app permissions, locking down privacy settings and talking openly about fentanyl, according to the Organization for Social Media Safety. The group says its own testing found it takes about three minutes to connect with a drug dealer on social media and receive a "menu" of drugs for sale.

A teen who thought he bought Xanax died of fentanyl

Sammy Chapman was an A student whose parents, Sam and Laura, worked to keep him away from dangerous people and places. A dealer contacted him on Snapchat and delivered drugs to his home. Sammy snuck out after his parents went to sleep and met the dealer, who gave him a lethal dose of fentanyl. He believed he had bought Xanax. The organization says thousands of children died this past year from drugs bought through social media.

United States – October 19, 2026 -- The anonymous messaging app NGL has passed 15 million installs in recent weeks, and a child-safety advisory now urges parents to keep their kids away from such apps.

Anonymous messages have been linked to teen deaths

These apps let users message others without revealing who they are. The advisory says that ability is exploited by people who want to cyberbully, defraud, or molest.

Sixteen-year-old Carson Bride died by suicide on June 23, 2020. Between January 23 and June 22, 2020, he received 105 messages through YOLO, an app for sending anonymous messages on Snapchat. Most were severe harassment, often sexually explicit and threatening. Evidence indicates he tried several times to identify the senders, and his final phone search was for a way to reveal the YOLO username.

Novato, Calif. – October 19, 2026 -- More than 31 million Americans live with eczema, and during October the National Eczema Association (NEA) is giving them a free national data report and a set of video stories to see, share and discuss.

Eczema Awareness Month 2026 is built around the theme "State of Eczema." Since Oct. 1, NEA has asked people with eczema and their caregivers a two-part question: what is it like to live with eczema, and what does it take to get good care?

A first national baseline covers all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

On Oct. 1, NEA published its State of Atopic Dermatitis Indicator Report, together with 51 state-level briefs covering all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common form of eczema. According to NEA, the report is the first comprehensive national and state-level baseline on AD diagnosis and care, and it points to gaps across the country.

Tooele – October 19, 2026 -- A routine dental exam does more than look for cavities: according to a HelloNation article featuring Dr. Landon B. Rockwell of Rosewood Family Dentistry in Tooele, Utah, it can catch problems before you notice any symptoms.

Exams check teeth, gums, and surrounding tissues

Dental professionals look for early signs of decay and inflammation. They also check for enamel wear and grinding damage. Enamel is the outer defense against decay and sensitivity, so spotting early wear helps protect it.

Professional cleanings remove what brushing cannot

Decay develops when bacteria feed on sugars and produce acids that weaken enamel. Daily brushing and flossing control bacterial buildup, but only professional cleanings remove hardened plaque. The article stresses that cleanings stay important even for patients with strong home-care habits.

Arlington, Texas – October 19, 2026 -- Hundreds of Dallas-Fort Worth residents got health screenings and mammograms, and met Dallas Cowboys legend Drew Pearson, at a community health fair at AT&T Stadium over the weekend.

Pearson headlines the Ambetter health fair

Ambetter from Superior HealthPlan hosted the event, which also offered community resources and family activities. Pearson played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 to 1983 and spoke with attendees about the importance of preventive care. He is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, a three-time First Team All-Pro, a Super Bowl XII champion and a member of the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

A mobile unit brings mammograms to the stadium

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a mobile mammography unit provided screenings onsite. Regular mammograms are one of the most effective tools for detecting breast cancer early, when treatment is often most successful.

New York – October 16, 2026 -- Only 47% of American adults surveyed agree that mothers with children feel supported by those around them, according to new findings released alongside March of Dimes' 2026 Collective events in New York and Los Angeles.

Few respondents see moms getting time or help

The survey points to gaps in everyday support. Just 42% of respondents agree that mothers have opportunities to take time for themselves, and 41% agree that mothers have help caring for their children.

Awareness of mental health resources is lower still. Only 28% say they are confident that most mothers experiencing mental health challenges after childbirth know where to seek help.

Washington – October 15, 2026 -- Parents of new drivers can get free training, a customizable family driving agreement and a practice-tracking app through the National Safety Council's DriveitHOME program, offered with General Motors ahead of National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct. 18-24).

Crashes remain the top preventable killer of teens

Car crashes are the leading cause of preventable death for U.S. teens. In 2024, 5,247 people died in crashes involving drivers ages 15-20, a 6.5% decrease from the prior year.

DriveitHOME offers four free resources in English and Spanish

The DriveitHOME Virtual Parent Training covers key safety topics and local Graduated Driver Licensing requirements. Weekly Pointers for Parents lessons supplement it.

The New Driver Deal is a customizable parent-teen agreement. It sets expectations on curfews, passenger limits and vehicle responsibilities.

Oakland – October 14, 2026 -- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) may shut off power to about 88,000 customers in 29 California counties, starting Wednesday evening, October 14, as a statewide fire weather system moves through.

The planned outage is called a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). Customers have already received multiple notices, and PG&E says it will notify them again within four hours of their planned shutoff. Six Tribes may also be affected.

Check your address and prepare for a long outage

Customers can see whether their address is in scope and read the latest updates at pge.com/PSPSupdates. PG&E advises those who have been notified to prepare for extended outages:

Miami – October 14, 2026 -- Girls who added a prebiotic soluble corn fiber powder to their usual diets for 12 months built more bone than girls who took a placebo, according to a clinical trial led by Florida International University nutrition researcher Cristina Palacios. Bone mineral content rose 18.8% in the fiber group, versus 12.9% in the placebo group.

Boys did not see the same bone gain

The effect did not appear in boys. The researchers say one possible explanation is that boys were at a different stage of puberty and skeletal development. The study was not designed to detect differences between boys and girls, so larger trials need to confirm the finding.

New York – October 14, 2026 -- Free brain health pre-screenings, hearing, vision and blood pressure checks, and a walk through Central Park are on offer Saturday, October 17, at the 38th Annual CaringKind Alzheimer's Walk and Brain Health Day. The event takes place at the Naumburg Bandshell. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m., the opening ceremony follows at 10:30 a.m., and participation is free, either in the park or virtually.

Bill Ritter, who has Alzheimer's, helps lead the campaign

ABC and Eyewitness News anchor Bill Ritter has helped emcee the walk for 28 years. He is now living with the disease and helping lead CaringKind's "Know Your Brain. Walk With Me." campaign, which CaringKind created with launch support from ABC7NY. "Now, it is me who has Alzheimer's," Ritter said.

David Hyde Pierce and ABC7NY's Mike Marza will emcee the event, which honors Ritter and Jed Levine.