Medicine
Latest Stories

FDA officially declares Adderall shortage
The FDA has confirmed the nation is experiencing a shortage of Adderall after many pharmacies around the country have been unable to fill prescriptions and keep up with demand.

Congress is about to act on drug price reform. Here’s what you need to know
A deal on the table in Congress would help deliver on a long-time promise: to make prescription drugs more affordable. It includes a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare patients.

Over-the-counter birth control pills are available worldwide. The US may be next
Birth control pills are available in the U.S. only with a prescription. Now a drugmaker is asking the FDA to approve a progestin-only contraceptive that would be available without one at pharmacies.

Scientists look to people with Down syndrome to test Alzheimer’s drugs
Because people with Down syndrome are very likely to develop Alzheimer's, they are ideal candidates for experimental drugs meant to halt the disease.
Indigenous and drug policy groups seek to preserve traditional approaches as psychedelic markets open in Oregon
Indigenous medicine and drug policy groups are joining together to form a new nonprofit. They want to promote and preserve the use of traditional medicines like psychedelic mushrooms, peyote and iboga.

How abortion pills work and what an end of Roe v. Wade could mean for them
More people seeking abortions are turning to abortion pills rather than surgical abortion. Here's what to know about the pills, which will likely be at the center of the abortion battles ahead.

Rural Oregonians struggle to get medications as pharmacies close
During the pandemic, Americans started going to their local pharmacy for more than just prescriptions: They went for masks, COVID tests and vaccines. But even with that increased business, retail pharmacies big and small are closing their doors; a national trend that’s been accelerated by the pandemic.
FDA adds Merck pill as 2nd easy-to-use drug against COVID-19
U.S. regulators have authorized a second pill against COVID-19, an antiviral drug from Merck that may help blunt the wave of infections driven by the omicron variant.

Oregon pharmacies are short on staff and drug price managers have something to do with it
Customers all around Oregon have reported standing in line for hours at pharmacies and waiting weeks for prescriptions to be filled. One reason for the wait times is staffing shortages.

Interest in nursing is rising, but Oregon’s nursing pipeline has some hang-ups
The coronavirus pandemic has stoked passions for some aspiring nurses, but it will be a group effort to improve Oregon’s nursing pipeline and strengthen the workforce.