There is an old saying that dates back to antiquity, “the dose makes the poison.” That is true of many things in life. Risk is relative. There are undoubtedly numerous substances that have negative effects on humans even in a small way or are benign unless ingested in significant amounts. Alcohol is one example. My coffee creamer that I use to make café lattes every morning is probably another substance that should only be consumed in moderation.
Category: Public Insurance
Monday Links
- Why can’t doctors have access to the truth about e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco?
- Should medical journals include “indigenous knowledge” alongside science?
- Thousands believe they were harmed by the Covid vaccine. (NYT)
- Does intermittent fasting increase the risk of a heart attack?
- Should medical debts affect your credit rating?
Drug to Reduce Overdose Deaths Likely Increased Drug Use and Crime
Nearly 110,000 people died in 2023 from a drug overdose, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is around 300 people per day. Opioid abuse and overdose deaths are growing problems in the United States. In recent years fentanyl has flooded the illicit drug market. Virtually all prescription opioids bought off the street are counterfeit with fentanyl as the active ingredient. Many illicit drugs, like cocaine and heroin, are also laced with fentanyl to boost the strength.
Friday Links
- FTC to target patent abuses. (WSJ)
- Eylea (which costs more than $1,800 for a single dose) has been granted over 90 granted patents—including one for minor adjustments to its sterile packaging.
- Tomas Philipson: So called “patent abuses” are exaggerated.
- What the FDA gets wrong about drugs for rare diseases.
- Capretta: Americans spend more on healthcare than other countries because of “premium medicine”: procedures that offer minimal benefits at high cost.
- An argument for more regulation of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. Although very one-sided. Our biggest problem is that the chronically ill are under-consuming drugs, not over-consuming them.