Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Aug. 7, 2025
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New Weight Loss Drugs: Who's Using Them?
Nearly 12 percent of Americans have used GLP-1 agonists, such as Ozempic, for weight loss. This includes about one in five women between the ages of 50 and 64.
That's according to a nationally representative RAND survey of nearly 9,000 adults. It's the largest and most recent survey to explore Americans' use of this new class of weight loss drugs.
Beyond the 12 percent of respondents who are already using GLP-1 drugs, another 14 percent said they are interested in using these medications.
The survey also asked about side effects. About half of those who use the drugs reported experiencing nausea, and about one-third experienced diarrhea. (These are the two most common side effects associated with GLP-1s.)
Since 2020, the number of prescriptions for GLP-1 agonists has more than tripled. Because they have penetrated the market so quickly, research about these drugs is still in its early stages. Studies like RAND's can provide important insights into GLP-1 use and side effects at the population level.
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Why Is It So Expensive to Build Apartments in California?
A recent RAND study finds that building multifamily housing in California costs more than twice what it costs in Texas. RAND's Jason Ward, lead author of that study, explains why on a new episode of the Policy Minded podcast. One big reason is that state and local policies have stretched the time it takes to gain project approvals and complete construction. "Layering on all these often well-intentioned policies," Ward says, has "made the perfect be the enemy of the good."
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Protecting Children in the Metaverse
Digital crimes can already endanger children. But as the metaverse expands--with AI systems, virtual reality, and other online spaces--the risk of children being targeted, exploited, and victimized will likely also grow. Making matters worse, the emerging digital platforms that make up the metaverse are often aggressively marketed to children. RAND's Daniel Gerstein examines how to mitigate these risks in a new report.
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** RAND Recommends
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- China is quietly constructing an "influence ecosystem" in the greater Black Sea region, says RAND's Michael Cecire.
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- How can state governments, education and training organizations, and employers collaborate to create jobs in advanced manufacturing? RAND researchers weigh in.
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- One lesson the U.S. Navy can take from Ukraine's use of unmanned surface vessels is the importance of adaptation, RAND's Bradley Martin tells Task & Purpose.
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** Events
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Health Insurance for Veterans Age 65 and Over
Thursday Aug. 21, 2025 (Online)
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RAND's Disaster Recovery Tracking Tool
Friday Aug. 22, 2025 (Online)
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