Latest California Healthline Stories
FDA Sharpens Stance Against Herbal Supplement Kratom: ‘It Isn’t Just A Plant — It’s An Opioid’
Kratom advocates say the botanical substance is a good way to wean people off of opioids. But new research reinforces Food and Drug Administration’s concerns about kratom’s “potential for abuse, addiction and serious health consequences, including death,” Commissioner Scott Gottlieb says.
Democrats’ Health Victories In Stopgap Bill Come At A Cost — Namely ACA’s Preventive Care Fund
Lawmakers are getting close to a deal to fund the government that includes several health care wins for Democrats, such as extending funding for community health clinics. But the proposals to pay for the new policies take some of the wind out of those victories.
Flu Outbreak At Elementary School So Widespread Principal Decided To Close
“There’s no nobility in spreading germs,” said Kevin Eckery, a spokesman for the Diocese of Sacramento, about St. Mary School’s closing.
Santa Ana Shut Down A Needle Exchange Because Of Syringe Litter, But Experts Say They Actually Help
“If you have a syringe litter problem, you need more needle exchanges not less, because they give people an incentive to safely dispose of their syringes,” says Ricky Bluthenthal, a professor at the University of Southern California.
LA Takes Steps Toward Creating Peer Support Network For Veterans
LA supervisors said Southern California veterans who run into trouble often don’t know what services are available or how to take advantage of them, which “can lead at-risk veterans toward trajectories of financial despair, family discord, isolation, substance misuse, homelessness and/or involvement with the justice system.”
Legal Challenges To Universal Health Care Not Insurmountable, But They Could Prove Tricky
Revamping the state’s health system would take some cooperation from the Trump administration, which is not favorable to the idea of universal health care as California envisions it.
Trump Points To Britain’s Protest Over Health System As Proof Universal Coverage Doesn’t Work
President Donald Trump’s tweet drew immediate backfire from British officials who prize their health system that offers free coverage to millions of citizens. The push for universal coverage in America has been gaining momentum, with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as one of the leading voices in the movement.
House’s Stopgap Measure Includes Funding For Community Health Centers To Woo Democrats
The short-term measure would fund community health centers for two years. The facilities help provide health-care for lower-income families, and their funding has been caught in limbo since the program expired in the fall. The House Rules Committee is expected to meet Tuesday to consider the proposal which is scheduled to be considered on the House floor later in the day.
Crisis Pregnancy Centers Target Of Abortion Advocates’ Billboard Campaign
The Abortion Care Network says the centers are spreading misinformation about the “abortion pill reversal” procedure. “It’s important to us to push back against deception, shame and stigma,” the organization said.
Early Facebook, Google Investors Sound The Alarm Over Technology As A Public Health Threat
Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube “are not neutral products,” the long-time tech investors say as part of their new initiative. “They are part of a system designed to addict us.”