Nearly 110,000 people died in 2023 from a drug overdose, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That is around 300 people per day. Opioid abuse and overdose deaths are growing problems in the United States. In recent years fentanyl has flooded the illicit drug market. Virtually all prescription opioids bought off the street are counterfeit with fentanyl as the active ingredient. Many illicit drugs, like cocaine and heroin, are also laced with fentanyl to boost the strength.
Category: Health Economics & Costs
Saturday Links
- The opioid abuse epidemic happened under the watchful eyes of two government agencies expressly designed to prevent such problems: the FDA and the DEA.
- Walmart’s original vision. (After watching the video, I think I know why they weren’t successful.)
- Why is Biden delaying the ban on menthol cigarettes? My answer: He needs Black votes.
- Yglesias: The left stands for equality vs. hierarchy.
- Kling: au contraire — the leftist approach to government creates inequality that far exceeds the inequality produced by the market.
- Biden is expanding Obamcare coverage to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients.
Friday Links
- FTC to target patent abuses. (WSJ)
- Eylea (which costs more than $1,800 for a single dose) has been granted over 90 granted patents—including one for minor adjustments to its sterile packaging.
- Tomas Philipson: So called “patent abuses” are exaggerated.
- What the FDA gets wrong about drugs for rare diseases.
- Capretta: Americans spend more on healthcare than other countries because of “premium medicine”: procedures that offer minimal benefits at high cost.
- An argument for more regulation of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs. Although very one-sided. Our biggest problem is that the chronically ill are under-consuming drugs, not over-consuming them.
Health Care Disruption Takes Another Hit
Walmart has made the unfortunate decision to shutter its health clinics, the big box retailer announced. The decision was apparently sudden. Only about a month ago Walmart announced plans to add 19 more stores in 2024. In all Walmart will close all 51 of its physician-staffed clinics. Walmart is also closing its telemedicine portals as well.