Martha Bebinger

Covering Covid, addiction, health disparities and the intersection of climate change & health for WBUR. Mom of 3 adventurous young men. Texan at heart.
She/Her

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

Monitoring the medical tents along the course of the #BostonMarathon today. Very little activity inside so far and 0 calls for ambulances, according to @MassDPH. Go runners!

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

@cher I hope you’re doing great! I think you were one of the first female performers to show a tattoo in the 1980s. Can I send you a few questions about that for a book I’m writing or ask you during a five minute phone call? Thanks so much for considering!

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

@kmikeyborgard Do you have time for a quick call today? DM me or [email protected] thanks for considering!

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

Four years ago, a young man named V was deep into an addiction to cocaine. He hasn’t used in a year now. He swapped the rush he got from cocaine for the pleasure of achieving goals and getting rewards in a program called contingency management.

https://t.co/j2JPoYqC8U

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

First time I’ve seen Harm Reduction listed on an elevator menu. This is at the Brockton Neighborhood Health Center in Mass. A whole office of people doing counseling, handing out supplies, offering contingency management and medications to treat substance use disorder.

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

@stephenHRNRP @marysdesk @ThisAmerLife @Slate @WBUR Thanks!

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

@MrMikeNoel, trying to reach you for a story about glass recycling in Mass. DM me please if you're available for a call.

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

Massachusetts has set another record that no one will celebrate. Preliminary state data shows there were 2,357 overdose deaths in 2022. That’s 57 more deaths than in 2021, and an increase of 9% from the highest point before the COVID pandemic.

https://t.co/HUBlJRzI4I

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

A woman with Alzheimer's could no longer follow the pattern on a hand hooked rug. A stranger volunteered to finish it for her. They found each other via an online network called Loose Ends. I got to tag along. Grateful.

https://t.co/u18QhjMlCE

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

Latest accounting shows opioid settlements coming to Mass. will top $1 bil. There's a question about how the 40% going to munis is being spent. State law says it has to go into a general municipal fund not a designated fund to tackle the addiction crisis.

https://t.co/K6ccT5xWBM

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

@dinakraft @nytimes Thrilling!!!!

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

@AmerMedicalAssn joins calls to end mandatory child welfare reporting for infants born with traces of methadone or buprenorphine.

Massachusetts still requires such reporting.

https://t.co/SM1UrOirle

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

Appeals court approval of the Purdue/Sackler settlement reminds me Mass. is sitting on $$millions coming in from other deals. But the group formed to guide spending hasn't met since 12/6/22. And no word from media reps for @KateWalshHHS about when the group will meet again.

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

I have no reason to think Councilor Anderson's comments were about Judaism.

Here's the original story:
https://t.co/00vtycW5lq

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

@kuangrf might you have a minute to recommend a book or article focused on the early life experience of Robin and his mother's family? I've read the Opium War histories, looking for narratives about Canton area residents in the 1830-50s. Loved Babel!

[Priyanka Dayal McCluskey @Priyanka_Dayal]

Hospitals and insurers are tangling over rising costs as the health care system reaches a "breaking point."

Here's what leaders of @MassGenBrigham and @BCBSMA say about the crisis:
https://t.co/yjTgP5cvBq via @WBUR

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

@BrianMannADK Hope you are getting the best, best care - and wishing you a quick, pain free recovery!

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

Do you know of a young person from Massachusetts who took a fake pill laced with #fentanyl and overdosed? Please DM if you have info you can share. Thanks very much! #opioids

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

@DGQuoVadimus @WBUR @BostonParksDept Not sure if @BostonParksDept was aiming for a cooler color, but they got one!

[Martha Bebinger @mbebinger]

I filed a story about why even historically cold weather states like Mass. need to ramp up efforts to cool pavement.

https://t.co/wqyqvzqXPd

This film from Trillium Studios has the moving picture view:
https://t.co/moDpmKvYzG

#climate