Politicians like the idea of cannabis as a way to cure society’s opioid ills. It’s popular (almost everyone in health care, including many opioid treatment programs [OTPs], supports marijuana legalization). Whatever is popular with the people usually is popular with politicians. Take a year ago when New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said that opioid use disorder (OUD) would be a … [Read more...] about Cannabis for OUD: Not so Fast, Politicians
2019
Report: Why OUD Statistics Continue to Worsen, and What OTPs Can Do to Help
The statistics tell the story: Rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) and its consequences continue to rise. Yet we have effective treatments: methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. And data show that effective treatment reduces not only opioid use, but overdose deaths, and other consequences of opioid misuse. Moreover, we have opioid treatment programs (OTPs) that provide … [Read more...] about Report: Why OUD Statistics Continue to Worsen, and What OTPs Can Do to Help
Review Article: Methadone Legend Dr. Kreek on Opioid Addiction Treatment
Almost exactly a half-year ago we highlighted an excellent review article on opioid use disorder (OUD) by Drs. Carlos Blanco and Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (https://atforum.com/?s=blanco+and+volkow+review). Now we’re featuring another review article from another legend in the field: Mary Jeanne Kreek, MD, who heads the Laboratory of the Biology … [Read more...] about Review Article: Methadone Legend Dr. Kreek on Opioid Addiction Treatment
When Early Dropout From Opioid Agonist Therapy Seems Likely, Identifying Problems and Taking Action May Help Keep Patients in Treatment
Too often, patients drop out early from opioid agonist therapy and lose the many benefits it offers. Is there some way to intervene early and retain patients? A new study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence suggests that, indeed, there may be. A group headed by Leigh V. Panlilio, PhD, a staff fellow at the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Program, investigated … [Read more...] about When Early Dropout From Opioid Agonist Therapy Seems Likely, Identifying Problems and Taking Action May Help Keep Patients in Treatment
Vermonters Speak Out About MOUD in the State’s Hub-and-Spoke System
Vermonters didn’t hesitate when recently asked to share their opinions about the state’s hub-and-spoke (H & S) medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Instead, they responded freely to open-ended questions and queries posed during in-depth interviews. Their perceptions and opinions are the subject of a recent study in Preventive Medicine: “Patient perceptions … [Read more...] about Vermonters Speak Out About MOUD in the State’s Hub-and-Spoke System