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New CDC data shows that drug overdose deaths decreased by 10.6% between 2023 and 2024, marking the first decline since 2020, in today's bite-sized hospital and health industry news from the District of Columbia, Georgia, and Maryland.
- District of Columbia: According to a new study published in Endocrinology, girls who are exposed to certain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be more likely to start puberty early. EDCs are substances that can mimic, block, or interfere with hormones in the endocrine system. Early puberty has been associated with health issues, such as an increased risk of psychosocial problems, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer. One of the substances identified by the researchers was musk ambrette, a fragrance used in some detergents, perfumes, and personal care products. According to the researchers, musk ambrette could be concerning for children because it is found in personal care products. Although FDA has removed musk ambrette from its "generally recognized as safe" list, it is still available on the market in some products. "This study suggests that, out of an abundance of caution, it is important for parents to only use personal care products for their children that are federally regulated," said Natalie Shaw, one of the study's authors from NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (Endocrine Society, Science Daily, 9/10)
- Georgia: According to national surveys compiled by CDC, drug overdose deaths fell for the first time since 2020, dropping 10.6% between April 2023 and April 2024. "This is exciting," said Nora Volkow, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. "This looks real. This looks very, very real." In addition, some researchers believe that the data will show an even larger decrease in overdose deaths when federal surveys are updated to include state-level improvements. In some states, especially in the eastern United States, overdose deaths have declined by 20% to 30%. So far, it's unclear why overdose deaths have declined so rapidly, but some experts say that new availability and affordability of medical treatments for fentanyl addiction may have helped. "Expansion of naloxone and medications for opioid use disorder — these strategies worked," Volkow said. In a separate cross-sectional study of nationwide data, researchers found that emergency medical services encounters for youth opioid overdoses increased at the onset of COVID-19 pandemic and are still higher than pre-pandemic levels. "Clinicians and educators must ensure that young people understand the increasing risks of substance use and encourage abstinence," said Kao-Ping Chua, from the University of Michigan. (Mann, NPR, 9/18; Firth, MedPage Today, 9/18)
- Maryland: According to a new study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, almost 20% of dementia cases could be associated with vision impairment, and better eye health could help reduce the number of cases. For the study, researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health analyzed data from 2,767 U.S. adults ages 65 and older in 2021. Participants underwent cognitive exams and were tested for three types of visual impairment: near acuity, distance acuity, and contrast sensitivity. Overall, up to 19% of dementia cases were associated with at least one type of vision impairment. Around 5% of dementia cases were related to distance acuity, almost 10% to near acuity, and 15% to contrast sensitivity. According to the researchers, the findings do not prove a "cause-and-effect relationship," but the "total contribution of late-life-vision impairment to dementia may be substantial." More research is needed, which could lead to new ways to prevent dementia, the researchers said. "Importantly, more than 90% of vision impairments are preventable or correctable," the researchers wrote. (Nazzaro, The Hill, 9/5)
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