Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Trump's Drug Policy To Focus On Harsh Penalties, Addiction Treatment: Report
The Trump administration vows to emphasize addiction treatment alongside an enforcement-first drug policy, according to a not-yet-public strategy document obtained by STAT.聽In an effort to reduce overdose deaths caused by fentanyl and other illicit substances, the administration plans to 鈥渄isrupt the supply chain from tooth to tail,鈥 according to the document, known as the Statement of Drug Policy Priorities. (Facher, 4/3)
A secluded corner surrounded by litter and makeshift structures on the outskirts of South Africa鈥檚 capital is home to dozens of people with drug addiction. ... In the project backed by the University of Pretoria and the Tshwane municipality, they offer the chance to exchange needles for new, sterile ones. Needle exchange is not a new idea globally, but such efforts have been jolted by the Trump administration鈥檚 decision to kill 83% of U.S. Agency for International Development programs around the world. (Magome, 4/4)
In other pharmaceutical news 鈥
Federal Trade Commission Chair Andrew Ferguson said he will get involved in the agency鈥檚 legal action against the leading pharmacy benefit managers. In a post shared Thursday on the social media platform X, Ferguson said he no longer is recusing himself from the matter. (Berryman, 4/3)
Over 30 state attorneys general including in Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio have urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take action against 鈥渂ad actors鈥 selling counterfeit weight loss drugs. High demand for drugs like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Zepbound and Wegovy paired with a shortage has created a market for counterfeits, according to the letter. (Thorp, 4/3)
A pharmacist at the University of Maryland Medical Center installed spyware on hospital computers, allowing him to access intimate pictures and videos of medical personnel, according to a lawsuit filed last week against the medical system. (Belson and Gluck, 4/3)