According to ABC News (7/30, Oje), physicians “are increasingly discouraging people from using e-cigarettes given the mounting evidence about the significant negative health impact of vaping – even as a smoking cessation tool.” For example, “for current smokers, ‘there are other very powerful, safe and FDA approved interventions,’” said Petros Levounis, MD, MA, President of the American Psychiatric Association.

Related Links:

— “Doctors increasingly discourage vaping amid mounting health concerns,”Dr. Adesola Oje, ABC News, July 30, 2023

MedPage Today (7/28, DePeau-Wilson) reported, “Remotely administered urine drug screening was found to be feasible in patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) who were receiving buprenorphine in remote care settings,” investigators concluded.

Psychiatric News (7/28) reported, “Urine drug screening of people in treatment for” OUD “is feasible and reliable via telehealth,” investigators concluded in the findings of a 3,395-adult study published online July 28 in JAMA Health Forum.

Related Links:

— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

Healio (7/28, Volansky) reported that the FDA approved “an over-the-counter, nonprescription RiVive (naloxone hydrochloride) nasal spray for emergency treatment of opioid overdose.” This marks “the second nonprescription naloxone product approved by the FDA.”

Reuters (7/28) reported that the manufacturer Harm Reduction “said it anticipates that RiVive will be available early next year, primarily to harm-reduction organizations and state governments.” The not-for-profit drugmaker also “said it would make at least 200,000 doses available for free.”

The Hill (7/28, Weixel) and Pharmacy Times (7/28) also reported.

Related Links:

— “FDA approves nonprescription nasal spray for opioid overdose,”Rob Volansky, Healio, July 28, 2023

Healio (7/27, Gawel) reports, “Children with poor measures of mental and social health also experienced poor respiratory outcomes following intensive care use for asthma, according to a study.” The findings were published online in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

Related Links:

— “Poor mental, social health associated with worse asthma outcomes in children,”Richard Gawel, Healio, July 27, 2023

NBC News (7/27, Tsirkin) reports, “A bipartisan group of lawmakers is working to address the staggering number of opioid overdoses nationwide, with two-thirds of drug overdose deaths last year caused by synthetic opioids like fentanyl, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” On Thursday, “Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, Chris Coons, D-Del., Tom Cotton, R-Ark., Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., introduced legislation aimed at expanding access to fentanyl test strips.” The legislation “would clarify the federal drug paraphernalia statute to exclude the test strips, potentially life-saving tools that remain criminalized in many states.”

Related Links:

— “A new bipartisan bill aims to increase access to fentanyl test strips amid overdose deaths,”Julie Tsirkin, NBC News, July 27, 2023