Freakonomics, M.D.

Why Fridays May Be Dangerous for Your Health (Ep. 9 Replay)

Sep 2, 2022
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ANECDOTE

West Wing Inspiration

  • Researchers were inspired to study Friday afternoon public health alerts due to a "take out the trash day" episode of the West Wing.
  • This fictional show depicted the White House strategically releasing unfavorable news on Fridays to minimize attention.
INSIGHT

Friday Effect on FDA Alerts

  • FDA Friday alerts receive less attention, being shared 34% less on social media and 12-51% less in news.
  • This "Friday effect" significantly reduces awareness and delays information dissemination by months.
INSIGHT

Impact on Drug-Related Deaths

  • Drug safety alerts released on Fridays are linked to a concerning increase in drug-related deaths.
  • Compared to weekday releases, Friday alerts are less effective in the crucial first six months.
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