The Show-Me State is experiencing the country’s fourth largest shortage of primary, mental, and dental health care professionals. Pat Simmons with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services spoke before a task force of state lawmakers, saying that treating Substance Use Disorder (SUD) requires having a strong workforce.

“Missouri exports nearly one-third of our medical students to residency programs in other states,” Simmons said. “Missouri needs over 350 residency slots so that to make it possible for our medical school graduates to stay in state.”

She said that one in seven people over age 12 who are diagnosed with SUD have received treatment.

“A recently published systematic review suggested that lack of knowledge and skill are top reasons for the physician’s reluctance to address substance use and addiction in their clinical practices,” she said. “A main driver of this reluctance is a lack of training during residency and medical school.”

Her recommendation was that lawmakers continue the Missouri Graduate Medical Education Grant Program to create additional in-state residency positions. The program was created in 2023 to increase the number of fully trained physicians in family medicine, general pediatrics, and other medical fields.

Simmons said that primary care providers are uniquely positioned to identify and treat SUD.

“Increasing residents’ exposure to addiction training increases access to evidence-based prevention treatment and recovery services for patients,” she added. “This effort working in synergy with all of the other efforts that we’ve been hearing about will help to reduce the prevalence, impact, and stigma of SUD.”

According to Simmons, over half of Missouri students, that attend and complete their residency in-state, stay in Missouri to practice.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Several agencies, including the Pettis County Fire Department, are monitoring a fire Monday afternoon at the Central Missouri Landfill.

The Sedalia-Pettis County Emergency Management Agency posted on social media around 4:15 p.m. that some roads have been reopened in the area of the landfill.

The Sedalia Fire Department posted it was also monitoring the landfill and working with the National Weather Service to keep track of any wind gusts.

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An 18-year-old is dead and three other teenagers are injured after a crash Friday night in Johnson County, Missouri.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Turner George, 18, was driving a 2004 Dodge truck when he lost control while accelerating through a curve on Southwest 271st Road north of Southwest 1200th Road.

Missouri news: Headlines from St. Louis, Jefferson City and across the Show-Me State

George drove off the roadway and hit a ditch, causing his car to flip and crash into a fence, MSHP said. The crash happened at about 9 p.m.

MSHP said George was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not wearing a seatbelt.

A 17-year-old, 18-year-old and 19-year-old were also in the truck at the time of the crash. They all refused treatment and had minor injuries. The 17-year-old was the only one wearing a seatbelt.

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