Courtenay Harris Bond
Courtenay Harris Bond is the staff writer covering health for PhillyVoice. She enjoys writing about behavioral health, maternal health and inequities in the healthcare system, as well as human rights and criminal justice. A veteran daily newspaper reporter, Courtenay has also written for national outlets, including KFF Health News, Undark Magazine and Filter. She was a 2018 Rosalynn Carter Fellow for Mental Health Journalism and has master's degrees from Columbia Journalism School and the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.
June 19, 2025
Adult Health
New dietary guidelines reportedly may drop specific advice on how much alcohol Americans should drink each day
New U.S. dietary guidelines may no longer recommend Americans limit their alcohol consumption to 1-2 alcoholic drinks per day, a Reuters report says. Instead, that language may be replaced with a recommendation to consume alcohol in moderation - without defining what that means.June 18, 2025
Children's Health
Free period products to be available to Philly school district students
The School District of Philadelphia's middle and high schools will have free period products available to students when classes resume this fall. The district received $200,000 in state grants as part of a push to end period poverty in schools.June 17, 2025
Alternative Medicine
For cancer patients with depression, psilocybin may provide lasting relief
A single dose of psilocybin provides long-term reductions in anxiety and depression in cancer patients, a new study shows. Cancer patients can experience depression so severe that it affects their ability to go through treatment. Psilocybin, a chemical in some mushrooms that causes psychedelic effects, has been linked to reductions in depression.June 17, 2025
Addiction
Fatal overdoses are falling, but 4 in 10 Philly residents believe the addiction crisis is worsening
Nearly 4 in 10 Philadelphia residents say the opioid crisis has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic, despite a recent drop in overdose deaths, a new report from the Pew Research Center report shows. Yet, more Philadelphians also view opioid use disorder as a chronic health condition like diabetes.June 16, 2025
Education
School of Rock's former students grapple with their past as misconduct allegations mount against founder Paul Green
Former School of Rock students say they endured inappropriate conduct from founder Paul Green during their time at the Philadelphia music institution decades ago. As more students have shared their experiences, some have found affirmation in their perceptions of his Green's conduct, but the pain still endures.June 5, 2025
Addiction
Street drugs are being cut with a potent sedative, but criminalizing it may worsen Philly's addiction crisis
Criminalizing possession of medetomidine will create a game of 'whack-a-mole' with drug suppliers turning to other chemicals as cutting agents, say critics of a proposal to make it a controlled substance in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia health systems are struggling to help people in severe medetomidine withdrawal.June 3, 2025
Fitness
There are benefits to wearing a weighted vest when working out – but also precautions to take
Exercising with a weighted vest can boost the intensity of resistance workouts and increase heart rate and oxygen use. They are particularly useful for walks and calisthenics like push-ups and situps. But their effect on weight loss is mixed, and people should avoid wearing them while running or swimming, an expert says.May 28, 2025
Parenting
Only 1 in 4 mothers report having 'excellent' mental health – a sharp decline from 2016
The percentage of U.S. mothers reporting to have 'excellent' mental health dropped from 38% in 2016 to 26% in 2023, new research shows Mother who were single and those with uninsured or publicly-insured children had the sharpest declines.May 27, 2025
Prevention
CDC ends COVID shots recommendation for healthy children, pregnant women
COVID-19 vaccines no longer will be recommended by the CDC for healthy pregnant women and healthy children, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Tuesday. He said there is a lack of clinical data to support repeat boosters among children.May 27, 2025
Wellness
Vibrating plates are among the latest weight-loss fads. But do they work?
Social influencers have touted vibration plates with helping them lose weight loss, improve balance and speed up muscle recovery. But research on their effectiveness is inconsistent. Vibrating plates are probably not worth the money, health experts say.Just In
- Becoming an expert birdwatcher may help protect the brain from aging
- Philly's new youth-run thrift store lets teens use clothing to explore their identities
- Ocean County car crash leaves 3 dead, 1 in hospital
- Numerous people with Philly ties appear in the Epstein files. Here are the ones facing fallout
- Report: Eagles asking price for A.J. Brown is 'too high'
- Joel Embiid out for Sixers-Celtics on Sunday and at least two more games with right oblique strain
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