A new study in JAMA finds that more pregnant women are using marijuana to alleviate nausea, aches and pains. We discuss the details of the study and its implications. We also examine recent criticisms that the FDA lags in removing unsafe products off store shelves, and interview renown news anchor Dan Rather on his new book.
JAMA study finds an uptick in pregnant women using pot for nausea
A new study from The Journal of the American Medical Association finds a slight increase in the number of pregnant women it surveyed who used marijuana to relieve nausea or pregnancy-related anxiety.
The survey used data between 2009 and 2016 from about 300,000 pregnant women in California through a large health care system in the state. Marijuana usage was determined from urine toxicology tests and self reporting.
The results show that pot use rose from 4.2% to 7.1% during the period of study. In addition, the rate of marijuana usage was more pronounced among younger pregnant women. For those younger than 18, it went up from 12.5% to 21.8%. For those between the ages of 18 and 24, pot usage went up close to 10%, from 9.8% to 19%.
Guest host Alex Cohen discusses the findings with study author Kelly Young-Wolff, and Dr. Allison Bond and Dr. Leena Nathan.
Guests:
Kelly Young-Wolff, PhD, MPH, clinical psychologist and research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Northern California Division of Research; she is the lead author of the JAMA letter “Trends in Self-reported and Biochemically Tested Marijuana Use Among Pregnant Females in California From 2009-2016”
Allison Bond M.D., medical writer and hospitalist in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston
Leena Nathan, M.D., OB-GYN and assistant clinical professor at UCLA Health
How food recall policies might change in wake of report showing slow FDA response to unsafe products
A new report out from the Department of Health and Human Services’ inspector general finds long delays between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) becoming aware of an unsafe product and that product actually being pulled from store shelves.
The IG’s report reviewed 30 FDA recalls between 2012 and 2015, and found that on average, it took 57 days for the recall to start from the time that the FDA became aware of the problem. For example, a 2014 salmonella outbreak linked to nut butter led to 14 illnesses in 11 states. In that case, it was 165 days from when the FDA identified the problem to when the voluntary recall was issued. In a statement, FDA Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said that while the FDA has addressed some of the issues outlined in the report, there is still work to be done within his agency.
The report follows an alert that was issued on this problem last year, also by the HHS inspector general’s office. In response, the FDA assembled a task force focused specifically on expediting the process high-risk recalls. The agency plans to release guidance in the first half of 2018 regarding what information the FDA can share about where recalled products are sold.
Guest:
Robert Califf M.D., Food and Drug Administration commissioner from 2016-2017; he is currently a professor and cardiologist at Duke University Medical Center and advisor at Verily Life Sciences, a research arm of Alphabet, Inc. (Google)
Dan Rather on patriotism in his latest book, ‘What Unites Us’
Few journalists have the same world name recognition as Dan Rather, the longest serving anchor of anyone in American television history.
From leading CBS Evening News for 24 years, to interviewing every president since Eisenhower, Rather has often become a voice of reason and reflection for the country. His latest book brings together a collection of original essays determined to pave a way towards unity in the midst of mounting polarization and hostility. Rather defends that the U.S. is a nation of both dreamers and fixers, with an enduring spirit to say “time and time again, this is not good enough; we can be better.”
The venerated journalist joins guest host Alex Cohen to discuss his book and thoughts on what it means to be an American.
Guest:
Dan Rather, renowned journalist and author of his latest book, “What Unites Us: Reflections on Patriotism” with co-author Elliot Kirschner (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2017); he tweets