Research on opioids, addiction, and treatment. Covers traditional care practices, opioid treatment in pregnancy, illicit fentanyl, and treatment disparities.
A study by Massachusetts General Hospital found that patients used significantly fewer opioid tablets than prescribed after inguinal hernia surgery, with 60% relying on nonopioid medications. The results suggest a need to reassess prescribing practices and consider patient experiences to determine optimal medication amounts.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System are conducting a five-year study to test whether medical marijuana reduces opioid use among adults with chronic pain. The study will enroll 250 HIV-positive and HIV-negative adults who use opioids and have received certification for medical marijuana use.
A new study found that cancer survivors have a higher rate of opioid prescription use compared to non-survivors. The study analyzed data from over 8,600 adults and found an average of 7.7 opioid prescriptions filled over 36 months among survivors.
The University of Michigan Injury Center has received $2.5 million from the CDC to continue its research on preventing injuries such as opioid overdoses, concussion, and motor vehicle crashes. The center aims to reduce injury by publishing innovative research and translating it into practice for local communities.
The study found a substantial increase in neonatal abstinence syndrome among infants whose mothers were prescribed opioids and psychotropic medications. The absolute risk was highest among women exposed to gabapentin, with concurrent exposure to psychotropic medications increasing severity of withdrawal symptoms.
A study published in JAMA Surgery found that more than two-thirds of patients reported unused prescription opioids after surgery, highlighting an important source for nonmedical use. The study also revealed low rates of safe storage and disposal practices, contributing to opioid-related injuries and deaths.
A study found that between 42-71% of prescribed opioids went unused among patients, highlighting the need for personalized pain management. Patients often store prescription opioids improperly and fail to dispose of unused pills safely.
A UC survey of Ohio hospital administrators and ED physicians shows majority support for state guidelines on opioid prescribing, but highlights implementation barriers such as navigating prescription monitoring software. The report aims to inform a coordinated response to address the opioid epidemic in Ohio.
A substantial number of US adults reported misusing prescription opioids, with 11.5 million admitting to misuse and 1.9 million having a use disorder. The majority of these individuals had low income or behavioral health problems, while relief from physical pain was the most common motivation for misuse.
A 12-week mindfulness-based parenting intervention improved parenting quality among mothers in medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder. Women who experienced high levels of childhood trauma benefited most from attendance, with clinically significant increases in parenting quality.
Researchers found that mindfulness and hypnotic suggestion significantly reduced acute pain levels in hospital patients, with patients experiencing a 29% and 23% reduction in pain respectively. These brief mind-body therapies also led to a significant decrease in the perceived need for opioid medication.
A 12-week yoga program significantly improves disability scores and reduces pain intensity in military veterans with chronic low back pain. Notably, these benefits persist even after six months, suggesting long-term potential for yoga as a non-drug treatment.
Patients taking opioids prior to ACL surgery are more likely to be on pain medications longer, according to a recent study. The research found that those who were filling opioid prescriptions before surgery were 10 times more likely to be using them five months after surgery.
A team-based primary care model, TOPCARE, has been shown to decrease prescription opioid use among patients with chronic pain by 40 percent. This study, conducted in four primary care practices, found that TOPCARE patients had lower opioid doses and were more likely to adhere to AAPM guidelines.
A randomized clinical trial found tramadol extended-release to suppress opioid withdrawal more effectively than clonidine, and similarly to buprenorphine. The study suggests tramadol ER as a promising medication for opioid use disorder treatment, but notes the need for further research.
Dose reduction in long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain improves pain, function, and quality of life. Multidisciplinary pain programs incorporating behavioral interventions can enhance patient outcomes.
A national survey of rural physicians found significant barriers to prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, including time constraints and lack of mental health support services. The study calls for tailored strategies to address these barriers and support physicians in providing Buprenorphine Maintenance Treatment.
Patients with opioid use disorder on buprenorphine are at significantly higher risk of death when in and out of treatment. The study found a 2.6 times increased risk of mortality compared to individuals without addiction issues during the same time period.
A family physician shares her experience with patient denial and anger towards opioid prescription limits, but finds healing through medication-assisted treatment training. She urges healthcare professionals to recognize opioid addiction and support one another in providing treatment.
US medical expenditures increased by 47% between 1996-1997 and 2011-2012, driven largely by prescription drug use. Expenditures rose in most categories except primary care physicians and home health care, with the largest increases seen in specialty physicians, emergency department visits, and prescribed medications.
A recent study found no association between opioid intake and disability, satisfaction with surgery, or pain management at 5-8 months post-surgery. However, patients using opioids reported more pain with activity and catastrophic thinking, leading to anxiety and limited mobility.
Researchers found that new opioid use among older adults with COPD is associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease-related death. The study suggests that opioids may have negative effects on the heart, including lower blood oxygen levels and increased inflammatory factors.
A study of post-surgical patients found that those who received psychological support showed significant reductions in opioid use, depression, and daily disruptions due to pain. Patients learned coping skills grounded in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, promoting mindfulness and acceptance of difficult experiences.
A recent study from the University of Michigan and Dartmouth found that over half of opioid prescriptions are written for adults with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. The research highlights the concerning trend of vulnerable patients with mental illness being prescribed opioids.
The US has renewed funding for Brown University's addiction center, emphasizing efforts to address the growing opioid epidemic. The $3.8 million grant will support training programs for healthcare professionals and community-based organizations.
A new analysis of 2006-2014 Medicare data found that 41% of rheumatoid arthritis patients were regular opioid users by 2014. Factors associated with regular opioid use included younger age, female sex, and back pain.
A new study reveals that individuals with low back pain who are also depressed are more likely to receive opioid prescriptions and higher doses. This finding sheds light on the current opioid epidemic and highlights the need for further research into prescribing patterns.
A study analyzing 9.7 million young people found that only 26.8% received medication for opioid use disorder within six months of diagnosis. Younger people, females, and non-Hispanic black and Hispanic youth were less likely to receive medications.
A study found that fatal overdose risk increases steadily with daily opioid dose among Medicaid patients, up to five times higher for moderate to high doses. Concurrent use of benzodiazepines or skeletal muscle relaxants further elevates the risk, even at low doses.
A study by the American Society of Anesthesiologists found that women who catastrophize, or exaggerate pain, are more likely to take prescribed opioids than men. The study suggests that early treatment for pain catastrophizing may reduce opioid prescriptions for both sexes.
A new study provides further evidence for the genetic factors underlying addictions, linking dysfunction of the CSNK1E gene to increased opioid addiction susceptibility and binge eating vulnerability. The findings suggest that shared genetic factors may underlie behavioral traits associated with addictions and eating disorders.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that most women who undergo a cesarean childbirth are prescribed more opioid pain medications than needed when released from the hospital. Most patients use opioids for an average of eight days after discharge, with many storing unused tablets in unlocked locations.
A pilot study found that patients following cesarean delivery often receive double the number of pain pills they need, leading to unused medication. Using a shared decision-making tool reduced opioid prescriptions by 50%.
A study of over 2,000 surgical weight-loss patients found that opioid use increased within 7 years after surgery, surpassing pre-surgery rates. The study highlights the need for alternative pain management approaches in post-surgical patients.
The Hastings Center Report explores the ethics of opioid treatment agreements, which critics say are ethically suspect. The authors conclude that the purpose of these agreements is to disclose their requirements to patients, promoting mutual decision-making on pain management programs. In contrast, some experts propose replacing agreem...
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched an initiative to tackle the opioid crisis, focusing on developing better overdose reversal and prevention interventions, finding new medications and technologies to treat addiction, and creating safe strategies for managing chronic pain.
A new Finnish research reveals how brain's opioids modulate responses to others' pain. The less opioid receptors the participants had, the stronger their emotion and pain circuits' response to seeing others in distress.
A study from Karolinska Institutet shows that observing others' pain or anxiety activates the same regions in the brain involved in self-perceived pain. This sensitivity can lead to anxiety syndrome and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some individuals.
A study published in JAMA Neurology examined the association of long-term opioid therapy with functional status, adverse outcomes, and death among patients with polyneuropathy. The study found that patients with polyneuropathy were more likely to receive long-term opioid therapy and experience depression, opioid dependence, or overdose.
A recent study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that preoperative opioid use is associated with less pain reduction after total knee replacement surgery. Patients who used opioids before their procedure experienced about 9 percent less pain relief at six months following surgery compared to those who did not.
A study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery found that patients who previously took prescription opioids had a higher average pain score six months after knee replacement surgery. This suggests that preoperative opioid use may be problematic due to its negative effects on subsequent total knee arthroplasty outcomes.
A study published in the Journal of Addiction Medicine found that non-medical prescription opioid (NMPO) use is common among young adults with severe physical pain. Young men with high pain scores are at particularly high risk, while women who use benzodiazepines are also more likely to engage in frequent NMPO use.
A Penn study found that even small quantities of opioids prescribed for minor injuries increase the risk of long-term use. The research suggests that laws limiting opioid prescription pill amounts may help address the opioid epidemic.
A new Canadian clinical guideline recommends reducing opioid medication use for patients with chronic non-cancer pain, prioritizing harm reduction and optimizing non-opioid treatment. The guideline also proposes strict dose limits and trial tapers to minimize risks associated with opioids.
A new guideline aims to reduce opioid use for chronic non-cancer pain by optimizing non-opioid therapy, restricting dosing, and tapering opioids. The guideline is focused on preventing harm and reducing addiction, with the goal of addressing Canada's opioid crisis.
Cornell researchers find that state databases tracking opioid prescriptions lead to a decline in abuse among Medicare recipients. Doctor shopping and excessive prescription refills also decrease in states with stricter laws.
A retrospective study found that 27% of naloxone recipients were family members of active opioid users and were responsible for 20% of all rescue attempts. Educating these individuals on overdose prevention and how to administer naloxone can significantly reduce fatal overdoses.
A new study published in Pain found that opioid use among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn veterans is comparable to the general US population. Chronic pain management with opioids was strongly associated with PTSD, major depressive disorder, tobacco use, and rural residence.
Emergency departments are increasingly using intranasal medication administration as an alternative to injections or IVs, offering a fast and noninvasive route to deliver medications directly to the brain. This method requires no needles, is less painful than IVs or injections, and minimizes infectious disease spread.
A recent study validates Venebio's Venebio Opioid Advisor (VOA) tool, which predicts the likelihood of a life-threatening opioid overdose with 90% accuracy. The tool was tested on 18.3 million patients and showed strong predictive performance.
A study published in JAMA Surgery found that approximately 6% of patients continued to use opioids more than three months after surgery. Risk factors for persistent opioid use included preoperative tobacco use, alcohol and substance abuse disorders, mood disorders, anxiety, and preoperative pain disorders.
A point/counterpoint debate examines two approaches to controlling the opioid epidemic: increasing regulation of physician prescribing practices or better educating patients and doctors. The discussion highlights the importance of finding a balance between regulating opioid use and providing alternative pain management options.
A new review suggests targeting the oxytocin system could be an important target for developing medications to treat opioid addiction. Oxytocin-based therapies show promise in preventing relapse and may provide a novel effective approach to treating drug dependence.
A study found that real-world massage therapy produced clinically meaningful improvements in low back pain for primary care patients, with significant effects seen in adults from baby-boom and older generations. However, the benefits were not retained over time for obese patients, while those taking opioids showed less improvement.
Colleen LaBelle, director of Boston Medical Center's Office-Based Addiction Treatment program, has been awarded the 2017 Advocate State Award for Excellence by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. LaBelle's work on expanding access to substance use disorder treatment through her 'Massachusetts Model' has been instrumental i...
UNC School of Medicine scientists pinpoint MRGRPX2, a receptor protein on mast cells, as the key to understanding opioid-induced itching. The researchers created a chemical probe to interact with this receptor, potentially leading to the development of an antagonist to reduce itching side effects.
A new study recommends that pharmacies offer naloxone universally to patients taking opioid medications, without a prescription requirement. This could lead to a significant decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths.
Research suggests that medications that boost natural brain opioids might be more effective in reducing anxiety than traditional 'receptor-binding' opioid drugs. The study found that these natural opioids play a crucial role in regulating neural circuits involved in fear and anxiety responses.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that consumers will pay big money for painful experiences like obstacle races and ultra-marathons. Through extensive interviews with Mudders, researchers learned that pain helps individuals cope with reduced physicality and create a story of a fulfilled life.
A study found that Medicaid expansion in 26 states led to a 70% increase in buprenorphine prescriptions and a 50% increase in Medicaid spending on the medication. The growth was largely driven by increased physician prescribing capacity, with each additional approved prescriber associated with a 45% boost in prescriptions.