US docs are getting more careful about prescribing opioids

May 31, 2018

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US Doctors are increasingly using prescription drug monitoring programs — databases that track patients’ drug history — in an effort to cut down on inappropriate prescriptions.

By the numbers:

  • This rise in monitoring corresponded with a 9% drop in opioid prescriptions between 2016 and 2017, according to new data from the American Medical Association.
  • The number of opioid prescriptions decreased by 22% between 2013 and 2017.
  • Prescriptions for naloxone, which is used for opioid overdose reversal, more than doubled in 2017 and are still on the rise in 2018.
  • Over the past year, there’s been a 42% increase in the number of providers certified to use buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorders.
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The global plastics problem is enormous

May 31, 2018

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Several recent reports highlight the damage from massive global plastics consumption and the challenge of tackling the problem.

In focus: The chart above shows a stunning statistic highlighted in one of the recent reports — global plastics production grew to over 400 million tons in 2015.

Why it matters: Plastic bags, bottles and many other wastes are causing widespread harm to marine and coastal ecosystems — and as the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s May 24 reportreminds us, the problem is getting worse.

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That sound? Massive drone fleets are coming

May 31, 2018

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“Artificial intelligence and automation will make it possible to operate massive drone fleets simultaneously, increasing efficiency and greatly expanding their capabilities,”  TIME’s Alex Fitzpatrick writes in the new cover package.

  • “First responders envision highways lined with drones ready to zip lifesaving medicine to accident scenes. Global transportation firms are designing helicopter-size versions that could zip people around like flying taxis, Jetsons-style, without a pilot on board.”
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Confused about how to best visualize your data? Try Furthr’s course in conjunction with Tech accelerator IdeaLondon

May 31, 2018

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Confused about how to best visualize your data?

Try Furthr’s course in conjunction with Tech accelerator IdeaLondon.

A three hour, fast track masterclass will be held at IdeaLondon on Monday. July 30. Tickets are £99.

It’s a chance to learn about  about data viz amongst some of the most promising start ups in the heart of London’s Tech City.

Learn more at datavizlualization.london or email andy@furthr.co.uk

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May 31, 2018

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Mary Meeker of Kleiner Perkins, whose annual Internet Trends presentation is Silicon Valley’s most hotly awaited deck, this year includes an eye-opening stat on what she called “global internet leadership, the U.S. and China.”

“Five years ago, nine of them were in the U.S.; two were in China,” Meeker told Recode’s Code conference. “Today, 11 are in the U.S., nine are in China — China obviously gaining very rapidly.”

But instead of backing 21st century tech, what does President Trump support? The coal industry.

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Here comes the jobs apocalypse!

May 24, 2018

1527103690570Congress and the Trump administration have yet to create a coherent policy response to a widely forecast social and economic tsunami resulting from automation, including the potential for decades of flat wages and joblessness. But US cities and regions are now starting to act on their own.

What’s happening: In Indianapolis, about 338,000 people are at high risk of automation taking their jobs, according to a new report.

In Phoenix, the number is 650,000. In both cases, that’s 35% of the workforce.

In northeastern Ohio, about 40,000 workers are at high risk.

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Inside the electric scooter boom

May 24, 2018

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The electric scooter boom in the US has been compared to early days of ride-hailing in terms of how it is revolutionizing urban transportation, but the two markets are fundamentally different.

The big difference: E-scooter companies own their scooters and charge rental fees, whereas ride-hail companies don’t own their cars and take a minority cut from driver earnings.

Some cities like San Francisco and Austin are capping the number of scooters allowed on their streets, which would effectively cap revenue. Ride-hail, on the other hand, has a more elastic supply of drivers.

  • E-scooter companies strive to make sure scooters are available when and where customers want them. In some ways this is similar to ride-hail, where drivers’ apps have maps showing real-time ride demand levels.
  • But it’s also different, in that an e-scooter cannot immediately travel to a customer upon request.
  • In some markets like college campuses, there’s usually only room for one player with exclusive rights.

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How “structured worry time” will help you sleep

May 24, 2018

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The right amount of sleep is vital to good health and well being.

But in an “always-on” culture, getting to sleep can be hard.

One technique designed to help is called “structured worry time.”

During the day, we suppress the things that are bothering us, usually because we are so busy. The only time we have to confront these issues is when we are lying in bed at night. These thoughts can stop us getting to sleep.

By committing to a structured time to let our worries out – perhaps in the early part of the evening –  we can clear the decks so we can get off to sleep at bedtime.

An alternative idea is to relate to our nighttime thoughts in a different way. As you go to bed,  “watch” your thoughts come by without trying to control them or get rid of them.

This is a way for you to calm down without having to feel that you must clear your mind before you fall asleep.

Obviously, your smartphone is not usually an aid for restful sleep.

It has been found that the light from your smartphone (or any light) can have an impact on your circadian rhythm, which guides your sleep-wake patterns. So put the smartophone away at bed time.

And if you can’t sleep, don’t grab your smartphone for something to do. The light will likely promote wakefulness.

 

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