Health Highlights: Oct. 1, 2021

Merck to seek emergency approval for its new COVID antiviral pill: In a trial of the drug molnupiravir, the risk of hospitalization and death was halved when given to high-risk patients within five days of infection. Read more

Has the pandemic made the opioid epidemic worse? In interviews with HealthDay Now, experts say that overdoses soared, but the rise of telehealth also helped many get vital treatments. Read more

A silver lining to the pandemic: less vaping among teens. New statistics show a 40% drop in use, as teens had to stay home more during lockdowns and closures. Read more

New data shows police killings underreported: And Black Americans were 3.5 times more likely to die from police violence than white Americans, the study found. Read more