Are the supplements we’re taking made with active ingredients, or are they fake? A panic has started after botanist Steven Newmaster and former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman conducted studies about fake supplements. Using DNA barcoding techniques, they found that 80% of herbal supplements lacked active ingredients. The pro-supplement American Botanical Council struck back, arguing that the use of DNA barcoding was inappropriate as many herbal supplements are plant extracts that don’t include plant DNA. Some argue that Newmaster and Schneiderman used not just unreliable but totally misleading research methods. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
