Ronnie Cohen

San Francisco Tries Tough Love by Tying Welfare to Drug Rehab

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

Facing an overdose epidemic and public fury over conditions on the streets, famously tolerant San Francisco will start requiring welfare recipients to undergo drug screening, and treatment if necessary, to receive cash public assistance.

FDA’s Plan to Ban Hair Relaxer Chemical Called Too Little, Too Late

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

The FDA’s recent notice that it would move to ban formaldehyde in hair-straightening products comes more than a decade after researchers raised alarms about health risks. Scientists say a ban would still leave many dangerous chemicals in hair straighteners.

Backlash to Affirmative Action Hits Pioneering Maternal Health Program for Black Women

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

A San Francisco program offers a $1,000-a-month stipend for pregnant Black and Pacific Islander women, part of an effort to address severe racial disparities in maternal health. But conservative groups have sued to shut down the Abundant Birth Project, part of a national backlash against affirmative action in health care.

Mammograms at 40? Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Spark Fresh Debate

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½Ò•îl Health News Original

There is no direct evidence that screening women in their 40s will save lives, yet modeling suggests expanding routine mammography to include them might avert 1.3 deaths per 1,000. Highlighting the risk of false positives, some specialists call for a more personalized approach.