Research on opioids, addiction, and treatment. Covers traditional care practices, opioid treatment in pregnancy, illicit fentanyl, and treatment disparities.
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.
Two studies published in The BMJ found no associations between prescription opioids or macrolide antibiotics and major birth defects during pregnancy. Researchers did find a small increased risk of cleft palate associated with opioid use, but overall risks were deemed minimal. The findings provide reassurance for women and inform clini...
A new prediction model has identified 10 preoperative characteristics that may predict persistent high-dose opioid use after knee replacement surgery. Certain patient demographics and medication history, including substance abuse and benzodiazepine use, were found to be risk factors.
A nationwide study found that nearly 11% of ICU patients in Sweden received opioid prescriptions for at least 6 months and up to 2 years after discharge. Chronic opioid use was linked to a 70% higher risk of death, with pre-admission history and certain medical conditions being major risk factors.
Researchers found that an enriched diet and companionship can reduce pain in mice with sickle cell disease by increasing serotonin levels. Duloxetine, an antidepressant boosting serotonin, also showed similar pain-reducing effects.
A recent study found that over half of primary care clinics in nine states refuse to accept opioid patients due to perceived stigma. Clinics gave more favorable responses when patients mentioned their last doctor had retired, suggesting systemic biases influence decision-making.
A study of 620 patients who had surgery found that those counseled to use opioids only as backup experienced less pain and similar patient satisfaction compared to standard care. The approach took a middle ground between controlling pain and reducing the risk of long-term opioid use or addiction.
A study found that fatal opioid overdoses increased by over 50% among Black individuals in Philadelphia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, white residents experienced a 31% drop in fatal overdoses during the same period. The research suggests that racial inequities worsened the opioid crisis, with factors such as economic hardshi...
The study found that a multimodal pain regimen (MMPR) reduced opioid exposure and pain scores in trauma patients. The MMPR, which includes generic medications such as acetaminophen and tramadol, was shown to be an effective alternative to traditional opioid treatments.
A new study by physician-researchers at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston found that a modified pain management strategy reduced opioid exposure in trauma patients while maintaining equal levels of pain control. The MAST regimen, a multi-modal analgesic approach using over-the-counter medications, achieved this o...
Researchers found that using medical terminology can reduce certain types of stigma but increase others. Non-medical terms, on the other hand, may boost confidence in recovery and perceptions of danger. The study suggests tailoring language to specific purposes is key to reducing stigma.
Research suggests that physical and social pain share common processing in the brain, increasing the risk of addiction with long-term opioid therapy. The authors advocate for integrating physical and social pain care models to provide more effective treatment.
A retrospective cohort study of 251 primary care physicians found significant variation in medical practice patterns across different doctors, but relatively stable patterns within an individual's practice over time. Researchers propose that personal behavioral characteristics may explain these variations.
A new polymer patch provides controlled release of a drug blocking COX-2 enzyme, driving pain and inflammation. The patch can provide three to four days of localized pain control for critical post-surgical period.
A team-based approach to treating opioid use disorder with community pharmacists shows promise in improving medication adherence and participant satisfaction. The study found nearly 90% of participants remained in the program and 95.3% adhered to their daily medication regimen.
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center found a potential link between opioid use and increased risk of pancreatic cancer. The study, which analyzed data from 1999-2016, suggests that opioid consumption may be an unidentified risk factor contributing to the rising incidence of pancreatic cancer in the US.
Chronic pain and emotional pain are intertwined, with opioids making things worse in the long term. Researchers recommend tapering down or switching to buprenorphine for high-dose long-term opioid users without improvement in pain and function.
A national study found significant sex and age-based differences in nonfatal opioid overdoses among youth, with female youth between 11-16 having a higher incidence. The study highlights specific risk factors that could inform targeted interventions to prevent opioid overdoses in adolescents and young adults.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, buprenorphine prescription filling increased in the US, indicating improved access to opioid use disorder treatment. Researchers found that retail pharmacy sales of buprenorphine products surged during this time.
This study compared opioid use disorder treatment during early COVID-19 pandemic months with 2019 data, focusing on medication fills, outpatient visits, and urine tests among privately insured individuals. The findings highlight the challenges of treating OUD during a global health crisis.
Despite telehealth visits, fewer people began new medication treatment and less urine testing was conducted across all patients during the early months of the pandemic. The study found that established patients continued to receive needed care, but new patients who needed help might not have been getting it.
Opioid prescribing rates vary hugely across England, even in similarly deprived areas. Higher prescribing rates are associated with a higher prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis, urban areas, and socioeconomic deprivation.
Only 1.8% of US obstetrician-gynecologists have an X-waiver, allowing them to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction. Rural areas and cities with high neonatal abstinence syndrome rates have higher X-waiver rates among OB-GYNs.
A trial found that listening to soothing words and music during surgery reduced postoperative pain levels by 25% and decreased opioid consumption by 16%. This non-invasive technique could offer a safe and inexpensive way to reduce pain and opioid use after surgery.
Women who receive mastectomy and reconstructive surgery are at increased risk of developing persistent use of opioids and sedative-hypnotic drugs. The study found that 13.1% of patients become new persistent opioid users after surgery, while 6.6% develop persistent sedative-hypnotic use.
The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center is developing a comprehensive approach to managing chronic pain in older adults by reducing opioid use and promoting non-opioid alternatives. The grant aims to establish standards for pain management that prioritize non-opioid medications, treatments, and physical therapy options.
A retrospective cohort study found that opioid prescriptions to patients at risk of misuse remained similar before and after CDC guidelines, with only a 14% decrease in oxycodone prescriptions. The study highlights the need for continued education on reducing high-abuse potential opioids for high-risk patients.
A University of Massachusetts Amherst study recommends guidelines for the ethical handling of opioid use disorder information stored in the Public Health Data Warehouse. The research highlights concerns about public trust and potential misuses of big data, and proposes safeguards to prioritize health equity.
A study led by Washington State University found that nurse practitioners significantly increased access to buprenorphine prescriptions in rural Oregon after gaining prescribing authority. In frontier regions, they accounted for nearly a third of all buprenorphine prescriptions dispensed.
A study by USF Health found that resident physicians are interested in treating opioid addiction but lack the knowledge and skills to prescribe buprenorphine. The survey also revealed that only 3% of residents were currently waivered, highlighting a need for increased training and support.
Researchers developed an AI-based prediction model for early diagnosis of opioid use disorder using commercial claim data from 2006-2018. The tool led to average diagnoses 14.4 months earlier than clinical diagnosis.
A new study by Ohio University researchers found that hospitals are adopting evidence-based programs to treat patients with opioid misuse, but more can be done to address the crisis. The study analyzed data from a national sample of nonprofit hospitals and found that they invest in clinical strategies and risk education.
A new Vanderbilt-designed prediction model can identify infants at high risk of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) after opioid exposure, allowing for early discharge and potentially reducing hospital costs. The tool uses several factors, including gestational age, type of opioids, and other drugs, to estimate the risk of NAS.
A team of healthcare providers and advocates led by Pediatric Surgeon Lorraine Kelley-Quon established the first-ever guidelines for safe opioid prescribing in children. The guidelines acknowledge the risks of opioid misuse and addiction in teens and adolescents, while promoting education and safe storage/disposal practices.
Researchers found that calls about code violations, public health issues, and street lighting were the best indicators of opioid use in Columbus communities. The study suggests that data from 311 calls can be an effective opioid overdose surveillance indicator to direct outreach and resources to where they are needed.
Treating opioid addiction with buprenorphine in primary care can be financially sustainable, according to a microsimulation model. Physician-led treatment and shared medical visits with nurse care managers yield the greatest net revenue gains.
A new study published in BMJ Quality & Safety shows significant reductions in opioid prescribing and consumption after surgery, with no increase in patient pain or satisfaction. The study's findings suggest that team-based approaches to reducing opioid use can lead to sustained success and improved patient outcomes.
A randomized trial will evaluate a telehealth-delivered collaborative care model to motivate primary care patients with opioid dependence and depression to increase engagement in evidence-based treatments. The study aims to improve depression symptoms and provide pragmatic clinical approaches to address this unmet challenge.
A real-time tracking system reveals a 15% increase in suspected opioid overdose deaths and a 29% rise in naloxone rescue attempts by EMS since March, coinciding with the pandemic's peak. The System for Opioid Overdose Surveillance (SOS) helps first responders target their efforts and provides critical data for public health authorities.
A study found that 14.6% of UK patients with new opioid prescriptions became long-term users, with risk factors including age, social deprivation, and history of self-harm or substance abuse. The study calls for safer prescribing practices to avoid addiction epidemics.
Researchers led by Dr. Alicia Allen will investigate how hormones influence postpartum opioid relapse and explore their potential use as a preventive measure. The goal is to identify protective hormones and develop a hormonally-based intervention to prevent postpartum opioid relapse.
Experts warn that opioids prescribed after surgery can lead to persistent use, addiction, and harm, including respiratory impairment and driving accidents. To mitigate these risks, hospitals must adopt strict opioid stewardship programs involving multidisciplinary teams.
Researchers Brian Litt and Gregory Corder received $5.6M and $2.4M NIH awards to develop autonomous neurodevices that learn from patients and predict seizures. They aim to improve chronic pain management without opioid side effects.
A five-year study led by University of Illinois Chicago researchers will assess the effectiveness of acupuncture and guided meditation in managing sickle cell disease pain, aiming to reduce opioid use. The study, funded at $7.1M, will explore non-pharmacological pain management interventions for approximately 360 patients.
Patients who use cannabis before surgery require more anesthesia, report higher pain levels, and consume more opioids while in the hospital. Researchers emphasize the importance of disclosing cannabis use to anesthesiologists for optimal care.
Researchers created machine learning models to predict patients' post-surgical pain and opioid needs. The models accurately identified high-risk patients 80% of the time, suggesting more effective pain management strategies with non-opioid alternatives.
Research shows that evidence-based guidelines have successfully reduced opioid prescriptions, but a small group of surgical patients may still need more pain control. The study suggests that these patients require a combination of opioids with non-opioid pain relievers to achieve optimal pain management.
A recent analysis of national data shows a significant decline in US prescription opioid abuse over the past decade. Prescription opioid abuse decreased by 26% between 2007 and 2018, with the rate dropping from 4.9% to 3.7%. This trend suggests that efforts to reduce opioid misuse are paying off.
A study found that FDA evaluations for new opioid drugs approved between 1997 and 2018 lacked systematic assessments of safety-related outcomes, particularly for chronic pain applications. The analysis revealed that trials often excluded patients who could not tolerate the drugs and failed to assess important adverse events.
A mobile health program has proven effective in bringing opioid addiction treatment services to marginalized individuals, particularly the homeless. The Community Care in Reach program uses a non-traditional combination of clinical care and harm reduction services, resulting in improved access to evidence-based services.
A study published by VCU researchers found a significant increase in nonfatal opioid overdose visits to the Richmond emergency department during March-June 2020, with a 123% rise from 2019 data. The surge occurred despite a lower-than-average number of overall visits during this period.
The University of Montana has received a five-year, $33.4 million award from the National Institutes of Health to develop and conduct clinical trials for opioid vaccines. The UM vaccine research team will advance lead opioid vaccine candidates to Phase I human clinical trials with funding from the NIH HEAL Initiative.
Future healthcare professionals lack training to address opioid use disorder and pain; a new 14-week course aims to bridge this gap. The course, 'Opioids: From Receptors to Epidemic,' provides a clinical understanding of pain and substance use disorders, as well as knowledge about public health and opioid policy interventions.
Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are testing the use of tezampanel, a novel antagonist at glutamate receptors, to treat opioid withdrawal syndrome and other addictions. The project aims to develop breakthrough medications more rapidly than traditional mechanisms, with potential approval from NIDA and FDA.
A new study found that 1 in 10 older adult dental patients were inappropriately prescribed opioid medication combinations, often with psychiatric medications. These combinations increased the risk of hospitalizations and emergency room visits by 23%.
Researchers developed a virtual reality training program to educate the public on administering naloxone, reversing opioid overdoses. The 9-minute VR training was found to be just as effective as an in-person training in increasing knowledge and confidence among participants.
A UBCO study examined pain tolerance among frequent cannabis users and found no association with increased sensitivity to pain. The research suggests that cannabis may be a safer alternative to opioids for managing chronic pain, offering hope for patients seeking relief.