News Influencers, Opioid Disparities, and AI Bias in Healthcare

Generational and Political Differences in Accessing Reliable Health News: The Role of News Influencers

A Pew Research Center poll found a shift in how Americans consume news, with 21% regularly turning to social media influencers for updates. These news influencers are primarily independent content creators with large followings, some of whom are journalists, who post about current events and civic issues on social media platforms. However, this shift toward influencer-based news may raise serious questions about the quality and accuracy of health information reaching the public. While some influencers provide credible insights, others spread false or misleading health claims. Even some influencers with medical credentials included in the sample study by Pew have spread false information about health topics like COVID-19. Other news influencers also contributed to the spread of health misinformation. For example, Joe Rogan, included in Pew’s sample of news influencers, has been criticized for using his platform to amplify false or misleading health information, including AIDS denialism and false claims about vaccine safety.

News influencers’ social media profiles can also be tied to their political ideologies, further complicating the landscape of health information. The Pew analysis found that most news influencers identify with certain political leanings, with right-leaning influencers outnumbering left-leaning influencers on most platforms. Among those who get news from influencers, conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats are more likely than moderate Republicans and Democrats to feel that the content they receive from influencers aligns with their own views. This dynamic can lead to a reinforced echo chamber, where followers consume information that supports their existing beliefs. Political figures who become influencers further complicate the landscape by blending their personal brands with their political roles, and using social media to promote their ideologies. Pew’s sample of news influencers included Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas Governor and nomination for U.S. Ambassador to Israel under the new Trump administration. Huckabee has used his social media platform to comment on health policy, including sharing misleading claims, such as equating abortions later in pregnancy with infanticide.

Addressing Misinformation About Naloxone as Opioid Overdose Remains High Among Black and Indigenous Americans 

Although opioid deaths declined in 2023, a KFF analysis found disparities across race and ethnicity, with American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) and Black communities experiencing the highest rates of drug overdose deaths. Although opioid death rates began to show signs of decline across several demographic groups by 2023, the high vulnerability of AIAN and Black populations persists, reflecting broader systemic challenges, including limited access to treatment and harm reduction resources. Prior to naloxone becoming more widely available, research suggested that compared to White people, Black people had limited access to naloxone, a lifesaving drug that reverses opioid overdoses. Misinformation and stigma about naloxone may contribute to this disparity, such as the incorrect belief that naloxone leads to increased substance use. Fear of police harassment for carrying naloxone or being accused of drug possession can also deter people from accessing or using the drug, especially given the intersection of criminalization and substance use. Some public health campaigns aim to raise awareness about naloxone, but it is unclear whether these efforts are reaching or being received by Black and Indigenous communities. Addressing these issues along with affordability concerns may help address the lack of equitable access to naloxone.

Unsubstantiated Claims About Harm Reduction Programs Fuel Stigma

False claims that harm reduction strategies promote drug use continue to surface in response to news about these programs, even when the news is positive. Harm reduction for opioids can involve various strategies to mitigate risks among users, such as syringe needle distribution and distribution of opioid overdose medications. For example, on November 14, NPR published an article about vending machines that provide free harm reduction tools like naloxone to anyone and sterile syringes to harm reduction clinic clients with a special code, explaining how these tools can help prevent overdose deaths and reduce the spread of infectious diseases. The article also prebunked false claims that harm reduction strategies may increase drug use and crime. Despite sharing this encouraging evidence, several Facebook users responded to NPR’s article with the false claim that harm reduction strategies promote drug use.

Recent misleading claims about harm reduction strategies have also come from public health officials. On October 16, two former top officials at the Department of Health and Human Services published an op-ed on Fox News claiming that the current administration’s harm-reduction strategies have “produced more harm, not less.” The authors claimed that harm reduction strategies promote “acceptance of a drug-using lifestyle.” On the day the article was published, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared it on X, stating, “Agreed. To end the opioid crisis we need common sense solutions not ‘harm reduction.’” Most comments agreed with the op-ed, with some falsely claiming that harm reduction strategies provide people with illegal drugs. The article continued to spread on social media platforms, where many posts and comments advocated against harm reduction, falsely claiming that harm reduction can “promote” drug use and discourage treatment.

Despite research showing that harm reduction strategies can prevent overdose deaths, reduce the spread of infectious diseases, and do not increase drug use or crime, the false claim that harm reduction promotes drug use persists. This may reveal public confusion about the goals and functions of harm reduction principles and programs, which aim to reduce the negative effects of drug use and link people to treatment if and when they are ready. Stigmatizing attitudes toward people who use drugs also suggest that the public may not understand that substance use disorder (SUD) is a chronic health condition and although some people are more at risk for it, SUD is fairly common, as nearly three in 10 U.S. adults say they or someone in their family has experienced opioid addiction.

Addressing Racial Bias in AI used for Health Care

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in U.S. healthcare, but algorithms often embed racial and ethnic biases that perpetuate disparities in health outcomes. For example, algorithms used to predict health outcomes may inaccurately assess risks for minority groups due to underrepresentation in the training data. Research shows that AI systems often rely on data that overlooks factors such as a patient’s socioeconomic conditions (e.g., access to transportation or healthy food), leading to inaccurate treatment recommendations or misunderstandings about a patient’s ability to follow medical advice. Studies have also found that AI chatbots can share false medical myths about patients of color. Biases in AI systems are further exacerbated by historical inequities and a lack of transparency. Researchers suggest that reforms should focus on increasing diversity in clinical trials, incorporating socio-environmental factors into health care, and improving equity in algorithm development.

Systemic Inequities and Resulting Distrust Make It Difficult for Marginalized Communities to Navigate Science Misinformation

A study published last year in Science Communication conducted focus groups of Black and Latino adults in Boston, MA to understand how historically excluded and marginalized populations perceive science-related issues and engage with misinformation. Participants expressed distrust of authority figures, celebrity endorsements, and fact-checking efforts. Many cited challenges in accessing accurate information due to institutional biases and systemic inequalities, such as discriminatory media algorithms and lack of representation in traditional newsrooms. Participants resonated most with health and wellness topics, especially messages that used storytelling, cultural figures, or social media as a guide. The findings suggest a need for culturally sensitive strategies, including leveraging trusted local leaders and improving access to multilingual, community-specific information to combat misinformation effectively.

Source: Amazeen, M. A., Vasquez, R. A., Krishna, A., Ji, Y. G., Su, C. C., & Cummings, J. J. (2024). Missing voices: examining how misinformation-susceptible individuals from underrepresented communities engage, perceive, and combat science misinformation. Science Communication, 46(1), 3-35.

Sharing Diverse Health Information and Mindfulness Techniques May Combat Information Fatigue in Older Adults

A study in Frontiers in Psychology examined how algorithm-driven content may contribute to information overload and avoidance in older adults. Because algorithms often prioritize similar or excessive information, older adults may become fatigued and avoid engaging with health content. The study suggests that mindfulness, the practice of staying focused and non-judgmental, may help mitigate this effect. While mindfulness does not directly reduce fatigue from information overload, it helps individuals engage more effectively with health information. The findings highlight the importance of providing diverse, accessible health content and incorporating mindfulness techniques to improve how older adults process and respond to health-related information.

Source: Zhong, F., & Gu, C. (2024). The impact of health information echo chambers on older adults avoidance behavior: the mediating role of information fatigue and the moderating role of trait mindfulness. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1412515.