Research on opioids, addiction, and treatment. Covers traditional care practices, opioid treatment in pregnancy, illicit fentanyl, and treatment disparities.
Researchers found that patients prescribed opioids after tooth extraction reported worse pain, and half of prescribed opioids remained unused. The study suggests that alternatives such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or acetaminophen control pain better and improve patient satisfaction.
A study found that a collaborative diabetes management tool, FAST, improved glycemic control in fasting adults with type 2 diabetes. The tool empowered diabetic patients with Ramadan-specific educational materials and encouraged active self-monitoring of blood glucose.
A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus found that patients who took fewer opioids pre-discharge also reported less opioid intake in the following weeks. The study suggests tailoring opioid prescriptions to individual patient needs, balancing pain management and reducing leftover pills.
A study found that patients who take less opioid pain medication before discharge have lower usage during the four weeks following. Quantifying pre-discharge opioid intake may inform better pain management practices.
The University of Tennessee Extension is launching a new effort to address the opioid crisis in rural Tennessee through the PROMPT TN program. The project aims to develop opioid-specific resources and train community members to prevent addiction, focusing on underlying causes and risk factors.
Researchers at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have developed new painkillers that target tissue acidity to reduce the risk of addiction. By fine-tuning the acid dissociation constant (pKa) of opioid molecules, these new drugs can selectively activate opioid receptors in injured tissue, preventing severe side effects.
A new pain management program implemented in a Texas healthcare system reduced longer-term opioid prescriptions by two-thirds, from over five days to fewer than five days. The program used physician education, monitoring, and incentives to shift prescribing patterns.
Researchers found that Florida's law restricting opioid prescribing for acute pain led to a decrease in opioid misuse and improved patient safety. The study also showed a significant reduction in overdose deaths among patients treated with opioids.
The number of people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain increased from approximately 20% to 40% between 1991 and 2015. However, there is a crucial evidence gap in global prescription data outside the US, with few studies reporting on opioid prescribing practices in other countries.
A study found that over 50% of ED patients with dental-related conditions received antibiotic prescriptions, while 40% received opioid prescriptions. The American Dental Association emphasizes the importance of addressing these issues through education and policy changes.
A recent study by University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing found that while many PA school nurses have a supply of naloxone, important barriers to access and use exist. The study highlights the need for increased support and education among school nurses to improve naloxone administration in schools.
Researchers at UBC's Okanagan campus developed a method to separate protein from blood plasma using electricity, enabling disease detection through levitated plasma proteins. The technology uses machine-learning and predictive models to accurately diagnose diseases like opioid addictions in just five minutes.
Researchers found no association between opioid use and cancer screening, despite higher healthcare utilization among opioid users. Key cancer screenings were more common in women with frequent doctor visits regardless of opioid status.
A recent study by MUSC Health found that telemedicine can be an effective way to reach pregnant women with opioid use disorder, with no significant differences in maternal and newborn outcomes compared to in-person care. Integrated, collaborative care models are crucial for treating this chronic disease, and telemedicine maximizes the ...
Researchers Rebecca Sutter and Allison Evans Cuellar are implementing a Mobile Medication Assisted Therapy Program in Prince William Health District to support opioid use disorder treatment. The program, which began in December 2019, is staffed with a nurse practitioner, social worker, and pharmacist, and aims to provide seamless care ...
A study analyzing over 50,000 VA patients found that increasing opioid prescription doses does not improve chronic pain management. Despite higher doses, patients' pain scores showed minimal changes, indicating that clinicians should exercise caution when escalating opioid doses.
A new study found that over half of US opioid prescriptions for dental procedures exceeded the recommended 3-day supply, with nearly 1/3 of patients receiving more powerful opioids than needed. The study suggests that improving guidelines and education for dentists can help reduce overprescription.
A new Ohio law allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a prescription has been linked to an increase in naloxone dispensing rates. The study found that the law resulted in more naloxone being made available to patients, potentially saving lives in opioid overdose situations.
Researchers found that smaller, younger, non-neutered dogs, and those living in US counties with high opioid prescription rates are at higher risk of accidental opioid poisoning. The study suggests increased public awareness and knowledge of drug trends could help lessen further harm.
A recent study found that leading smart device conversational agents, such as Siri and Alexa, are unable to provide meaningful help for quitting substances like opioids, alcohol, and tobacco. However, researchers suggest that updating these devices to promote resources like helplines could prove highly effective in addressing the natio...
The study reveals that a small subset of providers account for disproportionately high amounts of opioids, with the top 1% prescribing nearly 1,000 times more than the middle 1%. Most providers generally prescribe safely below recommended thresholds.
APRNs now have full prescriptive authority for opioids in 14 states and autonomous practice in another 10 states. New laws also improve access to care through state prescription drug monitoring programs.
A recent study found that many Medicare patients with new episodes of low back pain receive care inconsistent with current guidelines. This includes the overuse of opioids and advanced imaging tests, which is contrary to recommendations from the American College of Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians.
A new study suggests that injection drug users prescribed controlled-release hydromorphone are three times more likely to develop endocarditis than those prescribed other opioids. The findings also highlight the role of equipment used in preparing the medication as a source of bacterial contamination.
A Houston Methodist study found that using long-acting local anesthetics and scheduled non-narcotic pain medication reduced opioid prescriptions from 87% to 10% after surgery. The program successfully managed pain after surgery using over-the-counter pain medication, decreasing the chance of patients becoming addicted to narcotics.
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.
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 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.
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
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.