Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Analysis: Few States Stop Gun-Buying After Mental Health Hospitalizations
The Trace and The New Republic: Few States Block Gun Purchases After Emergency Mental Health Hospitalizations
The Trace conducted a comprehensive analysis of gun laws in all 50 states and found that only five states—California, Connecticut, Hawaii, New York, and Washington—impose some form of a gun ban after an emergency mental health hospitalization that’s not followed by a court-ordered commitment. (Mascia, 12/4)
The Hill: Remington Gun-Maker Will Close Historic N.Y. Plant, A Year After Sandy Hook Settlement
RemArms, formerly Remington Arms Company, informed union officials Thursday that it plans to close the gun manufacturing facility in Ilion, N.Y., this coming March, the Observer-Dispatch reported. ... Remington, the nation’s oldest gun manufacturer, was founded in Ilion, N.Y., in 1816. In recent years, however, the company has been burdened with financial difficulties. RemArms twice filed for bankruptcy and, in 2022, reached an historic settlement with families of Sandy Hook for a total of $73 million. ... In an auto-reply email from the company’s press team, the company confirmed that “RemArms is excited to expand our facilities in Georgia, a state that not only welcomes business but enthusiastically supports and welcomes companies in the firearms industry.” (Fortinsky, 12/3)
More mental health news —
Military.com: No More Late Night Alcohol Sales: Army And Air Force Exchange Stores To Ban The Practice Next Month
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service, or AAFES, says that beginning Jan. 1 it will no longer sell alcohol between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. at its stores in the U.S. and around the world. The change on Army and Air Force bases is meant to support the Pentagon's suicide prevention initiative, which said that limiting when alcohol is available "reduces heavy drinking and other adverse outcomes associated with alcohol misuse," including suicide, according to Defense Department research and recommendations. (Lawrence, 12/1)
AP: Mental Health: US Schools Turn To The Booming Business Of Online Therapy
Now at least 16 of the 20 largest U.S. public school districts are offering online therapy sessions to reach millions of students, according to an analysis by The Associated Press. In those districts alone, schools have signed provider contracts worth more than $70 million. The growth reflects a booming new business born from America’s youth mental health crisis, which has proven so lucrative that venture capitalists are funding a new crop of school teletherapy companies. Some experts raise concerns about the quality of care offered by fast-growing tech companies. (Gecker, 12/3)
In other health and wellness news —
The Washington Post: Using Hot Hair Tools May Boost Unhealthy Emissions, Study Says
The products that produce shiny, frizz-free hair emit high levels of substances that could endanger human health, research published last month concludes — and heated styling tools may make the problem worse. Published in Environmental Science & Technology, the analysis focused on compounds known as siloxanes. These substances smooth, straighten and add shine to hair and are “ubiquitous” in hair care products, the authors write. (Blakemore, 12/3)
Seattle Times: Traffic Exhaust Could Increase Blood Pressure, UW Study Finds
Even brief exposure to highway pollution could cause significant increases in blood pressure, a new study from the University of Washington has found, adding to a growing body of work correlating vehicle exhaust with negative health outcomes. The effects are near immediate: Two hours in Seattle’s rush hour was enough to increase blood pressure by nearly 5 millimeters of mercury, a jump that would push someone with normal levels to elevated or from elevated levels to stage 1 hypertension. (Kroman, 11/30)
The Hill: More Dads Are Choosing To Stay Home With Their Kids. Here’s Why.
The ranks of stay-at-home parents are perennially dominated by mothers. But as women make educational and economic strides, turning some of them into the bigger earners in their households, a growing number of dads are opting to care for their kids full-time. One in five stay-at-home parents are now fathers, a recent Pew Research Center study found. ... Experts attribute the rise of the stay-at-home dad to changes in economic conditions for families. (O'Connell-Domenech, 12/3)
