Trending News Today: Opioid Abuse Dropped Slightly in 2017

New study results showed that daily low-dose aspirin has no benefit for healthy older individuals, NPR reported. According to the article, the study included more than 19,000 individuals aged 65 years and older in the United States and Australia. Although there is still evidence that daily low-dose aspirin may help those younger than 70 years old with at least a 10% risk of heart attack, the study authors determined that the risk of bleeding outweighs the benefits for older healthy people, the article reported.

Opioid abuse has dropped slightly in 2017 compared with the previous year but still remains at high levels, The Hill reported. According to the article, data from a recent survey showed that 11.4 million people abused opioids in 2017, compared with 11.8 million in 2016 and 12.7 million in 2015. Additionally, 97% of those who abused opioids last year used prescription painkillers, with hydrocodone and oxycodone being the most commonly abused, the article reported.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said he supports the proposed FDA crackdown on e-cigarettes, Reuters reported. According to the article, Azar told CNBC on Friday that he supports the move and that he disagreed with the belief that banning e-cigarettes would push youth towards traditional cigarettes. Last Wednesday, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the agency was considering a ban on flavored e-cigarettes, the article reported.