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Republicans see high-risk plans as the future of health insurance
More than 40 million Americans are already opting to take on the cost of sick visits, drugs and surgeries to get lower premiums and tax savings.
Fight over online access to abortion pill reaches Supreme Court in emergency appeal
The makers of the abortion pill mifepristone filed an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court on Saturday urging the justices to pause a lower-court ruling that temporarily blocked Americans from accessing the drug through the mail.
Scientists discover new enzyme that could supercharge weight-loss drugs
Researchers at the University of Utah have discovered an enzyme called Pap B that will chemically change and update drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy making them stronger and last longer.
First malaria drug for babies is approved in ‘major public health milestone’
WHO prequalification of Coartem Baby means newborns can be safely treated rather than using medication for older children
Appeals court blocks FDA rule that allows women to obtain abortion drugs by mail
A federal appeals court temporarily reinstated a nationwide requirement that abortion pills be obtained in person, undermining access to the method of abortion that has only grown more widespread since the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Surgery still outperforms GLP-1 drugs in terms of heart health
Both treatment options are effective, but metabolic and bariatric surgery was linked to more significant cardiovascular risk reductions than GLP-1 medications.
Science news: Return of the river-herring run, Musk vs. Altman and new pancreatic cancer drugs
Under the Radar breaks down the latest science and technology headlines, including communities fighting back against data centers, overheated sharks and more
FDA authorizes early access for experimental pancreatic cancer pill
The FDA said the action recognizes the dire need for a drug to improve survival for pancreatic cancer patients, who face the worst survival odds in oncology.
USDA issues health alert for frozen pizza sold nationwide at Aldi stores due Salmonella concerns
A health alert has been issued by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for a frozen pizza brand sold nationwide at Aldi stores because of possible Salmonella contamination.
USDA issues health alert for frozen pizza sold nationwide at Aldi stores due Salmonella concerns
A health alert has been issued by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for a frozen pizza brand sold nationwide at Aldi stores because of possible Salmonella contamination.
Media Recap: Behavioral Health and Drug Manufacturer Pressures
Adam Carlson, senior vice president of Advocacy, MHA, joined J.J. Hodshire, president and chief executive officer, Hillsdale Hospital, for a press conference April 17 to discuss how proposed cuts to Medicaid will further destabilize hospitals already experiencing financial strain.
Big Pharma throws support behind Ashley Moody in US Senate race
A number of pharmaceutical companies had their drugs removed from a list slated for price reduction negotiations with Medicare officials, thanks to legislation that Moody supported.
Health clinics exempt from drug discount rule change
A major overhaul to a federal drug discount program Indiana officials allege is being misused to generate hospital profits will exempt dozens of clinics serving low-income Hoosiers.
Are all our politicians on drugs? No. Yet it is fair to say some may occasionally attend work refreshed
Gor blimey it smells like a brewery
PwC will drop cover for weight-loss drugs from employee health plans
Big Four accountancy balks at high cost of medication it says has become ‘cultural phenomenon’
New treatment cuts bad cholesterol by nearly 50% without statins
A new breakthrough could change how high cholesterol is treated, offering a powerful alternative to traditional drugs. Researchers have developed tiny DNA-based molecules that shut down PCSK9—a key protein that keeps “bad” LDL cholesterol circulating in the blood. By blocking this protein, cells can absorb more cholesterol instead of letting it build up in arteries, dramatically lowering levels linked to heart disease.
Britney Spears charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
Britney Spears was charged in California on Thursday with driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, authorities said.
Britney Spears charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
Spears was charged in California Thursday
Cardinal Health lifts annual profit forecast on strong demand for specialty drugs
Drug distributor Cardinal Health on Thursday raised its 2026 profit forecast range, betting on strong demand for costly specialty medicines and branded drugs at its pharmaceuticals unit.
Reid Hoffman Thinks Doctors Should Ask AI for a Second Opinion
The LinkedIn cofounder now has an AI drug discovery startup—and thinks not asking chatbots for medical advice is “bordering on committing malpractice.”
Protect patient access to life-saving drugs
By Leslie Herod Since its inception, Colorado’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) created fear among patients around effects to life-saving medicines and the negative ramifications price controls have on affordability. Five years on, those fears persist. Patients and advocates continue to push for protections for those facing the very likely scenario drugs whose price is […]
Viewpoint: A career in science is possible, and worth it
Starting a career in science is exciting, but also demanding, with researchers often faced with intense competition, long working hours and high levels of stress. A pioneer in the field of mass spectrometry, Carol Robinson has been there. She speaks with Science|Business on the importance of creating a supportive environment, particularly for women.Robinson did not wake up one day thinking that she would become a scientist. It was only late in school that she developed an interest in chemistry. “The more you work at something, the more you think, actually, this is fascinating. So, I went much further and deeper than I ever needed to pass the exam. And then I loved it,” she says. “I thought, I’m going to give it my all. I’m going to enjoy it while I’m here. But I didn’t think this would be my career for 50 odd years.”She left school at 16 to become a lab technician with the drug company Pfizer, which is where she first worked with mass spectrometry. Fascinated, she was encouraged to take a part-time degree and then a PhD. She went on to do pioneering work in native mass spectrometry, a technique that is used to study protein structures in their natural state, paving the way for breakthroughs in drug discovery. She also broke new ground by becoming the first female professor of chemistry at the University of Cambridge, and then the first female professor of chemistry at the University of Oxford, her current home.She now wants to show young researchers that a career in science is worth it. “Sometimes, I believe the culture isn’t very encouraging, and that’s something I have worked on,” Robinson says.In 2021, she launched the Kavli Institute for Nanoscience Discovery at Oxford, whose acronym gives a sense of what she hopes it will achieve. “Maybe it is corny,” she says. “It’s just a reminder that I would like it if we could all be kind to each other and supportive, especially for early-career researchers of either gender, because there’s quite a big attrition rate in science, and maybe it just doesn’t feel like a very friendly place to work.”And yet, a career in science comes with a lot of flexibility. “There are few careers where you have that amount of freedom, to go to conferences, to the library. Just because you didn’t see me didn’t mean I wasn’t working,” she says. “And I’m excited to come in every day. So, I don’t want people to think it’s a terrible place.”Gender equality is also important when it comes to the quality of science as a career. “The more women we have, the better it becomes,” Robinson adds.Imposter syndromeAccording to EU data, women outnumber men in university education but account for just about a third of graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem). And while the number of women working as scientists and engineers in the 27-member bloc is on the rise, their representation remains below that of men, at 41%. This discrepancy is even more pronounced in top-tier functions across these fields, where women fill just 20% of positions.Having supervised many young scientists, Robinson sees that women continue to have a greater propensity than men to doubt their abilities, a feeling she once shared. “When I was doing my PhD at the University at Cambridge, I really felt like an imposter,” she says. “I don’t think I ever felt I deserved to be there or owned it and was proud. I just thought I was lucky.” Later on, she adds, “I was always that person who said, I can’t apply yet because my CV is not strong enough.”She has now made it her job to encourage women to break with this imposter syndrome. For example, rather than calling for volunteers to give a lecture in the groups that she mentors or teaches, which nearly always results in men stepping forward, she goes straight to the women, “because I know they won’t push themselves forward.”But the gender gap in science is not just down to imposter syndrome. The “obvious” reason, Robinson says, and the reason that is on everybody’s mind when discussing workplace gender equality, is the balance between work and raising a family. Her own path was to choose between the two, taking an eight-year break after completing a postdoctoral training fellowship to bring up three children. And she continues to advise women not to work part-time while they raise a family. “You’ll just get half the pay and continue to work full-time because you are not able to fit everything in,” she says. “You should be able to have a family and come back to have the career that you want.”The solution is for men to also take career breaks. “That kind of evens it up, so that it’s not such a big thing for women,” Robinson says. “I always encourage men in my groups to do that. I think it’s important to take your share of the duties.”Support produces resultsAccording to the Women in Stem Network, a UK advocacy group, countries with strong childcare systems and equal pay policies retain more women in technical careers. In Europe, these are primarily found in the Nordic region and parts of central Europe.At the EU level, the European Commission asks all Horizon Europe applicant organisations to have a gender action plan in place. Since this criterion was introduced in 2021, the share of women leading consortia has increased to 31%, against 23% in Horizon 2020. Their overall participation, however, has risen just 1%, to 38%. After trying to weaken the requirement for gender action plans in 2025, the Commission now intends to adopt a plan for supporting women in research and innovation.Related articlesCommission scraps plan to water down gender requirements in HorizonHow gender balance can swing who wins Horizon Europe fundingRobinson herself has benefited from three Advanced Grants from the European Research Council. “I was extremely honoured and privileged to get those, because they really allowed me to fuel my passion,” she says. “Without that, it would have been a much harder slog.”Beyond applying gender rules, she says that more work is needed on translational enterprise, where women are, once again, largely underrepresented. The European Patent Office found that only 13.8% of applications were filed by women in 2022. “We have so many more women doing amazing science; why do they feel it’s not a thing to have a company?” she asks.She founded her own spin-out company, OMass Technologies, in 2016, and remains chair of its scientific advisory board now that it trades as OMass Therapeutics. As for research, Robinson is now studying how changes in the brain may be linked to depression, using port-mortem tissue. “We’re hoping to publish soon,” she says. “We had to consult with a lot of people who knew a lot more about the brain than we did. So, we’ve learnt a lot, and that’s always a lot of fun to learn a new thing. That’s what keeps you going.”
‘The energy behind these drugs has moved from the beatniks to biohackers’
Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
They want their teams to win. The Liberty and Nets owners are funding scientific breakthroughs on human health that only billionaire philanthropy can achieve
Clara Wu Tsai's $220 million investment in athlete research has already helped lead to a drug designed to preserve muscle strength as we get older.
Ibogaine Hype Is Outpacing the Science
The hype surrounding the psychedelic drug ibogaine reached a fever pitch earlier this month, when President Donald Trump talked up its potential at a White House event promoting increased access to psychedelics. Ibogaine, which comes from the root of a West African shrub, has long been used for ceremonial and spiritual purposes. Now, for the first time, the Food and Drug Administration will allow a clinical trial of the drug.
This ‘longevity drug’ may weaken gains from exercise
Researchers anticipated rapamycin would enhance the effects of working out, while also initiating health improvements of its own, but the results surprised them.
Australia becomes the 30th country to eliminate trachoma as a public health problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Australia for eliminating trachoma as a public health problem, marking a significant milestone in the health of indigenous peoples and in global efforts to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness, no longer represents a public health problem in the country.Australia is among a growing number of countries that have successfully eliminated trachoma, contributing to global progress towards the targets set out in the WHO road map for NTDs 2021–2030.Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through close contact with infected individuals, contaminated surfaces, and flies that carry eye and nose discharge. Repeated infections can lead to scarring of the eyelids, turning eyelashes inward, and ultimately causing blindness if untreated.“WHO congratulates Australia on this important achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This success reflects sustained commitment, strong partnerships, and a focus on reaching populations most affected by health inequities. It brings us closer to a world free from the suffering caused by trachoma.”Australia’s journey to eliminationAustralia’s achievement reflects decades of targeted public health action, particularly in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, where trachoma persisted despite its earlier disappearance from the rest of the country.National efforts intensified with the establishment of the National Trachoma Management Programme in 2006, which implemented the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy: surgery for trichiasis, antibiotics to treat infection, promotion of facial cleanliness, and environmental improvement. Regular screening of all communities classified as at-risk of trachoma by teams of qualified health workers formed an important part of the Programme. Interventions were delivered through coordinated partnerships between federal and state governments, Aboriginal community-controlled health services, and local communities.Over time, sustained screening, treatment, and prevention activities, including improvements in housing, water, sanitation and hygiene, led to a steady decline in trachoma prevalence. Australia’s approach included adaptations to reflect its context, such as targeted treatment based on community-level data rather than mass drug administration, and strong integration with environmental health programmes.“Elimination of trachoma is a win for the eye health of communities across Australia, particularly those whose lives have been impacted by a disease that is entirely preventable,” said Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing, Australia. “This major milestone is thanks to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, community commitment and sustained investment over many decades.“The lessons from this work will inform how we approach other preventable health conditions in remote and regional Australia. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and local health workers have been central to this success, delivering culturally safe care and community-led solutions.”“This recognition from the World Health Organization reflects decades of work led by Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, alongside local health workers in remote First Nations communities,” said Malarndirri McCarthy, Minister for Indigenous Australians. “Their work has been critical to eliminating trachoma as a public health problem in Australia.”Advancing global efforts against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)Trachoma is one of 21 diseases and disease groups that are regarded by WHO as NTDs. Together, NTDs affect more than 1 billion people worldwide, primarily in underserved populations with limited access to essential services such as clean water, sanitation, and health care.Australia’s elimination of trachoma as a public health problem highlights the importance of sustained political commitment and cross-sectoral collaboration in addressing the underlying determinants of health. It also underscores the feasibility of eliminating trachoma even in geographically challenging settings.In addition to trachoma, Australia has several endemic NTDs, including Buruli ulcer, leprosy and scabies. Validation of elimination of trachoma as a public health problem marks the first time that WHO has confirmed the elimination of an NTD in Australia, which becomes the 63rd country globally and 16th in the Western Pacific Region to have eliminated at least one NTD.“Tackling neglected tropical diseases in the Western Pacific Region has long been a challenge for countries across the socioeconomic spectrum, given the complexities in reaching the most vulnerable communities, including in remote areas,” said Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. “As a doctor from Tonga, I’ve experienced these challenges for myself. But I also know that with strategic commitment underpinned by optimal resources and partnerships in health, success is possible as other countries in our region have also demonstrated. I commend Australia on eliminating trachoma as a public health problem and urge all involved to remain vigilant to ensure this status is maintained.”WHO continues to support countries working to eliminate trachoma and other NTDs, ensuring that progress reaches those most in need and that gains are sustained through strong surveillance, appropriately integrated into national health systems, and mainstreamed within the wider health sector and beyond.Editor’s notesNeglected tropical diseases and trachoma elimination effortsNeglected tropical diseases are associated with devastating health, social and economic consequences. Their burden is mainly felt among impoverished communities in tropical areas.Public health targets for the control, elimination and eradication of these conditions were set in the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030 (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240010352).In 1996, WHO launched the WHO Alliance for the Global Elimination of Trachoma by 2020 (GET2020), creating a network of governments, non-governmental organizations and academic institutions dedicated to the fight against trachoma. WHO continues to support endemic countries to accelerate progress towards the global target of eliminating trachoma as a public health problem worldwide; 2030 is the new target date.Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) “unknown to the health system” of < 0.2% in ≥15-year-olds; and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular (TF) in children aged 1–9 years of < 5%, in each formerly endemic district, plus (iii) the existence of a system to identify and manage incident cases of TT.Other countries validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are: Algeria, Benin, Burundi, Cambodia, China, Egypt, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Iraq, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.
Health Canada approves first generic version of Novo Nordisk's Ozempic
Health Canada has approved the first generic version of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic made by Indian drugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories , its website showed on Tuesday.
Could At-Home Brain Stimulation Reduce Psychiatry’s Reliance on S.S.R.I.s?
A headset recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration uses a weak electric current to shock the brain. Some researchers hope it could challenge the current pill-centric paradigm.
Trump administration reverses on paying for fentanyl detection strips
The Trump administration is no longer allowing federal funds to be used for purchasing or distributing test strips that can determine if street drugs ha…
Paradigm Health Announces Collaboration with the FDA to Transform Regulatory Review of Clinical Trial Data
/PRNewswire/ -- Today, Paradigm Health announced the launch of a landmark research collaboration with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) focused on...
6 Things to Do Before Taking Dietary Supplements | Live Healthy
Taking dietary supplements can help with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. But it can also put you at risk for drug interactions and vitamin overdose.
MIT scientists turn chaotic laser light into powerful brain imaging tool
Scientists at MIT discovered that chaotic laser light can spontaneously form a highly focused beam instead of scattering—if the conditions are just right. This “pencil beam” enabled them to image the blood-brain barrier in 3D at speeds 25 times faster than existing techniques. The method also lets researchers watch how drugs move into brain cells in real time. It could dramatically accelerate the development of treatments for neurological diseases.
U.S. Government Will Stop Paying for Test Strips to Detect Deadly Drugs
In a letter to states and other grant recipients, the Trump administration says the strips encourage drug use.
What to know about psychedelic retreats, a booming business
Surging interest in the purported benefits of psychedelic drugs has given rise to a new industry: psychedelic retreats
Trump administration warns against using federal dollars on fentanyl test strips
The Trump administration underlines a “clear shift away from harm reduction and practices” that it says facilitates illegal drug use.
DEA Will Start Accepting Applications From Medical Marijuana Businesses That Want Federal Rescheduling Protections This Week
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has announced that it will begin accepting applications this week for medical marijuana businesses to apply for federal protections being granted under the Trump administration’s cannabis rescheduling process. The agency’s “Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Portal” is set to go live on Wednesday at 9 AM ET. The move follows last […]
Multiple GLP-1 drugs linked to lower AFib risk
The popular drugs, originally developed to treat diabetes, were also associated with an improved survival rate. Benefits were seen in patients who did and did not lose significant weight as a result of treatment.
Lawmaker calls for special session on marijuana: week in politics
As the feds officially declassified marijuana as a less dangerous drug, Nashville lawmaker calls for a special session to legalize medical cannabis.
Drug use in England spikes during heatwaves and big sports events, research finds
Project that tested traces of illicit drugs in wastewater also found higher use during Eurovision song contest
NEO health boards host second joint professional development training
Building on a “successful partnership,” the Lake County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board and the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board recently held their second annual professional development t…
Patients taking weight-loss drugs often make 5 critical mistakes, doctor warns
Experts say GLP-1 drugs offer benefits beyond weight loss, but common mistakes like skipped labs and poor nutrition can undermine results or cause harm.
Graphene kills harmful bacteria “superbugs” but spares human cells
Scientists have uncovered how graphene oxide pulls off a remarkable trick: it hunts down and destroys harmful bacteria while leaving human cells completely unharmed. By targeting a molecule found only in bacterial membranes, this ultra-thin carbon-based material acts with laser-like precision—offering a powerful new alternative to traditional antibiotics. Even more exciting, it works against drug-resistant “superbugs,” promotes faster wound healing, and keeps its antibacterial strength even after repeated washing.
State of Texas: Marijuana reclassification could expand medical research
The federal government is easing restrictions on medical marijuana, reclassifying certain cannabis products from a Schedule I drug to a less restrictive Schedule III — a move that could significant…
Adams County Health Department joins Drug Take Back Day efforts
Drug Take Back Day allows anyone with unneeded medications to dispose of them safely.
What is ibogaine? FDA to fast-track review of drugs for mental health
DCSO: Suspect arrested while shipping drugs at local business
Detectives arrested 41-year-old Ryan Lehan of Owensboro while he was attempting to ship out those drugs at a local business.
What to know about psychedelic retreats, a booming business with few safety guardrails
Virtually all the drugs offered at retreats are illegal under U.S. federal law.
What to know about psychedelic retreats, a booming business with few safety guardrails
Virtually all the drugs offered at retreats are illegal under U.S. federal law.
The podcast telling the stories behind Ambien, Ozempic, EpiPens, and other game-changing drugs
“We're basically not using our body as directed,” says "Drug Story" host Thomas Goetz.
FDA fast-tracking its review of two psychedelic drugs for mental health treatments
Hallucinogenics are illegal under federal law but that isn’t stopping the FDA from fast tracking 3 psychedelic drugs to treat mental health
Last week, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the FDA and other federal agencies to speed research and loosen restrictions on psychedelics, a class of hallucinogenic drugs which remain illegal under federal law.
New synthetic opioid linked to overdose death in San Francisco
The drug is reportedly 10 times more potent than fentanyl.
Fact-checking RFK Jr.'s claim there's more than one way to calculate a percentage decrease
President Donald Trump has regularly said that drug-price discounts on his watch are greater than 100%, which isn’t mathematically possible. Now his health and human services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is trying to back up his faulty math.
Popular weight loss drug linked to key benefits for patients undergoing TAVR, PCI
Two separate studies explored the value of treating heart patients with tirzepatide.
Trump Administration Approves Firing Squad Executions for Death Penalty
The Justice Department also reauthorized the use of a death penalty drug, and will seek to shorten the length of some legal appeals.
FDA moves to fast-track review of psilocybin and methylone for mental health
Some psychedelic drugs, once considered fringe, are now getting a step closer to possibly being approved for use as mental health treatments in the United States.
Big business shows up in final days of arguments at Supreme Court
Big businesses are lining up at the Supreme Court as the justices hear the final arguments of the term, pressing the conservative majority to shield industries from multimillion-dollar jury verdicts, limit the marketing of generic drugs and neuter the government’s ability to issue fines.
Big business shows up in final days of arguments at Supreme Court
Big businesses are lining up at the Supreme Court as the justices hear the final arguments of the term, pressing the conservative majority to shield industries from multimillion-dollar jury verdicts, limit the marketing of generic drugs and neuter the government’s ability to issue fines.
FDA grants quick review for 3 psychedelic drug trials
FDA commissioner Marty Makary told NBC News that the first psychedelic drug could be approved in the U.S. as soon as this summer.
News | North Carolina’s Research Triangle scores another $1 billion-plus life science campus
AbbVie’s drug manufacturing complex in Durham expected to create over 730 jobs
Marijuana's reclassification raises new questions for the cannabis industry
Medical marijuana is moving from Schedule I status, reserved for the most dangerous drugs like heroin and LSD, to Schedule III, like testosterone and steroids, which are less strictly regulated.
Reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug might only be the first step for Trump
President Donald Trump’s decision to reclassify state-licensed medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug is a boon for the industry.
Could ibogaine, a psychedelic drug, improve Americans' mental health? Some Coloradans says yes
Twisted nanoparticles sorted by light
Chiral objects are important in fields like drug development because their interactions with biological systems depend on handedness. Researchers from Tokyo University of Science, Institute for Molecular Science, and Seoul National University used light to selectively manipulate nanosized chiral objects. By confining circularly polarized light in an ultra-thin optical fiber, they transported metallic chiral nanoparticles based on handedness, thereby enabling chirality control at near-molecular scales, opening possibilities for applications involving chiral systems, including drug development.
'Big Business Opportunity': Cannabis CEO Celebrates DOJ Easing Regulations On Medical Marijuana
The Trump administration reclassified medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug on Thursday.
Trump unveils deal with Regeneron to lower drug prices as part of most-favored-nation initiative
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a deal with drugmaker Regeneron to lower the cost of its pharmaceutical products as part of the White House’s signature drug pricing initiative.
What You Need to Know About the Health Risks of Marijuana
Studies show the drug can exacerbate anxiety and teen use poses risks for developing brains.
Most people believe at least one health myth; plus, what you should know about sarcoidosis and drug disposal
Smoking pot near a Louisiana campus could become a felony: ‘Ever been to an LSU football game?’
Louisiana could soon make it a felony to smoke marijuana within 2,000 feet of any school or college campus in Louisiana as some state leaders say people are flagrantly violating drug laws at college football games.
U.S. reclassifies medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug. Here’s what to know.
The process of rescheduling recreational marijuana, which began under former President Joe Biden in 2022, remains in limbo.
Trump reclassifies state-licensed medical marijuana as less-dangerous drug
The order signed by Todd Blanche does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law. But it does change the way it's regulated.
Pot firms rally after US reclassifies marijuana as less dangerous drug
Shares of cannabis firms surged on Thursday after the U.S. government moved to reclassify the Food and Drug Administration-approved and state-licensed marijuana as a less-dangerous drug.
Justice Department jumpstarts process to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed an order Thursday reclassifying state-licensed marijuana as a less dangerous drug, changing a policy that has for decades made the drug’s potential medicinal benefits more difficult to research.
Speed over science?
A new executive order could fast-track approval of psychedelic drugs for mental illness, raising hopes for breakthrough treatments while prompting…
Amazon launches weight loss drug program
Demand for weight loss drugs is ballooning across the U.S. — and Amazon wants in.
Restrictions on obesity drug coverage force patients to pivot
Twelve million people lost coverage for Zepbound over the last year. The same number of people lost coverage for Wegovy, according to an analysis by GoodRx, a drug discount website.
Ibogaine is drawing new interest from the Trump administration. Here’s what to know about the psychedelic
Psychedelic drugs, once pushed to the fringes of medicine, are gaining serious attention within the Trump administration as potential treatment options for people with certain mental health conditions. And they could soon be closer to receiving approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.
Health care is expensive. This could help.
Health care, drug pricing and Medicare-for-all, in readers' eyes.
FDA, VSP searching downtown Charlottesville business
Officials from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Virginia State Police are searching the DripBar on East Water Street.
Americans killed in Mexico car crash following drug raid worked for the CIA, sources say
The two US embassy officials who died in a car accident in Mexico on Sunday worked for the CIA and had been collaborating with Mexican officials on expanded counternarcotics operations in the country, two people briefed on the matter confirmed to CNN.
Cantaloupes Recalled in Four States Due to Salmonella Risk
By HealthDay Staff HealthDay ReporterTUESDAY, April 21, 2026 (HealthDay News) — Health officials in some states are warning shoppers to avoid certain cantaloupes amid concerns they may carry Salmonella. The recall, announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), involves fruit produced by
Alzheimer’s drugs offer little benefit, major review finds – and the reasons go deeper than the science
Alzheimer’s research shows what happens when funding pressures and vested interests corrupt the pursuit of scientific truth.
Behind the science: Why it pays to fight a virus on the home turf
The emergence of a nasty new virus or even an unexpected flu strain can pose a big public-health headache. Meanwhile, antiviral drug development moves at an agonizingly slow pace and cringingly high cost. But there’s a way around that.
The Death of Public Health
During the recent measles outbreak, the largest in more than 30 years, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. refused to clearly recommend the measles vaccine, saying instead that it was a “personal decision,” and that parents should “do their own research.” Similarly, during her recent confirmation hearing for United States Surgeon General, Casey Means was questioned by Senator William Cassidy (R, La). “You’re the nation’s doctor,” said Cassidy. “Would you encourage [a mother] to have her child vaccinated!” “I’m not an individual’s doctor,” Means said. “And every individual needs to talk to their doctor before putting a medication in their body.” In June 2025, Marty Makary, Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said that COVID vaccines for pregnant women should be a “personal choice”, even though every other country in the world recommended the COVID vaccine during pregnancy due to a higher risk for severe disease. It doesn’t end there. On January 5, 2026, RFK Jr. reduced the number of routinely recommended vaccines from 18 to 10. For vaccines that protected against influenza, COVID, and rotavirus, parents were urged to speak with their doctors—to make an individual choice. (On March 16, 2026, in a ruling by a federal court in Boston, RFK Jr.’s revised schedule was invalidated.) What’s happening? Why are public health officials moving away from making recommendations for the public? The origin of this change might be rooted in the first two years of the COVID pandemic. In 2020, during the first year on the pandemic, we didn’t have anything to stop a virus that was killing hundreds of people a day and could be spread asymptomatically. We didn’t have antivirals until October, monoclonal antibodies until November, and vaccines until December. All we could do was restrict travel, close businesses, shutter schools, and mask, isolate, quarantine, test, and social distance. During the second year of the pandemic, when we had vaccines to prevent COVID, people couldn’t go anywhere without their vaccine cards. They couldn’t go to their favorite bar or restaurant or sporting event or place of worship without proof of vaccination. Some people were fired from their jobs for refusing to get vaccinated. For many, this was seen as massive government overreach and energized what has been called the “medical freedom movement.” Indeed, a headline in the New York Times declared, “How Health Freedom Became a Winning Rally Cry.” As expressed in the comments of RFK Jr., Casey Means, and Marty Makary, the medical freedom movement focuses on the individual not the community—the opposite of public health. In an article titled “Ethics and Social Value Judgments in Public Health,” ethicists from Yale University distinguished public health from medical freedom. “Public health policies,” they wrote, “are population oriented. Because individual health affects the health of others, public health measures regulate individual behavior to achieve population health goals. All raise questions about how individual autonomy and freedom should be balanced against public health interests…which respects individuals’ sovereignty over their bodies and actions as long as their actions do not harm others.” The medical freedom movement fails to recognize that it often limits the freedom of others. For example, a parent who is afraid to send a child to school where many of the students are unvaccinated. Or immune compromised children who depend on those around them to for protection. The question then becomes “Freedom for whom?” Is it your right, in the name of medical freedom, to catch and transmit a potentially fatal infection—and in so doing, take away the freedom of others? In Four Essays on Liberty, Isaiah Berlin sums it up best. “Liberty for the wolves,” he wrote, “is death to the lambs.” Thanks for reading Beyond the Noise! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Subscribe
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