More Elderly People Are Prescribed Drugs That Could Lead To Falls
The Washington Post reports on a two-decade-long rise in the use of drugs that can raise fall risks in older people. Meanwhile, rural children have greater difficulty finding health care, and a mom in Florida is demanding better labeling on marijuana edibles.
The Washington Post:
The Past 2 Decades Have Seen Dramatic Rise In Elderly Taking Drugs That Can Lead To Falls
If you are 65 or older, you probably take at least one prescription drug, possibly several, as well as over-the-counter medications. These may include drugs that lower blood pressure, improve mood, prevent seizures or fight allergies, among others. While there are good reasons to use them, experts say that many of them also can raise the risk of potentially dangerous falls. “These drugs are doing what they are supposed to be doing, but also are working off target,” says Amy Shaver, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health at the University of Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions, and lead author of a recent study that examined the problem. “There are valid reasons to prescribe them. But they can be problematic.” (Cimons, 6/13)
Stat:
Children In Rural Areas Face Increasing Barriers To Pediatric Care
Hospital beds for children with asthma, pneumonia, viral infections, and other serious illnesses have declined in the last 10 years, mainly in rural areas. In a new study published Monday in Pediatrics, researchers found that the percentage of U.S. hospitals with inpatient units for pediatric care decreased, as did the number of beds in units that remained open. (Lloreda, 6/14)
KHN:
In Mental Health Crises, A 911 Call Now Brings A Mixed Team Of Helpers — And Maybe No Cops
By the time Kiki Radermacher, a mental health therapist, arrived at a Missoula, Montana, home on an emergency 911 call in late May, the man who had called for help was backed into a corner and yelling at police officers. The home, which he was renting, was about to be sold. He had called 911 when his fear of becoming homeless turned to thoughts of killing himself. “I asked him, ‘Will you sit with me?’” recalled Radermacher, a member of the city’s mobile crisis response team who answered the call with a medic and helped connect the man with support services. “We really want to empower people, to find solutions.” (Houghton, 6/14)
KHN:
‘An Arm And A Leg’: When Your Insurance Company Says No, How To Ask For A Yes
Jeannine Cain started her career dealing with insurance companies for various medical offices. Later she worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and now she is a health care data consultant. She really knows how things operate behind the scenes. When her son got a jumbo-size medical bill, she put her knowledge to work — and wrote an appeal letter. Now she’s sharing that knowledge — and the letter — with us. (Weissmann, 6/14)
In news about marijuana and drug use —
Fox News:
Florida Mom Demands Clearer Label On Marijuana Edibles After Child Winds Up In Hospital
A Florida mom is urging stricter packaging regulations on THC products after her 6-year-old daughter allegedly ate a Faded Fruits cannabis-infused gummy thinking it was candy. Morgan McCoy of Pensacola took to Facebook on June 1 detailing how her child, McKendrick, happened upon the gummy and ended up in the hospital. It all began over Memorial Day weekend, when McCoy visited her in-laws in Jacksonville. A group of friends, who allegedly are legal, medical marijuana patients, were gathered at the house. While McCoy left the house to see a relative, her husband stayed behind. (Rivas, 6/12)
Fox News:
New Mexico Warns On Wound Botulism Among Drug Users After Several Suspected Cases
Health officials in New Mexico are investigating two suspected cases of wound botulism in residents with reported injection drug use. The state noted that two prior cases were reported in January, with cases primarily linked to injecting black tar heroin and methamphetamines. On average, about 20 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with wound botulism each year. Most patients report skin popping or muscle popping black tar heroin, but the direct link to the germ is unclear, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH), the two new cases involve a 26-year-old woman in Rio Arriba County, and a 40-year-old man from Bernalillo County. (Hein, 6/12)
Philadelphia Inquirer:
Research Finds Link Between Marijuana And Fewer Work Comp Claims
Temple University Professor Johanna Catherine Maclean is an economist who studies the impact of substance use on the labor market. Maclean’s recent research has focused on how medical and recreational marijuana legalization affects the ability to work productively, using the frequency of workers’ compensation claims as a measure. As the landscape of medical and recreational marijuana statutes continues to shift as states such as New Jersey legalize the substance, Maclean is a leader of this emerging area of research. “These medical and recreational marijuana policies are quite new, so we have a lot more to learn,” she said. “These are policies in motion.” (Rosenberg, (6/14)
