- Center on Health Equity & Access
- Clinical
- Health Care Cost
- Health Care Delivery
- Insurance
- Policy
- Technology
- Value-Based Care
What We're Reading: Starting School Later; Taking Action Against Fentanyl; Benzene in Antiperspirants
Later school start times are being considered to address youth mental health crises; states are taking action to enact legislation on opioid addiction and fentanyl-related deaths; Unilever recalls 2 Suave aerosol antiperspirant products due to a potential carcinogen.
Later School Start Times Considered to Address the Youth Mental Health Crisis
ABC News is reporting that several states are considering later school start times as a way to promote healthy sleep habits among children and teens and to address growing pandemic-related mental health concerns. Experts say that school start times of 8:30 am or later would better align with adolescents’ biological sleep rhythms and would promote optimal sleep. Moreover, prior research has shown that in high schools with start times of 8:30 am or later, student sleep time, academic outcomes, and attendance rates all improved, and car crashes involving teen drivers decreased.
States Grappling With Fentanyl-Related Deaths
State lawmakers are considering the adoption of laws to address the opioid epidemic, specifically fentanyl-related deaths, as drug overdoses linked with synthethic opioids continue to climb nationwide. The Associated Press is reporting that potential laws would work to reduce the risk of overdose to users and increase the penalties for those dealing fentanyl or mixing it with other drugs. Bills to legalize test strips that detect the presence of fentanyl have been passed in New Mexico’s and West Virginia’s legislation, and they now await final approval from the states' governors.
Unilever Recalls Suave Antiperspirants Due to Elevated Levels of Benzene
Unilever announced that it is recalling 2 Suave aerosol antiperspirant products due to the presence of elevated benzene levels found in some samples during an internal review. NPR is reporting that the recalled lots of 2 antiperspirants with expiration dates through September 2023 include Suave 24-Hour Protection Aerosol Antiperspirant Powder in 4 ounce and 6 ounce sizes and Suave 24-Hour Protection Aerosol Antiperspirant Fresh in the 6 ounce size. Exposure to benzene through inhalation, an oral route, and the skin has been associated with an increased risk of leukemia and other blood cancers.
At EHA 2025, Hematology Discussions Will Stretch Across Lifespans and Locations
June 5th 2025The 2025 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress, convening virtually and in Milan, Italy, from June 12 to June 15, 2025, will feature a revamped program structure for the meeting’s 30th anniversary while maintaining ample opportunities to network, debate, and absorb practice-changing findings in hematology and oncology.
Read More
Laundromats as a New Frontier in Community Health, Medicaid Outreach
May 29th 2025Lindsey Leininger, PhD, and Allister Chang, MPA, highlight the potential of laundromats as accessible, community-based settings to support Medicaid outreach, foster trust, and connect families with essential health and social services.
Listen
New Insights Into Meth-Associated PAH Care Gaps: Anjali Vaidya, MD, on Closing the Divide
June 4th 2025Research from Anjali Vaidya, MD, FACC, FASE, FACP, Temple University Hospital, reveals critical care gaps for patients with methamphetamine-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and integrated support.
Read More
