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New CDC Campaign “Free Mind” Tackles Youth Mental Health and Substance Use

The CDC’s Free Mind campaign takes a creative, youth-focused approach to address the critical link between mental health and substance use. Launched July 21, the campaign offers a range of engaging tools—fact sheets, social media graphics, video PSAs, an interactive graphic novel, and a forthcoming card game—to help youth and their caregivers understand how mental health challenges can increase…
A new study in Pediatrics highlights a sharp 763% rise in nicotine poisonings among children under 6, driven primarily by the growing popularity of nicotine pouches like Zyn. From 2010 to 2023, U.S. poison centers recorded over 134,000 cases—most involving toddlers and nearly all occurring at home. While most cases were minor, two toddlers died after ingesting liquid nicotine used in vapes. T…
As extreme heat waves hit the East Coast, public health experts warn that individuals taking common antidepressants—particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac and Zoloft, and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as Elavil—may face increased risks of heat intolerance and dehydration. These medications can disrupt the body’s temperature regulation and sweating res…

Jul 6, 2025
The FDA has elevated a recent blueberry recall to a Class I—the agency’s highest risk level—after routine testing by Alma Pak International LLC detected listeria monocytogenes. The recall affects 400 boxes (30 pounds each) shipped to a single customer in North Carolina. Class I recalls signal a reasonable probability that use of the product could cause serious health consequences or death. Listeria poses heightened risk to pregnant people, newborns, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. The CDC reports about 1,600 U.S. listeria cases annually, with 260 deaths. This follows…

Jun 22, 2025
A recent MIT Media Lab study raises concerns about the long-term cognitive effects of relying on ChatGPT. Researchers found that participants who regularly used the tool to write SAT-style essays showed the lowest brain engagement and underperformed linguistically and behaviorally compared to peers who used Google or no tools at all. EEG scans revealed diminished neural activity in the ChatGPT group, which increasingly shifted from using the tool for support to copying content outright. The “brain-only” group showed the strongest cognitive function. These findings highlight the need for c…