Read articles from North America

August 16, 2024 by alaskabeacon.com

Alaska's recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows troubling increases in mental health issues among teens, particularly girls. Depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, and cyberbullying have risen since 2011. The survey also highlights declining rates of healthy weight maintenance, physical activity, and sugary beverage consumption among students. However, positive trends include decreased tobacco and e-cigarette use. The state aims to address these issues through public health initiatives and support for youth. Efforts to combat vaping include comprehensive strategies and alternatives to school suspensions.

August 15, 2024 by washingtonpost.com

Zyn, a nicotine pouch, has become popular through influencers like Hunter Ratchford, who quit his job for social media fame. Conservatives tout its benefits amid a culture war over regulations. Philip Morris International's Zyn faces scrutiny for potentially targeting young users. Despite political divides, Zyn's appeal transcends state lines. Place like TikTok have boosted its popularity, causing a nationwide shortage. Amid jokes and controversy, some users find Zyn a convenient alternative to tobacco. The product's rise traces back to Swedish origins and the efforts of Big Tobacco to shift to smokeless products. Concerns remain over potential health risks and marketing tactics.

August 15, 2024 by washingtonpost.com

Zyn, a nicotine pouch, has become popular through influencers like Hunter Ratchford, who quit his job for social media fame. Conservatives tout its benefits amid a culture war over regulations. Philip Morris International's Zyn faces scrutiny for potentially targeting young users. Despite political divides, Zyn's appeal transcends state lines. Place like TikTok have boosted its popularity, causing a nationwide shortage. Amid jokes and controversy, some users find Zyn a convenient alternative to tobacco. The product's rise traces back to Swedish origins and the efforts of Big Tobacco to shift to smokeless products. Concerns remain over potential health risks and marketing tactics.

August 15, 2024 by marijuanamoment.net

Nearly 8 in 10 cannabis consumers in legalized states buy their marijuana from licensed retailers, supporting regulated markets. A poll by NuggMD shows 77% purchase from legal stores, with 65% buying exclusively there. In California and New York, consumers also favor legal outlets, but some uncertainty exists over store licenses. Daily cannabis use surpasses alcohol, with fewer reported secondhand harms. Teen marijuana use has decreased post-legalization. Some consumers would return to the illicit market if cannabis became a prescription drug. Pain management is a common reason for marijuana use, with fruity strains being popular.

August 15, 2024 by ctvnews.ca

Health Canada expanded the recall of iNaturally Organic Inc. cannabis products due to inaccuracies on labels, affecting over 17,000 units sold across several Canadian provinces. The products contain higher THC levels than stated, posing health risks like cannabis poisoning. Consumers are advised to stop using, return, or dispose of the products and keep them away from children. Inaccurate labeling may lead to unsafe consumption during activities requiring alertness. iNaturally Organic Inc. initiated a voluntary recall, following reports of adverse reactions. The current recall builds upon a previous one issued in June, emphasizing the importance of accurate product information for informed decision-making on cannabis usage.

August 14, 2024 by cbc.ca

Nicotine pouches were approved in Canada to help smokers quit, but there’s growing concern they’re ending up in the hands of kids. The National breaks down how they ended up for sale in convenience stores with no age limit and what experts are most worried about.

August 14, 2024 by newsweek.com

Despite the widespread drop in smoking over the past decades, cigarettes are still more popular than vaping. In a new Gallup poll, roughly 11 percent of Americans said they smoked a cigarette in the past week, compared with 7 percent who said the same for electronic cigarettes. Overall, traditional cigarette smoking remains at roughly an 80-year low. In 2022, cigarette smoking reached a record low of 11 percent and has stayed around that level ever since.

August 13, 2024 by newsweek.com

New e-cigarettes may contain nicotine-like chemicals with unknown impacts on our health, Yale scientists have warned. Despite interacting with the same receptors in our brains, these chemicals—called nicotine analogs—are not held to the same FDA restrictions and scrutiny as other nicotine products, allowing them to be marketed with "youth-appealing flavors" and avoid tobacco taxes. An FDA spokesperson has said that the new chemicals may be even more potent than nicotine, with potential impacts on adolescent brain development, learning and memory.

August 09, 2024 by cbsnews.com

A study in Boston suggests that a text message support program can assist teenagers in overcoming vaping addiction, as e-cigarettes are prevalent among youth. The research, involving over 1,500 teenage e-cigarette users, showed that those who received daily interactive messages with coping strategies and social support were more likely to quit vaping after seven months. This indicates the potential effectiveness of text message interventions in addressing teen vaping habits.

August 09, 2024 by reuters.com

A handful of North American companies which see potential for vape-like devices to ease migraines and respiratory diseases such as asthma have a long road to convince health authorities and patients that their products can be the future of inhaled medication. Two companies, Qnovia and MIIST Therapeutics, have developed vape-like devices based on technology used in existing medical nebulisers, which turns liquid medications into a fine mist. Another company, Greentank, says it has developed a way to vaporise substances via a heating chip that addresses safety concerns with current vapes and may offer a better way to treat ailments like migraines.