Source: REALHEALTH What’s happening?  Right now in 2026, public health experts are sounding the alarm about major gaps in how health data is updated in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A newly released audit found that nearly half of the CDC’s normally updated health surveillance databases stopped or delayed updates in 2025. These databases track critical topics like vaccinations, respiratory diseases, and drug overdose deaths  information that docto

Understanding the Crisis, Promoting Prevention, and Supporting Youth Well-Being Source: Drug Free America In August 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a major new public health initiative called the Free Mind campaign which focused at addressing a growing crisis among America’s youth: the intersection of mental-health challenges and substance use. The campaign targets adolescents ages 12–17 as well as their parents and caregivers, offering res

A new study reveals a dramatic rise in cases of drug-resistant bacteria Source: Scientific American In 2018, the CDC reported 221 cases of rare, highly antibiotic resistant bacteria across 27 states. These bacteria are resistant to nearly all available antibiotics and can transfer their resistance genes to other bacteria, making them especially dangerous. The CDC's nationwide testing network found that 1 in 4 samples carried special genes, called beta lactamase genes, which s