July 15, 2018

Illicit drug use is among the top 10 preventable risk factors for years of healthy life lost in developed countries. Cocaine blocks the reuptake of the monoamine transporters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Methamphetamine blocks reuptake of monoamine transporters, but…

The annual installment of this series summarizes actions to consider avoiding in clinical practice, consistent with the goals of the Choosing Wisely campaign. These POEMs (patient-oriented evidence that matters) were rated highly by members of the Canadian Medical Association…

Family physicians are often in the position of delivering bad or life-altering news to patients. Bad news may include information about a terminal diagnosis, a chronic disease, or an injury leading to a significant life change. Physicians should determine patient preferences…

AMA Task Force Reports Progress on Reversing Opioid Epidemic | The Role of Patient Portals and Social Media in Health Care Communication | CDC Reports a Spike in U.S. Suicide Rates | High-Deductible Health Plans May Impede Preventive Care

Physicians are increasingly likely to be asked by adolescents or their parents whether recreational marijuana use is safe. Although many adults view marijuana as benign, there are major concerns about its use in adolescents because all illicit drug use, including marijuana, may…

A 25-year-old Irish American woman presents for a wellness visit for herself and her two young children, a two-year-old boy and a seven-month-old girl. All three have fair skin, red hair, and freckles. She reports that she is looking forward to an upcoming family vacation to…

A man who lived a hermit lifestyle presented with an open eschar over the left medial malleolus.

There is some evidence that early physical therapy may decrease posttreatment health care utilization for low back pain.

Long-term hormone therapy decreased the risk of all fractures, including hip and vertebral fractures. However, the risks far outweighed the benefits of this intervention.

Studies have shown that lifitegrast will reduce the symptoms of dry eye disease in some patients, although the benefit is borderline clinically significant. It is much more expensive than over-the-counter ointments, artificial tears, and lubricant eye drops.

The American College of Physicians and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the consensus among these recommendations, with recent evidence, to develop a best practice advice statement for vaccination, screening, care, and treatment of patients at risk of or…

The USPSTF recommends counseling young adults, adolescents, children, and parents of young children about minimizing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation for persons aged 6 months to 24 years with fair skin types to reduce their risk of skin cancer.

Club drugs are often found at parties, bars, nightclubs, and concerts, but they can also be used in other settings. Most of the drugs are illegal and can cause serious illness, injury, or even death. The main club drugs are GHB (“liquid ecstasy”), MDMA (“ecstasy…

1. Marijuana is not a benign drug for teens. The teenage brain is still developing, and marijuana may cause abnormal brain development.

Methamphetamine (METH-am-FET-uh-meen), or meth, is an addictive drug. In small amounts, it can be given by doctors to treat certain illnesses. But it is often sold illegally in very dangerous forms. Some common names for meth are crystal meth, ice, crank, speed, chalk, and…