Infotrak

The opioid crisis' damage to US communities cost the economy $1.5 trillion in 2020 alone, according to a congressional analysis. Sam Quinones, author of "The Least of Us: True Tales of America and Hope in the Time of Fentanyl and Meth," talks about steps that cities and towns can take to try to repair community bonds.

This week, an in-depth look at the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 49, more than car accidents or suicides. Nearly 108,000 Americans lost their lives to overdoses last year, 2/3rds of those from fentanyl. This week, we discuss the issue with Nora Volkow, MD, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Donna Thompson, PhD, creator of the popular book series "The Adventures of Carly and Charly" joins us to offer tips for parents to encourage their kids to read.

Traditional approaches seem to fall short when it comes to helping homeless moms with young children. Prof. Natasha Slesnick from Ohio State University found that giving homeless mothers with young children a place to live may do little to help them if it is not combined with effective support services.

Most of us see trucks every day on the highway and think nothing of it. But trucks are a major lifeline of the national economy. Yet drivers face increased challenges in moving the goods everything from congested roads to supply chain issues. We'll find out what consumers should know from Todd Spencer, President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association

The children of highly educated mothers are twice as likely to take part in sports and other extracurricular activities compared to kids of less educated moms. Researcher Elise Allen from Ohio State University explains how this could impact your child's social and learning development.

Almost a third of community water systems have some service lines containing lead. What's being done to reduce or eliminate the exposure? Shawn P. McElmurry, PhD, PE, Professor at Wayne State University in Detroit explains what you need to know and how you can protect you and your family.

The holidays bring festive fun for millions of Americans. But for others, the year-end season can evoke negative feelings. What effect does holiday depression have on suicide rates? We'll speak with Daniel Romer, PhD, Research Director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, and his findings may surprise you.

Millions of people use the leading brands of detergent and fabric softener to do their laundry, but they may not be the best choices for you. Patric Richardson, author of "Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore," and host of the Discovery+ Series "The Laundry Guy," offers you expert advice.

LinkedIn scams and fake Instagram accounts targeting businesses and executives are growing rapidly. We'll learn about the most common scams and what businesses and managers can do, from Karri Carlson, Vice President of Operations for Leadtail, a B2B social media services agency.

Is there a toxic culture among young Americans relating to diet and weight loss fostered by highly viewed videos on social media sites? Lizzy Pope, PhD, RDN, Associate Professor, Director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at the University of Vermont, says what's missing from those videos are facts backed by science.

Trucking jobs in the US have high turnover. But now there are efforts underway to recruit military veterans to fill those open positions. Is it working? We get the answer from Lewie Pugh, Executive Vice President of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

Tens of thousands of women in the US die of breast cancer each year. Yet many women in their 30s and 40s have never had a mammogram and don't plan to get one. Nikita Shah, MD, Medical Oncology Team Leader for the Breast Care Center at the Orlando Health Cancer Institute, explains why it is so critical for women to get mammograms.

Odis Johnson, Jr, PhD, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Social Policy and STEM Equity at Johns Hopkins University led a recent study with concerning results: high schools equipped with metal detectors, security cameras and drug testing turned out students with lower math scores who are less likely to attend college, compared to students with less surveillance. He outlines the reasons for the trend and how it can be improved.

Recent research shows that when it comes to your risk for dementia, your lifestyle may be more important than your biological age! We talk with Annalise LaPlume Cognitive Neuroscience Postdoctoral fellow, Senior Research Scientist at Child Trends

Should a speed limit mandate be imposed on the trucking industry? Andrew King, Research Analyst for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association Foundation says there are potential safety concerns in limiting truck speeds.

We often hear that persistence and commitment are the most important qualities for success in business and in life, but Annie Duke, author of "Quit: The Power of Knowing When to Walk Away," explains why sometimes we may persist for too long when there are clear signs we should quit.

Did you know that child poverty in the U.S. plummeted by 59% between 1993 and 2019? We'll learn why from Dana Thomson, PhD, Senior Research Scientist at Child Trends, a research organization focused on child poverty and public policy.

Most doctors recommend similar lifestyle changes to all their patients. One of the world’s most respected experts, Carl "Chip" Lavie, MD, Medical Director of Ochsner Health Cardiac Rehabilitation and Prevention in New Orleans, found that advice tailored to each individual may get better results.

Are women who spend most of their lives single as well-prepared for retirement as married couples? Laura D. Quinby, PhD, Senior Research Economist at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, looked into the question 50 years after the passage of Title nine, which prohibited sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.