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The LA28 homelessness problem, a new study on fentanyl recovery and more
Local officials and council members are questioning LA28's human rights plans, including for dealing with homelessness.
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Justin Sullivan
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Getty Images
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Today's show: AirTalk host Larry Mantle discusses the LA28 homelessness plan, a new study on addiction recovery and dad bods.
How is LA28 addressing the unhoused population for the Olympics?
The topic:
City and county officials have raised questions about LA28’s plans to address homelessness ahead of the Olympics as they will likely result in the displacement and relocation of unhoused people.
The strategy: LA28's strategy said it will coordinate with local officials and providers who will be supporting unhoused people impacted by the Olympics. It also pledges to notify authorities as early as possible if an unhoused person needs to be relocated due to the Games.
The concerns: Officials from the city and county voiced concerns at an LA City Council meeting. The main questions surrounded what organization or department would be responsible for implementing the plans and the consideration for the well-being of the unhoused people being moved.
With files from LAist
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LA28 declined to participate in this conversation. We also reached out to Mayor Karen Bass, who was not available.
Guests:
- Libby Rainey, LAist reporter covering the LA28 Olympics
- Carter Hewgley, chief strategy officer for LA County’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing
New research may shed light on why some fentanyl users struggle with recovery
Alexa Burgess, left, leads a demonstration of how to check drugs for fentanyl. Two red lines indicates a negative test result.
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Kate Raphael
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Long Beach Post
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The topic:
A new UCLA co-led study puts a number on how much fentanyl people who use the illicit drug actually consume, which can impact how effective standard addiction treatments impact users.
The research: Researchers analyzed the purity of more than 500 fentanyl samples collected in L.A. between September 2023 and January 2026, plus surveys of 47 regular users, and estimated an average daily intake that works out to roughly 60 times the 2 milligrams of fentanyl the CDC says can be lethal to someone without opioid tolerance, every day.
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Why it matters: The findings, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, help explain why so many fentanyl users struggle to start and stay on treatment medications like methadone and buprenorphine, which were developed in the heroin era.
Join the conversation: Have you or a loved one struggled with fentanyl, or with starting addiction treatment? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Guest:
- Morgan Godvin, Project director at Drug Checking Los Angeles, a UCLA-based research and public health program, and co-lead author of the study
What goes into a ‘dad bod?’ Research shares insights into how it impacts fathers
What are your thoughts on dad bod?
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The topic:
In a recent New York Times opinion piece, clinical psychologist Darby Saxbe focuses on the ways men’s brains can change as a direct result of fatherhood, a concept that she digs into more deeply in a recent book. In digging into this idea, she spends time describing the scientific significance of having a "dad bod" as a father.
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Weight increases in dads: For a first-time father who lives with their child, Northwestern University has seen test subjects gain a little over four pounds.
Join the conversation: Are you a father who experiences weight gain after having your son? Did that feel like a rite of passage to you, or had any impact on how you perceived yourself as a man, or dad? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722, or email atcomments@laist.com.
Guest:
- Darby Saxbe, clinical psychologist, professor of psychology at The University of Southern California, author of the New York Times opinion piece Behind Every Dad Bod Is a Healthy Dad Brain; also author of the recent book Dad Brain: The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives
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Today on AirTalk: Belgium defeats Team USA, LAHSA's grim future, favorite beaches, DSA memberships, and best tacos in SoCal. -
Today on AirTalk: AI chatbot voting, early math testing, Disneyland's technological innovation, FIFA World Cup updates, PlayStation physical copies and hated car features. -
Today on AirTalk: Fireworks versus drones, what's after Hollywood, an investigation into Skid Row deaths, the decline of kelp and TV Talk.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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