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Good morning. The final episode of the “First Opinion Podcast” is out today. Sarah Mupo, STAT’s director of editorial operations and style guide lead, joins Torie Bosch to discuss the decision to keep “health care” as two separate words. Tune in to hear more.
U.S. infant mortality drops in 2025
Infant mortality in the U.S. reached a record low last year, based on preliminary data from the CDC. The decline may seem minor: from 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 in 2022 and 2023, to 5.5 in 2024, and just under 5.4 in 2025. However, experts emphasize the statistical significance, which represents hundreds of fewer infant deaths annually. Read more from the AP.
Trump administration will bring special ed to HHS
The Trump administration has announced a shift in the oversight of special education, transferring responsibilities from the Department of Education to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This move aligns with the administration’s goal to dismantle the Education Department, as outlined in Project 2025, a policy blueprint by the Heritage Foundation. Learn more.
This decision has caused concern among people with disabilities, who worry about the implications of placing disability education under the purview of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Kennedy has previously described autism as an “epidemic” and has controversially linked it to vaccines, a claim that has been widely discredited. Read more.
FDA approves another OTC nasal naloxone
The FDA has approved Rextovy, a 4-milligram naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, for over-the-counter use in emergency overdose situations. This decision, highlighted as part of the president’s Great American Recovery Initiative, follows the approval of the first OTC nasal naloxone three years ago.
The FDA stated that the introduction of more OTC options “expands access and market availability, encourages competition that may reduce cost, and offers alternative sourcing options.” However, as STAT’s Lev Facher noted in 2023, OTC status doesn’t inherently guarantee easier access. Initial research indicated that sales remained limited in the first year. Read more.
‘I have never been more concerned about those rates of congenital syphilis.’
Infectious disease physician Jeffrey Klausner has expressed significant concern over the rising rates of congenital syphilis in a recent First Opinion essay. Klausner attributes this trend to the Great Recession and subsequent cuts to local public health funding. He suggests a path forward by reinforcing proven methods. Read more from Klausner. Also, revisit Eric Boodman’s report from Monday, which highlights the challenges of emergency measures in preventing congenital syphilis.
Does alcohol cause pancreatic cancer?
A comprehensive review of 37 cohort studies published in the International Journal of Alcohol and Drug Research indicates that increased alcohol consumption raises the risk of pancreatic cancer. The risk notably increases for individuals consuming more than 24 grams of alcohol daily, which is less than two standard drinks in the U.S.
“There has been a growing body of evidence pointing to alcohol consumption as a cause of pancreatic cancer, and this analysis is a significant contribution to that evidence,” said study co-author Tim Naimi. (Catch up on STAT’s series on alcohol, The Deadliest Drug, here.)
What we’re reading
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Sanitation workers are encountering more used needles, Curbed
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The secret to Dutch children’s happiness may be in their walking ritual, Guardian
- A leading VC explains opposition to U.S. investment restrictions in China’s drug sector, STAT
- Concerns about criminal charges lead Children’s Hospital doctors to withhold gender-affirming care for trans youth, Colorado Sun
- Opinion: Discovering the understated joy of being an oncologist, STAT
