Category: Drugs
Rapid Opioid Cutoff Is Risky Too, Feds Warn
Federal agencies are urging doctors to evaluate the risks to patients on opioid pain medicines before abruptly tapering them off the highly addictive drugs.
As the Opioid Crisis Peaks, Meth and Cocaine Deaths Explode
Roughly 14,000 cocaine and 10,000 meth users died in the US in 2017, an increase of more than a third compared with 2016 and triple of what was seen in 2012.
Amid Measles Outbreak, Little Effort to Kill Vaccine Exemptions
Washington state, which recently experienced a serious measles outbreak, has the only state legislature this year that passed tighter vaccination rules.
UW to study pot’s effect on infant brain development
The study will track the mother’s marijuana use from the first trimester throughout pregnancy and then scan infants’ brains at age 6 months to identify possible effects of cannabis exposure.
Maine takes aim at high drug prices
Though many other states besides Maine are taking targeted actions to lower drug prices, few if any are seeking to tackle the issue in such a comprehensive way.
FDA warns about sleeping pills’ side effects
The warning applies to Lunesta,Sonata and Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, Intermezzo, and Zolpimist.
WEED Like You to Get Home Safe: this Weekend & Always
Driving while high increases your chance of getting in a crash, and becomes even more dangerous when combined with alcohol use
As Drug Crises Surge, Babies Enter Foster Care at Higher Rate
The trend has a big impact on states, whose budgets often already are overstretched responding to the drug crisis and other needs.
Exemptions Surge As Parents And Doctors Do ‘Hail Mary’ Around Vaccine Laws
Parents are using end runs around new laws requiring vaccinations, often, with the cooperation of doctors.
Cervical pre-cancer rates down 88% in decade since HPV vaccinations began in UK
New findings clearly show that the routine HPV vaccination program has been a resounding success.
Measles: should vaccinations be compulsory?
Precedents exist for making people have certain vaccines. Perhaps it’s time to extend this.
Preventing harm from edible cannabis products
Washington Poison Center’s role in preventing and reducing harm from cannabis use.
Flu remains widespread in King County
Area hospitals are reporting a big uptick in the number of flu cases so far in March.
Fentanyl-Linked Deaths: The U.S. Opioid Epidemic’s Third Wave
First came prescription pain medications, then heroin, and now fentanyl.
Does It Make Sense To Delay Children’s Vaccines?
A gradual approach to vaccinations is better than no vaccinations at all. But delaying vaccines is risky.