Alcohols

Today an FDA advisory panel meets with lawmakers to hammer out voluntary best practices for doctors who prescribe opiates. But in loosening restrictions for such cases, the FDA opened a window for wider prescriptions — and for abuse.

It was a medical enigma: Why do many black patients respond differently to a class of heart drugs called beta blockers? Researchers now say a genetic variant allows 40 percent of black patients to produce their own version of the drugs. Dr. Stephen Liggett tells The Takeaway about his study and the potential impacts on health care.