The results of a new survey from Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration revealed some positive movement for the opioid crisis. In another reminder of how complicated addiction and addiction treatment is, compiled survey results from 67,500 Americans in 2017 found that while new heroin users in certain age groups have almost declined by half, methamphetamine… Continue reading Meth Use Rises Among Youth, Heroin Use Declines
Tag: opioid epidemic
Roseanne Barr Says Her Character On "Conners" Will Suffer Fatal Overdose
Barr revealed the alleged fate of her namesake character in a recent interview. As the premiere of The Conners nears, fans of the show are that much closer to learning how Roseanne Conner gets written off the show. In May, Roseanne Barr was kicked off her own classic sitcom, Roseanne, over a racist tweet that… Continue reading Roseanne Barr Says Her Character On "Conners" Will Suffer Fatal Overdose
Doctors Will Be Required To Check Prescription Database In California
The state’s monitoring system has been historically underused by healthcare providers. Beginning on October 2, doctors in California will be required to check the state’s prescription monitoring database before writing a new prescription, in an attempt to provide better care and correct years of underutilization of the system. “California created the first system to track… Continue reading Doctors Will Be Required To Check Prescription Database In California
Doctors Gave No Reason For Writing Opioid Scripts In Nearly 30% Of Cases
A new study uncovered that doctors were prescribing opioids for hypertension and high cholesterol when no pain diagnosis was recorded. A team at Harvard Medical School and the Rand Corp. combed through medical records from 2006 to 2015 and found that physicians gave no explanation for writing an opioid prescription in 29% of the cases.… Continue reading Doctors Gave No Reason For Writing Opioid Scripts In Nearly 30% Of Cases
OxyContin No Longer Covered By Some Insurers
“This is a whack-a-mole solution… I don’t believe we should be isolating one category of opioid versus another,” said one expert. Some insurers are taking a rather bold stand against the opioid crisis by refusing coverage of OxyContin, a popular brand-name opioid painkiller. The decision, according to the Houston Chronicle, has drawn controversy as some… Continue reading OxyContin No Longer Covered By Some Insurers
Bill Targeting Opioids Sent By Mail Up For Senate Vote
The STOP Act will require the U.S. Postal Service to collect electronic data on packages being shipped into the country. The Senate will likely pass a bill this week that aims to reduce the number of fentanyl shipments coming into the country via the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The STOP Act, which stands for Synthetics… Continue reading Bill Targeting Opioids Sent By Mail Up For Senate Vote
How Fentanyl Changed The Opioid Crisis
The prevalence and potency of illicit fentanyl has changed the course of the opioid crisis for the worse. While prescription painkillers were previously attributed to the most deaths in the opioid epidemic, they no longer do. Instead, the leading cause of death in this context is now illegal fentanyl, according to a recent Bloomberg editorial. The… Continue reading How Fentanyl Changed The Opioid Crisis
Link Between Suicide And Opioid Use Examined
Researchers hope that the results of a new study will help them better identify those at risk for suicide. A three-year, $1.4 million study will examine the connection between opioid use and death by suicide, in hopes of more effectively identifying high-risk patients. “We know that opioid use, opioid overdose and suicide are related, but… Continue reading Link Between Suicide And Opioid Use Examined
Former Purdue Pharma Exec May Profit From Opioid Addiction Drug
Richard Sackler’s involvement with a new formulation of buprenorphine has drawn a wave of criticism. A new formulation of buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction, is due to hit the market—but some have taken issue with one of the inventors’ ties to Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin. Richard Sackler is listed as… Continue reading Former Purdue Pharma Exec May Profit From Opioid Addiction Drug
Are Moms With Opioid Addiction At Heightened Risk For Overdose?
A new study examined pregnant women and new moms with opioid use disorder. After finding out she was pregnant with her second child while in a Massachusetts prison, Katie Raftery entered treatment for heroin use. She stayed seven months, until her son was born. It wasn’t until he was about six weeks old that she… Continue reading Are Moms With Opioid Addiction At Heightened Risk For Overdose?