Daily Briefing: Emergency Room Use Rises as Americans Cut Back on Prescriptions, Doctor Visits

Uninsured: The number of prescriptions and doctor visits fell in 2011, but the number of emergency-room visits rose as a result of unemployment and loss of health insurance, reports Katie Thomas for the New York Times.

Reproductive Health: The governor of Mississippi is expected to sign a bill into law that would require all abortions to be performed by a OB-GYN, which will make it difficult for the state's sole abortion clinic to stay open, reports Jeffrey Hess for Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

Drug Safety: A new batch of conterfeit drugs was discovered in the United States. Fake versions of the cancer-drug Avastin were made in Turkey and shipped to the U.S. via Britain, reports Ben Hirschler for Reuters.

Obesity: Some 62 percent of Californians would support a tax on soft drinks to curb childhood obesity reports Sandy Kleffman for the Bay Area News Group.

Painkiller Abuse: Oxycodone sales have increased 16-fold in some places, and the deaths from overdoses are rising, reports Chris Hawley for the Associated Press.

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Photo credit: Jared Rodriguez via Flickr