Research on opioids, addiction, and treatment. Covers traditional care practices, opioid treatment in pregnancy, illicit fentanyl, and treatment disparities.
Recent Mayo Clinic research reveals a significant increase in opioid overdose-related emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Opioid overdoses accounted for 1 in every 313 visits, up from 1 in every 400 visits in previous years.
The National Institutes of Health's HEALthy Brain and Child Development study aims to identify the impacts of prenatal substance exposure on child development. A 50-state analysis of laws addressing substance use during pregnancy highlights diverse state-by-state policies, with some statutes being more punitive than others.
Research exposes lifelong effects of prenatal oxycodone exposure on offspring behavior, social interactions, and gene expression. Mice exposed to opioids before birth show signs of impaired physical activity and social behavior even in adulthood.
A multi-year trial found that co-locating contraceptive services in opioid treatment programs with financial incentives significantly increased the use of effective contraception among women with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), leading to a reduction in unintended pregnancies. The intervention also showed cost-beneficial results, with each ...
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics (z-drugs) significantly increase the risk of death when used in combination with opioid pain medications. The risk is particularly high for those taking benzodiazepines, which had a 221% increased risk of death.
A new meta-analysis suggests that people who use cannabis are more than twice as likely to initiate opioid use and develop problematic patterns of use compared to those who don't use cannabis. However, the low quality of evidence makes it unclear whether there is a causal relationship between cannabis and subsequent opioid use.
A study found that high-dose buprenorphine administered in emergency departments is safe and tolerable, providing extended withdrawal relief and helping patients navigate barriers to follow-up care. The therapy may enhance opioid use disorder treatment outcomes, particularly for vulnerable populations.
A recent study published in Health Economics found that states with recreational marijuana laws experienced a short-term decline in opioid-related emergency department visits. This decline was most pronounced among 25- to 44-year-olds and men, suggesting that cannabis may be substituting for opioids as a pain relief measure.
A recent study from Lawson Health Research Institute found that frequent use of Paravertebral blocks increases health care utilization, including physician visits and other injection procedures. The study also showed no overall change in opioid dosage after the initiation of PVB treatment.
Multimodal analgesia combines different techniques and medications to optimize pain management while minimizing opioid use and risks. Recent studies have shown that multimodal analgesia can improve pain scores and side effects compared to opioid-based regimens.
A survey of 56 residents and 57 faculty members revealed differences in opioid prescribing habits, with faculty preferring more opioids for some procedures. The study aims to improve surgical recovery by developing new protocols and a dashboard to track opioid prescribing practices.
A naturally occurring peptide in sunflower seeds has been identified as a potential drug for treating abdominal pain or inflammation. The peptide selectively activates pain transmission pathways without causing opioid side effects, reducing the risk of dependency and overdose.
This study examined opioid prescribing trends among children, adolescents, and young adults from 2006 to 2018. The results showed a significant increase in rates, dosages, and duration of opioids prescribed during this period.
A new study by University of Utah Health finds that people with lower back pain injury miss 11 more days of work in a year when only receiving non-recommended treatments compared to those treated according to guidelines. The study suggests that adherence to medical guidelines leads to faster resolution of back pain.
A UofSC researcher is conducting a four-year study to improve access to alcohol use disorder treatment for vulnerable populations under Medicaid. The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of these programs and provide guidance on structuring coverage and utilization management parameters.
A systematic review and meta-analysis found that NSAIDs like ibuprofen provide better pain control with fewer adverse effects than codeine after outpatient surgery. Patients taking NSAIDs reported lower pain scores and fewer side effects compared to those taking codeine.
Researchers identified microglia as key cell type responsible for brain changes in OUD, revealing a critical role for neuroinflammation in driving pathological alterations. The study also uncovered new mechanisms by which opioids alter brain structure and function, leading to behavioral changes.
New studies suggest that treating post-surgery pain with non-opioid medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can lead to equal short-term outcomes and patient satisfaction as opioids. Researchers analyzed data from over 22,000 patients who had one of seven common operations at 70 hospitals.
A secret shopper study found that pregnant women are 20% less likely to be accepted for opioid treatment than non-pregnant women, citing long on-hold times and difficult interactions. The study highlights the need for increased access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) regardless of pregnancy status.
Scientists identified conolidine's interaction with ACKR3/CXCR7, a novel opioid receptor, to increase analgesic activity and block pain relief-dampening effects. A synthetic analogue, RTI-5152-12, was developed to enhance pharmacological properties.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that people treated for opioid use disorder are less likely to find a new primary care provider within a year. This is particularly true for those receiving opioid agonist therapy, where patients are 45% less likely to secure another primary care physician.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found long-term exposure to PM2.5 increases the risk of losing one's smell by nearly twice, potentially due to airborne pollutants reaching the olfactory nerve. The study also highlights the need for better air pollution management, especially in vulnerable populations.
A new study published in European Journal of Anaesthesiology found that NOL pain monitoring technology can detect the effect of dexmedetomidine on patients' pain response, enabling administration of less intraoperative opioids. The study demonstrated the potential for significant opioid sparing during surgery.
A new study found that older adults with functional impairments are at higher risk of using prescription opioids, tranquilizers/sedatives, and medical cannabis. This population is more susceptible to substance use disorders and mental health issues due to chronic pain, insomnia, or anxiety.
A new study found that Connecticut's MAT programs have higher-than-average patient retention rates, with 58.9% of participants remaining in the program at six months. However, younger patients and those using cocaine or crack alongside opioids had lower retention rates, highlighting the need for targeted strategies.
A study published in JAMA Health Forum found that nonfatal opioid overdose visits have more than doubled during the pandemic, while few patients who overdosed on opioids had received a prescription for naloxone. The number of individuals filling naloxone prescriptions fell by over 25% throughout the pandemic.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, naloxone prescriptions decreased in the US, while overall prescriptions and opioid prescriptions remained relatively stable. Researchers analyzed changes in prescription trends to better understand the impact of the pandemic on opioid use.
Researchers found gaps in patients' understanding of opioid use, pain management, and proper storage/disposal. Patients may benefit from educating them on multimodal analgesia and safe opioid use practices.
A study at Hospital for Special Surgery found that older age, female sex, and higher comorbidities are associated with persistent opioid use in pediatric patients. The research aims to inform clinicians about risk factors for opioid dependence in this vulnerable population.
Researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery found that duloxetine reduced cumulative opioid use by 30% in patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty compared to those receiving placebo. Patients who received duloxetine also reported higher pain management satisfaction and less pain interference with daily activities.
A patient support program for people with autoimmune diseases and complex medication regimens can help them avoid using opioids or reduce their use. The study found that patients in the program were 13% less likely to start taking opioid pain medications and 26% less likely to fill two or more opioid prescriptions.
A Penn Medicine study reveals that opioid supply shortages in emergency departments can lead to a decrease in opioid use, but no significant change in dosing. The shortage led to a shift from IV opioid use to oral formulations.
A novel CBD analog, KLS-13019, has been shown to effectively alleviate pain and reverse sensitivity in mice with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. The study suggests that KLS-13019 may have an additional mechanism of action beyond pain relief, potentially disrupting opioid-seeking behavior.
A study presented at the AATS Annual Meeting found that modifying the ERATS protocol significantly reduced in-hospital and post-discharge opioid consumption, particularly Schedule II opioids. The optimized protocol included replacing saline with 0.25% bupivacaine and switching tramadol to as-needed scheduling.
A study found that kratom use is relatively rare in the general US population, affecting only 0.7% of adults and adolescents, but more prevalent among people with opioid use disorder, who report a 10.3% rate of kratom use. Kratom use is also associated with depression, serious mental illness, and other factors.
A new study from the University of Michigan shows that overdose rates were two and a half times higher among patients who filled a prescription for an opioid medication after a dental procedure compared to those who didn
A new study by Henry Ford Health System has found that a non-opioid approach to managing pain after knee surgery is just as effective as traditional opioid-based methods. The novel multimodal pain management protocol, developed at Henry Ford, brings immediate pain relief without the use of powerful opioids.
A study in cells and mice finds a positive allosteric modulator can boost endorphins' ability to activate the mu-opioid receptor, producing analgesia with reduced side effects. The compound shows promise as an alternative to traditional opioid drugs for pain relief.
A recent study analyzed claims data to examine opioid use among adolescents and young adults who received their first opioid prescription. The study found that a significant proportion of this population developed opioid use disorder within three years.
A new study from Boston Medical Center reveals a significant association between back pain and elevated mortality risk in women. Mild back pain is unlikely to impact life expectancy, but more severe cases are linked to an increased risk of mortality.
Researchers found that percutaneous peripheral nerve stimulation significantly reduced postoperative pain scores by over 50% and opioid consumption by 80%. The technique, which delivers mild electrical stimulation to the nerve, could be a safe and effective adjunct for pain management after surgery.
The pandemic led to a sharp drop in new opioid prescriptions and a decline in buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependency among new patients. This reduced access to treatment may have increased overdose deaths.
During COVID-19, prescribing of opioids and buprenorphine for opioid use disorder changed significantly. The study found that buprenorphine prescriptions increased, while opioid analgesic prescriptions decreased.
Researchers investigated prenatal opioid exposure and its impact on infant mortality, discovering a significant association between the two. Infants exposed to opioids in utero are at higher risk of death, with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome also increasing mortality rates.
A recent study found that nurse practitioners' buprenorphine prescribing has been limited by state restrictions and inadequate training. The researchers recommend relaxing scope-of-practice requirements and addressing practice-level barriers to improve treatment access for those with substance use disorders.
The American Academy of Otolaryngology has published a new clinical practice guideline to reduce opioid use disorder risks. The guideline focuses on multimodal analgesia and judicious use of opioids, aiming to improve postoperative pain control while minimizing the risk of chronic opioid use.
A targeted opioid called NFEPP selectively activates opioid receptors in acidic tissues, relieving pain from colitis without causing severe side effects. Researchers are now collecting tissue samples to test NFEPP's ability to inhibit pain in the human gut and plan clinical trials.
A new study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that more than 60% of opioid tablets prescribed for patients undergoing orthopaedic or urologic procedures went unused. The study used an automated text messaging system to track patient pain and opioid use, revealing that most opioids are taken withi...
A recent study found a significant increase in heart infections and strokes in the US, primarily due to IV drug use during the national opioid epidemic. Medical costs associated with these cases were also significantly higher, translating to over $100,000 per patient.
A new analysis by Carnegie Mellon University professor Jonathan Caulkins explores the effects of reduced production costs on cannabis and opioid use. Sharp declines in prices may alter consumption patterns and lead to changes in drug markets, including reduced violence and disruption of criminal organizations.
Research on opioid use among Black people is scarce due to historical exclusion and underrepresentation. The review identifies key disparities in overdose risk, treatment access, and prescription opioid use, emphasizing the importance of culturally informed care.
The project aims to understand the impact of peer recovery coaches on outcomes for individuals in medication-assisted recovery (MAR) housing. It will compare residents with and without peer recovery coaches to those in non-MAR housing, evaluating how culture, services, and camaraderie affect their recovery.
A new study published in Psychopharmacology found that frustration is a significant contributor to addiction. Researchers at UTMB used a rat model to demonstrate how frustration can lead to increased drug intake and escalation of opioid use disorder.
A new guideline for reducing opioid use post-surgery has led to a high pain management satisfaction rate of over 90%, with 83% of patients properly disposing of unused pills. The guideline takes into account individual patients' perception of pain, setting expectations and prescribing non-opioid analgesics to minimize opioid use.
A recent study estimates that 858,000 Americans use opioids for knee pain, resulting in $0.5 billion annual costs and nearly $14 billion lifetime costs. The study suggests substantial savings from preventing opioid use for knee osteoarthritis pain management.
The opioid and HIV epidemics in West Virginia are deeply interconnected, requiring a comprehensive approach to address both issues simultaneously. Stigma is a significant barrier to combating these epidemics, particularly in rural areas with limited resources.
A study at the University of Pennsylvania found that 61% of opioids prescribed to patients after orthopedic procedures went unused. The text message system showed high patient uptake, with 88% responding on the fourth day and 95% on the 21st day. Patients reported a decrease in pain levels without using most of the prescribed opioids.
A new study by RAND Corporation found that low-value healthcare spending among Medicare recipients decreased marginally from 2014 to 2018, but three services - opioid prescriptions for back pain, preoperative laboratory testing, and antibiotic use for upper respiratory infections - accounted for two-thirds of the wasteful care. The fin...
A new study from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry confirms that low-dose naltrexone is a good option for patients with orofacial and chronic pain, reducing pain intensity and improving quality of life. Low-dose naltrexone works by targeting sensitized nervous cells to reduce pain threshold and sensitivity.
A landmark animal study reveals that exposure to opioids during pregnancy can cause long-lasting impairments in the brain's ability to process sensory information. The study found that newborn mice exposed to fentanyl developed withdrawal symptoms and sensory processing disorders that lasted until adolescence.