Drugs

The Economics of Legal Weed Don't Work

The legal cannabis business has been hampered by regulation and competition

By Belinda Luscombe June 21, 2022

Melatonin Poisoning in Kids Is on the Rise: Study

The sleep aid is behind a huge number of childhood self-poisonings

By Jeffrey Kluger June 3, 2022

Biogen's Controversial Alzheimer’s Drug Was Connected to a Patient Death, Just As the Company Presented Its Final Study Data

Biogen presented its complete findings on aduhelm, the first drug approved to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors are still skeptical

By Alice Park November 12, 2021

Clinics Won't Provide It. Insurers Won't Cover It. So Will the First Alzheimer's Drug Make a Difference?

The FDA approved the first treatment for the memory disorder, but it won’t be easy for patients to get it

By Alice Park and Tara Law August 5, 2021

Supreme Court Rules On Crack Cocaine Sentencing Case

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that people imprisoned for possessing small amounts of crack cocaine before 2010 are not eligible for reduced sentences under the 2018 First Step Act. The case, Terry...

By Madeleine Carlisle May 3, 2021

Inside Ibogaine: A Promising Drug for Addiction

Derived from the root bark of an African shrub, Ibogaine was ignored in modern medicine until recently

By Mandy Oaklander April 5, 2021

How Methamphetamine Became a Key Part of Nazi Military Strategy

World War II was not only the most destructive war in human history but also the most pharmacologically enhanced. It was literally sped up by speed

By Peter Andreas January 7, 2020

Low-Dose Aspirin May Not Reduce Heart Risks for Black Americans, Study Finds

But that doesn't mean that African-Americans should avoid it

By Alice Park December 11, 2019

Google Honors Pioneering Psychiatrist Herb Kleber, Who Treated Addiction as a Disease, Not a Moral Failing

Dr. Herbert Kleber, one of the first major researchers to treat addiction as a disease, not a moral failing, is remembered by Google Doodle on the 23rd anniversary of his election to the National Academy...

By Gina Martinez October 1, 2019

Trump Urges USPS and FedEx to Crackdown on Fentanyl Trafficking From China. They've Been Trying for Years

American officials have long blamed China for the influx of fentanyl reaching U.S. borders

By Sanya Mansoor August 24, 2019

More Than $1 Million in Cocaine Found in Banana Shipments

The contraband was found stashed with ordinary produce at three Safeway grocery stores in Washington state

By Hillary Leung August 22, 2019

Nearly 4 Tons of Marijuana Found Hidden in Jalapeño Peppers Seized in San Diego

Border Patrol agents on Thursday discovered nearly four tons of marijuana hidden in a shipment of jalapeño peppers traveling from Mexico to the US, officials said. The discovery was made at the Otay Mesa border...

By Julia Webster August 19, 2019

America's War on Drugs Has Treated People Unequally Since Its Beginning

As difficult as passing drug laws is, enforcing them effectively, consistently and fairly has proven to be virtually impossible

By John H. Halpern and David Blistein August 12, 2019

Tennessee Police Warnings of 'Meth Gators' Just A Joke

Tennessee police asked the public to abstain from flushing drugs

By Amy Gunia July 16, 2019

Despite the Headlines, We Don't Yet Know If Anticholinergic Drugs Contribute to Dementia Risk

A large study found a link between certain widely used anticholinergic drugs and a higher risk of dementia. But that doesn’t mean people should stop taking them

By Alice Park June 26, 2019

The New 'Female Viagra' Has Reignited a Debate Over Drugs and Female Sexuality

Some experts don't think they work

By Jamie Ducharme June 25, 2019

A Year After Approval, Migraine Drugs Are Changing Lives. But Insurance Battles Are Creating a Whole New Headache

Last May, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Amgen and Novartis' Aimovig, the first drug specifically designed to prevent chronic migraines, and offered new hope to the millions of Americans regularly weathering these debilitating...

By Jamie Ducharme June 24, 2019

16 Tons of Cocaine Seized in Philadelphia Port

Federal officials estimate the street value at over $1 billion

By Jasmine Aguilera June 18, 2019

Why TV Ads for Drugs Must Now Include Prices

Drug companies will soon be required to include their prices in television ads, in an effort to drive down costs and boost transparency.

By Jamie Ducharme May 9, 2019

Denver Approves Decriminalizing Psilocybin Mushrooms in Unofficial Results, as Public Support for Psychedelic Drug Research Grows

The measure appeared to be defeated on the night of the ballot

By Jamie Ducharme May 8, 2019

Are Sleeping Pills Safe? Here's What Research Says

The FDA is strengthening its warnings

By Jamie Ducharme May 7, 2019

Study Finds Sunscreen Ingredients Absorb Into Blood

An FDA study found that active ingredients can pass into the bloodstream

By Alice Park May 6, 2019

The FDA Just Approved the First Generic Nasal Spray to Reverse Opioid Overdoses

There will now be a generic alternative to Narcan

By Jamie Ducharme April 19, 2019

What the End of a Promising Alzheimer’s Drug Trial Means for One Patient in the Study

“It’s sort of like having the rug pulled out from under you”

By Alice Park March 25, 2019

Biogen Halts Promising Alzheimer's Drug Trials Due to Disappointing Results

The drug is unlikely to help patients

By Jamie Ducharme March 21, 2019

Doctors Are Writing Half as Many New Opioid Prescriptions as They Used To, Study Says

But some physicians are still prescribing in dangerous ways

By Alice Park March 13, 2019

The New Depression Treatment Esketamine Helped Me Get My Life Back. But I Don't Know If I Can Take It Forever

Amelia D. has taken the drug since 2017

By Amelia D. March 7, 2019

Allegations Against the Maker of OxyContin Are Piling Up. Here’s What They Could Mean for the Billionaire Family Behind Purdue Pharma

According to legal experts

By Jamie Ducharme February 22, 2019

U.S. Military Ends Failed Counter-Drug Campaign in Afghanistan

The military’s strategy became the latest high-priced failure to slow endemic poppy cultivation and drug trafficking in Afghanistan

By W.J. Hennigan February 21, 2019

A Lesson About the Fight Against Drug Trafficking From the El Chapo Trial

Two brazen prison escapes is a lot for a jury to look past. But in closing arguments at the federal trial of the world's most famous accused drug lord, his lawyer pleaded with jurors to...

By Melissa Chan February 7, 2019

Cancer Fears Have Triggered Blood Pressure Drug Recalls for Months. Now Patients Are 'Leery'

They may have been tainted by substances linked to cancer

By Jamie Ducharme January 29, 2019

Nootropics, or ‘Smart Drugs,’ Are Gaining Popularity. But Should You Take Them?

The research on these pills and supplements is intriguing, but inconclusive

By Markham Heid January 23, 2019

The FDA Is Trying to Make It Easier for Drug Companies to Provide Over-the-Counter Opioid Overdose Antidote

The move is part of a wider effort to reduce overdose deaths

By Anna Edney / Bloomberg January 17, 2019

25% of Antibiotic Prescriptions Are Unnecessary. Here's Why That's So Dangerous

Millions of antibiotic prescriptions aren’t appropriate

By Alice Park January 16, 2019

The Little-Known Way Pharma Companies Hook People on Their Costly Drugs

Patients can get thousands of dollars directly from a drugmaker

By Sarah Jane Tribble / Kaiser Health News December 12, 2018

Teva's Generic EpiPen Will Cost Just As Much As Mylan's Authorized Generic

They both have list prices of $300

By Jamie Ducharme November 27, 2018

U.S. Panel Says China Not Doing Enough to Stem Fentanyl

Exporters have skirted Chinese laws by shifting to analogues that aren't banned

By Bloomberg November 27, 2018

Fish Oil and Vitamin D Supplements May Not Help Prevent Heart Attacks and Cancer, Study Says

But it's not all bad news

By Alice Park November 10, 2018

This Drug Likely Doesn't Treat Polio-Like Illness: Study

Fluoxetine, a promising treatment for the rare, polio-like illness AFM, likely doesn't work after all, a new study says

By Jamie Ducharme November 9, 2018

Should You Take Aspirin Every Day? Here’s What the Science Says

How aspirin affects heart health, cancer risk and more

By Alice Park November 8, 2018

Utah State Senator Tries Marijuana on Camera to Show Why State Should Support Legalization

"Recognize that this is nothing to be afraid of"

By Megan McCluskey October 26, 2018

'Weed the People’ Explores Medical Marijuana for Kids With Cancer

It's the latest film from Ricki Lake

By Jamie Ducharme October 25, 2018

Why Anger Is a Wasted Emotion

Civility is a style of argument that implicitly welcomes response. It's not often that an obituary goes viral, but this October a family chose to expose its immense pain for all the world to see,...

Here's What to Know About Narcan and Naloxone

The Legal Challenges Around CBD for Cops

Drug Overdose Deaths Rose More Among Black and Indigenous Americans During COVID-19 Pandemic

Michael Pollan on the Psychedelic Renaissance and Netflix's New 'How to Change Your Mind' Documentary