How does the law keep us healthy?
What’s “chronic” + Strategies for mental well-being + How to know which supplements are safe
Welcome to Doing Well. Today:
A Q&A on the role of public health law in improving community health
Learn how the 1918 influenza pandemic changed the way governments are involved in health
A course on global health and policy
Health news we’ve found useful this week
Strategies to improve stress management and anxiety
Word(s) of the week: “chronic”
Thanks for reading. Let’s get started.
We Asked: What role does the law have in improving health outcomes?
Public health law is at a crossroads. Once seen as a behind-the-scenes framework for setting policies like the legal drinking age or regulating food safety, it is now front and center in debates about individual rights, government authority, and community health.
Public health law shapes our collective well-being: defining standards for health care and who has access to health services, ensuring the medicine we take and the food we eat is safe, and determining how we can best protect our communities against existing and emerging diseases and other health threats, from traffic accidents to the flu. In a time of growing health misinformation, shifting policies, and legal pushback on long-standing protections, understanding the purpose and scope of public health law is more important than ever.
I spoke with James Hodge, professor of law and director of the Center for Public Health Law and Policy, to better understand the evolving role of law in public health. He explained the growing importance of legal interventions—and the resistance they now face—in keeping us all healthy. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Natasha Burrell: What is public health law?
James Hodge: Public health law is its own concentration, and it focuses on how we use law as an effective tool to improve the health of populations, not necessarily just individuals. When we speak of health law, the broader field, we're talking about your individual health outcomes. When we talk about public health law, it really is all the different ways we can utilize law to improve population health. Those are very distinct legal themes, and they're the core of what I do here at ASU.
NB: In your book Public Health Law in a Nutshell, you describe law as a primary tool for improving public health outcomes. How so?
JH: This is not about a single strategy. This is a federal, state, local, and tribal series of initiatives, all designed to realize that at times, legal interventions are the surest way to accomplish a public health objective.
Just to give you a sense of that, a very dominant theme before all levels of government right now in the United States has been vaccine mandates. These mandates require persons to get vaccinated to participate in particular things like school, travel, sometimes hospital work, and other [activities].
Vaccine mandates are underwritten by the law, and policymakers learned a long time ago that these vaccine mandates are empirically demonstrated to greatly improve vaccination rates across populations. We have to accomplish that to achieve herd immunity. You can vaccinate half the population for measles—that won't matter much to persons who aren't vaccinated; measles will spread as it is currently. So law can be the premier tool to accomplish a public health objective; legal interventions are what we would use to primarily accomplish that particular goal.
What we've done in the last 30 to 40 years particularly well is demonstrating the legal efficacy of those specific interventions. We're not just hoping or guessing that these laws work, we’re demonstrating it through scientifically backed studies that look closely at the efficacy of legal interventions. There's proliferate examples of that, but vaccine mandates are a really good one.
NB: How have you seen health and public health law evolve over the past few years, and what are the most significant changes?
JH: One of the neat things that I've been tracking and watching over many years now—decades—is this incredible transformation of public health law as a premier tool in public health. I've referred to it as this renaissance in public health law. We have always used it to provide a backdrop for controlling infectious conditions and addressing a few chronic diseases. But since the turn of the century, we started using law as a solid tool for intervening in the interests of protecting public self. That renaissance has been powerful.
But the dilemma we see now is as public health evolves, it's got very strong political ends and objectives, and sometimes objectors. It's been interesting to watch in the three years since COVID-19 came into our rearview mirror, how much America has experienced with that pandemic. We saw for the first time just how far we actually could go through legal interventions to make sure we don't lose persons unnecessarily to this condition. Americans saw that in real time and understood that public law is powerful.
We see now, in a post-renaissance arena, that we're struggling to secure the legal interventions that are absolutely essential to protect public health. Vaccines are a really good example of that. We are against the backdrop of anti-vaccine sentiments at the [federal] level and in multiple states. We're seeing a backlash against that initial renaissance of using legal interventions. We're working really hard to make sure that resistance to public health law doesn't lead to diminished life expectancies and public health outcomes due largely to a failure to implement or enforce public health laws and policies. It’s not that they don't work—it's just the public's appetite and policymakers' attention to these issues has been on the decline since COVID-19.
NB: What role do research and evidence play in crafting a compelling case for stronger public health policies and laws?
JH: That is one of the neat things from the renaissance that we really started to see—if we're going to use public health law effectively, we better be able to prove that it actually works. So it's one thing to say we're going to implement seat belt laws in the 1970s. It's another to prove these actually saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Now, we've fully documented and proven efficacy. But here's what we started to also experience, and why it's so essential to actually demonstrate the efficacy of these legal interventions—they will be challenged. So if you implement something that some Americans view as infringements on their civil liberties, like helmet laws for motorcycle use, you better be prepared to demonstrate that your legal intervention is sound, that it actually has efficacy, and that it will work to improve population health and may save lives.
We've seen good research on those specific initiatives—and even against that backdrop, we face judicial challenges to legislative interventions or regulatory concerns. Even against the backdrop of proving how effective these laws can be, sometimes legislators and courts will decide against interventions.
Imagine all the different legal interventions that we have available to us. The ones that have definitive efficacy, proven over multiple years, have the strongest opportunity to survive scrutiny in courts and before legislatures.
Keep up with the Center for Public Health Law and Policy's work, including updates on public health cases in the Supreme Court, emergency preparedness and the avian flu, and open career opportunities in public health law and policy.
Well-Informed: Related stories from the ASU Media Enterprise archives
The 1918 influenza pandemic, often referred to as the Spanish flu, marked a pivotal moment in the evolution of public health. In response, governments began to take a more active role in health care, leading to the establishment of centralized public health systems and the implementation of policies aimed at improving population health. Read more in this article from Zócalo Public Square.
In this podcast episode from Issues in Science and Technology, Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, discusses the persistent racial and ethnic disparities in the U.S. health care system—and how policy can address them.
Well-Versed: Learning resources to go deeper
Interested in learning how to turn health research into policy action? Check out this course from ASU’s Thunderbird School of Global Management. You’ll explore how to transform evidence-based insights into policies and interventions that impact global health outcomes.
Well-Read: News we’ve found useful this week
“Nearly Half of Americans Live in Places With Failing Grades for Air Pollution, Report Says,” by Evan Bush, Apr. 22, 2025, NBC
“Here's How to Use Nasal Spray Right and More Tips for Managing Spring Allergies,” by Andrea Muraskin, Apr. 19, 2025, NPR
“5 Things to Know About Fluoride and Dental Health,” by Teddy Amenabar, Apr. 14, 2025, The Washington Post
“Metabolic Syndrome is a Big Risk Factor for Early Dementia, and What You Do Makes a Difference, Study Suggests,” by Madeline Holcombe, Apr. 23, 2025, CNN
Well-Engaged: Your turn!
In 2023, one in every two Americans polled by Gallup said they frequently experienced stress in everyday life—up from one in three in 2003. For women aged 18 to 49, the proportion is even higher: 69 percent said they frequently experienced stress.
Given these statistics, it’s not surprising that we hear a lot about stress and stress management. The World Health Organization defines stress “as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.” Stress isn’t inherently bad—it’s an evolutionary response in which our bodies produce hormones such as cortisol and activate our immune systems, originally meant to assist us in getting out of dangerous situations like being chased by a bear. But today, most of us aren’t being chased by bears—instead, we often experience high levels of stress in situations that don’t warrant an emergency response.
Here are some tips the Doing Well team has found useful for calming down our nervous systems during high levels of stress:
Temperature shocks: This can include holding a piece of ice or putting your face in cold water.
Movement/physical activity: Whether it’s taking a short walk or doing a full workout, moving the body can help process stress physically. You can listen to a podcast or your favorite playlist, but allow yourself not to think about what is causing you stress.
Butterfly tapping (bilateral stimulation): Cross your arms over your chest, as if you’re going down a water slide, and tap one hand then the other in an even beat.
Talking to a loved one: Allow yourself to vent to someone who you trust.
Cognitive Shuffling: Begin with a simple, non-emotionally charged word, and with each letter of the word think of another word beginning with that letter that otherwise has nothing to do with the original word. For example, if “land” is my original word, I would think of words beginning with the letter “l” that are not related to “land.” Laxative, light, and level are all words that would apply. Then, I would move onto the letter “a” (the words apple, aquarius, and axel would all apply) and so on until you have reached the last letter of the word.
Square breathing/Box breathing: Inhale for four seconds, hold your breath for another four seconds, exhale for four seconds, and hold your breath again for four seconds.
- Animation by Sara Montes Delgadillo, assistant health illustrator and ASU student
What can we add to this list? Share your favorite tricks for managing stress in the comments or by replying to this email.
Well-Defined: Word of the week
The word chronic is often used to describe the length of an illness or condition, in which that condition is lifelong or long-term, and does not have a cure. Some examples of chronic illnesses include physical conditions like Type 1 diabetes, arthritis, cancer, or asthma, as well as mental conditions like depression or schizophrenia, among other illnesses. A little over half of all adults living in the U.S. have been diagnosed with at least one chronic illness, and approximately 27% have been diagnosed with more than one. Managing these incredibly impactful conditions can be stressful and take a toll on mental health.
- Mel Moore, health communication assistant and ASU student
Well-Aware: Setting the record straight on health myths
Walking down the supplement aisle can be overwhelming. With so many options promising better health, stronger immunity, and more energy, it’s easy to assume they’re all safe and effective. But here’s the thing: Supplements aren’t as closely regulated as prescription drugs. That means it’s up to us to be mindful about what we’re putting in our bodies.
Unlike medications, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t review supplements before they hit the market. Under the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, supplement companies are responsible for their own safety testing—but there’s little oversight. The FDA only steps in if there are reports of harm, so some products may not be as safe or effective as they claim.
When it comes to vitamins and supplements, more doesn’t always mean better. If you’re unsure if you need a supplement, or need help knowing what’s right for you, talking to a doctor or dietitian can help.
So, what should you look for when choosing a supplement? Be wary of bold claims like "boosts immunity instantly" or "cures all ailments." Avoid supplements with vague “proprietary blends” that don’t list ingredient amounts. Instead, look for third-party testing from organizations like U.S. Pharmacopeia (labeled with USP Seal), NSF International (labelled NSF/ANSI 173), and ConsumerLab. These independent groups verify that what’s on the label is actually in the bottle—without unwanted extras.
Consult a health care professional before adding new supplements to your routine to make sure you are getting the benefits that you are looking for. Supplements can be helpful, but they’re not a magic fix. The key is making informed choices—reading labels, checking for reputable testing, and ensuring you actually need what you’re taking. A little research goes a long way in protecting both your health and your wallet.
-Kitana Ford, health communication assistant and ASU student
Expert review provided by Zach Cordell, registered dietitian nutritionist and associate teaching professor at ASU’s College of Health Solutions
Do you have a question or topic you’d like us to tackle? Would you like to share your experience? Reach out at any time—we’d love to hear from you.