Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Poison Center Calls For Benadryl Surge Among Teens Amid Social Media Challenge
ABC News: Amid Social Media Challenge, Calls To Poison Centers For Benadryl Among Teens More Than Double This Year Than Last
Calls to poison centers involving diphenhydramine -- the active ingredient in Benadryl and some over-the-counter sleep aids -- and teens in the first five months of 2026 were more than double compared with the same period last year, according to a health advisory from America's Poison Centers obtained first by ABC News. Social media users have documented taking excessive amounts of diphenhydramine in an attempt to overcome the medication's drowsy effects and experience a euphoric feeling. (Benadjaoud, 6/12)
Regarding nicotine pouches, vaping, and booze —
NBC News: Nicotine Pouches Are Becoming More Potent. Experts Are Worried
How much nicotine is too much? As nicotine pouches like Zyn surge in popularity, manufacturers are introducing increasingly potent products, raising concerns among some public health experts and anti-tobacco advocates about addiction and other health risks. (Lovelace Jr., 6/12)
AP: How To Counter The Appeal Of Teen Vaping As FDA Authorizes Some Flavored E-Cigarettes
Ricky Resendez first tried e-cigarettes in eighth grade. By the time he got to high school, he was vaping daily.“It was just kind of normal,” said Ricky, a 17-year-old recent graduate in Superior, Wisconsin. “Kids were vaping in class, in the bathrooms, wherever.” Nationally, nearly 6% of middle and high school students — amounting to 1.63 million kids — reported using electronic cigarettes in 2024, federal figures show. Although that is down from previous years, e-cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco products among teens, and nearly 9 out of 10 of kids choose flavored products. (Ungar, 6/13)
Bloomberg: Shifting American Alcohol Consumption Reshapes Booze Strategy
Americans are clearly drinking less these days, with alcohol consumption thwarted by a health-obsessed generation, weight-loss drugs and the growing popularity of cannabis. Or so the narrative goes. Alcohol volume was down 2% in the world’s major alcohol markets last year, though a much steeper drop of 5% was recorded in the US, according to data from the global alcohol analytics provider IWSR. Volumes may drop as much as 4% this year, BNP Paribas analyst Kevin Grundy calculated. (Meley and Phua, 6/12)
In recalls and shortages —
CBS News: Organic Formula Brand Issues Recall After 3 Babies Diagnosed With Infant Botulism
An organic baby formula is being voluntarily recalled after three infants who were fed the product were hospitalized with infant botulism, according to a notice from the Food and Drug Administration. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that all three babies had consumed Nara Organics Powdered Infant Formula, which is sold at Target stores throughout the United States. The sickened babies were in California, Washington and Pennsylvania, according to the FDA notice. All three babies were successfully treated, and no deaths have been reported, the FDA said. (Breen, 6/14)
AP: A Rush To Create Protein-Added Foods Is Causing A Whey Powder Shortage
Global consumers want more protein in every bite, but the dairy industry is struggling to give it to them. Athletes and older adults have long used smoothies and shakes blended with whey protein concentrate – a powdered byproduct of cheese-making – to build or maintain muscle. More recently, food companies have sprinkled it into everything from breakfast cereals, Pop-Tarts and potato chips to bagels, tortillas and Starbucks drinks to meet growing consumer demand. (Durbin, 6/14)
Risks associated with hot tubs and ticks —
CIDRAP: Hot Tub Hot Take: Soaking In Stagnant Water May Pose Legionnaires’ Risk
People staying in short-term rental properties should be aware that hot tubs might pose a risk of a potentially fatal type of pneumonia, according to a new paper in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from investigators with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and other state agencies. The paper details a 2024 outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in western New York among two guests who used a hot tub at a private short-term rental property. (Boden, 6/12)
The New York Times: It’s Time To Worry About Ticks In The City
Blanket. Snacks. Drinks. Sunscreen. Tick check? A summer picnic in a city park or other activities in urban green spaces may need to include one extra step as experts across the Northeast warn of a bad tick season. Experts along the East Coast are all seeing an uptick in tick activity in metropolitan places where people would otherwise give little consideration to small arachnids crawling up an ankle or arm and taking hold. Where there is habitat, ticks will go, bringing a variety of dangerous diseases with them. (Tumin, 6/12)
The Colorado Sun: This Could Be A Big Year For Ticks In Colorado. Here’s What You Should Know.
Apropos of the subject, let’s just sink our teeth into it: 2026 is likely going to be a big year for ticks in Colorado. And that means, whether you’re out and about in the mountains, on the plains or in your yard, it could also be a big year for tick-borne illnesses, most of which are rare, fortunately, but none of which are fun. (Ingold, 6/12)
AP: What Is Alpha-Gal Syndrome?
It’s common knowledge that ticks can spread infections that cause serious illnesses, including Lyme disease. Now health officials are trying to raise awareness of a lesser-known problem: a life-threatening allergy to meat triggered by tick bites. The problem, known as alpha-gal syndrome, was first linked to a particular species of ticks about 15 years ago. But cases are on the rise as more people report symptoms such as hives, diarrhea and itchiness after eating as little as a mouthful of meat and — in some cases — dairy. The allergy doesn’t impact consumption of seafood or poultry. Chicken, turkey and eggs are all OK to eat. (Perrone, 6/14)
Also —
NBC News: Your Blood Pressure Reading Contains A Hidden Number — And Here’s Why It Matters
You’re likely familiar with getting your blood pressure taken, the cuff squeezing your arm before generating two numbers. Yet this vital sign contains a third, lesser-known number that matters for brain and heart health: pulse pressure. While blood pressure measures how much pressure the blood puts on the arteries while the heart is beating and at rest, pulse pressure provides a window into how flexible and elastic the arteries are, a sign of cardiovascular health. (Leake, 6/14)
