MMWR: Kratom-Related Poison Center Reports Surge 1,200%
Published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, new data show kratom-related exposures reported to U.S. poison centers increased approximately 1,200% from 2015 to 2025, reaching a record high.
The findings highlight a shift toward higher-potency products and expanding use across demographic groups. Although many cases involved kratom alone, co-use with substances such as alcohol, op…
Stay Connected with NPHIC on Social Media
Stay connected by following NPHIC on LinkedIn—see our posts, share your thoughts, and engage directly with the public health communications community. Get the latest updates, including news from the National Conference on Health Communication, Marketing, and Media (NCHCMM).
You can also connect with us on Facebook [@NPHICpublic], X (Twitter) [@NPHIC], and Instagram [@NPHIC_].
…
What’s Ahead for NPHIC in 2026
As we move further into 2026, NPHIC wants to thank our members for your continued leadership and dedication to public health communication. In a rapidly evolving information landscape, we remain deeply committed to supporting your work through practical tools, professional development, and opportunities for connection.
This year, we are exploring a potential strategic partnership with the Pub…
Medical Misinformation More Likely to Fool AI if Source Appears Legitimate, Study Shows
A recent study highlights that artificial intelligence (AI) tools are more likely to share incorrect medical information when it appears to come from authoritative sources, such as doctors’ notes, compared with social media content. Researchers tested multiple AI models using clinical scenarios, hospital discharge summaries with inserted errors, and common health myths.
Findings show AI “believed” nearly half of fabricated recommendations in realistic medical notes, while only 9% of social media misinformation was propagated. The study underscores the need for built-in safeguards i…
New Voices from the Field – Public Health Speaks Podcast: Empathy, Autonomy, and the Future of Health Communication
Recorded at the 2025 NCHCMM in Atlanta, NPHIC’s Public Health Speaks podcast continues its Voices from the Field series with a timely conversation on health autonomy, motivation, and artificial intelligence in communication. Amelia Burke-Garcia, PhD, Director of the Center for Health Communication Science at NORC, shares insights from her recent opinion piece and explores how Self-Determination Theory can strengthen practice.
She discusses designing empathetic, relevant messaging that supports autonomy while advancing population health goals, and how AI tools can help scale tailored, evid…