“The National Institute on Drug Abuse has released its annual findings about US teenagers and substance abuse. The big news is that opioid misuse by teens is at historic lows (clearly a good thing). The late-to-the-party news is that young people really like vaping. The good news on heroin The survey does get into specifics as to how kids are taking heroin, either with or … [Read more...] about The Uncomfortable Truths Behind The Latest Numbers On Teen Drug Use
2017
Fentanyl Is So Potent Doctors Don’t Know How To Fight It
“In 2002, Chechen terrorists took 800 people hostage in Moscow Theater, and Russian special forces devised a peculiar way to subdue them. The tactical team gassed the theater with two types of fentanyl, an opioid known for its extreme strength. One version was 2,000 to 5,000 times as potent as heroin. The gas killed 125 of the 800 hostages during the siege. Fast forward … [Read more...] about Fentanyl Is So Potent Doctors Don’t Know How To Fight It
Psychotherapy May Up Buprenorphine Adherence in Opioid Use Disorder
“Psychotherapy as an adjunct to buprenorphine maintenance treatment is linked to a significant improvement in long-term treatment retention rates compared to standard counseling provided by prescribing physicians. The findings contradict some studies that suggest that psychotherapy offers no benefit over standard counseling, "Our observational study suggests that receipt … [Read more...] about Psychotherapy May Up Buprenorphine Adherence in Opioid Use Disorder
To Survive the Opioid Addiction Crisis, Women Need More than “Just Say No” Slogans
“President Trump has declared opioid addiction a public health emergency and wants ads to persuade Americans to say no to these painkillers. But, he has not released the federal funds needed to seriously combat opioid abuse. TV commercials alone will not save the millions of U.S. women who bear the greatest burden from the opioid addiction epidemic. The truth is that women have … [Read more...] about To Survive the Opioid Addiction Crisis, Women Need More than “Just Say No” Slogans
Digital Pills Track How Patients Use Opioids
“New pill capsules that send a message to a smartphone as they move through the GI tract have emerged as a way to track whether patients are taking their medicine as prescribed. The problem of nonadherence to medication instructions causes about 125,000 deaths a year and at least 10 percent of hospitalizations, according to one estimate. Soon the ingestible tracking … [Read more...] about Digital Pills Track How Patients Use Opioids
