Therapy and medication are currently the most powerful tools we have to treat mental health conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety, among so many others. But for some people—especially those who do not respond to these conventional treatments—researchers are discovering a promising new pathway to transformative mental health care: psychedelic therapy. This […]
There were an estimated 107,622 drug overdose deaths in the U.S. in 2021, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The death rate is the highest on record for overdose fatalities, and it was up 15% from the 2020 rate of 93,655 deaths—a number that was 30% higher than […]
Two Ohio State University (OSU) students passed away on Thursday and Friday, and the school issued an urgent safety message to the community warning about fake Adderall pills. OSU didn’t release the official cause of death in either case, but the statement announcing the first fatality urged students to “be aware of the possibility of […]
There’s a false rumor circulating that the federal government is setting aside $30 million in funds to supply people with crack pipes, or mouthpieces that enable people to smoke crack cocaine. But where did this rumor come from? And what are the actual facts you should know about the federal program at the center of […]
Beloved actor Michael K. Williams was found dead on September 6, and last week his death was officially ruled an accidental overdose involving fentanyl. Unfortunately, deaths like Williams’s are common in the U.S.—and rose to even more catastrophic levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Williams, 54, was known for his portrayals of Omar on The Wire […]
You may have seen some delta-8 cannabis products—often in the form of gummies or vape cartridges—and wondered what they’re all about. Well, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would like you to know that delta-8 products are largely unregulated and may come with some adverse effects, including symptoms […]
Attorneys general in most of the states, the District of Columbia and several territories have filed a lawsuit in federal court against more than two dozen generic drug manufacturers, alleging that they conspired to artificially inflate and manipulate the prices of topical drugs while squelching competition. The 606-page complaint was filed Wednesday in the U.S. […]
As the world races to find a vaccine to prevent Covid-19, there are many drugs in clinical trials that have the potential to treat the disease, such as Gilead Sciences’ antiviral drug remdesivir. But in addition to antivirals, there are also drugs in clinical studies being developed to treat some of the more extreme symptoms […]
Some key medicines used in intensive care are “in relatively short supply”, the BBC has learned. Supply of anaesthetic medicines in some areas is “a bit stretched”, according to the Royal College of Anaesthetists. One consultant has told the BBC that supplies are “running low” and alternatives are already being used in intensive care in […]
The term “painkiller” should not be used, to help bust the myth they cure pain, a government adviser says. Prof Jamie Coleman said the phrase raised unrealistic expectations – with “pain-reliever” a better option. Research suggests just one in 10 patients seeking help for long-term pain, benefit from strong painkillers. Prof Coleman also said he […]
Two cannabis-based medicines, used to treat epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, have been approved for use by the NHS in England. It follows new guidelines from the drugs advisory body NICE, which looked at products for several conditions. Charities have welcomed the move, although some campaigners who have been fighting for access to the drugs have […]
A “revolutionary” new class of cancer drug that can treat a wide range of tumours has been approved for use in Europe for the first time. Tumour-agnostic drugs do not care where the cancer is growing in the body as long as it has a specific genetic abnormality inside. UK doctors testing the drugs said […]
Children with cancer are being denied new, highly precise drugs that are available to adults, doctors warn. Medics at the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research said the rules were “too cautious”. Their study, in the European Journal of Cancer, found just 7% of suitable children were getting drugs that target genetic […]
Two “life-changing” cystic fibrosis drugs are to be made available to about 400 patients in Scotland – a month after their use was rejected by the NHS. Pharmaceutical company Vertex has announced it has signed a five-year deal with the Scottish government. Orkambi and Symkevi were rejected for routine use by NHS Scotland in August. […]
People born in the 1960s and 70s stand out as the generation most likely to die by suicide or drug poisoning, data for England and Wales shows. The higher rate of fatalities began in the 1980s and 90s when people belonging to Generation X were in their 20s, and is still occurring in the now […]