STAT+: Three years of declining overdose deaths begets cautious optimism and some concerns

STAT PlusNewsletterMorning Rounds Three years of declining overdose deaths begets cautious optimism and some concerns The next FDA leader, how the CDC is responding to hantavirus, and more health news from Morning Rounds Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Theresa GaffneyMay 14, 2026 Morning Rounds Writer and Reporter Theresa Gaffney[email protected]Theresa is the lead Morning Rounds writer, and her stories focus on gender-affirming care, reproductive health, and mental health. You can reach Theresa on Signal at theresagaff.97. Get your daily dose of health and medicine every weekday with STAT’s free newsletter Morning Rounds. Sign up here. Good morning. STAT’s Helen Branswell was recently interviewed for Columbia Journalism Review about the challenges of reporting on the hantavirus outbreak. If you need a dose of empathy for journalists — or if you’re a reporter yourself, looking for guidance from the best — check it out. And if you want to subscribe to STAT+ afterward, you can do that here. Advertisement The Trump admin’s wish list for its next FDA leader The Trump administration is working to identify the next FDA commissioner after Marty Makary resigned on Tuesday. The dream candidate is someone who can rebuild trust with agency staff, focus on the agency’s food policy, and continue to drive drug-approval reforms, STAT’s Daniel Payne and Lizzy Lawrence report. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In health care Submit a correction requestReprints Theresa Gaffney Morning Rounds Writer and Reporter Theresa is the lead Morning Rounds writer, and her stories focus on gender-affirming care, reproductive health, and mental health. You can reach Theresa on Signal at theresagaff.97. Newsletter Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day Recommended Morning Rounds May 13, 2026 Extreme heat is worsening faster for Black Americans Morning Rounds May 12, 2026 Supreme Court extends mifepristone deadline Advertisement Morning Rounds May 11, 2026 The connection between periods and mental health Morning Rounds May 8, 2026 The aging scientific workforce collides with rising fabricating citations in medical journals Morning Rounds May 7, 2026 Hospital shootings steadily increased since 2000 Subscriber Picks