Research on opioids, addiction, and treatment. Covers traditional care practices, opioid treatment in pregnancy, illicit fentanyl, and treatment disparities.
Researchers found that morphine interacts with toll-like receptor 4 to contribute to increased bone loss and pain. Blocking TLR4 prevents these effects, suggesting a new target for reducing opioid side effects.
The Better Together trial partners with community organizations and sites to provide buprenorphine treatment, reducing distance for patients and offering peer support in familiar environments. Researchers aim to address barriers such as stigma, misunderstandings about addiction, and bias against certain treatments.
A MU study found that providing educational information about naltrexone to healthcare professionals increases patient prescriptions for the drug. The study resulted in a 36% increase in patients leaving the facility with a prescription for naltrexone, suggesting better-informed decisions by healthcare professionals.
A recent NIH-funded study found that only 1 in 4 residential addiction treatment facilities for adolescents under 18 years old offer buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder. The study highlights a significant gap in access to evidence-based treatment among young people, with many facilities not offering this life-saving medication d...
Only one in four US adolescent residential addiction treatment facilities offer buprenorphine and one in eight offer it for ongoing treatment. Nearly two-thirds of adult residential facilities provide this medication, highlighting a significant gap in care for adolescents.
A decision analytical model study found that sustained public health interventions can reduce opioid-related overdose deaths. Implementing medications for opioid use disorder and increasing naloxone supply were key factors in reducing death rates.
A recent study published in The Journal of Orthopaedics found that patients who underwent partial meniscectomy using a needle arthroscopic technique experienced significantly less pain and improved patient-reported outcomes at two weeks after surgery. However, differences were not sustained at six weeks.
A Rutgers study found that reentry services helped reduce the risk of overdose and death related to substance use disorder after a large-scale prison release in New Jersey. Researchers attribute this finding to the state's robust reentry supports for incarcerated individuals with substance use disorders.
The June issues of The American Journal of Psychiatry and Psychiatric Services focus on substance use disorders, opioids, and youth self-harm and suicide. The articles highlight the importance of addressing these issues to improve patient outcomes and reduce stigma.
A new study reveals that over 80% of people who inject drugs in New York City test positive for fentanyl, but only 18% intend to take it intentionally. The research suggests that widespread use of fentanyl among this population may be driving overdose risk and tolerance development.
A new RAND Corporation study finds that state policies requiring additional education for buprenorphine prescribers and continuing medical education related to substance misuse significantly increase the use of anti-opioid medication. This is associated with improved quality of life and decreased fatal overdose rates.
A new treatment has been developed to help people stop needing opioid painkillers for chronic pain, with promising results in a clinical trial. The intervention programme combines one-to-one and group support to guide individuals in coming off opioids, teaching them alternative techniques to manage their pain.
Researchers warn that patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions are vulnerable to long term opioid use. The study found that up to 1 in 3 patients with rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia may be at risk of transitioning to long term opioid use, highlighting the need for vigilance in practice prescribing.
A new study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found significant racial inequalities in treatment for opioid use disorder, with White patients receiving medication up to 80% more frequently than Black and Hispanic patients. Despite similar numbers of healthcare visits, disparities persist.
A new Johns Hopkins Medicine study found that patients with low pain self-efficacy are more likely to use daily prescribed opioids before surgery. Surgeons can use pain self-efficacy scores to identify high-risk patients and provide education and counseling to improve post-surgery outcomes.
A study of 390,000 infants found that those born to mothers with opioid use disorder or neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome had a higher risk of postneonatal infant mortality. The study highlights the need for supportive interventions during and after pregnancy to reduce adverse outcomes.
The latest May issues of American Psychiatric Association journals focus on new treatments for conditions like trichotillomania, social anxiety disorder, and opioid use disorder. Additionally, a special issue of Focus journal explores suicide preventive interventions and knowledge.
A multicentre registry study found that medicinal cannabis can safely relieve cancer pain while reducing the total number of medications and opioids taken. Products with an equal balance of THC and CBD were particularly effective in reducing pain intensity and symptoms.
Researchers found that the 'Eat, Sleep, Console' (ESC) care approach is more effective than Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Scoring Tool (FNAST) in assessing and managing opioid-exposed newborns. Newborns cared for with ESC were medically ready for discharge approximately 6.7 days earlier and 63% less likely to receive medication.
A study published in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics has identified six single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with opioid use disorder. The findings suggest that genetics play a role in the development of OUD, but environmental factors also contribute to its progression.
A preclinical study found that suvorexant reduced prescription opioid intake and helped protect against relapse in rats modeling opioid use disorder. The insomnia drug could offer a promising approach for the millions of people affected by OUD.
A new study finds that buprenorphine initiation rates and six-month retention rates remain flat despite policy changes aimed at increasing access to the medication. Only 22% of patients who started treatment kept refilling their prescriptions for at least six months, highlighting barriers to prescribing enough of the life-saving drug.
Researchers at UNIGE discovered that natural opioids cannot enter cells, whereas therapeutic opioids can, leading to differences in physiological responses. The study's findings could help develop safer medications with improved efficacy and reduced side effects.
A recent Mayo Clinic study found that prescription opioid use is associated with declines in cognitive performance, particularly in memory and attention. Older adults who received at least one opioid prescription over 7.5 years had a 20% higher chance of developing mild cognitive impairment.
A new study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry found a link between opioid prescribing patterns and suicide risk. The researchers analyzed data from 2009-2017 and discovered that regions with the greatest decrease in opioid prescriptions also experienced the greatest decline in suicide deaths. This suggests that policies a...
A new model shows that encampment sweeps, bans and move-along-orders contribute to 15-25% increase in deaths among people experiencing homelessness over a 10-year period. Involuntary displacement is linked to increased overdose deaths, hospitalizations, injection-related infections and hindered access to medications.
A simulation modeling study finds that involuntary displacement worsens overdose and hospitalizations, decreases treatment initiation, and contributes to deaths. The study projects substantial increases in morbidity and mortality over a 10-year period in cities with such displacements.
Researchers found that postpartum women prescribed opioids increased by 38%, with stronger prescriptions given during the pandemic. The study highlights concerns over potential opioid abuse among vulnerable women.
A study of 460,000 privately insured postpartum women found that those giving birth after March 2020 were more likely to fill potent opioid prescriptions. This increase was particularly notable among cesarean births, raising concerns about opioid misuse and overdose risk.
A recent clinical study found that an online e-health program helped more people with chronic pain reduce their opioid medications and pain intensity than a control group. The program, called Goalistics Chronic Pain Management, improved pain knowledge, confidence managing pain, and coping skills.
Researchers found that receipt of opioid use disorder-related telehealth services was associated with reduced risk for fatal drug overdoses. Additionally, medication from opioid treatment programs and buprenorphine in office-based settings also showed a protective effect.
Rates of naloxone prescriptions for high-risk individuals and co-prescribing with opioids rose in emergency departments from 2012 to 2019. Opioid prescribing guidelines made it easier for doctors to prescribe naloxone, which is highly effective at reversing opioid overdose effects.
A recent study has found a significant link between fibromyalgia and increased odds of exacerbation in pain-related opioid use disorder. Researchers surveyed 125 individuals living with both conditions, revealing that those with fibromyalgia were more likely to report worsening addiction symptoms due to chronic pain.
Researchers have identified marijuana-derived compounds that can reverse fentanyl overdoses by reducing its binding to opioid receptors and boosting naloxone's effects. These compounds, derived from cannabidiol (CBD), demonstrate a synergistic effect when combined with naloxone.
A new study from the University of Illinois Chicago found a substantial increase in crash fatalities in four states with legalized recreational cannabis, with an average 10% increase in motor vehicle accident deaths. The study suggests that investing in policies and public health initiatives may mitigate this harm.
A statewide incentive program in Pennsylvania is associated with a 50% improvement in initiating medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder among Medicaid-enrolled patients. The study found that the program increased prescription fills for buprenorphine and substance use disorder treatment within a week of emergency departme...
Researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine will create a data infrastructure support center to assist innovation projects addressing opioid use disorder and pain management. The center will monitor real-time opioid overdose trends and inform prevention and treatment services.
Receiving buprenorphine after a nonfatal opioid overdose significantly lowers the risk of subsequent overdose death. The medication was associated with a 62% reduction in risk, highlighting the need for lifesaving treatment following these events. Current evidence shows low uptake of buprenorphine and other medication-assisted treatments.
A statewide effort in Michigan resulted in a 56% reduction in opioid prescriptions after six common operations and a 26% drop in persistent opioid use. The achievement surpassed national trends, driven by voluntary prescribing guidelines and surgical team involvement.
A study found that having opioids at home increases the risk of overdose for those living with them, emphasizing the importance of proper disposal and education. Household prescription opioids are associated with a higher likelihood of overdose for others in the household, even if they don't have their own prescription.
Researchers found that peer support specialists with a shared life experience were most valued for providing emotional and housing/employment support, helping inmates recover from opioid use disorder. Participants appreciated the empathetic and trustworthy relationships established with their peer navigators.
Implementation of post-overdose programs in Massachusetts municipalities associated with a 6% lower annual opioid fatality rate and a 7% lower opioid-related emergency encounter rate compared to non-programmed areas. The study suggests that these programs offer a critical opportunity to address overdose among high-risk individuals.
A large Canadian study finds no association between maternal opioid prescription after delivery and adverse infant outcomes. Infants of opioid-using mothers were slightly more likely to visit an emergency department, but this difference was minor.
A new molecular testing device has been developed to identify individuals with high hypnotizability, who are most likely to benefit from hypnosis interventions for pain treatment. The test detected a subset of highly hypnotizable individuals with high levels of postoperative pain.
A study of 4.3 million patients found shorter primary care visits were associated with a higher likelihood of antibiotic overprescribing and co-prescribing opioids and benzodiazepines. Younger, publicly insured, Hispanic, and non-Hispanic Black patients had shorter visits, highlighting opportunities for operational improvements in visi...
A randomized trial found that CBD oil did not reduce pain scores after surgical treatment and stent placement for patients with urinary stones. The study involved 90 patients who received either CBD oil or a placebo, with no significant difference in pain reduction or opioid use between the two groups.
A new study reveals that military members with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who identify as 'Other' are at a significantly higher risk of suicide and overdose deaths. The study found that the rates of these deaths were highest among members of this group, despite making up only 7.38% of the study sample.
A US FDA mandate to limit acetaminophen dosage in pills combining it with opioids significantly reduced hospitalizations and acute liver failure cases. Researchers found a persistent decline in yearly rates of these cases after the mandate was implemented in 2014.
A new study by Oregon State University researchers found that people recently released from prison in Oregon are at a higher risk of opioid overdose, with a rate of 1,086 per 100,000 person years, exceeding the general public rate by 10 times.
A new study by Weill Cornell Medicine found that the FDA's mandate to limit opioid-acetaminophen combinations resulted in significant reductions in liver injuries. The mandate, implemented in 2014, limited the dosage of acetaminophen in these drugs, leading to a decline in hospitalizations and acute liver failure cases.
A West Virginia University study found that patients treated for motor vehicle collision injuries during the COVID-19 pandemic used more drugs, including cannabinoids, opioids, and stimulants. The study suggests public health interventions may be needed to curb this behavior in rural areas.
A team of scientists has developed a novel, implantable drug delivery system that can be controlled by external light sources and is absorbable by the body. This technology has promising implications for treating various medical conditions, including pain management and cancer treatment.
A novel community-focused strategy implemented in Pennsylvania counties led to a 30% reduction in opioid overdose death rates. The approach, developed by University of Pittsburgh researchers, prevented 1,818 opioid-related deaths over two years.
A novel surgical pain management strategy has been developed to reduce opioid use after total knee arthroplasty. The study found that changing prescriptions for opioids at discharge from automatic to upon request dramatically decreased opioid use, with over half of patients recovering without opioid use.
Researchers at Texas A&M University School of Medicine have identified a specific brain circuit that characterizes how fentanyl affects the brain. Suppressing negative emotional states may increase a person's chance of overcoming opioid use disorder.
A new pain management approach for men undergoing urethroplasty reduces the need for strong opioids while maintaining effective pain control. The study found that patients taking tramadol in combination with liposomal bupivacaine had greater reductions in pain compared to those taking oxycodone.
A Rutgers University analysis of Medicaid records found that the regulation did not reduce progression from short-term to long-term opioid use, but did decrease new prescriptions written for more than five days. This change may have reduced leftover opioids available for misuse, but also forced patients who needed longer treatments to ...
The study calls for easier access to naloxone, including over-the-counter distribution, to address the US opioid epidemic. With millions lacking access, health providers are urged to include naloxone in treatment programs and counsel patients' families on its use.
A recent study found that adults with type 1 diabetes are at a high risk of being overweight or obese, but only half receive lifestyle recommendations to manage their weight. The study also highlighted the importance of individualized patient education in improving weight management for these patients.
Research reveals that opioid tapering can lead to more hospitalizations and emergency department visits, while also reducing primary care visit rates. The study's findings suggest potential unintended consequences of opioid tapering for policymakers and clinicians.