American journal of preventive medicine
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The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 recommends non-drinking or no more than 2 drinks for men or 1 drink for women in a day. However, even at lower levels, alcohol use increases the risk for certain cancers. This study estimated mean annual alcohol-attributable cancer deaths and the number of cancer deaths that could potentially be prevented if all U.S. adults who drank in excess of the Dietary Guidelines had instead consumed alcohol to correspond with typical consumption of those who drink within the recommended limits. ⋯ Implementing evidence-based alcohol policies (e.g., increasing alcohol taxes, regulating alcohol outlet density) to decrease drinking could reduce alcohol-attributable cancers, complementing clinical interventions.
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Health-related social problems may be conceptualized as the presence of either a social risk (i.e., food insecurity as defined by a screening tool) or a social need (i.e., desire for referral to a food program). Identification of social risks may not correlate with patients' desire to receive help. This study aimed to identify and compare patients and families with social risks versus social needs in a pediatric emergency department. ⋯ Both social risks and self-identified social needs should be considered within social care interventions in the pediatric healthcare setting.
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Although morbidity and mortality related to synthetic opioids such as illicitly manufactured fentanyl are monitored in the U.S., there has been a lack of national survey data focusing on use. Survey data are important because self-report can help estimate prevalence of use among living persons. ⋯ Whereas past-year (mis)use of other drugs (without use disorder) was not consistently associated with illicitly manufactured fentanyl use, cannabis, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and prescription opioid use disorder was associated with higher odds of illicitly manufactured fentanyl use, suggesting that more severe use of various drugs is more of a risk factor than use.
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Children's diets in the U.S. typically fail to meet dietary recommendations, contributing to associated adverse health outcomes. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) of 2010 required the U.S. government to update nutrition standards for school meals to align with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). This study estimates the evolving impact of substituting school-prepared food for home-prepared food on overall daily diet quality and by subcomponents of diet quality. Subgroup analyses are performed by race/ethnicity and income. ⋯ HHFKA-based nutrition standards were associated with beneficial dietary changes and reduced dietary disparities for children across diverse backgrounds.