Articles tagged with Heroin
A highly effective antidote to opioid overdoses, naloxone, is becoming more accessible to patients and bystanders. New intranasal spray and autoinjector devices have been developed to address issues with getting the drug to those in need.
A randomized clinical trial found that injectable hydromorphone was noninferior to injectable diacetylmorphine in treating long-term severe opioid dependence. The study suggests that hydromorphone could be a licensed alternative for patients where diacetylmorphine is unavailable or unsuccessful.
A study found that take-home naloxone programs significantly reduce heroin overdose mortality rates and have a low risk of adverse events. The study, conducted by researchers at the National Addiction Centre at King's College London, analyzed data from 22 observational studies in the USA, Canada, UK, and Germany.
A recent NYU study examined injection risk behaviors among heroin injectors in Colombian cities, finding 2.7% of participants tested positive for HIV and common practices like syringe sharing and clean needle exchange were prevalent. The study emphasizes the need for harm reduction interventions to prevent an HIV epidemic in Colombia.
Researchers found that a crackdown on pill mills in Florida led to an estimated 1,029 fewer opioid-related overdose deaths between 2003-2012. The state's increased oversight of pain clinics may have prevented new cases of heroin addiction from developing.
A recent NYU study found that nearly 25% of high school seniors who misused prescription opioids more than 40 times also used heroin. The study, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, examined associations between nonmedical use of opioids and heroin among US high school seniors.
Researchers at TSRI are developing a potential heroin vaccine to block the drug's active products from reaching the brain. The vaccine trains immune system antibodies to recognize and bind to heroin molecules, reducing the risk of relapse in recovering addicts.
A survey of 15,000 patients at treatment centers found that many drug abusers use both heroin and prescription painkillers. The study suggests that regional variations exist in the use of these substances.
A recent study from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health suggests that the percentage of people getting treatment for opioid abuse and dependence has remained stagnant, despite a significant rise in overdose deaths. The researchers found that only 20% of individuals with a drug use disorder were in treatment during this period.
Opioid misuse is a major burden on the European drug treatment system, with a decline in new heroin treatment clients since 2007. Drug injection remains a key driver of HIV transmission and overdose deaths, particularly among older users. New psychoactive substances are increasingly reported, posing a growing concern for public health.
Researchers found that the simultaneous use of heroin and prescription painkillers is increasing dramatically among whites, particularly young white men. Heroin abuse has also expanded to groups not traditionally seen as widespread opiate users, highlighting the need for tailored treatment approaches.
American physicians with buprenorphine waivers can increase access to effective medication-assisted treatment for heroin and prescription painkiller addiction. The study found a 74% increase in potential access to treatment from 2002 to 2011, reducing rural disparities.
A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that past-year heroin use rose significantly among individuals taking opioids like oxycontin, particularly among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites. The rate of heroin use for non-Hispanic whites increased by 75% in 2008-2011 compared to earlier years.
Research suggests heroin assisted treatment can improve outcomes, reduce harm, and lower societal costs for a subgroup of patients who do not benefit from conventional treatments. This approach could provide savings that could be redirected to addiction prevention programs.
A study by Washington University School of Medicine found that the abuse-deterrent formulation of OxyContin successfully reduced its illicit use, but only temporarily. As a result, many abusers switched to heroin due to cost-effectiveness and increased availability, highlighting the need for addressing the demand side of drug abuse.
The study found that since 2002, non-medical use of painkillers has declined while overdose deaths have soared. Researchers recommend expanding access to opioid addiction treatment and implementing public education campaigns on the risks of prescription opioids.
Research suggests that occasional heroin use among HIV-positive patients can lead to lower CD4 cell counts, indicating a weakened immune system. This preliminary study found that intermittent heroin users had lower CD4 counts compared to those who consistently abused the drug.
A national study found that prescription opioids were involved in 67.8% of opioid overdoses in emergency departments, while heroin accounted for 16.1%. The study also highlighted the importance of healthcare providers prescribing opioids with caution to patients with pre-existing conditions.
A new study found that state policies can increase access to heroin treatment by promoting the use of buprenorphine. States with specific guidance and clinical guidelines for buprenorphine treatment had more physicians licensed to prescribe the drug.
The University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work has received a $1.25 million NIH grant to study the long-term impact of heroin use on health and behavior. The grant will support innovative virtual reality research, as well as programs to promote underrepresented researchers and provide prevention services.
Emergency physicians face a growing concern of acetyl fentanyl overdoses due to its potency and potential for adulteration in street drugs marketed as heroin. The lack of regulation around acetyl fentanyl creates an environment where it can be easily distributed through networks, posing a significant risk to users.
A new nasal spray application of anti-opioid drug naloxone has been developed to make overdose treatment more accessible and easier to administer. The product, which is currently in clinical trials, aims to reduce the death toll from heroin abuse and make a lifesaving treatment more available to those at high risk.
A study by NYU CDUHR researchers found that peer group dynamics play a significant role in facilitating the transition from oral and/or intranasal prescription opioid (PO) use to heroin injection. Nonmedical PO users are at high risk of acquiring HIV and/or HCV through injection and sexual risk behaviors associated with drug use.
Community opioid overdose prevention programs (OOPPs) have been shown to increase knowledge of overdose prevention and risk factors among bystanders. However, the effectiveness of these programs in reducing deaths from opioid overdose requires further investigation.
A nationwide survey reveals that heroin users are attracted to the drug for its lower cost and ease of use compared to prescription painkillers. The study found that most people switching to heroin began with OxyContin or other opioids, highlighting a significant shift in the US heroin market.
A study published in JAMA Psychiatry analyzed heroin use patterns from 1970 to 2014, revealing significant changes in demographics. The findings indicate that heroin users are becoming increasingly young, urban, and from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, reflecting broader societal trends.
A rat model of heroin relapse showed improved brain structure and increased neurotrophic factor expression after acupuncture treatment. The study suggests that acupuncture at specific points may protect brain neurons against injury and promote recovery from heroin addiction.
A study published in Neural Regeneration Research found that acupuncture at Baihui and Dazhui points can prevent brain cell apoptosis in heroin-addicted rats. This effect is similar to that of methadone, a commonly used drug for treating addiction.
A researcher found that Kyrgyzstan's lack of economic activity outside the drug trade has led to a blurring of lines between government and crime. The country's politicians and police are often complicit in the smuggling industry, with some even using their positions for personal gain.
A Spanish study reveals that hard drug users have a mortality rate significantly higher than the general population. The fatality rate among heroin and cocaine consumers is 14.3 times higher, while among those only using cocaine, it is 5.1 times higher.
A new test identified a urinary marker that differentiates street heroin users from those who have ingested morphine present in poppy seeds. This discovery addresses the 'poppy seed defense' challenge in workplace drug testing and forensic toxicology.
A new report from Simon Fraser University researcher calls for expanded heroin and opioid medical treatment to address rising overdose deaths. The study highlights the gap in treatment availability in Canada and the US and recommends eliminating restrictions on methadone prescribing and reducing financial barriers to treatment.
A preclinical study by Scripps Research Institute successfully tested a new vaccine against heroin, which targets the drug and its metabolites, preventing them from reaching the brain. The vaccine effectively blocks relapse in rats with heroin addiction, offering hope for therapy.
Researchers estimate naloxone distribution could prevent 6.5% of all overdose deaths by providing a cost-effective way to reverse opioid overdoses. Quadruple doses of seasonal flu vaccine may better protect HIV-infected patients from serious illness or death, but evidence for quality impact is limited.
Researchers found that OxyContin's abuse-deterrent formulation significantly reduced inhalation and injection, prompting users to switch to heroin. The study reveals a surge in heroin use across the US, with overdose risks increasing due to dealers cutting heroin with other substances.
Researchers found an increase in condom use among participants on longitudinal follow-up at six-month and 12-month intervals. Males, older patients, and HIV-positive patients were more likely to use condoms in their sexual encounters.
A study by researchers at Providence Health Care and the University of British Columbia found that medically prescribed heroin is more cost-effective than methadone for treating long-term street heroin users. The study attributed most of the economic benefits to recipients staying in treatment longer and spending less time in relapse.
A Drexel University study reveals that misuse of prescription painkillers is a pathway to injecting drugs, particularly among young people with a history of opioid use. The research found common factors like family history of drug misuse and access to prescriptions contributed to the initiation of prescription drug misuse.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute develop a highly successful vaccine against heroin high, producing antibodies that stop the effects of heroin and its metabolites. The vaccine shows promise for those trying to break their heroin addiction, with only three out of seven rats self-administering heroin after booster shots.
Researchers have successfully conducted lab tests on a new vaccine formulation to combat heroin addiction, showing reduced willingness in laboratory rats to self-administer the drug. The vaccine exploits an individual's immune system to blunt heroin's psychoactive effects, offering a potential tool for combating relapse and overdose.
A new study found that extended-release naltrexone is an effective treatment for opioid dependence, with patients experiencing high rates of abstinence and reduced craving. However, critics argue that the FDA's approval of this drug was premature and failed to adequately investigate risks, such as post-treatment overdose.
A new study examines recurrent wound botulism among injection drug users in California, finding that nearly three-quarters of reported cases are linked to this condition. The study highlights the risk of repeated cases despite potentially developing protective immunity against botulism.
A new scale of drug harm assesses both individual and social harms, ranking alcohol as the most harmful, with heroin and crack in second and third place. The analysis suggests that a classification system based on overall harm scores could be more effective than current systems.
A new trial found that supervised injectable heroin leads to larger reductions in street heroin use compared to injectable or oral methadone. The RIOTT trial showed that treatment with supervised injectable heroin resulted in significantly lower use of street heroin within six weeks.
Children born to mothers prescribed methadone during pregnancy may experience significant vision problems, including nystagmus, strabismus, and refractive errors. Up to 80% of these cases require treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center discovered that morphine protects rat neurons against HIV toxicity, a finding that might help design new neuroprotective therapies. Morphine inhibited HIV protein gp120 and induced production of CCL5, which suppresses HIV infection.
The study, involving over 14,656 patients, found that two-thirds of heroin users stopped or reduced their use, while a similar proportion of crack cocaine users did the same. Heroin use decreased by an average of 15 days per month, and crack cocaine use by eight days.
Researchers found cocaine and heroin increase antipyrine transfer across human placental tissue, compromising barrier function. This may lead to harm from more toxic substances crossing the placenta and affecting fetal health.
A randomized controlled trial found that buprenorphine maintenance treatment significantly increased time to first heroin use and relapse compared to naltrexone and placebo. Patients on buprenorphine also had more continuous days of heroin abstinence, supporting the widespread dissemination of this effective public-health approach.
A new study from British Columbia found that Aboriginal people with heroin addiction are less likely to use methadone maintenance therapy. Compared to non-Aboriginal counterparts, Aboriginal participants were significantly lower rates of methadone use throughout the follow-up period.
Wound botulism is a potentially fatal illness caused by Clostridium botulinum spores contaminating wounds. A case study published in PLoS Medicine reports a man's full recovery after prompt diagnosis and treatment with ventilator support and botulinum antitoxin.
Research led by the National Drug Evidence Centre found that problem drug use is declining in some areas previously considered 'hot spots' in the UK. The study suggests that younger people are being recruited into the problem drug use population at a faster rate, leading to a decline in incidence rates.
Street drug users increasingly rely on prescription opioids instead of heroin, raising concerns about treatment programs and public health. The shift has significant implications for addiction treatment, highlighting the need for adjustments to opioid addiction programs.
A study conducted by Dr. Benedikt Fischer and his team reveals that prescription opioids are the major form of illicit opioid use in seven Canadian cities, surpassing heroin use. The findings suggest a significant decline in heroin use among participants between 2001 and 2005.
A study analyzing data from over 7,250 patients in Zurich found a significant decrease in new heroin users between 1990 and 2002. The incidence of heroin use dropped from 850 to 150, while the overall number of heroin dependents only declined by 4% per year.
NDRI researchers studied non-injecting heroin users transitioning to injection, finding it's not universal and influenced by individual characteristics and social networks. The study highlights the importance of understanding these factors to prevent infectious diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.
A new study found that effective methadone doses vary widely among patients, with some achieving abstinence on as little as 1.5 mg and others requiring up to 191.2 mg. Patients with posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, or a history of previous detoxifications from heroin tend to require higher doses.
A study published in JAMA finds that rapid heroin detox under anesthesia can lead to death, psychosis, and increased stress. Alternative methods such as buprenorphine and clonidine are more effective and less expensive, highlighting the need for safer treatment options.
A study published in JAMA found that anesthesia-assisted rapid opioid detoxification is not more effective than other treatment methods and can be associated with health risks. Only 11% of patients continued in treatment for 12 weeks, highlighting the need for effective relapse prevention strategies.
A study examining Thailand's 'war on drugs' found that rural communities had a greater impact than urban centers, with 78% of rural users quitting injecting drugs. Despite the strictness of the policy, 85% of participants believed it was 'good', possibly due to its deterrent effect on others.