Lamar Public Library

Nationally and in Colorado, drug use disorders and fatal overdoses remain significant public health concerns. Drug overdose deaths were further classified according to the involvement of specific substances, including prescription opioid analgesics (prescription opioids), illicit opioids (including heroin), methamphetamine and cocaine, and manner (intent) of the overdose, including unintentional (accidental), intentional self-harm (suicide), and those...

The purpose of this report is to estimate the prevalence of food-insecurity among Colorado's children and pregnant women and to explore its implications. Additionally, the relationship between food-insecurity and obesity will be explored.

The home environment is commonly considered to be a place of safety and comfort for people. However harmful exposures can occur in the home and some Colorado populations have increased risk to these exposures. Unhealthy housing conditions from radon and secondhand smoke exposures occur disproportionately within Colorado populations, resulting in health equity and environmental justice issues.

Suicide is a critical public health concern that adversely affects a diverse population of Colorado citizens. On average, more than 850 Coloradoans die by suicide each year. From 2007 to 2011, there were 4,323 suicide deaths in Colorado, outnumbering deaths by motor vehicle accident, unintentional poisoning, falls or homicide.

Gastroschisis is a congenital (birth) defect of the abdominal wall in which the baby's intestines, and sometimes other abdominal organs, protrude from the belly through a small hole. Colorado's rates of gastroschisis reflect this increasing trend. In 1994, the prevalence rate was 2.78 per 10,000 live births, and increased to 3.54 per 10,000 live births in 2011. Rates of gastroschisis are particularly high among younger mothers, including teen moms....