Efforts to Cut Down on Opioid Pain Prescriptions

Painkillers: Excellent long read on efforts to slow the stream of opiods flowing out of doctors offices, by Barry Meier for The New York Times.

Autism: A new observational study from UC Davis suggests that obesity during pregnancy could be related to autism and developmental delays, reports Bonnie Rochman for Time.

Obesity: Scientists now have more information about the genetic determinants of obesity, reports Nancy Hellmich for USA Today.

Dental Deserts: Free clinics are being overrun by people who need dental care, reports Bryan Thompson for Kansas Public Radio.

Mental Health: Should the mentally ill be kept in institutions against their will? In some cases the answer is yes, according to a task force of family members, public defenders, judges, and mental-health professionals, reports Lee Romney for the Los Angeles Times.

Interactive Tool: Find out if your area is lacking in doctors with this map, via Sarah Kliff and the Washington Post.

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Photo credit: adumb! via Flickr