Health & Wellness

New York Sen. Timothy Kennedy has proposed new legislation that would ban the sale and possession of the newly emerging synthetic opioid nicknamed "Pink."

All drinking fountains in Lackawanna City Schools have been turned off and sinks have warning signs on them, after elevated levels of lead were found from a variety of sources.

New York State is requiring more health insurers to cover the cost of medications used to help those struggling with opioid addiction.

Recovering from an illness can take toughness - ECMC says Jim Kelly toughness. in that spirit, the medical center dedicated its new “Kelly Tough Room” Tuesday.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says state and county measures to address the opioids crisis are "making a positive difference." Speaking with reporters, he said the county expects some 100 fewer deaths from overdoses this year than previously projected.

Lewiston Police say they have identified the cause of seven people falling ill at the town Post Office Wednesday.

Mighty Taco has issued an update on what is suspected to be a bad batch of refried beans that sickened 140 people between September 30 and October 6.

A not-for-profit health insurance provider that serves low-income people eligible for government assistance has opened an office on Main Street, and has ambitious plans to sign up new members over the next year.

More than 140 people have been identified as reporting nausea and vomiting after eating at an Erie County Mighty Taco, according to the Erie County Health Department.

The Lewiston Post Office was evacuated for an early morning emergency Wednesday.

New York continues to trail the nation when it comes to organ donation.

A possible foodborne illness is under investigation at Mighty Taco fast food restaurant locations in Western New York.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation is out with the results of its second air quality study for the West Side Buffalo neighborhoods around the Peace Bridge. It says the air quality is consistent with similarly sized metro areas with high traffic. However, the DEC is calling for improved emission standards to protect public health and the environment.

New York ranked fourth among states whose lawmakers drew the most contributions from the opioid industry, but was near the bottom in prescriptions per capita, according to data compiled by The Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity.

Young people in Cattaraugus County are going to have to wait a few more years before they can light up. The Southern Tier county has become one of a growing number in New York State to increase the legal purchasing age for tobacco products from 18 to 21 years old.

You would think that when parents are told of a vaccine that could prevent future cancers in their children, they would leap at the chance to protect them. Statistics show that isn’t always the case for the shot that prevents human papilloma virus, or HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection.

Erie County mental health officials say suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults and 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-14 years. As uncomfortable the topic may make some people, they said talking about the issue is the first step necessary to prevent more lives lost. 

New York State is expanding its medical marijuana program.