Articles tagged with Opioids
A new study explores why people keep eating despite feeling full, showing that two tiny clusters of cells battle for control and the opioid system gets involved. Researchers found that stimulating POMC neurons decreases appetite, while AgRP neurons drive eating when both are activated.
A Mayo Clinic study found that enrollment in an opioid controlled substance agreement significantly reduces primary care visits, hospitalizations, and specialty visits among patients with chronic health conditions. The agreement also leads to increased radiology visits, but not emergency department services.
A study found that patients with higher continuity with their prescribing physician received fewer risky opioid prescriptions and were less likely to be hospitalized for opioid-related causes. However, long-term opioid use was associated with lower continuity scores than other medications, highlighting the need for improved prescribing...
A study found a clear geographical split in opioid prescribing in England, with the North showing higher rates of chronic pain, anxiety, and poor general health. Opioid use was linked to intensity of pain, educational attainment, and general health, highlighting the need for alternative pain management strategies.
Researchers found that nearly 9% of people who died by suicide in 18 states between 2003 and 2014 had chronic pain documented in their incident records. Chronic pain was associated with risk factors for suicide, but previous studies primarily examined nonfatal suicidal behaviors.
A national analysis of physician visit records found that nearly 30 percent of outpatient opioid prescriptions lack clear documentation of the reason for use. This raises concerns about inappropriate prescribing and lax documentation practices. The study highlights the need for stricter requirements on documenting the need for opioids.
Researchers from Charité - Universitátsmedizin Berlin have developed a new generation of pain medications that can prevent brain- and gut-related side effects associated with conventional opioids. The drugs are designed to work only at sites affected by injury or inflammation.
A study of 173 patients who underwent rhinoplasty found that only two refilled their opioid prescriptions, suggesting that pain management may not require as many opioids as previously thought. Facial plastic surgeons are now reducing opioid prescriptions by at least 50% to limit the potential for abuse.
A review of 173 rhinoplasty patients found that most received opioid prescriptions, averaging 28 pills per patient, yet experienced less pain than expected. The study's results highlight the need for more research on optimal postoperative pain management from rhinoplasty
A new study found that ketamine's antidepressant effect requires opioid system activation in humans, raising concerns about the risk of dependence. The study used naltrexone, an opioid blocker, to block ketamine's effects and found that it reduced antidepressant symptoms but not dissociative effects.
Researchers have developed a bifunctional compound that both relieves pain and suppresses opioid dependency in primates, providing 100-fold stronger pain relief than morphine. The compound lacks rewarding characteristics and motor impairment, indicating a safer alternative to traditional opioids.
Stanford researchers found that ketamine works as an antidepressant by activating the brain's opioid system. The study overturns previous beliefs about the drug's mechanism and presents new treatment opportunities for depression, pain, and opioid addiction.
A recent survey found that about 4.5% of US adults use e-cigarettes, with higher rates among young adults and those in the LGBTQ community. E-cigarette use also varies by state, with estimates ranging from 3.1% in South Dakota to 7% in Oklahoma.
Deaths from drug overdose and suicide in the US have surpassed those from diabetes, with rates increasing by 80% between 2000 and 2016. Researchers urge national initiatives to tackle common factors behind 'self-injury', citing trauma, adversity, and mental health issues as key drivers.
A 2014 US Drug Enforcement Administration policy change was associated with an increase in filled opioid prescriptions after elective surgery. Most of the increase was attributed to hydrocodone, the most commonly prescribed opioid following surgery.
A recent study by Yale researchers found that black patients are more likely to be tested for illicit drug use after starting opioids for chronic pain and have their prescriptions discontinued. The study highlights the need for a universal approach to monitoring patients prescribed opioids, particularly in addressing racial disparities.
A study at Toronto General Hospital found that nearly half of patients who did not take opioids before surgery were able to wean off completely. The Transitional Pain Program uses non-opioid medications, psychological techniques, and exercise prescriptions to help patients manage pain. Patients who were on high doses of opioids before ...
Viral suppression rates have nearly tripled in the US over the past two decades due to improved treatment regimens. However, disparities persist among younger persons and blacks living with HIV, warranting further research. The study found that these populations were more likely to have detectable viral loads.
After ACA Medicaid expansion, more people filled prescriptions for buprenorphine with naloxone (opioid use disorder treatment) and opioid pain relievers in five states. The study found that this increase could help lessen the opioid crisis by providing medication access for those struggling with addiction.
Researchers at Kaiser Permanente are conducting a three-year study to examine the role of opioid use in suicide risk and develop better tools for clinicians. The study aims to improve powerful prediction models that can identify patients at high risk for suicide.
A UTA professor led a federal advisory group to publish recommendations for preventing acute and chronic pain, highlighting the need for better public education and a precision medicine approach. The report found that psychosocial factors significantly impact pain experience and treatment responses.
Two studies reveal widespread declines in US life expectancy, with younger age groups affected by opioid-related deaths, and midlife mortality increasing across all racial groups. Systemic causes, including social deprivation and austerity policies, are suspected to contribute to these trends.
The guidelines, published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons, recommend custom-tailored pain management regimens based on the operation and patient needs. The ranges offered for each procedure generally call for reductions from current rates of opioid prescription.
A new study investigates pre-existing perceptions about pain medications in individuals with chronic pain, revealing that personalized care by a pharmacist can have a significant impact on patient experiences and outcomes.
A USC study found that when clinicians are given information about a patient's fatal overdose, they prescribe fewer powerful painkillers. Clinicians who received a letter from the county medical examiner were 9.7% less likely to prescribe opioids in the following three months.
A recent survey conducted by the Center for Health, Work & Environment found that 13% of veterinarians in Colorado had seen a client intentionally injure or abuse an animal to obtain prescription painkillers. The study's results highlight the need for better training and surveillance to address opioid misuse among pet owners.
A letter from a medical examiner to a physician about a recent fatal overdose can inspire safer prescribing habits, a new study suggests. The research found that physicians who received such letters prescribed 9.7% fewer opioids over three months.
A new study from Michigan Medicine reveals that young people who receive opioid prescriptions immediately before or after wisdom teeth removal are nearly three times as likely to keep using opioids weeks or months later. Those in their late teens and twenties have the highest odds of persistent opioid use.
Researchers found that opioid prescription rates have remained flat for commercially insured patients over the past decade, but rates for some Medicare patients are leveling off. The study of 48 million U.S. patients showed high rates of opioid use among disabled Medicare Advantage recipients.
A study published in The BMJ found that US opioid use has not declined over the last decade, with higher average daily doses in 2017 compared to 2007. Disabled Medicare beneficiaries were particularly prone to opioid use, taking higher doses for longer periods.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center have identified depression, back pain, and previous drug use as significant risk factors for prolonged opioid use after surgery or trauma. Effective pain management strategies with a lower risk of prolonged opioid use can help physicians mitigate this issue.
A new poll by U-M/AARP National Poll on Healthy Aging reveals that 74% of older adults support limiting opioid prescription amounts, while many struggle with safe storage and disposal of unused pills. The findings highlight the need for better counseling and resources to combat the opioid epidemic among this critical demographic.
A study published in Spine Journal found that patients taking opioids for at least three months before spinal fusion surgery were more likely to continue taking opioids one year after surgery, with rates of 42% vs. 9% in the opioid-taking group compared to those who didn't take opioids before surgery.
Researchers developed prescribing recommendations for opioids after gall bladder removal and discovered a spillover effect that led to significant reductions in pill prescriptions for other major operations. The study found that the reduction in prescribing resulted in roughly 10,000 fewer pills entering the community.
A new study found significant geographic variability in opioid prescribing patterns for minor injuries, with patients in high-prescribing states receiving up to three times more prescriptions than those in low-prescribing states. Reducing unnecessary prescribing could lead to 18,000 fewer opioid tablets being prescribed.
A new study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that congressional districts in the southeastern US and Appalachia have the highest opioid prescribing rates. These areas were followed closely by rural west states. On the other hand, districts near urban centers tend to have lower prescribing rates.
A modified botulinum toxin compound Derm-BOT successfully targets and silences pain signals from neurons in the spinal cord of mice, providing long-lasting pain relief. The compound is non-toxic, safe to manufacture, and avoids adverse effects associated with opioids.
A study found that lowering the default amount of opioid pills prescribed in a health care system's electronic medical record was associated with a decrease in the total number of opioids prescribed systemwide. This change involved reducing the default number of opioid pills from 30 to 12 in 2017.
A study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery found that patients taking prescription opioids for more than 60 days before total knee or hip replacement surgery are at higher risk of hospital readmission and repeat joint-replacement surgery. Prolonged opioid use was associated with an increased risk of both adverse outcomes,...
The National Academies have released a report on the intersection of opioid use disorder and infectious diseases, highlighting the urgent need for integrated treatment strategies. The report suggests five action steps to target both opioid use disorder and its resulting rise in infectious diseases, including screening for OUD, implemen...
An expert panel has identified parallels between the current opioid epidemic and the early days of the HIV epidemic. The panel recommends five crucial steps for clinicians treating patients affected by opioid addiction and these intersecting infections, including increasing access to addiction care and developing hospital-based protocols.
Oregon Health & Science University researchers recommend routinely screening and treating patients for opioid abuse when they come to clinics and hospitals seeking other services. This approach can save lives and turn around the national opioid epidemic by addressing opioid use disorder as a chronic medical condition.
A study found that high opioid doses and concurrent sedative use are key risk factors for fatal opioid overdose among Medicaid patients. The research identified chronic pain, medical diagnoses associated with addiction, and mental health disorders as additional risk factors.
A study of 34,000 patients found nearly 1 in 4 used preoperative opioids, linked to age, tobacco use, illicit drug use, pain severity and depression. Identifying these patients can inform effective pain management plans for complex patient populations.
People with opioid use report higher rates of physical and mental health conditions, as well as other substance use. Opioid intensity is also associated with increased involvement in the criminal justice system.
Current opioid epidemic responses neglect to account for gender-specific factors, including pain sensitivity and treatment outcomes. Women are disproportionately affected by opioid addiction, with increased risk of overdose deaths and limited access to effective treatment options.
A WSU study found that stopping long-term opioid therapy does not make chronic, non-cancer-related pain worse, and in some cases, improves it. The researchers analyzed data from 551 VA patients who discontinued opioid therapy for at least a year, finding that their pain did not worsen but rather remained similar or improved slightly.
A new study by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health found that potentially 70,000 opioid-related overdose deaths were not included in national estimates since 1999. Incomplete death certificate reporting hampers efforts to understand the opioid epidemic's magnitude.
The study found a significant association between chronic opioid use and support for President Trump in 2016. Socioeconomic factors such as income, disability, insurance coverage, and unemployment contributed to this correlation, accounting for approximately 18% of the variance in county rates of opioid use.
A new study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy found that concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use increases the risk of opioid-related overdose by five-fold compared to opioid-only use. The risk decreases after 180 days of concurrent use, but is still elevated compared to opioid-only use.
A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that health insurers have not done enough to combat the opioid epidemic. The researchers analyzed coverage policies for drugs to treat chronic lower-back pain and concluded that these policies missed opportunities to steer patients towards safer treatments.
A new study analyzed prescription drug coverage policies for treating chronic noncancer pain, finding opportunities for insurers to redesign coverage and improve pain management. The research highlights the need to expand access to opioid alternatives through coverage and reimbursement policies.
A study found that adults who survive nonfatal opioid overdoses are at high risk of dying from substance use-associated diseases, cancer, and circulatory system diseases. The study also revealed that women are more likely to die by suicide after surviving an overdose
Adults who survive opioid overdoses have exceptionally high risks of dying from respiratory diseases, viral hepatitis, and suicide. The study analyzed Medicaid records to find that survivors are substantially more likely to die of these causes than the general population.
A recent study by RAND Corporation found that more than 6 percent of Massachusetts adults received risky opioid prescriptions over a five-year period, increasing their chances of death. The study identified six types of risky prescribing practices linked to fatal opioid overdoses and other causes of mortality.
A new study from LSU Health Sciences Center found that opioids significantly increase the risk of fracture nonunion following acute and chronic administration. The researchers also suggest that certain medications, including Schedule II opioids and prescription NSAIDs, create a greater nonunion risk than non-opioid analgesics.
A review of current evidence published in Annals of Emergency Medicine suggests that emergency department-facilitated transitions to outpatient care with Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) lead to healthier patient outcomes. MAT improves long-term outcomes, reduces fatal overdose risk and hospitalizations.
A recent US government regulation change led to a doubling of opioids sold through dark web markets and an increase in more potent opioids being bought. The study suggests that the restricted painkiller may have driven users to seek out stronger opioids online.
The NIH HEAL Initiative is a trans-NIH effort to address the opioid crisis through science. The initiative focuses on two primary areas: improving treatments for opioid misuse and addiction, and enhancing strategies for pain management.
A recent study found that up to seven percent of patients develop a persistent habit after being prescribed opioids following surgery. To address this issue, experts recommend enhanced care coordination between surgeons and primary care physicians to identify patients at risk of developing opioid addiction.