US health updates: FDA permits reduced‑risk claims for Zyn nicotine pouches; ADHD medication misuse falls

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved marketing claims for Philip Morris International’s Zyn nicotine pouches, allowing the company to state that switching from cigarettes to Zyn lowers the risk of diseases such as lung and mouth cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Health experts warned the label could mislead consumers, especially young people, and cautioned that nicotine can harm developing brains. The decision has been welcomed by the tobacco maker and criticized by public‑health groups, while U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described the products as among the safest ways to use nicotine.

A separate evidence review by the Keck School of Medicine of USC reported a sharp decline in misuse of prescription stimulants for attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder among U.S. adults. In 2023, 3.7% of adults under 30 and 1.9% of adults overall reported misuse, down from 7.5% in 2016. The drop is linked partly to a nationwide medication shortage that began in 2022. Researchers described two misuse patterns—occasional use by younger adults to aid concentration and high‑frequency use by older adults often obtained through doctor‑shopping or illegal sources. Although overall misuse has fallen, health professionals stress continued risks, including poison‑control incidents and potential drug interactions.