The most common pain relief drug in the world induces risky behavior, study finds
Despite the seriousness of those findings, acetaminophen nonetheless remains one of the most used medications in the world, considered an essential medicine by the World Health Organization, and recommended by the CDC for pain relief at home… the findings are reported in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
“Acetaminophen seems to make people feel less negative emotion when they consider risky activities – they just don’t feel as scared,” neuroscientist Baldwin Way from The Ohio State University explained last year. “With nearly 25 percent of the population in the US taking acetaminophen each week, reduced risk perceptions and increased risk-taking could have important effects on society.” The findings add to a recent body of research suggesting that acetaminophen’s effects on pain reduction also extend to various psychological processes, lowering people’s receptivity to hurt feelings, experiencing reduced empathy, and even blunting cognitive functions.
Original Article (Science Alert):
The most common pain relief drug in the world induces risky behavior, study finds
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