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.

courtenay@phillyvoice.com

February 8, 2024

Opioids

As fentanyl increasingly taints cocaine and other stimulants, drug testing strips are needed to save lives, officials say

by Courtenay Harris Bond

Fentanyl has long been mixed with heroin, but the lethal opioid is being increasingly mixed with stimulants like cocaine, crack and methamphetamines, health officials say. They say drug testing strips for fentanyl and xylazine, a veterinary tranq, are critical to preventing fatal overdoses among drug users who do not realize their substances are tainted.

February 5, 2024

Mental Health

Mild concussions put kids at greater risk for developing depression, anxiety and ADHD, study finds

by Courtenay Harris Bond

Children who sustain even mild traumatic brain injuries have a significantly increased risk of developing new mood disorders, like bipolar and depressive disorders, and behavior disorders like ADHD and OCD, a new study finds. The findings point to the need for continued screenings in the years after concussions and other brain injuries, researchers say.

February 1, 2024

Fitness

Thinking of running the Broad Street Run for the first time? Or trying to notch a personal best? Experts offer advice

by Courtenay Harris Bond

The Broad Street Run, one of the largest 10-mile races in the U.S., takes place Sunday, May 5. Novice runners should start training early and gradually increase the intensity, duration and frequency of their workouts, experts say. They also suggest purchasing comfortable shoes and finding a running group to stay motivated.