NCHR Testifies Against New Testosterone Pill

January 9, 2018. Testosterone replacement can help patients with hypogonadism live a normal life. A new oral drug might be beneficial, but this drug raises concern of potential harms. On a chemical level, the drug works, but we don’t know whether it meaningfully helps patients in the long run. Long term studies with patient-centered outcomes may provide more certainty. In addition, the data do not provide reasonable assurance that this drug is safe. We need additional safety data and drug interaction data before this drug is approved. Furthermore, if we consider potential misuse as part of the risk/benefit evaluation, then the potential for harm surely exceeds the drug’s benefits. Therefore we cannot recommend approval at this time.

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NCHR Comments on the FDA’s Opioid Public Steering Committee (OPSC)

December 21, 2017. We applaud the FDA for addressing their role in developing strategies to “confront” the opioid crisis. We agree that the magnitude and scope of this crisis requires urgent action and agree that the FDA should consider patients’ and other relevant groups’ interests in developing effective approaches to reduce further harm from opioids.

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Suicide Awareness and Prevention

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States among all people over 10 years old, and rates are on the rise. Understanding the warning signs and risk factors can help prevent suicides.

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Risks of Head Injuries on Artificial Turf Fields in Washington, D.C.

Professional athletes don’t like artificial turf for many reasons, and many parents feel the same way about artificial turf playgrounds and athletic fields.  Artificial turf is made with chemicals that can harm children and adults, the fields also are much hotter than grass, and bacteria can grow in them. Some fields are also so hard that if people fall on them they are at an increased risk of getting a head injury.

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Drowsy Driving: How to Stop Falling Asleep at The Wheel

Drowsy driving is a major problem. Experts estimate that the cost of automobile accidents related to sleep issues are somewhere between $29.2 to 37.9 billion. While distracted driving gets most of the public’s attention, there is very limited understanding of what drowsy driving is, what the warning signs are, and how to prevent it.

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