Graduation is a time to celebrate. But before the party starts, a government task force on drinking among you people wants parents to take the time to talk with your graduates about the dangers of misusing alcohol.

While we have clear data on murders from gun violence, no one seems to know how many Americans are shot – and survive – every year. In fact, the government’s own numbers seem to conflict on the matter.

Injuries from pool chemicals led to nearly 5,000 emergency room visits in 2012, according to a study released last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly half of these preventable injuries were in children and teenagers and more than a third occurred at a home.

The World Health Organization says an alarming new report showing that 3.3 million deaths across the globe in 2012 were due to the harmful use of alcohol highlights the need for action to reduce that number.

In terms of climate, geography, accents and politics, New York and Louisiana are very dissimilar, but they do have this in common: the amount of narcotics used by an average injured worker in each state is about double the amount of other states.

One of the major controversies involving hydraulic fracturing – or, “fracking” – will be the subject of an EPA inquiry that could lead to new regulations on the industry.

May is Asthma Awareness Month, and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy is taking the opportunity to spread the word about how environmental asthma triggers affect sufferers of the disease. “One in ten kids in America today suffers from asthma, whichdisproportionately impacts communities of color and low-income families,” said U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.

E-cigarettes aren’t just for hipsters — they’re a breath of not-quite-fresh air to smokers tired of being exiled outdoors when they need a puff. Since an e-cigarette user exhales water vapor instead of smoke, it’s easier to allow them back into bars and workplaces.

There are times when your family physician may not be able to give you the time and expertise needed to treat a variety of hand disorders. This is where the hand specialist comes in, and you can ask your family doc for a referral.

Each year, nearly 900,000 Americans die prematurely from the five leading causes of death – yet 20 percent to 40 percent of the deaths from each cause could be prevented, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).