HEALTH

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Abuse of the cough ingredient dextromethorphan among high school seniors is down, according to this year’s Monitoring the Future survey, which measures drug use and attitudes among the nation’s eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders. Approximately 5% of seniors reported abuse of dextromethorphan, down from 6.9% in 2006, the first year it was measured by the survey.

GÖTEBORG, Sweden — Meda has signed an agreement to acquire ZpearPoint AS, including global rights to its main product, EB24, an OTC line for  treating dental erosion.  

The EB24 product is based on hydrogen fluoride highly diluted in water. In studies, the product has shown that it is able to penetrate enamel surfaces and form calcium fluoride resulting in an anti-erosive effect. As such, EB24 works as a protective agent against dental erosion. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — The long-standing partnership between Rite Aid and nutritional products retailer GNC is being extended through the end of the decade, Rite Aid said Thursday.

Rite Aid said the partnership, which started in 1998, has been extended through 2019. The extension allows Rite Aid to add at least 300 GNC LiveWell store-within-a-store locations over the next five years. Currently, there are more than 2,200 such locations throughout the Rite Aid chain.

EASTON, Conn. — Good to Go recently launched a solution formulated to help prevent traveler’s constipation. 

RONKONKOMA, N.Y. — Balance Bar on Thursday asked Americans to join them in taking the Balance Bar Pledge, an anti-resolutions pledge that encourages people to skip the tradition of setting overly ambitious and sometimes unachievable goals and instead make one small step each month that supports their health, wellness and overall happiness.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Kashi on Wednesday launched Crunchy Granola and Seed Bars in two flavors - Honey Oat Flax and Chocolate Chip Chia. The bars include chia seeds, flax and quinoa. 

"We're passionate about providing delicious and progressive ways to nourish appetites. Kashi's new Crunchy Granola and Seed Bars are made from wholesome ingredients that make positive eating easy," John King, Kashi marketing director said.

MARSHFIELD, Wis. — Respiratory Syncytial Virus appears to cause milder illness than influenza in adults age 50 or older, researchers at Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation announced Wednesday.

The study, published online in Clinical Infectious Diseases, also shows RSV is a common cause of respiratory illness in older adults and that the chance of infection increases with age.

PITTSBURGH — Four school districts have won a competition sponsored by Mylan to raise awareness about dangerous allergic reactions, the company said Wednesday.

Mylan, whose Mylan Specialty division makes the EpiPen injector pen for severe allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, announced the winners of the Raise Your Hand for Anaphylaxis Awareness competition, for which it hired actress Julie Bowen as a celebrity spokeswoman.