Research on opioids, addiction, and treatment. Covers traditional care practices, opioid treatment in pregnancy, illicit fentanyl, and treatment disparities.
A new study finds that many Philadelphia pharmacies fail to implement Pennsylvania's standing order for naloxone nasal spray, putting communities at risk. The study suggests that policies need to be enforced and pharmacies held accountable for implementing them.
A Pennsylvania study found that 1 in 3 pharmacies carry naloxone nasal spray, but many require a physician's prescription. Chain stores were more likely to have naloxone available without a prescription than independent ones.
Research finds hearts from overdose death donors are as suitable as others, offering a solution to the growing organ shortage. The opioid epidemic has increased the number of organs available for transplant, including lungs and potentially other organs.
A clinical trial found that galantamine reduced opioid positive urine samples and prolonged abstinence in participants. The medication's dual mechanism of action may offer new strategies for treating opioid use disorder.
A pain management protocol called Enhanced Recovery After Surgery has been shown to be effective in reducing opioid prescriptions after C-sections. The protocol involves a combination of long-acting opioids and non-narcotic medications to limit inpatient morphine use, resulting in shorter hospital stays and improved patient satisfaction.
A systematic review found that opioids have a small improvement in sleep quality, but this is not consistent with results from sleep assessment technologies. Patients on opioid therapy are also at risk of excessive daytime sleepiness and increased risks of sleep apnea. The study calls for better research into the effects of painkillers...
A recent study found that regulatory bodies in Australia are not seeking to blame doctors for patient deaths when opioids are administered, alleviating fears of professional ruin. Doctors should prescribe minimum doses to alleviate suffering and respect clinical practice.
A study by the University of Michigan found that over half of patients used no opioids after surgery, with most reporting manageable pain. The study's results suggest a new approach to pain management that reduces opioid use can be effective.
A new study reveals that polysubstance use, where individuals combine opioids with other substances like stimulants, is now the norm in Massachusetts. Social determinants of health, including homelessness and mental illness, are significantly associated with these overdose deaths.
Researchers found that short-term opioid use intensifies feelings of pleasure while weakening negative emotions, shifting emotional responses towards the positive side. This effect is distinct from prolonged opioid use, which alters brain reward systems and diminishes sensitivity.
Researchers found US dentists prescribe 37 times more opioids than UK counterparts in 2016, a peak year in the US opioid crisis. The study emphasizes the importance of adopting national guidelines for treating dental pain and promoting judicious opioid prescribing among US dentists.
A study found that parental use of prescription opioids was associated with a higher risk of suicide attempts by children. The observational study, which included over 184,000 children, also controlled for other factors such as age and mental health diagnoses.
A specialized pain management program for robotic urologic surgery patients resulted in a significant reduction in opioid prescriptions. The study found that just 8% of patients were prescribed opioids after discharge, with those who received them going home with fewer pills than usual.
A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that opioid use by a parent is associated with a doubling of the risk of suicide attempts by their children. The researchers analyzed data from over 240,000 parents and found that children whose parents used opioids were more likely to attempt suicide.
Researchers developed a non-addictive painkiller that accelerates recovery time and prevents relapse to chronic pain. The new opioid, ZH853, outperforms morphine in treating pain while diminishing inflammation and reducing recovery time.
Research at ATS 2019 found no difference in opioid prescriptions between ICU patients with and without opioid care. One year after discharge, ICU patients given opioids did not appear to be at higher risk of receiving opioid prescriptions.
Researchers at the University of Virginia have identified a possible new drug target for reducing chronic pain and inflammation. A naturally occurring enzyme called diacylglycerol lipase-beta (DAGL?) has been found to produce chemical signals that control inflammation, making it a viable target for non-addictive pain relief.
Researchers found that opioid-exposed babies react more strongly to pain and have higher skin conductance, suggesting they may need early intervention. The study suggests that these babies handle pain worse than their non-exposed counterparts, highlighting the need for better care.
Northeast Ohio Medical University has received a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to collaborate with other Ohio medical schools on developing a comprehensive curriculum for pain management and opioid use disorder treatment. The project aims to improve systems of prevention and treatment f...
The CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy is part of a NYC consortium aiming to reduce opioid overdose mortality by 40% in 16 communities. The project focuses on whole-community approaches, including enhancing community engagement and increasing access to prevention and treatment.
A new study found that chronic opioid prescribing in primary care is associated with patient demographics, comorbidities, and clinician perspectives on pain management. Patients with higher comorbidities were more likely to receive chronic opioid prescriptions and at higher doses.
A study found that 623,000 US parents with opioid use disorder live with children under 18, with few receiving treatment. Meanwhile, healthcare accounts for between 5-15% of premature death variation, with behavioral factors driving more mortality variation.
A Mayo Clinic study of 444,764 patients found that tramadol was more likely than other opioids to result in prolonged use, challenging its classification as a lower-risk medication. The researchers used de-identified data from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse to examine prescription fills after surgery.
Long-term opiate therapy rates persistently high for at least five years in cancer survivors, increasing over time. Cancer survivors diagnosed later had higher opioid prescribing rates than those diagnosed earlier.
An estimated 623,000 US parents with opioid use disorder are living with children under 18, with fewer than one-third receiving treatment. Additionally, four million parents have other substance use disorders with low treatment rates.
A recent study reveals that buprenorphine prescribers in nonmetropolitan areas predominantly come from primary care backgrounds. These physicians tend to have more flexible practice settings and accept Medicaid, differing from specialists who dominate large metropolitan areas.
A review panel led by Regenstrief Institute Research Scientist Kurt Kroenke found that clinicians, policymakers, and payers are misapplying CDC opioid guidelines, negatively affecting patients. The panel identified challenges with implementing the guidelines, including overly restrictive prescribing policies and burdens on clinicians.
A new study found that 1 in 167 opioid prescriptions were filled by patients whose family members had a history of 'doctor and pharmacy shopping', increasing the risk of misuse and overdose. The research highlights the importance of helping patients store and dispose of opioids safely to prevent family member misuse.
Researchers at SLU discovered a molecular pathway required for neuropathic pain and found blocking this signal can limit or stop pain. A new class of non-narcotic pain-killing therapies is being developed.
Researchers found buprenorphine office visits increased from 0.04% to 0.36% of ambulatory visits between 2004-2015, with 13.4 million visits from 2012-2015. Buprenorphine prescriptions were more common among white patients than those of other races/ethnicities.
Researchers found that certain surgeries, such as colorectal and cardiovascular surgeries, increase the likelihood of patients continuing to refill opioid prescriptions. Generalist nurse practitioners and physician assistants may also be overprescribing opioids, suggesting a need for education and better oversight.
A new study from the RAND Corporation found that allowing pharmacists to dispense naloxone without a physician's prescription can sharply reduce fatal opioid-related overdoses. States that adopted laws enabling direct dispensing of naloxone by pharmacists saw a significant decrease in overdose deaths, with an average reduction of 27% d...
A study of private insurance claims found that only 1.5% of high-risk opioid overdose patients received naloxone prescriptions during healthcare encounters. Prior diagnoses of opioid misuse or dependence were associated with higher naloxone prescription rates.
Researchers identified risks associated with popular alternative treatments like kratom, Imodium, and Xanax, which can cause substantial side effects and high abuse rates. The study also found that 'stacks' or kits combining substances are being used to combat withdrawal symptoms.
A vaccine combining a fentanyl antigen with tetanus toxoid has been shown to reduce fentanyl choices and increase food choices in rats, with effects lasting several months. The findings suggest the vaccine may decrease dangerous drug-taking behavior and increase healthier behaviors.
The University of Houston College of Pharmacy has opened a new center to educate providers and patients on safe controlled substance prescription use, aiming to optimize pharmacotherapy for pain management. The PREMIER Center will also support the safe disposal of unused medications through a $3.34 million grant.
Rutgers researchers analyzed 90 retail pharmacies in 10 New Jersey cities and found that naloxone was available in 60-70% of more affluent communities but less than 25% of lower-income areas. The city's population, affluence, and opioid-related hospital visits over five months were correlated with naloxone availability.
The Ohio Perinatal Quality Collaborative initiative improved the care of opioid-exposed infants by reducing pharmacological treatment duration and length of hospital stay. The project, which monitored 9,648 infants from 2014 to 2018, saw a decline in the proportion requiring treatment from 48% to 42%.
The researcher will collect data from 1,500 patients using prescription opioids to identify factors that may increase the risk of opioid-related depression. Long-term opioid analgesic use is associated with increased risk for depression and impairs depression treatment and recovery.
A study found that state-run PDMPs, pain clinic legislation, and opioid prescribing guidelines significantly decrease pediatric opioid exposures. The analysis of NPDS data from 2005-2017 showed a notable reduction in opioid exposures among children following the implementation of these policies.
A new study examining opioid fill patterns among Medicaid-enrolled children in the US revealed that prescriptions for these age groups were relatively rare, with an adjusted rate of 0.8% by 2016. The study also found that opioids were most frequently prescribed in combination with other pain relievers.
The UCR School of Medicine will conduct research on collegiate recovery with a focus on increasing awareness, improving treatment support, and incorporating students' voices in decision-making. This effort aims to reduce stigma and improve outcomes for students in recovery.
A recent study found that 40.3% of people with cancer used marijuana in the past year, compared to 38.0% without cancer. Meanwhile, prescription opioid use was higher among those with cancer (13.9%) than without (6.4%).
A study by Kaiser Permanente found that patients with fluctuating opioid doses were 3 times more likely to experience an overdose compared to those with stable doses. Discontinuing long-term opioid therapy for 3 or more months significantly reduced the risk of overdose.
Researchers and health-care professionals from universities across the region are teaming up with community groups to develop new solutions to the opioid crisis. The Opioid Research Consortium of Central Appalachia aims to improve access to treatment and reverse the tide of overdose deaths in areas with limited resources.
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has approved $44.6 million to fund studies comparing the best ways to treat health conditions that impose high burdens on patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system. The newly approved awards focus on improving treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), with a total of four aw...
Chronic post-surgical pain affects 10% of patients, often requiring higher levels of opioids that can lead to tolerance and opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Opioid prescribing for surgery patients poses a challenge, with increases in misuse and abuse linked to inadequate pain management.
A study by Penn State researchers estimates that the US government lost up to $37.8 billion in tax revenue between 2000 and 2016 due to opioid-related employment loss. The state of Pennsylvania was among the hardest hit, with approximately $638.2 million lost in income and sales tax.
Researchers from NYU Meyers College of Nursing used FDNY GIS maps to develop an educational program for nurse practitioners, which improved their care and interventions on the opioid crisis. The study found that local, real-time maps informed clinical practice and increased screenings for risk-taking behaviors in adolescent populations.
Researchers found that combining cannabinoids with morphine did not increase impulsivity or memory impairment in rhesus monkeys, suggesting a safe way to cut opioid dosage for pain sufferers. The study's findings support the notion that opioid-cannabinoid mixtures can be effective for treating pain without greater adverse effects.
A novel study creates a new metric to illustrate disadvantaged areas nationwide, highlighting the regions with the highest disparity between opioid-related deaths and access to treatment providers. The study found that nearly 32% of US counties lack any treatment programs, while over 19% have a low number of treatment programs per death.
Research suggests that blocking opioid receptors can reverse the increase in sugar consumption caused by hormone therapy. The study found that estradiol treatment increased sugar intake in rats, but blocking opioid receptors with naltrexone reversed this effect.
The article highlights the growing public health crisis of opioid and infectious disease (ID) epidemics, citing increased rates of HIV, viral hepatitis, and skin infections linked to rising opioid use. Experts recommend strengthened responses by infectious diseases and substance use specialists, including investments in evidence-based ...
Recent studies have shed light on the impact of environmental toxins, food additives, and pain management on human health. Research has found that certain antioxidants can protect cells from harm caused by hexavalent chromium, while other substances may weaken the immune system or cause dental damage.
Researchers found that chronic morphine treatment decreased survival in control mice, but not in sickle mice with sickle cell disease. Chronic opioid therapy also caused hyperalgesia, a condition of increased pain sensitivity, in sickle mice. The study suggests that opioids may still be effective for managing pain in SCD patients despi...
Columbia University has received a planning grant to develop innovative evidence-based practices and programs for opioid education and naloxone training on college campuses. The project aims to establish a platform for disseminating and implementing effective strategies to address the opioid epidemic among college students.
A new study suggests that giving surgery patients disposal bags to safely dispose of leftover opioids can double the percentage of patients who properly dispose of their unneeded pills within six weeks. The study showed that providing only an informational brochure had a much smaller effect on safe disposal rates.
A new study reveals that long-term opioid users are at risk of hormone deficiencies, including hypogonadism and hypocortisolism. Up to 65% of men using opioids long term have low testosterone levels, leading to symptoms such as erectile dysfunction and infertility.
A new study developed a machine-learning algorithm to predict opioid overdose risk among Medicare beneficiaries with at least one opioid prescription. The model outperformed traditional statistical models in identifying subgroups of patients at similar risk of overdosing, especially those with low risk.
A clinical trial assessing the safety of experimental compound ANS-6637 has begun in healthy adults at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. The trial will evaluate how the compound affects opioid use disorder and provide groundwork for future studies to develop effective treatments for cravings, a major barrier to sobriety.