Articles tagged with Opioids
Researchers found that modifying default settings for opioid prescriptions resulted in lower quantities prescribed. The study's findings suggest that reducing default settings can help improve prescription practices and protect patients from developing opioid addictions.
Media reports on chronic pain focus on opioid-based treatments and cannabis, overlooking evidence-based non-pharmaceutical options. Research analysis reveals limited attention to adverse effects of medicinal cannabis and inadequate resources for pain management.
States with Medicaid work requirements have higher opioid overdose death rates and fewer substance use disorder treatment facilities. Increasing access to evidence-based opioid addiction care is crucial for individuals with these conditions.
A five-year case study at a Boston family medicine clinic shows medical facilities can help physicians treat chronic pain while deterring opioid misuse. The study introduced new systems, structures, and staff support to create collaborative, interdisciplinary care.
A 2018-2019 survey of rural US adults highlighted health care costs and access as major concerns. The study also found a growing addiction to opioids in the region.
Overdose emergency departments visits involving cocaine and psychostimulants with an opioid increased significantly since 2006. The study highlights the need for expanded opioid overdose prevention and reversal efforts.
A risk management program for opioids may not be effective due to design and execution flaws, according to a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health study. The program's educational materials were consistent with FDA guidelines, but assessments of its impact were often inadequate.
A study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that closing of local automotive assembly plants is associated with an increase in opioid overdose deaths. The study highlights fading economic opportunity as a driving factor in the national opioid epidemic.
A University of Michigan study found that prompt disposal of leftover medications improved when parents received a disposal packet and tailored online messages. The study suggests that easy disposal and risk education can significantly reduce the number of parents keeping leftover opioids for their children.
Opioid-related overdose deaths in US decreased from 9% to 4% for suicides, increasing from 73.8% to 90.6% for unintentional deaths between 2000 and 2017
A new study provides national estimates of neonatal abstinence syndrome and its associated healthcare costs, shedding light on the impact of opioid exposure during pregnancy. The findings highlight the need for increased support and resources for affected families.
Adolescents and young adults ages 12-21 are at similar risk for prescription opioid overdose as adults, with mental health or substance use disorders increasing overdose odds by three times. Safe prescribing practices include using short-acting opioids and avoiding concurrent prescriptions with benzodiazepines.
A study by researchers at the University of Waterloo found that 7.5% of psychiatric hospital patients used opioids in the year prior to admission, compared to 2% of the general population. The study highlights the need for integrated health services to address pain, mental health conditions and substance use.
A study based on over 140,000 VA health records found that non-drug therapies for chronic pain reduced the risk of alcohol and drug disorders, opioid poisoning, and suicidal thoughts. Non-drug treatments like acupuncture and massage were linked to lower risks of these adverse outcomes.
A new Boston University School of Public Health study found that the decline in prescriptions of non-opioid analgesics coincided with a marked increase in opioid prescribing. The study suggests that health risks associated with NSAIDs were one factor that led to increased prescribing of opioids.
Researchers compared opioid prescribing at discharge from Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, before and after a 2018 law change. The study found significant reductions in opioid prescribing rates following the law's implementation.
A new study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that Electronic Medication Complete Communication (EMC2) Opioid Strategy improved safe dosing of opioids, but not actual use. The intervention also boosted patient knowledge about medication risks.
A new study reveals that approximately 30% of patients taking opioids experience adverse drug interactions, which can lead to decreased efficacy and increased risk of addiction and overdose. The authors emphasize the importance of a thorough medication history and consulting a pharmacist before prescribing opioids.
A recent study found that under 30% of young patients with substance use history were tested for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), emphasizing the importance of improved screening and treatment. The study highlights the need to connect those found to have current infection to treatment, particularly among young people who inject drugs.
A large study of 799 people found that methamphetamine use was associated with more than twice the risk for dropping out of treatment for opioid-use disorder. Meth users often experience challenges in daily life, including homelessness and difficulty saying no to drug dealers.
A study by Rutgers University found that individuals in opioid addiction treatment are more likely to relapse when they exhibit a strong tolerance for risks, especially in situations with unknown outcomes. This knowledge can help clinicians predict and monitor vulnerable patients for changes that may affect their relapse risk.
A study from the University of Georgia found that over 90% of opioid-related hospitalizations are among patients with two or more chronic diseases, highlighting the association between chronic disease and opioid misuse. Researchers argue that prioritizing chronic disease prevention could alleviate the opioid epidemic.
In an effort to curb opioid misuse, Massachusetts physician assistant programs have adopted a cross-institutional partnership to ensure safe prescribing practices. The initiative aims to educate students on the prevention and management of prescription drug misuse, following a consensus-building process among nine PA programs.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have launched a project to develop preclinical drug candidates that selectively block nociceptor activity, offering an alternative to opioid-based medications. The STOP PAIN consortium combines experimental and AI-driven approaches to address the critical public health need for new pain treatments.
A new study found that people with opioid addiction face a high risk of overdose after ending treatment with buprenorphine, even when treated for 18 months. The longer patients continued with treatment, the lower their risk of other adverse outcomes.
A recent study highlights a 'worrying' increase in misuse of gabapentin and baclofen medications in the US, coinciding with a decline in opioid prescriptions. The analysis found significant rises in intentional suspected suicide attempts and hospital admissions related to these non-opioid medications.
The University of Illinois Chicago has received a $300,000 grant to develop a screening process for prescribing opioids and managing opioid use disorders in cancer patients. More than 70% of cancer patients who receive radiation treatment use opiates, with higher rates seen in those receiving chemotherapy or having head and neck cancer.
A study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that chronic opioid treatment before a traumatic event enhances fear learning in mice, potentially linking opioid dependence to PTSD. The findings suggest that individuals with a history of opioid use may become more susceptible to the negative effects of stress.
A new study using fMRI found significant differences in brain connectivity between infants exposed to opioids prenatally and those not exposed. The research suggests that prenatal opioid exposure may have lasting consequences on brain development and behavior.
A new study found that cancer survivors are at risk of developing opioid addictions, with rates varying by cancer type and patient history. The research highlights the importance of identifying patients at risk of opioid-related problems to provide alternative pain management strategies.
West Virginia University researcher Shane Kaski found that combining nalfurafine with morphine reduces pain while minimizing morphine's addictive potential. This could lead to lower doses of morphine and reduced risk of addiction, combating the opioid epidemic.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago found a peptide called PACAP links migraine pain and opioid-induced pain, offering potential new treatments for episodic migraines. The study's findings support the development of therapies targeting PACAP and its receptor.
Daily cannabis use reduces illicit opioid use among people with chronic pain, researchers found in a study published in PLOS Medicine. The study of over 1,100 participants suggests that cannabis may be a beneficial alternative to opioids for pain management.
Chronic opioid use can disrupt sleep by reducing efficiency and increasing risk of sleep-disordered breathing. Medical providers must recognize signs like snoring and daytime sleepiness to provide high-quality care.
A study by UC Davis Health physicians reveals that opioid dose tapering is becoming increasingly common, with rates often exceeding CDC recommendations. The study found that nearly 20% of patients tapered at a rate of 40% per month, highlighting the need for more training and guidance on safe tapering practices.
Researchers found a significant increase in opioid overdose deaths among younger Medicare patients with disabilities, from 57.4 per 100,000 in 2012 to 77.6 per 100,000 in 2016. Adults with psychiatric diseases, substance use disorder, and chronic pain had higher rates of opioid overdose death.
A new study published in the American Journal of Public Health estimates that 171,900 Canadians injected drugs in 2016, with a 30-per-cent increase from 2011. The study also found wide variations in service coverage across provinces and territories.
Researchers mapped opioid overdose death locations in Flint, Mich., finding three clusters with high concentrations in poorer neighborhoods. Only a small percentage of available treatment centers were located in these areas, highlighting the need for targeted resource allocation.
The Texas Advanced Computing Center will develop a meta-portal to provide access to analytics tools and data sets for researchers studying the biological characteristics underlying acute-to-chronic pain transition. Researchers aim to identify biomarkers that can predict chronic pain for medical and public health use.
A randomized clinical trial in Australia tested whether a dose of naloxone administered through the nose was as effective as the same dose delivered by injection to reverse opioid overdose. The study found that nasal naloxone was just as effective as injectable naloxone in preventing the need for a rescue dose within 10 minutes.
Researchers found that infants born in states with punitive policies had higher rates of neonatal abstinence syndrome, highlighting the need for public health approaches to prevention and expanded treatment access. Policies requiring reporting of prenatal substance use were not associated with increased withdrawal risk.
A Dartmouth study analyzed prescription records of 2.5 million Medicare beneficiaries and found that taking any one fracture-associated drug doubles a person's risk, while taking three or more increases it four-fold. The most hazardous combinations included opioids with sedatives, diuretics, or PPIs.
Researchers identified several risk factors associated with postpartum opioid overdose, including history of overdose during pregnancy, OUD diagnosis, and certain medical conditions. The study suggests that improving screening and providing supportive care can help reduce the risk of postpartum overdose.
Researchers at Marshall University found that universal maternal toxicology screening, including gabapentin, led to increased identification of co-exposure and improved timely treatment for newborns experiencing withdrawal symptoms. This resulted in shorter hospital stays, averaging 48 days compared to 58 days before the screening began.
A recent study found that opioid overdose victims who suffer cardiac arrest differ from other cardiac arrest patients, with unique characteristics that may require different treatment. Opioid-related cardiac arrest survivors are more likely to be admitted to a hospital due to improved survival rates in urban and rural areas.
Researchers found small, statistically significant benefits on pain and function with opioids, but no impact on quality of life or depression for patients with osteoarthritis. Strong opioids had consistently worse pain relief benefits and a greater risk of adverse events compared to weak opioids.
Researchers found a significant increase in opioid-use disorder hospitalizations among patients with common rheumatic conditions like gout, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. The study suggests that these patients are at risk of developing an opioid use disorder due to chronic musculoskeletal diseases.
Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic women reported higher pain scores compared to white women during the postpartum period. Despite this, they received fewer opioids and were less likely to receive prescriptions at discharge.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is investigating the impact of opioids and sedatives on veteran health, with a focus on reducing overdose and death rates. The study aims to identify effective treatment strategies for co-prescribing these medications, which have been linked to increased risks of respiratory depression and suicide.
The PLOS Medicine special issue examines the challenges of substance use and misuse, including opioid epidemic in the US and differences in risks among refugees and non-refugee migrants. Research findings suggest that programmes focusing on prescription opioids may be missing a growing proportion of people at risk of harm from opioid m...
A new study found that mind-body therapies such as meditation/mindfulness, hypnosis, and cognitive-behavioral therapy can significantly reduce pain severity and opioid use among patients treated with prescription opioids. These findings have critical implications for medical professionals seeking effective treatments for pain management.
The RNI is conducting a clinical trial using deep brain stimulation to treat patients with treatment-resistant opioid use disorder. The trial aims to investigate the mechanism of addiction in the brain and potentially provide a new tool to help those severely impacted by opioid use disorder.
A comprehensive review of mind-body therapies found associations with lower opioid use and better pain outcomes. The study combined data from multiple studies, providing evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions in managing chronic pain among adults on opioids.
A new study at Kellogg Eye Center finds that reducing opioid pills prescribed after cornea surgery doesn't compromise pain control, with most patients using only four pills. The policy change also leads to more responsible pill disposal practices.
A recent study observed a significant reduction in opioid use and improvement in pain control among patients receiving fewer opioid tablets after corneal surgery. This decrease is attributed to the reduced prescription of opioids, highlighting the potential benefits of more conservative treatment approaches.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing have discovered that GLP-1 receptor agonists can reduce oxycodone self-administration and relapse in rats. The study suggests a novel role for GLP-1 receptors in opioid-mediated behaviors, providing a potential new target for medications treating opioid use disorder.
A recent study by NYU College of Global Public Health found that construction workers are the most likely profession to misuse opioids and cocaine. The researchers analyzed data from over 293,000 participants and discovered a strong link between physical demands of construction work and substance use.
A new study found that physicians who received gifts related to opioid medications were more likely to prescribe opioids the following year. The study also revealed significant variability in opioid prescribing across different medical specialties, with primary care physicians and psychiatrists being among those most likely to be in th...
A study at the University of Vermont Medical Center found significant reductions in opioid prescribing and use after implementing state-mandated regulations, but no negative impact on pain management. The regulations included educating patients about non-opioid analgesia and safe disposal of unused opioids.
A new study from the University of Michigan and Dartmouth University found that US-born residents are significantly more likely to use prescription opioids than new immigrants. The study analyzed data from the national Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and found that US-born residents were more than five times as likely to use opioids a...