Ever since fluoride has been added to drinking water in 1945, it's been controversial.

What's the latest on fluoridation?

This is the People's Pharmacy with Terry and Joe Graydon.

Fluoride in water is complicated.

Responsible researchers have different perspectives.

Today is the first of a two-part series.

Our first guest is Dr. Gary Slade, a dentist and epidemiologist.

My perspective is that the benefits in preventing decay are clear and abundant and that

it's a good thing for children to have fluoridated water to be using fluoridated

toothpaste in the right amounts.

Coming up on the people's pharmacy, examining the pros and cons of water fluoridation.

In the People's Pharmacy Health Headlines, the Food and Drug Administration has just approved a new

painkiller. It's the first non-opioid analgesic to be developed in decades.

Suzetrogen will be sold under the brand name Jornivix.

Some researchers have described it as roughly comparable to a weak opioid.

The FDA approved the drug for acute pain, such as that following surgery or an injury. Because the medication

works on sodium channels in peripheral nerves, experts hope there will be little or no

addiction potential. The two clinical trials that led to approval of Jernovics compared it to

placebo or the ingredients in Vicodin,, hydrocodone and acetaminopin.

It was comparable to the opioid combination for relieving pain following a tummy tuck or bunion

removal procedure. The cost is not trivial. At roughly $31 a day, it's substantially more expensive than traditional post-surgical

pain medicines. Side effects may include itching, rash, muscle spasms, and elevated creatine

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