Buzz Newsletter 12/18/25
White House Designates Fentanyl a WMD
On Monday of this week, President Trump signed an executive order designating fentanyl --the powerful anesthetic and pain medication popping up in the street drug supply -- an official "weapon of mass destruction." The designation allows the Pentagon to assist law enforcement in the fight against drug traffickers.
As to what it means for the constant and abiding war against street drugs, the opinions are mixed. While it's a fact that fentanyl has killed around 48 thousand people in the past year, there are addiction experts who say that the deaths are mostly the result of opioid use disorder and not a weaponized move by drug cartels, and that the order will have little impact on the trafficking of drugs into the United States.
The one thing we can all agree on is the devastation that opioid use disorder has on family and friends, which is why the Georgia Pharmacy Foundation teamed up with the UGA School of Pharmacy to deliver Naloxone and training into our rural independent pharmacies. We are excited to see the program roll out in 2026.
FDA Might Relax Supplement Label Rules
The FDA doesn't have to review dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness, as most of us know from listening to radio ads for the latest and greatest holistic cure-all. You know the one: “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.”
However, the food division is considering relaxing the rules around how often those warnings need to appear on packaging. Some health experts say the change might make those warning labels harder for consumers to see, which could lead to complications in their health instead of improvements. It may mean more questions from your patients as they try to decide what supplements are worth their money.
Doctors Concerned About Increase in Disease
Most of us over the age of 50 have been screened for colon cancer. It's unpleasant, but necessary. And recently the recommended age to start routine screening has been lowered to 45.
That's largely due to an increase in diagnosis among younger adults, which is concerning health experts, and it's not just in the United States -- 27 of 50 countries surveyed saw an increase in colon cancer in patients under the age of 50 between 2013 and 2017. While the exact cause isn't known, it is likely due to diet, reduced physical activity, and environmental exposures.
Nasal Spray for Heart Arrythmia Gets FDA Approval
Milestone Pharmaceuticals' Cardamyst (etripamil) has been approved by the FDA to treat paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), an abnormal heart rhythm and is the first self-administered treatment for patients with heart issues.
Currently the ER treatment for PSVT is an IV administered drug that reboots the heart, and is extremely uncomfortable for patients. A dose of one spray per nostril seems much more pleasant and rapid acting, without the stress and expense of an ER visit.
Donate to the Foundation Today
If you haven't planned your end-of-year tax-deductible donations, we would humbly ask you to consider a gift to The Georgia Pharmacy Foundation.
The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) arm of the Association, and supports science and education to advance the practice of pharmacy. Currently, the Foundation is rebuilding its scholarship program so that it can continue to support pharmacy students across all four schools of pharmacy in Georgia.
You can give a one-time gift, or perhaps a recurring monthly donation today.
Memberships Expire 12/31
It's time to renew your Georgia Pharmacy Association membership! Make sure you renew today so you can continue to get these exciting Buzz Newsletters each week. And in January, we resume our Legislative updates which are also a members-only exclusive benefit.
If you haven't gotten your renewal notification or have any questions at all, let us know via email at info@gpha.org or by phone at 404-231-5074. In the meantime, check out our step-by-step renewal guide here.
Happy Holidays from The Buzz to You!
The Georgia Pharmacy Association will be closed for the holidays, and the Buzz will be paused while we celebrate with friends and family. The Buzz will resume Thursday, January 8.
