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Health News Results - 213

U.S. Life Spans Rebound from Pandemic Lows, Helped by Drop in Fatal Overdoses

After years of decline, U.S. life expectancy is finally on the rise again for the first time since 2019, new government research shows.

This turnaround was driven in part by a decline in drug overdose deaths, which had risen dramatically as a result of the opioid epidemic, according to a second

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 19, 2024
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  • U.S. Overdose Deaths Fell 17% in Just One Year

    In news that suggest the U.S. opioid epidemic may be easing, drug overdose deaths fell 17% between July 2023 and July 2024.

    Per new data released Wednesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 94,000 people died from drug overdoses (ODs) during that 12-month period, down from more than 113,000...

    FDA Asks Biden Administration to Limit Nicotine in Tobacco Products

    In what appears to be a last-ditch effort to limit the harms of smoking before its term ends, the Biden administration has proposed a rule that would significantly lower the amount of nicotine in tobacco products.

    The agency's efforts to counter the dangers of the addictive chemical stretch back to 2018, when it first pr...

    What Works Best to Help Young Vapers Quit?

    Many young adults can kick their vaping habit with a little coaching and support.

    New research published Dec. 10 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine shows that nearly half of a group of 18- to 24-year-olds were no longer vaping three months after completing a quit ...

    Opioid Abuse Can Change the Brain

    “This is your brain on drugs,” the old anti-drug admonition says, and now a new study has found there’s something to that chestnut.

    Opioid addicts experienced structural and functional changes in specific regions of their brains, MRI scans show.

    These changes are important to understand, given that around 2.5 million adults in the U.S. have

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • December 10, 2024
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  • Smoking/Vaping Combo Lowers Odds for Quitting Nicotine

    People who smoke and vape are less able to break free of their nicotine addiction than folks who only have one of those habits, a new review concludes.

    Instead, these “dual users” are more likely to eventually drop vaping and continue smoking tobacco, results show.

    The findin...

    Flavored Vapes Behind Big Surge in U.S. E-Cigarette Sales

    FRIDAY, Nov. 22, 2024 (HealthDay News) — E-cigarettes flew off store shelves between 2019 and 2023, and 80% were in youth-friendly flavors like fruit, candy, mint and menthol.

    In all, e-cigarette sales rose 47% over the period, according to a new report from the CDC Foundati...

    U.S. Alcohol-Linked Deaths Doubled in 20 Years

    Alcohol-related deaths have surged in the United States, nearly doubling over 20 years, and a growing number of victims are women, a new study warns.

    "Our study found significant gender differences in alcohol-related [death rates]," said senior author Yiota Kitsantas, head of population health and social medicine at the...

    Ozempic Could Help Curb Alcoholism

    The blockbuster GLP-1 drug semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) could curb drinking for people battling alcohol use disorder, helping them to avoid crises that require hospitalization, new research shows.

    Numerous

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • November 13, 2024
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  • Kids Still Find It Easy to Buy Flavored Vapes Online

    If you think that federal restrictions on the sale of tobacco products make it nearly impossible for your teen to buy vapes online, new research suggests you're mistaken.

    In 2020, the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act banned e-cigarettes and vaping products from being shipped t...

    Banning Menthol Cigarettes Might Drive Smokers to Quit-Smoking Therapies

    Banning menthol cigarettes could help convince smokers quit the habit, a new study finds.

    People who prefer menthol cigarettes would rather buy nicotine gum or other nicotine replacement therapies than switch to traditional tobacco cigarettes, researchers reported recently in the journal <...

    Diabetes Can Damage Your Eyes' Retinas: An Expert Explains

    People with diabetes face a number of health challenges related to their chronic condition, and loss of vision due to retinal damage is one of them.

    “Diabetes can silently damage a person’s most precious sense, their sight, before symptoms even appear. That’s why everyone with diabetes should focus on their eyesight and receive regular dilated eye exams,” said

    Even Hardcore Smokers May Quit If Given Right Tools, Study Finds

    Smokers find it easier to quit if they’re automatically offered support, even if they didn't ask for it, a new clinical trial finds.

    Quit rates were higher among health system patients placed in an “opt-out” program, in which tobacco ce...

    Vaping Rates Hit Record Lows for U.S. High School Students

    Is vaping finally losing its coolness for American teens?

    The latest tally of federal data finds that 550,000 school kids, mostly high schoolers, quit using e-cigarettes in 2024.

    Vaping rates fell from 10% of high school students in 2023 to 7.8% this year, "reachi...

    Vendors of Synthetic Nicotine Vapes on Instagram Are Skirting FDA Rules

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently mandates strong health warnings when vapes containing synthetic nicotine are advertised on Instagram and other social media.

    Trouble is, most vendors aren't adhering to those rules meant to protect kids, a new study finds.

    It's a new phenomenon, said study co-author Traci Hong, ...

    Hospital Drug Tests Far More Likely for Minority Teens

    Teens from minority groups seeking treatment at pediatric trauma centers are more likely than their white counterparts to be tested for drugs and alcohol.

    That's the takeaway from a new study led by researchers at UCLA and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. 

    "While screening can positively affect patients if it is followed by counseling and treatment, it can also lead to negative...

    Upping Dose of Anti-Opioid Drug Might Work Better to Curb Addiction

    Patients with opioid use disorder who receive higher doses of a drug to treat their addiction are more likely to have positive results, a new study finds. 

    Daily doses of the drug buprenorphine is a standard treatment for opioid use disorder, and the findings suggest that higher doses may be a better way to manage it. Researchers say this could be an important way to improve treatmen...

    Inmates in Many U.S. Jails Have No Access to Meds That Fight Opioid Addiction

    Opioid use disorder can be a contributing factor to Americans landing in the nation's prisons and jails, but those inmates typically have no access to medications that could help wean them off the drugs.

    So finds a new study of over 900 jails nationwide. More than half offered inmates no access to medications against opioid use disorder, said a team of researchers from the University of C...

    The 3 Best Ways to Stop Smoking, Rated by Science

    Thinking about quitting smoking?

    There are three top ways to help you stop, a new review finds.

    According to the study, folks wanting to quit should turn to:

    • Varenicline, a prescription nicotine-blocking drug sold un...

    Buying Smokes? Everyone Under 30 Now Must Show ID

    A new, tougher rule on the sale of tobacco products will require retailers to check the IDs of any buyers under the age of 30, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.

    The final rule, which will go into effect S...

    Text Messaging Can Help Teens Kick the Vaping Habit

    An interactive text-message support program can help teenagers quit vaping, a groundbreaking new clinical trial finds.

    Teens who subscribed to the anonymous program, called This Is Quitting, were 35% more likely to report not vaping nicotine by the end of a seven-month study, researchers reported Aug. 7 in the

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 8, 2024
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  • Are Vape Makers Using Dubious Nicotine 'Mimics' to Bypass Regulations?

    That vape pen might contain something even worse than nicotine, new research warns.

    Tobacco companies may be trying to duck federal restrictions on vaping products by replacing nicotine with “nicotine analogs” -- related chemicals that have similar properties but...

    Painkiller Misuse Common Among People Battling Chronic Pain

    Nearly 1 in every 10 chronic pain patients treated with prescription opioids winds up addicted to the painkillers at some point, a new review finds.

    Further, nearly 1 in 3 will show symptoms of opioid addiction, researchers reported Aug. 7 in the journal

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • August 8, 2024
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  • Your Friends' Genes May Harm or Help You

    Remember your besties from high school? Sure, they made a lasting impression, but science suggests they influenced the trajectory of your health, too.

    It's not that far-fetched: Your friends carry genes that may or may nor predispose them to mental health issues ranging from addiction to anxiety and depression...

    Ozempic's Latest Role: Helping Smokers Quit

    Smokers with diabetes or obesity who take semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) might reap an added benefit: Help in quitting smoking.

    A yearlong study found that, compared to people using other diabetes drugs, fewer patients who were taking semaglutide sought out medical help to quit smoking.

    That suggests the drug might have already been helping them to quit, researchers noted.

    The ...

    Fake Oxycontin Pills Widespread and Potentially Deadly: Report

    The rate at which young Americans are ending up in hospital ICUs after using fake Oxycontin pills spiked with fentanyl is soaring, especially in the U.S. West, a new report warns.

    Medical toxicology data from one unnamed hospital in the western U.S. found the number of cases involving overdoses involving fake "M-30" Oxycontin pills rose from just three in 2017 to 209 during 2022, accordin...

    Big Drop in U.S. Kids, Teens Misusing Prescription Meds

    Misuse of illicit prescription drugs is falling dramatically among U.S. high school students, a new study says.

    The percentage of seniors who say they’ve misused prescription drugs in the past year has dropped to 2% in 2022, down from 11% back in 2009, researchers reported July 24 in the ...

    FDA Allows Marketing of Vuse Tobacco-Flavored Vapes

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday authorized the sale of the country's best-selling e-cigarette.

    The agency's

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 19, 2024
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  • Telemedicine May Help Folks Battling Opioid Addiction Stick With Treatment

    Telemedicine could be a better way to get opioid addicts to seek out and stick with treatment, a new study suggests.

    People referred to an addiction treatment clinic following a telemedicine evaluation were more likely to show up to their first appointment than those whose referral resulted from an ER visit, researchers reported recently in the

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 18, 2024
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  • Some Youths Still Taking Opioids Months After Surgery

    Many tweens and teens are filling prescriptions for opioids far in advance of surgeries unlikely to be associated with severe pain afterward, a new study says.

    Worse, a significant minority continue to fill those opioid prescriptions three to six months after

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • July 15, 2024
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  • Most Americans Don't Know That Family Doctors Can Prescribe Anti-Opioid Meds

    Most people addicted to opioids and their loved ones are unaware that their primary care doctor can prescribe a medication to treat the disorder, a new nationwide survey reveals.

    "We've made great strides in making it easier for primary care doctors to prescribe these safe and effective treatments, but our study indicates a critical disconnect between the need for medications for opioid u...

    FDA's Move to OK First Menthol Vapes Is Big Mistake, Health Advocates Say

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decision to authorize the first menthol-flavored e-cigarettes has drawn the the ire of health advocates who say the decision undermines efforts to end the youth vaping epidemic in America.

    In its approval of four flavored vaping products made by Njoy, the agency defended its decision.

    "Based upon our rigorous scientific review, in this instanc...

    Most Outpatient Mental Health Clinics Don't Offer Opioid Addiction Meds

    Only a third of outpatient mental health facilities offer medications essential for treating opioid addiction, a new study finds.

    Standard care for treating people with opioid use disorder involves drugs like buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone, which help suppress cravings and blunt the effects of narcotics.

    But most front-line mental health facilities don't offer these

    Rates of Problem Marijuana Use Are Rising Among Seniors

    As marijuana use becomes legal and more accepted across America, more seniors are developing unhealthy relationships with the drug, a new report suggests.

    A look at data on almost 56 million Medicare beneficiaries finds "rates of health care encounters with cannabis-related disorders increased from 2017 through 2022," according to a study led by

  • Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 18, 2024
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  • What Are Nicotine Pouches, and Are They Less Harmful Than Smoking?

    Nicotine pouches might be less harmful than smoking or chewing tobacco, but they still pose an addiction risk to users, a new review finds.

    These pouches are filled with crystallized nicotine, and are placed between the gums and lips, researchers said. They are sold in various ...

    Help for Women Battling ADHD & Opioid Addiction in Pregnancy

    Opioid overdoses in pregnant women are at an all-time high in the United States, and researchers think they've figured out one way to counter this phenomenon.

    Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is strongly tied to substance use disorders, which means some women who become pregnant are taking ADHD medications while receiving treatment for

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  • June 17, 2024
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  • FDA, DOJ Form Task Force to Fight Illegal Vapes

    The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Monday that it has joined up with the Department of Justice and several other federal agencies to do more to stop the sale of illegal e-cigarettes in this country.

    In launching the newly created task force, the FDA aims "to coordinate and streamline efforts to bring all available criminal and civil tools to bear against the illegal distribut...

    FDA Rescinds Ban on Juul E-Cigarettes

    A ban on Juul e-cigarettes has been reversed, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.

    Why? The agency said it needs to review both new court decisions and updated data from the vape maker. While the company's e-cigarettes are back under review, they have not been fully cleared for sale in this country, the FDA said in its 

  • Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
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  • June 7, 2024
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  • Shared Fentanyl Pipe Residue a New Overdose Danger

    San Francisco researchers report that smoking has now replaced injections as the most common way of ingesting illicit fentanyl.

    That switch has created a potentially deadly new danger, however, as fentanyl residues slowly build up in shared equipment used to smoke the drug.

    Study author Dr. David Ciccarone likened it to a prio...

    TikTok: Ground Zero for Vaping Sales to Kids

    TikTok is full of fun memes, pranks, dances and challenges -- and illicit vaping product sales targeting teenagers, a new study reports.

    Advertising and sales of vaping products is common on the video-sharing platform, according to findings published May 23 in the journ...

    Quit-Smoking Drug Chantix May Also Help Folks Stop Vaping

    A quit-smoking drug appears to help people drop their vaping addiction, a new study shows.

    Vapers who took varenicline (Chantix) were significantly more likely to quit using e-cigarettes loaded with nicotine than ...

    The More Kids Use Social Media, The More They're Likely to Vape

    Kids and young adults who use social media for seven or more hours per day have double the risk of taking up vaping or smoking or both, new research shows.

    The study is based on a survey of almost 11,000 young British people ages 10 to 25 who were tracked from 2015 through 2021.

    Overall, 8.5% said they currently smoked, 2.5% said they vaped and about 1% did both.

    How much ti...

    U.S. Drug Overdose Deaths Decline for First Time in 5 Years

    The relentless rise in deaths from drug overdose in the United States may finally have stalled: New data from 2023 show the first decline in such deaths since 2018.

    "Statistics indicate there were an estimated 107,543 drug overdose deaths in the United States during 2023 -- a decrease of 3% from the 111,029 deaths estimated in 2022," CDC statisticians wrote.

    They released the new nu...

    Police Seizures of Pills With Fentanyl Have Skyrocketed

    Police seizures of illicit fentanyl pills have soared in recent years, a new study has found.

    The number of pills containing fentanyl seized by law enforcement was 2,300 times greater in 2023 than in 2017"more than 115 million pills, compared ...

    How Mindfulness Could Help Folks Quit Opioids

    Using mindfulness to help people trying to overcome opioid addiction can boost their odds of continuing treatment, new research shows.

    The approach helps folks how to deal with tension, savor life and reframe their thinking, the researchers explained.

    "Better treatment protocols could save thousan...

    A Parent's Watchful Eye Does Keep Kids From Drugs, Alcohol: Study

    Parents can be very effective buzzkills for their teens, just by letting kids know they're being closely watched, a new study reports.

    Teenagers are less likely to drink, smoke or use drugs when parents keep tabs on their activities, according to fin...

    Drug May Help Folks Kick the Vaping Habit

    An experimental anti-nicotine drug appears to help people quit vaping, a new study says.

    Cytisinicline is a naturally occurring plant-based substance that binds to nicotine receptors in the brain, reducing a person's cravings, researchers said.

    The drug has been shown effective in helping people

  • Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter
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  • May 7, 2024
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  • Opioids During Pregnancy May Not Raise Psychiatric Risks for Offspring

    Prescription opioids taken during pregnancy are not associated with a substantial increase in risk of developmental disorders like ADHD in children, a new study has found.

    "A slightly increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders was found, but this should not be considered clinically meaningful"because it ...

    Drug, Alcohol Abuse Goes Untreated in Many Ex-Prisoners

    Most ex-cons are unlikely to receive substance use treatment following their release from prison, even though odds are high they are struggling with addiction, a new study finds.

    National estimates suggest as many as 85% of inmates leave prison with some form of substance abuse problem, researchers said.

    But only 17% of ex-cons on Medicaid in Virginia have been diagnosed with substa...

    Two-Drug Combo Curbs Drinking for People Battling Severe Alcoholism

    A combo of an allergy drug and a blood pressure med appears to lower daily drinking in folks battling severe alcoholism, French researchers report.

    The two generic drugs are the antihistamine cyproheptadine and prazosin, which treats high blood pressure and urinary urgency, noted a team led by Henri-Jean Aubin, of the Uni...