Guidelines Say Medical Pot May Benefit Only Some Chronic Pain Sufferers
A meta-study of clinical cannabis use showed that the drug may benefit some people with chronic pain, but it likely won't benefit most patients. A separate study finds that college students' use of cannabis hit a record in 2020, but the pandemic era also saw a dip in alcohol consumption.
Stat:
Medical Cannabis Unlikely To Benefit Most Chronic Pain Patients
Medical cannabis might be a helpful therapy for some people who have chronic pain, but it’s unlikely to benefit most, according to new clinical guidelines published Wednesday in the journal BMJ. The guidelines, crafted by an international group of researchers who analyzed three dozen medical cannabis studies, say there isn’t enough evidence that medical marijuana products help most patients suffering from chronic pain, so they shouldn’t be widely recommended for such people. (Cueto, 9/8)
USA Today:
College Students' Marijuana Use Hit Highs In 2020, Alcohol Use Saw 'Significant' Decrease, Study Shows
Marijuana use among U.S. college students hit a historic high in 2020, while alcohol use might have taken a pandemic-induced dip, a new study shows. College students' marijuana consumption rose in 2020, continuing a "significant increase" over the past five years, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse's annual "Monitoring the Future" study. The recent surge has boosted college student marijuana use to its highest mark since 1983. Meanwhile, alcohol use was less common among college students than in previous years. The study showed decreases from 2019 in terms of binge drinking, getting drunk and overall alcohol use. (Cannon, 9/8)
In other public health news —
NPR:
A Major Decision From The FDA Today Could Dramatically Reshape The Vaping Industry
A monumental set of decisions is expected Thursday from the Food and Drug Administration that could reshape the tobacco industry for years to come by limiting, or altogether blocking, the sale of millions of e-cigarette products. Though the FDA has long regulated the marketing and sale of traditional tobacco products like cigarettes, the agency had long not required the same scrutiny of vapes, allowing a market to flourish. (Sullivan, 9/9)
Stat:
Study: Pandemic Lockdown Tied To Worse Metastatic Colon Cancer Outcomes
One of the most pressing questions during the coronavirus pandemic has been its impact on cancer detection, diagnosis, and treatment. During the first Covid-19 surge, swamped health-care systems suspended cancer screenings and some in-person care while some people stayed away for fear of Covid-19 infection. Screening rates fell precipitously for cancers with common tests, including mammograms for breast cancer, Pap tests for cervical cancer, PSA testing for prostate, CT scans for lung cancer and colonoscopies for colorectal cancer. Those rates have rebounded somewhat, but another question may take longer to answer: Does the delay in screening matter? (Cooney, 9/8)
The Washington Post:
USDA Study Shows Success Of Federal Food Safety Net Programs During Pandemic
Despite a world-altering pandemic, the number of American households struggling with hunger remained nearly constant last year, buoyed by significant federal safety net programs, according to a report released Wednesday by the U.S. Agriculture Department. However, food assistance programs may not have reached populations equally, according to the report, as food insecurity during the pandemic improved for some while worsening for others. Households with children were twice as likely to experience food insecurity as households without children, according to the report. (Reiley, 9/8)
Fox News:
Fall Allergies Will Be In 'Full Force' This Year, Experts Say
As summer comes to a close, millions of Americans can reportedly expect the fall allergy season to be in "full force" this year. According to AccuWeather meteorologists, fall allergies are often triggered by ragweed and the presence of mold. "Fall allergies are typically triggered by ragweed, and the pollen from these types of plants that are common in North America can travel as far as the wind carries it," AccuWeather wrote. "Another cause of fall allergies is mold, which can grow in piles of damp leaves." The Philadelphia Inquirer said Monday that ragweed plants are expected to produce pollen to torment residents over the next couple of weeks. (Musto, 9/8)
In obituaries —
The Washington Post:
Carl Bean, Minister And AIDS Activist Who Sang ‘I Was Born This Way,’ Dies At 77
Carl Bean, a progressive minister, AIDS activist and singer who popularized the 1970s Motown song “I Was Born This Way,” an exuberant dance club staple and gay pride anthem that inspired one of Lady Gaga’s biggest hits, died Sept. 7 at a hospice center in Los Angeles. He was 77.His death was announced by the Unity Fellowship Church Movement, a Christian denomination that grew out of his ministry to LGBTQ African Americans in Los Angeles. The church said he had “a lengthy illness” but did not give a specific cause. (Smith, 9/8)
