Political pressure is nothing new for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency has frequently come under fire for its drug approval decisions, but attacks on its decision-making process…
Category: Anthropology
Mifepristone is under scrutiny in the courts, but it has been used safely and effectively around the world for decades
A flurry of court rulings in April 2023 has left the future of the abortion pill mifepristone in question. For now, a U.S. Supreme Court decision on April 21 allows…
How will the Supreme Court’s decision on mifepristone affect abortion access? 4 questions answered
On April 21, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the abortion pill mifepristone, which is used in more than half of all abortions in the U.S., could remain accessible…
Watch out for dangerous combinations of over-the-counter cold medicine and prescription drugs – two pharmacoepidemiology experts explain the risks
When colds, flus and allergies hit, many people automatically turn to over-the-counter medications to push through and treat their symptoms. These include decongestants, painkillers, cough or allergy medicines and combinations…
Keeping NBA players on the court is no small ‘feet’
The NBA playoffs provide a stage for some of the biggest and tallest athletes in the world. With an average height of 6 feet, 7 inches and an average weight…
Hopelessness about the future is a key reason some Black young adults consider suicide, new study finds
The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Feeling hopeless about the future is one of the primary reasons Black young adults consider suicide.…
Emergency contraception is often confused with abortion pills – here’s how Plan B and other generic versions work to prevent pregnancy
Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022 and the end of constitutional protection for abortion, emergency contraception has become more difficult to obtain and – more than…
Psychedelics may better treat depression and anxiety symptoms than prescription antidepressants for patients with advanced cancer
In people with advanced cancer, psychedelic drugs like psilocybin, LSD and MDMA may significantly reduce the severity of depression and anxiety symptoms. Roughly 10% of patients with cancer experience anxiety,…
Anti-mifepristone court decisions rely on medical misinformation about abortion and questionable legal reasoning
An early April 2023 decision by a U.S. district judge in Texas to reverse 23 years of approval of the abortion pill mifepristone has sparked explosive debate. Mifepristone is a…
