opioids - Answer Addiction

Harm Reduction: How to Engage Parent Advocates Effectively

I’ve had to correct parents whose first line to any policymaker is “my kid was from a good family, not just some homeless person.” “I never thought I would end up here, but here I am. I choose to create beauty in the space left in this world that my daughter used to occupy” –… Continue reading Harm Reduction: How to Engage Parent Advocates Effectively

States Consider Foster Care Alternatives As They Grapple With Parental Addiction

Some states are taking approaches that focus on reducing the trauma of separation from the child while encouraging parents to continue treatment. A new report from The Hill notes that the rise in the number of children who enter foster care has forced state governments to rethink the notion of separating families while parents undergo treatment… Continue reading States Consider Foster Care Alternatives As They Grapple With Parental Addiction

Can Blue Lights Deter Public Drug Use?

Public health experts say the blue lights make people more prone to hurting themselves and further stigmatize those who struggle with addiction. As the nation struggles with an ever-worsening opioid epidemic, some retailers are experimenting with an innovative solution to curb the drug use that takes place in their facilities. According to USA Today, a… Continue reading Can Blue Lights Deter Public Drug Use?

China Presses US To Reduce Opioid Demands

“When fewer and fewer Americans use fentanyl, there would be no market for it,” said one Chinese official. China’s drug control agency has challenged the U.S. to sharply reduce its demand for opioids, The Hill reported. The agency specifically called out the United States’ role in driving demand for drugs like fentanyl. “It’s common knowledge… Continue reading China Presses US To Reduce Opioid Demands

Massive Drug Spoon Sculpture Dropped At Purdue Pharma HQ

The message behind the guerrilla art exhibit is to call attention to the potential danger of prescription opioids. A gallery owner was arrested Friday morning (June 22) after placing a sculpture of a massive steel spoon at the headquarters of Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin. Fernando Louis Alvarez was arrested and charged with obstruction… Continue reading Massive Drug Spoon Sculpture Dropped At Purdue Pharma HQ

Buprenorphine Exposure Affects Kids At Alarming Rates

The number of children exposed to the addiction drug rose 215% over three years. As the opioid crisis continues to grow, some children are being put at risk as they are exposed to buprenorphine, an opioid medication used to treat opioid use disorder. A new study published in the journal Pediatrics found that from 2007 to… Continue reading Buprenorphine Exposure Affects Kids At Alarming Rates

Healthcare Pros Talk Unintended Consequences Of Addressing Opioid Crisis

“Doctors just say, ‘That’s it, I’m done. I’m not going to lose my license over you and good luck,’ and that’s unconscionable,” said one health expert. The opioid epidemic has drawn more political and media attention than any other public health crisis in recent memory, but healthcare professionals say that the focus on preventing opioid-related… Continue reading Healthcare Pros Talk Unintended Consequences Of Addressing Opioid Crisis

Link Between Trump Support And Opioid Use Revealed In New Study

“When we look at the two maps, there was a clear overlap between counties that had high opioid use … and the vote for Donald Trump,” said the study’s author. There may be a geographic connection between those who supported Trump in the 2016 election and prescriptions for opioids, according to a new study published in… Continue reading Link Between Trump Support And Opioid Use Revealed In New Study

Are Health Insurers Driving The Opioid Crisis?

While the brunt of the negative attention has focused on drug suppliers and prescribers, experts are now examining the role that insurers have played in the epidemic. Health insurers could be stoking the opioid epidemic, according to a new study published Friday in the journal JAMA Network Open. “Our findings suggest that both public and… Continue reading Are Health Insurers Driving The Opioid Crisis?