As the tragic consequences of the opioid epidemic continue to mount, some experts are focusing on a creative new approach to treating opioid use disorder (OUD). At a planning meeting held in November 2019, experts met to consider strategies for evaluating medications that have not yet been used to treat OUD. Sponsoring the meeting was the Analgesic, Anesthetic, and Addiction … [Read more...] about Review: Hmmm… Methadone or Bupe for OUD? Or … LSD or THC?
Lived Experience: A Refreshing New Voice
There’s a refreshing new voice in the addiction field—a voice that doesn’t always sing the establishment song, and is not afraid to question widely held beliefs. The new voice is Kirsten E. Smith, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Intramural Research Program at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Her latest publication, “Disease and Decision,” appearing in the Journal … [Read more...] about Lived Experience: A Refreshing New Voice
Study: OTP Retention Unaffected by Benzodiazepines
In the setting of open-access opioid treatment programs (OTPs), the authors of this study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence sought to determine if patients with benzodiazepine exposure at study entry would have retention rates similar to those without benzodiazepine exposure. Comparing the retention rate for the two groups, the authors found that baseline benzodiazepine exposure … [Read more...] about Study: OTP Retention Unaffected by Benzodiazepines
Commentary: Experts Call for OTP Help in the Fentanyl Crisis
A decade ago. fentanyl, the white powder that closely resembles heroin, hit the illicit drug scene, and it was a drug dealer’s dream—highly potent, yet cheap. But illicit fentanyl proved risky. Because fentanyl is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, many who used it died. Others feared fentanyl at first, but quickly grew to appreciate its extra zing—then couldn’t get … [Read more...] about Commentary: Experts Call for OTP Help in the Fentanyl Crisis
Study: Peer Caregivers Help Patients Counteract Stigma Barrier
Many patients seeking help for a health-related crisis are relieved to learn that their new caregiver has had a similar experience—especially when it’s treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD). As patients face stigma and other barriers, empathy from a caregiver with shared experiences can help keep them in treatment while they receive medication for opioid use disorder … [Read more...] about Study: Peer Caregivers Help Patients Counteract Stigma Barrier