The American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (AATOD) has released recommendations on siting opioid treatment programs (OTPs). The guidelines are meant to encourage OTP sponsors to work with neighborhoods, local treatment programs, and local and state officials. The recommendations include: Focus on underserved areas. Good locations include those with high … [Read more...] about AATOD Releases Recommendations on Siting OTPs in Era of Growth
28-5
FDA Says Benzodiazepine Use Not a Bar to Treatment With Methadone or Buprenorphine for Opioid Addiction
Citing the harms of untreated opioid use disorders, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that benzodiazepine use should not preclude the use of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction with methadone or buprenorphine. In a September 20 drug safety communication, the FDA states that “buprenorphine and methadone should not be withheld from patients … [Read more...] about FDA Says Benzodiazepine Use Not a Bar to Treatment With Methadone or Buprenorphine for Opioid Addiction
It’s Official: Heroin Is Once Again More Popular Than Rx Opioids
Many health professionals have suspected it for a while, and now it’s official: a study published in October in Health Affairs, and written up by HealthDay, reports that heroin has once again become more popular than prescription opioid painkillers as the opioid of first use. This turnaround is reminiscent of the 1960s—but back then the percentage was much higher: more than … [Read more...] about It’s Official: Heroin Is Once Again More Popular Than Rx Opioids
Study Reveals Surprising Results: White Patients in OUD Treatment Are Significantly Less Likely to Receive Methadone or Buprenorphine
This was a study of specialty treatment for opioid use disorders (OUDs) in publicly funded programs in the U.S. Investigators at Johns Hopkins who turned up this unexpected finding published their study online July 11 and in the September 1 issue of Drug and Alcohol Dependence. (The term “specialty treatment programs” includes publicly or privately state-funded facilities … [Read more...] about Study Reveals Surprising Results: White Patients in OUD Treatment Are Significantly Less Likely to Receive Methadone or Buprenorphine
Adolescent Opioid-Related Deaths Are Soaring; We Can’t Wait “Until Things Get Worse”!
In September of last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued a policy statement calling for making drug therapy available to adolescents with opioid use disorder (OUD). The statement caused hardly a ripple. Those who treat adolescents reported that some families, clinicians, even some patients, consider the medications—methadone, buprenorphine/naloxone, … [Read more...] about Adolescent Opioid-Related Deaths Are Soaring; We Can’t Wait “Until Things Get Worse”!
