Tuesday, April 9, 2024
Volume 121, Issue 21
VISTA The
Eclipse coverage page 4
Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022
“OUR WORDS, YOUR VOICE.”
Volume 119, Issue 19
FDA sets a precedent by deleting ivermectin posts A recent settlement in Texas shows the organization agreed to take down posts advising people not to take ivermectin for COVID-19
Xander Strickland Reporter
On March 21, the Food and Drug Administration settled a lawsuit concerning several posts warning against the use of ivermectin for treating COVID-19. The lawsuit, filed by three doctors in June 2022, challenged the FDA’s posts, which explicitly cautioned against the use of ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug typically intended for use on livestock, as a treatment for COVID-19. Of the three original plain- Ivermectin paste is used to deworm horses while humans may be given tablets if necessary. (ASSOCIATED PRESS/TED WARREN) tiffs, only one, Mary Talley Bowden, actually saw the lawBowden started recommend- agreement to remove the posts suit through to its settlement. ing ivermectin for the treatment shows the organization is “losIn the lawsuit, Bowden and of COVID as early as the being its war on ivermectin and others claimed that the FDA ginning of 2020 and, according agree[ing] to remove all social had overstepped its capacities in to the lawsuit, was “derided by media posts and consumer dispensing health information, Houston Methodist Hospital and directives regarding ivermectin and had strayed into the realm forced to resign her privileges and COVID…” and that “this of health advisory, which they there as a result.” landmark case sets an importclaimed negatively impacted the Now, following the concluant precedent in limiting FDA ability of doctors to continue sion of the settlement, Bowden overreach into the doctor-patient their health care practices. has claimed that the FDA’s relationship.”
In this settlement, the FDA stated that they have “not admitted any violation of law or any wrongdoing” and that the organization “disagree[s] with the plaintiff’s claim that the agency exceeded its authority in issuing the statements challenged in the lawsuit.” The FDA also stated that it did have the “authority to communicate with the public regarding the products it regulates” and that the agency had chosen to settle in this way because it saw no use in continuing to litigate over posts that are over two years old. There are no peer-reviewed and published medical articles, no clinical trials, no isolated testing, and no definitive scientific information locatable on the internet that supports ivermectin as an effective treatment for COVID-19 in the dosages and forms that some medical practitioners like were prescribing prior to their suspension of medical privileges.
91% alcohol in short supply? This might be why Sam Kozlowksi Digital Editor
ing revolves around the cleaning and post-curing stages of 3D printing. Resin printers typically use over 90% Isopropyl alcohol has many pracisopropyl, however 99% is mostly tical functions as a cleaning agent, recommended. People must be cauantiseptic, deodorizer and a chemical tious and secure when using such a solvent. But shoppers might notice that high concentration of rubbing alcohol 91% isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcobecause of its flammability and inhahol) is almost always sold out at the lation dangers. drugstore now; there are many reasons Even lower concentrations of isofor the shortage. propyl alcohol are extremely toxic to First, the basics about isopropyl humans when ingested. Isopropyl is alcohol: many smells produced are a unlike usual drinking alcohol, chemiresult of growing bacteria, which can cally known as ethyl alcohol. Ethanol be eliminated with rubbing alcohol. and rubbing alcohol have different Odor-causing bacteria needs water to chemical makeups which is why one survive. The strength and fast evaporais safe for moderate consumption and tion of isopropyl alcohol makes it great the ladder can kill. for cleaning. Higher concentrations of rubbing A post-pandemic world is more alcohol can be more dangerous besanitary than ever before. When corocause more alcohol vapor is present. navirus emerged globally, demand for This high concentration can cause disinfectants surged. Millions stocked chemical burns with prolonged skin up on food, water and hygienic equipcontact and increased eye irritation. ment as a result. Stores had to set Isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable, quantity limits on certain goods like almore of it means there is a greater fire cohol, hand sanitizer and toilet paper. risk. Due to the unregulated nature According to a 2021 survey conductof illegal drug labs, chemical fires and ed by Stratus Building Solutions in explosions are a great risk and happen Michigan, 89% of people said they are frequently across the U.S. In Februmore conscious of hygiene than before ary 2024, a deadly fire in Tulsa was the COVID crisis. In addition, 67% of Before the pandemic, shelves at drugstores looked like this one. (THE revealed to be from a meth lab. In people in the UK said they are more con- VISTA/TESS PETERS) March, New York State fire and police issues, however, there are typically no rescious of hygiene than before COVID, responded to an explosion near Horseheads, strictions on the amount of isopropyl alcohol according to a 2022 survey by Citron HyNY, also a result of meth manufacturing. one person can buy. Weaker concentrations giene and OnePoll. In the wake of pandemic panic, rubbing of alcohol, such as 70% isopropyl, are not In conjunction with isopropyl alcohol’s alcohol’s disinfectant properties became a as popular among consumers. Many people legal uses are its illegal uses. The household highly-coveted commodity. Its scarcity candisinfectant also plays a role in the illicit drug think that 70% isopropyl alcohol is a weaknot be attributed to only hygiene-conscious er disinfectant than higher concentrations, trade in North America. consumers though. Isopropyl alcohol’s use in but some scientists recently found that 70% According to the Oklahoma Bureau of the drug manufacturing process and illegal isopropyl alcohol disinfects better. Despite Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, overdose drug trade throughout the past two decades lower concentrations of alcohol, more water deaths in Oklahoma are up 135% in six has substantially increased. Despite its uniallows for alcohol to penetrate through the years since 2018. Underground drug manuversal utility, the dangers of rubbing alcohol cell membrane and kill off bacteria. Higher facturers buy quantities of 91%+ isopropyl can cause blindness, nausea, seizures and concentrations are not as effective because alcohol to help them extract or synthesize damage to organs. As the world faces new the higher alcohol content can damage cell chemicals. In contrast, drug manufacturers supply chain issues every year with pandemwalls too quickly, without killing off the may prefer higher concentrations of isoproics, wars and bridge collapses, the roles of germs inside. pyl alcohol because lower concentrations this product affect a wide variety of people High concentrations of rubbing alcohol (70%) produce less product, since more and financial markets. are also sought out after by resin printers. water evaporates during creation. The relationship between it and resin printWithout a pandemic or supply chain