Today’s Big Story

Overdose Deaths Are Down

The news is giving experts hope for an enduring decline

Here’s some promising news as we wrap up the week: The decline in U.S. drug overdose deaths appears to have continued this year, giving experts hope the nation is seeing sustained improvement in the persistent epidemic. According to provisional CDC data released on Wednesday, there were approximately 97,000 deaths in the 12-month period ending June 30. This is a 14% drop from an estimated 113,000 overdose deaths in the previous period.

According to Newsweek, the decline marks a remarkable shift in overdose trends that have plagued the nation since the 1990s, initially fueled by prescription opioids and later by an influx of synthetic opioids like heroin and more recently fentanyl. "This is a pretty stunning and rapid reversal of drug overdose mortality numbers," Brandon Marshall, a Brown University researcher who studies overdose trends, told the Associated Press.

Of course, there have been moments in the last several years when American overdose deaths seemed to have plateaued or even started to go down, only to rise again, Marshall noted. “This seems to be substantial and sustained,” Marshall said. “I think there’s real reason for hope here.”

Experts aren’t certain about the reasons for the decline, but they cite a combination of possible factors. One is COVID-19. In the worst days of the pandemic, addiction treatment was hard to get and people were socially isolated—with no one around to help if they overdosed. Dr. Allison Arwady, head of the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, told CBS News that there are other factors that officials hope are contributing to the decline, ranging from broader availability of the overdose reversing spray naloxone, also known as Narcan, to testing strips (to ensure safety) and efforts to ease gaps in access to medications that can treat opioid use disorder.

Trends in what health officials call “primary prevention” have also improved in recent years—meaning fewer people using the drugs to begin with. As an example, Arwady cited CDC surveys showing a clear decline in high school students reporting that they have tried illegal drugs.

Trump’s Full Sweep

Republicans hang on to House majority and Trump now has a clear path to enact his agenda

Republicans will maintain control of the House of Representatives by the thinnest of margins, the Associated Press projected Wednesday, handing President-elect Donald Trump and his party all the levers of power in Washington.

A House Republican victory in Arizona, alongside a win in slow-counting California earlier Wednesday, gave the G.O.P. the 218 House victories that make up the majority. Republicans earlier gained control of the Senate from Democrats. With hard-fought yet thin majorities, Republican leaders are envisioning a mandate to upend the federal government and swiftly implement Trump’s vision for the country. NBC News says that this will not only allow Trump to quickly fill out his Cabinet and other top administration roles, but also give them another rare opportunity to push through major policy initiatives through “reconciliation”—an arcane process that will allow the G.O.P. to fast-track legislation without Democratic support.

Speaking of Cabinet picks, Trump’s nominee announcements on Wednesday stunned Capitol Hill and even some of his advisers, setting up uphill confirmation battles. The president-elect named Rep. Matt Gaetz, a fierce ally and a divisive figure who was investigated for sex trafficking but not criminally charged, as his pick for attorney general, the nation’s top law enforcement job. That was right after tapping former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii—who has no direct experience in intelligence—as his director of national intelligence.

Travel Does a Body Good

Positive tourist experiences can slow the aging process, new study says

Sure, jet lag isn’t fun, but it turns out there could be some serious benefits to traveling—and I’m not just talking about the clout that comes with an Instagram flex. Researchers in Australia have found that the positive experiences associated with trips—the social interactions, mental stimulation, physical activity and healthy cuisines—can actually delay the aging process.

In the multi-year study, which Science Daily published in September, the experts wanted to find out how positive travel experiences help maintain the human body’s “low entropy”, or gradual decline. The doctors noted that many of the lifestyle practices espoused by medical and mental health experts are intrinsic to travel, such as social engagement, appreciating nature, walking or other types of exercise, and nutritious meals. This means that immersing yourself in a novel destination can actually slow the aging process.

Of course, packing up and leaving work and home responsibilities can be something of a double-edged sword. Experts recommend that to maximize the benefits of travel, focus on immersing yourself in the experience and avoid stressing over responsibilities and chores back home.

Restaurant Prices Remain High

But … some are finally taking price hikes off the menu

Do you remember how—back before the pandemic—if you spent $100 for a three-course meal including a beverage at a mid-level restaurant, it felt like an extravagance? Now, in 2024, it’s the bare minimum it seems. According to Forbes, a 16-ounce strip steak that cost $50 five years ago now sells for around $65—and it’ll only be 14 ounces. And the $15 Martini is now north of $20. What is going on?

Well, it’s not gouging: Restaurants considered a ten percent profit a reasonable rate of return when food costs were in the stratum of 25% to 35%. Now it’s tough for restaurants to keep them below 40%. That has to be passed along on a menu, but only incrementally. Dining out is still noticeably pricier than a year ago, with costs up 3.8% last month since October 2023, Wednesday’s government data showed. But now, as inflation is drifting down in fits and starts, so too are restaurant menu prices.

NBC News reports that consumer prices were 2.6% higher in October than the same time a year ago, according to federal data released Wednesday, up slightly from September’s 2.4% annual rate. But while the “last mile” in the fight against inflation has proved slow going, dining out costs are moving in a more affordable direction. About 34% of operators told Toast that they’ve still raised prices over the past year, compared with 42% last year, the point-of-sale software provider found in a survey it released late last month.

A Serious Health Upgrade

Stimulate your body’s own natural testosterone production

A balanced diet, regular time at the gym and other healthy habits will only take your testosterone levels so far. If you want to push through your limits and bust through your ceiling, then you’ll want to try enclomiphene from Maximus—the only testosterone therapy that boosts your T levels without any nasty side effects.

Maximus’ formula, backed by science and prescribed by doctors, safely and effectively boosts your T levels even when genetics are stacked against you. There’s no inconvenient injections, messy creams, or testicular shutdown associated with other testosterone treatments. Start taking it and feel stronger, more energetic, with an improved mood and enhanced productivity.

Stretch yourself.