Answer Addiction

Tag: opioid addiction treatment

  • Using Naltrexone During Pregnancy Can Benefit Infants, Moms

    Using Naltrexone During Pregnancy Can Benefit Infants, Moms

    A new study found that naltrexone was more effective than buprenorphine at preventing overdose during pregnancy.

    Using naltrexone to treat pregnant women who have opioid use disorder can benefit both mother and child and reduce the chances of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), according to a study released this week. 

    The study, published in the journal Clinical Therapeutics, compared outcomes for mothers and babies when the mothers were treated with naltrexone (known by the brand name Vivitrol), compared with a group of mothers who were treated with buprenorphine.

    Naltrexone vs. Buprenorphine

    The study was small, with just six mothers treated with naltrexone and 12 treated with buprenorphine. However, the results were powerful. They showed that none of the infants whose mothers had been treated with naltrexone experienced neonatal abstinence syndrome.

    On the other hand, 92% of the infants whose mothers used buprenorphine showed signs of neonatal abstinence syndrome, and 46% required medications to treat their withdrawal symptoms. 

    Eighty-three percent of mothers treated with naltrexone were able to initiate breastfeeding. 

    The study also found that naltrexone was more effective at preventing overdose during pregnancy, which is one of the biggest risk factors for the health of women and their fetuses.

    All of the women taking naltrexone abstained from illicit opioid use during their pregnancy, but 23% of the women being treated with buprenorphine relapsed during their pregnancy. The authors noted in a news release that the most important aspect of treating opioid use disorder during pregnancy is keeping the mothers stable on their medication to decrease any risk of relapse.

    “While these study results are preliminary, the outcomes we observed for both mother and baby when naltrexone is used to treat opioid use disorder during pregnancy are promising,” said study author Dr. Elisha Wachman, a neonatologist at Boston Medical Center. 

    Wachman said that there needs to be more study that compares long-term outcomes.

    “Our findings support the need for a larger multi-center study examining the long-term maternal and child safety and efficacy outcomes of naltrexone during pregnancy,” she said. “If those studies yield positive outcomes for both mother and baby, continuing women on naltrexone during their pregnancy could be another safe approach to treat opioid use disorder.”

    Over the past 10 years, the number of babies born dependent on opioids has increased five-fold. For these infants, the symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome appear in the first few days of life, and can include trouble eating, muscle rigidity, and an inability to be soothed.

    Up to 80% of babies born with neonatal abstinence syndrome require medications—including morphine, methadone and buprenorphine—to treat their symptoms. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How to Find the Best Tuzistra XR Rehab

    How to Find the Best Tuzistra XR Rehab

    Use this helpful guide to find answers to questions about Tuzistra XR.

    1. What is Tuzistra XR and What is it Used for?
    2. Tuzistra XR Alternative Names
    3. Tuzistra XR Side Effects and Potential for Abuse
    4. Signs Tuzistra XR Rehab is Necessary
    5. Tuzistra XR Abuse Can Lead to Overdose
    6. Withdrawal and Detox Tuzistra XR Rehab
    7. Treating Addiction in Tuzistra XR Rehab
    8. What to Look for in a Good Tuzistra XR Rehab Facility

    Any kind of opioid drug can be risky and dangerous because of the potential for abuse, addiction, and overdose. The opioid and drug overdose addiction crisis has reached epidemic levels in the U.S. with more than 130 overdose deaths involving these drugs every day. If you abuse even a seemingly harmless drug like Tuzistra XR, a narcotic cough syrup, you run the risk of getting addicted and even dying. 

    If you or someone you care about has been abusing this drug, seek out Tuzistra XR rehabilitation and treatment as soon as possible. The risks are very real, but professional treatment is available and effective. With the right rehab, you can achieve recovery and stop using opioid drugs. 

    What is Tuzistra XR and What is it Used for?

    Tuzistra XR is a prescription medication used to treat cough and other symptoms related to allergies and colds. The two components of the drug are codeine, an opioid narcotic, and chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine. The codeine acts as a cough suppressant, and chlorpheniramine acts to block the actions of histamine, like runny nose and water, itchy eyes. 

    Tuzistra XR Alternative Names

    The combination of codeine with chlorpheniramine is available as a prescription under the brand name name Tuzistra. Other brand name drugs that include both are Cotab A, Demi-Cof, Notuss, Pediacof, Pediatuss, Rolatuss, Vanacof, Z Tuss, and Zodryl. The XR form of Tuzistra is an extended release formulation designed to last for a longer period of time. When abused or used, bought or sold illicitly, Tuzistra XR may go by any of the street names used for opioid drugs:

    • Cody or Captain Cody
    • Doors and Fours
    • Goodfella
    • Demmies
    • Dillies
    • Friend 
    • Jackpot
    • Juice
    • China girl
    • China white
    • Pain killers 
    • Perks
    • Tango and Cash
    • Loads
    • Apache
    • Murder 8
    • TNT

    Tuzistra XR Side Effects and Potential for Abuse

    A serious risk of abusing Tuzistra XR is the potential for side effects. Abusing this drug means taking more than recommended or using it more frequently or for longer. Taking it for any reason other than that for which it is prescribed is considered abuse. Tuzistra XR abuse can increase the risk of experiencing side effects, including those that are more serious. Tuzistra XR effects that are most common include:

    • Nausea
    • Vomiting
    • Abdominal swelling
    • Constipation
    • Blurred vision
    • Visual disturbances
    • Headaches
    • Drowsiness
    • Lightheadedness
    • Depression
    • Anxiety
    • Restlessness
    • Irritability
    • Insomnia
    • Tremors

    Another big risk of abusing this drug is Tuzistra XR addiction. The Drug Enforcement Administration has classified it as a schedule V controlled substance. This is the lowest schedule, but it is reserved for drugs that have a potential for abuse and can be habit-forming, including codeine cough syrups. Codeine abuse, even in these lower doses can lead to Tuzistra XR dependence. 

    Signs Tuzistra XR Rehab is Necessary

    Any degree of misuse of an opioid is problematic. It can lead to side effects, adverse events, and addiction. You don’t have to be diagnosed with a Tuzistra XR addiction in order to seek help and benefit from professional treatment. If you are struggling with this kind of drug use and cannot seem to stop, it is important to reach out for Tuzistra XR addiction help. 

    If you aren’t sure if you or someone you care about has reached that point of needing professional help, you are not alone. It’s not easy to see the signs in yourself or someone you are close to. Consider these signs that professionals use to diagnose mild, moderate, and severe addictions. If you have any of these, treatment can help: 

    • Continuing to use Tuzistra XR after attempts to stop or use less
    • Repeatedly using more Tuzistra XR or for longer than intended or planned
    • Craving Tuzistra XR when not using it
    • Spending a significant and increasing amount of time using drugs, recovering from drug use, or trying to get more drugs
    • Failing to meet responsibilities because of time spent on drug use
    • Giving up other activities in order to spend more time with Tuzistra XR
    • Continuing to use the drug even when it causes relationship problems
    • Continuing to use it in spite of physical or mental health problems that it causes or makes worse
    • Using Tuzistra XR in situations that are dangerous or risky
    • Developing tolerance
    • Going through withdrawal when not using

    It doesn’t take much to go from abuse to addiction, especially with opioids. If you have any of these problematic behaviors, reach out for help, even if you think you would not be diagnosed with an addiction or substance use disorder. 

    Tuzistra XR Abuse Can Lead to Overdose 

    One of the biggest and most serious risks of not seeking Tuzistra XR rehab and professional treatment is overdose. Opioid overdoses can happen without warning and even with experienced users. It is not possible to know how much of a drug will trigger an overdose, especially when using illicitly-bought drugs. You cannot know exactly what you are getting, if the drug is contaminated, or what the dose is. 

    Tuzistra XR overdose is very serious and can be fatal. Signs of an overdose include slow, shallow breathing or difficulty breathing; weak muscles, poor coordination, and unresponsiveness; vomiting or a gurgling sound in the throat; cold, clammy, and pale skin; and blue-tinted fingernails and lips. 

    An overdose on opioids can be reversed, but you need to get emergency medical help right away or it can be too late. The risk of overdose on Tuzistra XR, or any other opioid, increases when you combine it with similar drugs. Codeine and other opioids act in the brain to decrease activity, which results in slowed breathing and heart rate. Combining Tuzistra XR with another opioid, alcohol, benzodiazepines, or any other type of sedative or depressant can have an additive effect and seriously increases the overdose risk. 

    Withdrawal and Detox Tuzistra XR Rehab 

    As you stop using Tuzistra XR, you can expect to go through withdrawal. This is the detox process as the drug leaves your body and it adjusts. Tuzistra XR withdrawal effects include anxiety, agitation, irritability, sweating, yawning, tearing, and insomnia. As it progresses, withdrawal will start to cause nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, chills, and a general feeling of being unwell. 

    Tuzistra XR withdrawal symptoms are very uncomfortable, but the only real danger in going through them is that you may be pushed to relapse. A relapse during detox can be particularly dangerous because it may lead you to use more than you normally would. This can lead to an overdose. The best way to detox is to do it with professional supervision. You can find a rehab facility that will provide supervised detox or go to a detox center before enrolling in treatment. 

    Treating Addiction in Tuzistra XR Rehab

    There are two main aspects to addiction treatment for opioids like Tuzistra XR: medical care and therapy. Addiction to opioids can be managed with medications. These include methadone and buprenorphine to ease withdrawal and prevent relapse, and naltrexone to block the effects of opioids and prevent relapse. 

    Medical care is useful and effective, but it is not enough for long-term recovery. Tuzistra XR treatment should also include therapy. This ongoing type of treatment is essential for teaching you how to live a healthy, drug-free life, to set and achieve goals, to recognize and avoid triggers, and to cope with stress and other negative emotions in more positive, productive ways. Therapy is important during rehab but can also be useful as a part of ongoing aftercare following rehab and as you transition back home. 

    What to Look for in a Good Tuzistra XR Rehab Facility 

    Getting treatment for Tuzistra XR addiction is something to take seriously. While getting help is an urgent need, it is also important to find a Tuzistra XR rehab that will provide the best services, qualified, caring, and expert staff, and an environment that makes you feel comfortable. Have someone you trust with you to help make the search and final decision easier and less stressful. 

    First, look for a rehab facility that includes both medical care and therapy. One alone is not the most effective way to treat an opioid addiction. You also need a facility that will evaluate you completely at intake. This should include screening for mental illnesses and then treatment for any existing mental health conditions along with addiction treatment. The plan for your treatment should be informed by this evaluation and your own preferences and be highly individualized for your needs. 

    Insist on a staff that includes experts in different areas, such as medical care, behavioral therapy, addiction treatment, mental health care, alternative therapies, and more. A good rehab facility will offer a variety of therapy types and support services. These may include family and relational therapy, trauma-focused therapy, holistic medicine, and alternative therapies like those that involve music, art, or movement. Aftercare should be a part of the program, and you need a focus on relapse prevention. 

    Above all, when you choose a Tuzistra XR rehab, you should be able to feel comfortable. Meet the staff first, see the facility, and be confident that you are entering a secure, safe, and caring treatment center before you commit to it. Getting treatment for this addiction is essential. It will likely save your life. But you should not have to settle for mediocre care. Let someone you trust help you make this decision if it is too hard to do it alone, and make sure you enroll as soon as possible and stick with it. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Sacklers "Siphoned" Money From Purdue To Avoid Payouts, Lawsuit Alleges

    Sacklers "Siphoned" Money From Purdue To Avoid Payouts, Lawsuit Alleges

    A spokesperson for the Sackler family said that they were within their rights as shareholders to withdraw profits from Purdue Pharma.

    The state of Arizona has gone directly to the U.S. Supreme Court with a bold lawsuit alleging that members of the Sackler family took $4 billion from Purdue Pharma between 2008 and 2019 when they knew that the company would likely need the funds to settle opioid-related lawsuits. 

    “These transfers all took place at times when company officials, including the Sacklers, were keenly aware that Purdue was facing massive financial liabilities and that these transfers could prevent it from satisfying eventual judgments,” the suit argues. 

    “We want the Supreme Court to make sure that we hold accountable those individuals who are responsible for this epidemic,” Arizona’s Attorney General Mark Brnovich told The New York Times. “We allege that the Sacklers have siphoned billions of dollars from Purdue in recent years. They did this while knowing the company was facing massive financial liabilities.”

    The Long Shot

    The state hopes that the U.S. Supreme Court will hear the case because it involves a state as a party. However, that may be unlikely since the court rarely hears cases that have not first gone through lower courts. 

    “I do think it’s a long shot,” Brnovich said. “It’s a little different. It’s a little unorthodox. Sometimes you’ve just got to throw deep.”

    He said that the pressing need for funds to combat the opioid crisis calls for intervention at the highest level of the court system. “We don’t have time for this to take years to wind through the courts. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction, and we think they have to act.”

    Another lawyer for the state, William S. Consovoy, said that the state is looking for a quicker resolution to the case. “The urgency is a big deal here. It’s very important that we get this resolved expeditiously, and that’s one of the key reasons why the Supreme Court is the right place to do this and to do this now.”

    Sacklers’ Statement

    A spokesperson for the Sackler family said that they were within their rights as shareholders to withdraw profits from Purdue Pharma. The spokesperson added that the allegations in the lawsuit are “inconsistent with the factual record.” The Sacklers “will vigorously defend against them,” the spokesperson said.  

    The Sackler family, in addition to Purdue Pharma, have become regular targets for opioid-related lawsuits, in part for their alleged misleading marketing of the drug OxyContin. 

    It is not clear when the court will decide whether or not to hear Arizona’s lawsuit. 

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Autoworkers Union Pushes For Better Opioid Treatment 

    Autoworkers Union Pushes For Better Opioid Treatment 

    “The issue demands that we get involved, and it demands that we set an example of combating it in a positive way,” said the union’s VP.

    The United Automobile Workers union (UAW), which has nearly 400,000 active members, is making access to addiction treatment a priority in negotiations with the major automotive companies this year. 

    “The issue demands that we get involved, and it demands that we set an example of combating it in a positive way—the union and the company,” the union’s Vice President Rory Gamble told Automotive News. “We have to grab this thing and address it now.”

    Like many people in the industry, Gamble has been touched by addiction. His granddaughter died in January of an opioid overdose. For other workers the connection is even more personal, as long days and assembly-line work lead to injuries that are often treated with opioids. 

    Working With The Union

    Scott Masi lost his automotive job after he was found sleeping on the job, a complication from opioid use disorder. Now in recovery, Masi works with the union and employers to help them better integrate employees who need treatment. 

    “If I was struggling with diabetes and I wasn’t getting my medication, and I was sleeping because of that, do you think they would have fired me? No,” he said. “I had no recourse to save my job, get the help that I needed or utilize the insurance that I had worked for.”

    Consultant Pamela Feinberg-Rivkin would like to see automakers be proactive to increase access to treatment for employees. 

    “If one or all three of [the automakers] would invest—not only in recovery; they need to have treatment first—but invest in the detox treatment and then a recovery community where they can live and work and receive that long-term care—that’s a model that should be created in the state,” she said. “Many workers that we have could benefit from having that whole continuum of care.”

    Ford’s Pilot Program

    Ford is leading the way, with an initiative to provide a point-stimulation therapy device that helps people overcome the pain of withdrawal. As part of a pilot program, more than 200 employees and family members will have access to the device. 

    “This device is not a miracle, but it is the next best thing,” said Todd Dunn, president of a local UAW chapter. “It’s a positive, disruptive solution to opioid treatment. I think you’re going to see GM, Chrysler, a lot of companies and organizations look at this device as a game changer.” 

    Jeremy Milloy, a researcher who has studied American workplaces, said that it’s important that employer health plans offered by automotive makers cover devices like this and other medication-assisted treatment. For too long, he said, the companies’ generous health plans contributed to people having easy access to opioids. 

    “It’s a really obvious time for them to say that policies based on surveillance and stigmatization have failed,” he said. “They can’t work in a system where the No. 1 most-abused drug is a licit one being prescribed through company health plans.”

    Gamble, the union’s vice president, said that the union, employers and employees are all willing to work together to help improve access to treatment. However, it’s a matter of finding an option that works for all parties. 

    “I am not against any type of solution that makes sense,” he said. “But when you sit down with a company, you have to craft that where it makes economic sense.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • How methadone affects sex and pregnancy (INFOGRAPHIC)

    How methadone affects sex and pregnancy (INFOGRAPHIC)

    How does methadone affect sexual health? We review here. Then, we invite your questions about long term use of methadone as an opiate/opioid substitute at the end.

    Methadone affects libido and fertility

    Don’t have the urge to have sex? While you’re on methadone, this is normal.

    Long-term use of methadone can cause a loss of libido and significantly lower the desire for intercourse in both, men and women. In medical studies, menstrual cycle irregularities, erectile dysfunction and sperm damage have been noted. So, methadone abuse can not only lower your interest in sexual activities, but can also harm your fertility.

    Pregnancy complications with methadone use

    At the beginning of the pregnancy, women should be given solid medical advice by their prescribing doctor and gynecologist. Basically, your dosing is best when it stays in the same. Most pregnancy complications are observed when methadone users try to reduce doses during pregnancy. In fact, medical professionals advise that methadone use throughout pregnancy should be continued (unless the risk is greater than the benefit and a doctor recommends).

    Still, methadone is listed in the Pregnancy Category C and prolonged use of the medication can result in side-effects, including:

    • physical dependence in the neonate
    • neonatal abstinence syndrome
    • decreased fetal growth in infants
    • deficit in performance on psychometric and behavioral tests
    • methadone withdrawal symptoms

    Effects of methadone on breastfed babies

    In the mother’s body, peak methadone levels will occur within 4-5 hours after taking an oral dose. If a baby is breastfed during this time it will receive 2%-3% of the oral maternal dose through the milk.  As a result of ingesting methadone through mother’s breast milk, effects such as sedation and respiratory depression in babies have been observed.

    Mothers should be informed and instructed by doctors on how to identify side effects in their baby that have occurred as a result of having too large dose of methadone in the milk. More importantly, mothers should be informed about the choice not to breast feed their babies, but to use a formula instead, or about when is the safest period of time for breastfeeding.

    Methadone’s effects on sexuality and fertility questions

    It is a fact that methadone helps addicts stay clean and live a drug-free life. But, when it comes to libido, fertility, conception, pregnancy and breastfeeding, it’s best to listen to the doctor’s guidelines, thus risks will be minimized. If you have any further questions or concerns feel free to ask us by posting your questions in the comments section below.

    If you found our infographic useful, send us your feedback and SHARE it with others.

    View the original article at addictionblog.org

  • New Bill Aims To Deregulate Buprenorphine & Other Addiction Treatment Meds

    New Bill Aims To Deregulate Buprenorphine & Other Addiction Treatment Meds

    The proposed bill would remove the extra barrier that prevents all doctors from being able to prescribe opioid treatment meds.

    The movement to deregulate drugs that treat opioid addiction is gaining steam in New York with the support of 18 state public health directors and U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko, who will soon introduce federal legislation to make it easier for doctors to prescribe medications like buprenorphine.

    Currently, prescribers need special training and permission to give out addiction treatment drugs which they don’t need to prescribe opioid pain medications like oxycodone. The proposed bill would remove that extra barrier.

    “These professionals can use their training and skill and ability to provide medication for treatment of pain,” said Tonko to STAT News. “But when it comes to addressing the illness of addiction, they have to jump through additional hoops.”

    Buprenorphine, a major ingredient in medications like Suboxone, is an opioid initially designed to relieve pain without producing as many side effects as morphine. Though it is possible to abuse and become addicted to buprenorphine, opioid-tolerant individuals are generally unable to get high on controlled doses. It can therefore be used to treat cravings and withdrawal symptoms without getting patients high.

    Opponents have expressed concern that deregulation could result in an increase in diversion and misuse of these drugs. However, addiction experts say that most illegal use of buprenorphine and similar drugs is used to treat addiction rather than for recreation. If access to addiction-treating drugs is expanded, they argue, non-prescription use should decrease.

    “We want people to be getting medication from health care providers,” says addiction medicine specialist Dr. Sarah Wakeman. “The question with buprenorphine diversion is how you best reduce its non-prescribed use—and the answer is probably expanding access to treatment.”

    Less than 7% of health professionals hold the DEA waivers necessary to prescribe addiction treatment medications. Currently, physicians need to go through an extra eight hours of training in order to obtain these waivers, and nurses and physician assistants have to complete 24 hours of training.

    The lack of available prescribers means that even those who seek out addiction treatment may have to see a different health professional just to obtain a prescription for buprenorphine.

    In March 2019, two physicians published a call for the deregulation of buprenorphine, saying that it could save thousands of lives. They cited the example of France, which removed additional restrictions on prescribing opioid addiction treatment drugs in 1995 and saw an 80% decrease in opioid overdose cases in the following years.

    With opioid overdose deaths in the U.S. drawing close to 50,000 each year, even “just” a 50% decrease could save tens of thousands of lives.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Virginia Eases Suboxone-Prescribing Restrictions

    Virginia Eases Suboxone-Prescribing Restrictions

    The policy change will increase access to the medication and reduce delays in treatment.

    Prior authorization will no longer be required for Virginia physicians to prescribe a form of the opioid addiction medication, Suboxone, to patients.

    The state’s Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), which oversees the Virginia Medicaid program, has removed the authorization requirement for  Suboxone film (a film applied to the tongue). Suboxone is a brand of buprenorphine that assists individuals in reducing or quitting their dependencies on heroin or prescription opioids.

    Acting chief medical officer of the DMAS, Dr. Chethan Bachireddy, said in a press release that his agency has “a responsibility to understand and to meet the needs of our members and the providers who treat them.”

    Before the policy change, Virginia physicians were required to obtain prior authorization from DMAS or one of its contracted health plans to prescribe Suboxone film.

    According to the Virginia Mercury, the change will increase access to the medication and reduce delays in treatment.

    The Virginia Mercury also cited a recent study by Virginia Commonwealth University that found that the expansion of Medicaid—approved by voters in 2018—will provide as many as 60,000 uninsured Virginians with access to treatment services for dependency issues, including 18,000 with opioid dependency.

    In all, 400,000 Virginia residents are expected to gain access to coverage in 2019.

    Data culled from the office of the state’s chief medical examiner in January 2019 found that 1,229 Old Dominion residents died as a result of opioid-related overdose in 2018—the same number of fatalities that occurred in 2017. However, the total number of 2018 fatalities will not be available until this spring.

    The revision of the authorization requirement applies only to Suboxone film, but not to other forms of buprenorphine that are not on the Medicaid preferred drugs list.

    But buprenorphine, often in conjunction with counseling, has proven to be effective in lowering death rates among those who have suffered a previous overdose. The DMAS press release cited a study that suggested that among overdose survivors, there was a 40% decrease in the death rate of those who used Suboxone, compared to those who did not.

    Bachireddy described the revision as one of several “effective, proactive strategies that are putting Virginia at the forefront in the fight against the opioid crisis.”

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • Opioid Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Testing

    Opioid Vaccine Shows Promise in Early Testing

    Alongside its potential use as an opioid vaccine, the experimental medicine may also help first responders who accidentally come in contact with synthetic opioids. 

    Researchers have reported that a newly developed vaccine that could combat both opioid dependency and overdose has yielded what appear to be positive results in animal testing. The vaccine, which uses monoclonal antibodies – antibodies made by identical copies of immune cells – appeared to block both the analgesic properties of synthetic opioids like fentanyl, as well as their high propensity of producing a fatal overdose, when administered in preliminary tests.

    The researchers have begun developing antibodies in the hope of testing their vaccine on humans.

    Researchers from The Scripps Research Institute, which conducted the tests, presented their findings on December 13 at the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology. The study detailed the creation of the monoclonal antibodies as well as two tests of their efficacy involving mice.

    In the first test, the research team measured pain response using a heated beam of light that was applied to a mouse’s tail. An immediate response – specifically, the mice removed their tail from the light – suggested that the animal experienced a degree of pain, while a delayed response suggested that the pain had been dulled.

    Mice were then given a synthetic opioid such as fentanyl and exposed to the light beam, which produced a longer response time due to the pain-dulling properties of the drug. However, when given the antibodies, the researchers found that the mice withdrew their tails at a faster rate, which suggested that the vaccine had blocked the drug’s analgesic effect.

    In the second test, mice were given the vaccine, followed by a dose of fentanyl that had proven fatal in other test animals. According to the study, the mice did not experience overdose. In both tests, the antibodies proved effective against seven other synthetic opioids, including carfentanil, which the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) described as the “most potent fentanyl analog detected in the United States” and which has been linked to a number of overdose deaths.

    As US News and World Report noted, research of this nature involving animals does not always produce the same results in human test subjects, so the study authors are in the process of developing human antibodies and hope to test them in the future.

    “Antibodies persist longer, and thus have enormous promise for addressing both opioid addiction as well as overdose,” said study leader Kim Janda in a press release.

    In addition to the vaccine’s possible use with drug users, Janda and his fellow authors believe that it may have a practical application as a safeguard for individuals who may come in contact with synthetic opioids. “These antibodies could be used to protect police, EMTs and other first responders from inadvertent acute fentanyl exposure,” he said, adding that a canine version could also be applicable for drug-sniffing dogs.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • White House Launches Treatment Program For Moms With Opioid Addiction

    White House Launches Treatment Program For Moms With Opioid Addiction

    The program will streamline care and reduce healthcare costs for mothers and children who are affected by opioid addiction.

    The Trump administration announced this week that it will begin a program to address opioid abuse among pregnant and postpartum women, in an attempt to address health complications related to addiction and reduce the number of infants born dependent on opioids.

    Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar announced the model during a conference on Tuesday.

    “The M-O-M model, for ‘Maternal Opioid Misuse,’ will partner with state Medicaid agencies to integrate a wide range of services for pregnant and postpartum women struggling with opioid misuse, to ensure not only their health, well-being, and recovery, but protect the health of their children as well,” Azar said, according to Medpage Today.

    In a press release about the program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said that it is designed to streamline care and reduce healthcare costs for mothers and children who are affected by opioid addiction.

    “Too many barriers impede the delivery of well-coordinated, high-quality care to pregnant and postpartum women struggling with opioid misuse, including lack of access to treatment and a shortage of providers in rural areas, where the opioid crisis is especially destructive,” Azar said in that release. “The MOM model will support state Medicaid agencies, front-line providers and healthcare systems to help ensure that mothers and infants afflicted by the opioid epidemic get the care they need.”

    The program will be tested in up to 12 states over the next five years. As the opioid epidemic has unfolded, complications from addiction have become a leading cause of maternal death. In addition, the number of babies born dependent on opioids has increased sharply, from 1.19 cases per 1,000 hospital births in 2000, to 5.63 in 2012, according to The Washington Post. Those infants can have lifelong complications from being exposed to opioids in the womb.

    Azar said that the MOM model is the latest step that the Trump administration has taken to make real changes to how opioid addiction is addressed.

    “We believe in evidence-based treatment, we believe in a public-health approach to this epidemic, and we believe in approaching addiction as a disease, never a moral failing,” Azar said.

    The health secretary added that early indications show that opioid overdose deaths seem to be plateauing this year. Although he acknowledged that too many people are still dying from opioid addiction, he said that there are signs of progress.

    “Since President Trump took office in January 2017, the number of patients receiving buprenorphine, one form of medication-assisted treatment, has increased by 21%… [and] from 2015 to 2017, we have seen a statistically significant decline in the number of Americans who misuse prescription opioids,” Azar said.

    View the original article at thefix.com