In 2023, there were (523) accidental drug deaths in New Orleans, compared to (499) in 2022. In 2023, (395) 75% were male, and (129) 25% were female, similar to previous years. In 2023, (299) 57% were black, (187) 35% were white, (26) 5% were hispanic, (3) 1% were asian, and (9) 2% were other/unknown. In Read More

New Orleans Coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, has new information about the developing brain. The brain and nervous system grow at a remarkable rate, achieving about 30% of adult brain weight at birth and 80% by age 2. Expert say this rapid growth necessitates high levels of energy. Nutrition support during these periods can confer lifelong, Read More

Dr. Dwight McKenna, New Orleans Coroner, says there are some things you should know about obesity. Obesity is a major factor affecting the health of many Americans. It is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that 41% of adults and 19.7% of children now meet the criteria for being obese. Experts say Read More

If you are like many of Americans, you may have wondered about Sleep Apnea. What is it? It’s the absence of breathing during sleep associated with frequent awakening and often with daytime sleepiness resulting from failure of the respiratory center to stimulate adequate respiration during sleep. New Orleans Coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, says sleep apnea Read More

If you are like many Americans, you may have wondered about Gout. What is it? Gout is precipitation of mono sodium urate crystals into tissue, usually in and around joints, most often causing recurrent auto or chronic arthritis. New Orleans Coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, says acute arthritis often involves the first metatarsophalangeal (joint pain) to Read More

If you are like many of Americans, you may have wondered about Fatty Liver Disease. There are two types: 1. Non-Alcoholic (NAFLD), which is the most common. Causes range from diabetes, high blood pressure, increased cholesterol, increased triglycerides, obesity and some medications. 2. Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (AFLD). A root cause of this is increased Read More

New Orleans Coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna points to a recent study that shows platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections have become a popular treatment option in a variety of specialties including sports medicine, maxilla facial surgery, dermatology, cosmetology and reproductive medicine. PRP is an autologous blood product derived from whole blood, using a centrifuge to isolate a Read More

In case of Justin Smith, fingerprints were done by NOPD homicide detective David Trahan within days of autopsy and submitted on June 25th, as per their policy, to NOPD. We were notified by NOPD fingerprinting machine was out of order and we were forced to wait for it be repaired. In the process of trying Read More

Sources say, the luxury of modern life is due to the strong defense provided by the “pillars” of our public health system. Nowhere is the breakdown of public health more obvious than in “tent cities” and other locations where homeless people gather. 1. Hepatitis A: Reported in San Diego, where there is an ongoing outbreak Read More

New Orleans Coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, says sleep is a vital component of our overall well being, playing a crucial role in our physical and mental health. However in today’s fast-paced world, many people find themselves sacrificing sleep in order to meet the demands of their busy lives. Unfortunately, research suggests that those who consistently Read More