Category: Public health

In April 2023, Denmark took the dramatic step of prohibiting the sale of ashwagandha in dietary supplements, a decision stemming from a contentious 2020 risk assessment conducted by the Technical University of Denmark (DTU). This action sparked a global debate within the herbal medicine community and among consumers seeking to understand **why did Denmark ban ashwagandha?**

According to sources like Visual Capitalist and Frontiers in Psychiatry, caffeine is the most widely consumed psychoactive substance on a global scale. However, this single fact only scratches the surface of the complex issue of what is the most widely used drug. The answer depends heavily on the context, including legal status, location, and purpose of use.

According to the CDC, respiratory tract infections, particularly in outpatient settings, are the most common reason for antibiotic use. A significant issue, however, is that most of these infections are viral, meaning antibiotics are ineffective against them. This widespread, and often unnecessary, use contributes significantly to the global public health threat of antibiotic resistance.

According to the World Health Organization, antimicrobial resistance is one of the top global public health threats, underscoring the critical need for appropriate antibiotic use. Understanding **what are the three types of antibiotic therapy**—empirical, definitive, and prophylactic—is fundamental for proper infection management, ensuring effective treatment while minimizing the risks associated with resistance.

In the U.S., more than 2.8 million antimicrobial-resistant infections occur each year, with over 35,000 people dying as a result [1.5.4]. Understanding **what happens if you have too many antibiotics** is crucial to grasp the serious individual and public health consequences of their overuse.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 90% of adults aged 65 and older took prescription medication in a recent 12-month period, demonstrating that older age is the defining factor in determining which demographic uses the most drugs for medical purposes. This high usage reflects the increasing prevalence of chronic conditions and multimorbidity that accompany advanced age.

Overdose death rates among non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons increased by 44% and 39% respectively between 2019 and 2020, signaling a significant shift in who is the target population for the opioid crisis. This evolving public health emergency, initially focused on white rural populations, now disproportionately impacts communities of color and those facing heightened socioeconomic vulnerabilities.

According to research on 2015-2017 data, Germany showed the highest annual per capita consumption of controlled opioids, followed by Iceland and the United States, yet understanding **who consumes the most opioids** requires a deeper look into complex demographic and socioeconomic factors. The answer varies depending on whether one examines prescription rates versus overdose fatalities, which have shifted significantly over time and across different populations.

Medication scheduling systems vary significantly around the world; for instance, the term 'S3' carries entirely different meanings in the United States compared to Australia. Understanding the proper classification for your region is essential for navigating prescriptions, refills, and safe access to pharmaceuticals. This article explains exactly what does S3 mean on medication, highlighting the crucial international distinctions.

According to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), Australia’s national scheduling system regulates thousands of medicines and poisons to ensure public safety. This complex system is used to determine how freely available a medicine is to the public, and understanding what are S2 and S3 medications is fundamental for consumers navigating Australian pharmacies.