HEALTH

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear on Monday announced the launch of a privately funded, statewide campaign aimed at increasing public awareness about "smurfing," the illegal process of buying products containing pseudoephedrine on behalf of methamphetamine criminals. The goal of the Anti-Smurfing Campaign is to inform potential smurfers and the general public — through signage displayed at pharmacy sales counters — that smurfing is a serious criminal offense that can result in criminal charges and possibly time in jail. 

WATSONVILLE, Calif. — Nordic Naturals last week received the Marine Stewardship Council Chain of Custody certification for its processing plant in Bodo, Norway, the supplement supplier stated. The MSC is an international non-profit organization that seeks to contribute to the health of the world’s oceans, in part, by working with its partners to transform the seafood market to a sustainable basis.

NEWBURY, Ohio — Hebron USA on Monday announced the launch of the Florax DS, a line of ready-to-drink probiotics that doesn't require refrigeration. 

Florax DS products are formulated with a proprietary strain of the probiotic yeast called Saccharomyces Cerevisiae Cepa Fr 1972, also known as a nutritional or brewers' yeast.  

The Florax DS RTDs will be available in two flavors — original and raspberry — through Drugstore.com, Meijer, Discount Drug Mart and Rainforestsremedies.com.

NEW YORK — Bayer will not be raising its offer for Schiff Nutrition to match or exceed last week's bid from Reckitt Benckiser, Reuters reported Tuesday morning. 

Bayer's bid is still active, however, and is in discussions with Schiff to acquire the company for its original evaluation of $1.2 billion. Reckitt Benckiser bid $1.4 billion. 

To read the Reuters report, click here. 

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid is offering Black Friday discounts early at its stores this year.

The retail pharmacy chain said it would open its stores from at least 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and emailing Black Friday survival guides with shopping tips and savings to customers. The National Retail Federation predicts that 71 million shoppers will visit retailers over Black Friday weekend.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Current cigarette smoking among 12- to 17-year-olds fell significantly from 2002 to 2010 in 41 states, according to a report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration issued last week. The report also found that during the same period, adolescent perception of risk from cigarette smoking has remained unchanged in most states.

ATLANTA – The American Cancer Society on Friday honored 19 companies, including three retail pharmacy operators and three consumer packaged goods companies, with its Excellence in Philanthropy award — recognizing the companies for their generous support of the society’s efforts to eliminate cancer as a public health burden.

CINCINNATI — A new University of Cincinnati study released last week examined how anxiety sensitivity can thwart the efforts of smokers with asthma to quit smoking. This new direction of research from Alison McLeish, a UC assistant professor of psychology, was presented Nov.17 at the 46th annual convention of the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies in National Harbor, Md.