ROC Weekly News Bites

End to Menthol Cigarettes, DEA Prescription Collection Days, and The Most Dangerous OTC Drug

Here is a recap of some of the top industry-related news stories of the week:

FDA announces plan to ban menthol cigarettes

Menthol cigarettes could become a thing of the past. This comes after the FDA announced a plan to ban sales of menthol-flavored cigarettes and flavored cigars in the United States.

Menthol has a minty taste. The FDA says that's what makes it appealing to certain people and age groups. Menthol cigarettes make up about one-third of the cigarette market, and over 15 million Americans smoke them.

The FDA has made the attempt before, but received a lot of pushback.

The ban on menthol and flavored cigarettes and cigars won't go into effect right away. Public hearings and listening sessions are planned throughout the summer.

See the original article.

DEA prescription collection help battle drug problems

In an effort to decrease deaths, overdoses, and addictions, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration provided a chance to get rid of expired prescriptions.

The DEA, local law enforcement, and the Elks Lodge hosted National Prescription Drug Take Back in the Elks Lodge parking lot in Billings, Montana. They collected old prescriptions to keep them away from potential abuse and also to make it better for the environment.

"It's always a good day, because we always can get some drugs off the street," said Mike Yakawich, Elks Lodge drug awareness committee chair. "Every time we do it is always inspiring. One of our hallmark projects is drug prevention or drug abuse prevention. Education. We feel it's very important to educate people. Actually, a lot of people come by here and a lot of them are very happy to empty out their cabinets and safely bring it to someplace rather than flushing it down the toilet."

The DEA holds two prescription take back days per year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

See the original article.

This popular med is "the most sangerous OTC drug," according to doctors

In cases of mild sickness, your pharmacy often has everything you need to put you back on the path to wellness. But experts warn that convenience can come with consequences: Some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs that many consumers consider safe can cause a range of adverse effects. In particular, one popular medication has been linked to roughly half of all cases of acute liver failure in the U.S.—a fact that's prompting experts to sound the alarm about its safety.

"Self-medication, including both the use of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and the use of formerly prescribed drugs taken without a current physician's recommendation, is a public health concern," says a 2014 study published in the journal Drug Safety.

The most dangerous OTC drug, according to various studies and doctors, is one you likely have at home: Tylenol. Generating over a billion dollars in annual sales, Tylenol is one of the most widely sold OTC drugs in the nation. The active ingredient in Tylenol, acetaminophen, is also used in a range of other medications, including many popular decongestants and cough syrups.

"Taking too much acetaminophen… is the most common cause of acute liver failure in the United States," explains the Mayo Clinic. "This can occur after one very large dose of acetaminophen, or after higher than recommended doses every day for several days."

A 2004 study published in the journal Hepatology reports that acetaminophen-based drugs account for over 100,000 calls to poison centers, 60,000 emergency-room visits, 2,500 longer term hospital stays, and hundreds of deaths in the U.S. each year.

See the original article.

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