Psychiatric News (2/21) reports that last week, the FDA ‘s “Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee voted unanimously, 19-0, to recommend that Narcan (naloxone HCl) 4 mg nasal spray be made available without a prescription, Emergent BioSolutions announced” in a Feb. 15 press release. Naloxone “reverses an opioid overdose by blocking the effects of opioids.” While the agency “is not bound by the committees’ guidance,” it “will take their advice into consideration when it makes its decision on whether to make the drug available over the counter (OTC).” The approval decision is “expected by March 29.”

Related Links:

— “FDA Advisory Panel Recommends Approval for Over-the-Counter Narcan, Psychiatric News, February 21, 2023

MedPage Today (2/20, George) reports, “Neurodegenerative pathologies have shown few differences over time despite falling dementia incidence rates,” investigators concluded after examining “brain autopsy data” from “over 1,500 deceased people from birth epochs spanning 25 years (1905-1930).” The study also revealed, however, that “brain atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis were dramatically lower over the years.” The findingswere published online in JAMA Neurology.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

According to Healio (2/20, Weldon), the findings of a 32-study “systematic review and meta-analysis” published online Feb. 20 in JAMA Pediatrics revealed that “22% of children and adolescents exhibit disordered eating.” The 32 studies encompassed “63,181 participants from 16 countries.”

Related Links:

— “‘Incredibly high’ proportion of children exhibit disordered eating behaviors “Rose Weldon, Healio , February 20, 2023

According to the AP (2/17, Witte), on Feb. 17, “a bipartisan group of Maryland lawmakers…gathered to express their support for a package of legislation to modernize and improve access to mental health services in the state.” The proposals are aimed at “getting people help earlier, preferably in community and primary care settings, before they experience a mental health crisis requiring costly trips to the emergency room or in-patient care.” The measures include funding for a 988 suicide and crisis prevention hotline, reimbursement for collaborative care, expansion of “intensive in-home, and case management behavioral services for youths,” as well as extension of telehealth coverage, a plan for community health clinics, and a new behavioral health commission.

Related Links:

— “Maryland lawmakers want to modernize mental health services “Brian Witte, AP, February 17, 2023

The New York Times (2/20, Hamby) reports on the effects of ketamine as a treatment for mental health conditions. Although “many patients have benefited, the rapid growth of remote prescribing and at-home use of” ketamine “has outpaced the evidence that doing so is safe and effective.” Many patients are now taking ketamine “more frequently and for longer periods of time – multiple times a week, even daily in some cases, and for months or years – despite scant research on safety.” The Times interviewed “more than 40 patients who said their access to the drug was expanded through telehealth, spoke with two dozen doctors and other medical professionals, and reviewed scientific studies, case reports and data from researchers, government agencies and private analytics firms.”

Related Links:

— “Ketamine can be mind-altering, and getting it has become much easier “Chris Hamby, The New York Times, February 20, 2023