内容摘要：There have been 8,485 cases reported in 2025, according to preliminary data from the

There have been 8,485 cases reported in 2025, according to preliminary data from the

An industry that saw waves of store growth before the COVID-19 pandemic faces headwinds like falling prescription reimbursement, persistent theft and changing shopping habits. But as drugstores right-size their physical footprint, experts say they can leave behind communities that have come to depend on them as trusted sources of care and advice — both of which can be hard to find in many urban and rural areas.“That trust, you just can’t quantify it,” said Omolola Adepoju, a University of Houston health services researcher. “And I don’t think it gets spoken about enough when we talk about pharmacy closures.”

There’s a pattern to who has access to pharmacies, with gaps forming in urban and rural neighborhoods.Residents of neighborhoods that are largely Black and Latino have fewer pharmacies per capita than people who live in mostly white neighborhoods, according toof licensing data from 44 states, data from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs and the American Community Survey. It’s consistent with prior research that documents where urban “pharmacy deserts” are more likely to be concentrated.

The AP also analyzed data from 49 states and found those with the fewest retail pharmacies per capita include Alaska, Oregon and New Mexico. About two-thirds of retail pharmacies in those states were owned by chains, while independent pharmacies tend to concentrate more in urban markets or states with bigger populations.Drugstores have become

in recent years, sometimes by design or necessity — especially for customers who work multiple jobs and can’t easily get to a doctor. Many pharmacies, including

, offer clinics and more than a dozen vaccines to treat patients. They’ve also encouraged pharmacists to counsel patients more on managing conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure.Midwife Celena Brown speaks with Kayleigh Sturrup during a pregnancy checkup. Midwives at Commonsense Childbirth are striving to provide good, accessible care. (AP Photo/Laura Ungar)

“Nervous and excited,” the 31-year-old replied. “As it comes closer, I worry: Am I going to be able to cope with the pain?”“It’s normal to feel nervous,” Brown assured her. “You want to be open to the entire process. You got this. You can do it!”

Brown said she’s constantly awed by her patients’ strength. She recalled a teen just out of jail who overcame addiction and wound up giving birth vaginally without pain medication.Joseph has no intention of returning to Europe. She has started a midwifery school, put together training programs for other health care professionals and convenes a national group of professionals and advocates who share ideas to improve maternal health and eliminate disparities over videoconference.