The Washington Post (5/12, Docter-Loeb) reports new research published in JAMA Network Open shows that “more U.S. high-schoolers used nicotine pouches – smokeless nicotine powder products – last year than the year before.” The study used data from a 2023-2024 survey of 10,146 youths, revealing that “5.4 percent of 10th- and 12th-graders reported having used nicotine pouches, up from 3 percent the year before. The 10th- and 12th-graders’ use of pouches in the 12 months and 30 days before the surveys also increased year to year.” According to the study, teens who are male, white, and living in rural areas showed higher usage. The study also noted increased dual use with e-cigarettes, “but the sole use of e-cigarettes decreased across a lifetime, as well as in the previous 12 months and past 30 days.”

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— “The Washington Post (requires login and subscription)

MedPage Today (5/9, Lou ) reported, “Users of illicit stimulants were at elevated risk of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) and mortality, according to a longitudinal cohort study from California.” Investigators found that “a record of methamphetamine use was associated with increased incident VA…and mortality…over nearly 10-year follow-up.” Meanwhile, “cocaine use was similarly tied to VA…and mortality.” The findings were published in the European Heart Journal.

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— MedPage Today (requires login and subscription)

HealthDay (5/9, Thompson ) reported researchers have found that “psychotherapy is assuming a larger role in mental health care, while medications prescribed without accompanying therapy are becoming less common.” Investigators found that “of Americans relying on outpatient mental health care, the percentage relying on psychotherapy alone rose to 15% in 2021 from less than 12% in 2018.” Meanwhile, “those relying on medication alone to help their mental health dropped from 68% to 62%.” The findings were published in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

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— “Talk Therapy On The Rise, Psychiatric Meds Used Less Often,” Dennis Thompson, HealthDay, May 9, 2025

Writing in the journal Drug Safety, Besag et al conducted a systematic literature review to explore the current state of knowledge regarding tardive dyskinesia with antipsychotic medication in children and adolescents. The authors found 13 relevant studies, concluding that the risk of TD in this population is very real, despite a low overall incidence. There are limited treatment options for minors developing TD, leading the authors to conclude that “antipsychotics should be prescribed only if necessary, at the minimum effective dose and for the minimum necessary duration.”

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— “Tardive Dyskinesia with Antipsychotic Medication in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Literature Review,” Frank M. C. Besag, et.al., Drug Safety, June 11, 2024

Psychiatric News reports a study found that “adults ages 65 and older with tardive dyskinesia (TD) given valbenazine for up to 48 weeks experienced substantial and sustained improvements in symptoms while maintaining psychiatric stability.” Researchers observed that “40% of older participants experienced a meaningful response to valbenazine (≥50% improvement in AIMS) at eight weeks, which rose to 65% at 24 weeks and 82% at 48 weeks; the improvements in older adults were comparable to those seen in younger participants.” Researchers concluded, “This article reports on data indicating that once-daily valbenazine is effective and well-tolerated in the ≥65-year age group.” The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.

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— “Valbenazine Significantly Improves Tardive Dyskinesia in Older Adults Over Long-Term,” Psychiatric News, April 30, 2025