The hottest Youth health Substack posts right now

Youth vaping and smoking rates have dropped sharply in recent years, which is a major public health win.
Obsession with banning flavored e-cigarettes seems misplaced because teen use is already low and illegal flavored vapes are widespread but not driving youth use.
Flavored e-cigarettes can help adults quit smoking, so limiting access risks undermining a useful tool for reducing tobacco deaths.

Trans activism grew rapidly and increasingly embraced self-identification, prompting institutions, media, and medical bodies to redefine gender and minimize the role of biological sex.
Those changes produced sharp real-world conflicts over women-only spaces, fairness in female sports, and medical treatments for minors, while critics, detransitioners, and concerned parents were often marginalized or silenced.
The movement’s perceived overreach generated a powerful backlash: public support for some trans policies declined, legislatures and courts tightened rules on youth care and sports, and broader support for LGBT causes eroded.

Young athletes can be affected by aggressive testicular cancer.
COVID-19 mRNA vaccines might be linked to testicular injuries.
Quick medical attention is crucial for diagnosing and treating testicular cancer.

Independent publications and individual testimonies have been instrumental in shedding light on the complexities of 'gender-affirming' care.
The increase in lawsuits from young individuals highlights the significant consequences of life-altering treatments.
Therapist Tamara Pietzke's experience reveals concerns about the current trend of 'affirmative care' for youth with gender dysphoria, urging a reevaluation of therapeutic approaches.

The study on gender-affirming medical care suggests that puberty blockers didn't improve or harm the mental health of the youth involved, indicating they were stable throughout the study.
There were concerns about the study's methodology, including why certain outcomes weren’t reported and a significant drop in participants over the study period, which raises questions about the validity of the results.
Researchers have changed their claims about the purpose and effectiveness of puberty blockers, leading to confusion about their intended use and the outcomes they produce.

Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Antipsychotic medications can increase the risk of metabolic syndrome and other adverse outcomes in individuals with depression.
Youth treated with higher-dose antipsychotic medications are at risk of increased mortality, especially among vulnerable children.
Treating young adults with high-dose antipsychotic medications can result in significantly more deaths compared to fentanyl, emphasizing the need for better options for vulnerable youth.

RainbowYOUTH NZ provides breast binders to 13-year-old girls without needing parental permission. This raises questions about parental rights and the safety of the children.
Breast binders can be harmful, as they may lead to health issues like breathing difficulties and back pain. They are similar to old-fashioned corsets that shape the body unnaturally.
There are concerns about the ethics of giving potentially harmful items to minors. Some people wonder if organizations like RainbowYOUTH truly have the best interests of young people in mind.