Opioids News and Research

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An opioid is a chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. The receptors in these two organ systems mediate both the beneficial effects and the side effects of opioids.

Study shines light on geographic variation in pediatric deaths from opioid poisonings

A new study shines light on pediatric opioid deaths by U.S. region, the first time a study of this nature has been conducted. Findings from the study will be presented during the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2019 Meeting, taking place on April 24 - May 1 in Baltimore.

27 Apr 2019

Impact of prescription drug monitoring programs on opioid exposures in children

A new study measures the impact state-run, prescription drug monitoring programs, pain clinic legislation and opioid prescribing guidelines have on opioid exposures among children.

27 Apr 2019

Studies verify novel method of HIV transmission among injection drug users and effective prevention

New studies from Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University have found for the first time that HIV can be transmitted through the sharing of equipment used to prepare drugs before injection and that a simple intervention - heating the equipment with a cigarette lighter for 10 seconds - can destroy the HIV virus, preventing that transmission.

26 Apr 2019

Drug overdoses among adolescents and young adults on the rise

In American adolescents and young adults, death rates from drug poisoning, particularly from opioids, have sharply increased over the last 10 years, according to new research in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.

25 Apr 2019

Amid opioid prescriber crackdown, health officials reach out to pain patients

A pharmacist in Celina, Tenn., was one of 60 people indicted on charges of opioid-related crimes last week, in a multistate sting. John Polston was charged with 21 counts of filling medically unnecessary narcotic prescriptions.

24 Apr 2019

Many cancer patients use marijuana and prescription opioids, study reveals

A new study reveals that many people with cancer use marijuana, and rates of use in the U.S. have increased over time.

22 Apr 2019

FDA grants approval of first generic naloxone nasal spray to treat opioid overdose

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted final approval of the first generic naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray, commonly known as Narcan, a life-saving medication that can stop or reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

22 Apr 2019

Opioid dose variability could lead to increased risk of overdose, study suggests

Patients prescribed opioid pain medications whose doses varied over time were 3 times more likely to experience an overdose than patients prescribed stable opioid doses, according to an observational study from Kaiser Permanente published today in JAMA Network Open.

22 Apr 2019

Universities join hands to confront opioid problem in the central Appalachian region

Go to Google and type: "leading cause of accidental death in ..." Then type in a state -- any state in central Appalachia -- and hit search. The answer is the same: opioid overdoses and drug poisoning lead the way in fatalities in these states, far above former front-runners, such as car accidents and gun violence.

17 Apr 2019

PCORI’s newly approved awards focus on cancer pain and opioid use disorders

The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors today approved $44.6 million to fund 12 studies comparing the best ways to treat a range of health conditions that impose high burdens on patients, caregivers and the healthcare system.

17 Apr 2019

New series offers global evidence detailing role of surgery in the opioids crisis

Targets to eliminate pain after surgery have driven increases in the use of opioids, and are a major cause of the opioid crisis in the USA, Canada and other countries.

12 Apr 2019

Cancer patients and those with anemia should not be denied opioids, says CDC

The U.S. CDC has issued a letter clarifying that people suffering from severe pain caused by cancer or sickle-cell anemia should not be denied prescriptions for opioid pain-killers.

11 Apr 2019

Penn State-led project focuses on opioid addiction treatment in teens

Substance use disorders continue to rise at alarming rates among adolescents, with opioid abuse contributing to this significant public health problem.

10 Apr 2019

Alcohol, Cannabis and Other Drugs: A Pharmacological Evaluation

Understanding the interactions between alcohol and cannabis can provide researchers, clinicians and other HCPs with important information on the severity of their side effects.

10 Apr 2019

Study of OUD treatment creates new metric to illustrate disadvantaged areas in the U.S.

Ohio, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia have the highest disparity between opioid-related deaths and access to treatment providers for opioid use disorder in the U.S.

10 Apr 2019

Forensic researchers discover key factors relating to premature adult deaths

About two-thirds of the adults dying prematurely from natural causes did not seek medical help within the 30 days preceding their death, reported forensic researchers from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.

9 Apr 2019

Opioid epidemic fuels growing rates of some infectious diseases

The United States faces a converging public health crisis as the nation's opioid epidemic fuels growing rates of certain infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, heart infections, and skin and soft tissue infections.

4 Apr 2019

UMN study shows impact of opioids on pain and survival in sickle cell disease

New UMN research recently published Blood Advances, Kalpna Gupta, PhD, Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, demonstrates the impact of opioids on the survival of humanized mouse models with sickle cell disease, compared to normal mice.

3 Apr 2019

People with treatment-resistant depression at higher risk of developing substance use syndrome

People suffering from treatment resistant depression are at a higher risk of developing substance use disorders than other patients with depression, reports a study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden published in the journal Addiction.

2 Apr 2019

Single dose long lasting opioid antidote on the horizon

Recent reports have shown a 1,000 percent rise in opioid abuse (especially synthetic drug Fentanyl) in the United States over the past one decade. In 2017 for example there have been 47,000 deaths attributed to opioid overdose says the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

31 Mar 2019

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading

Study shines light on geographic variation in pediatric deaths from opioid poisonings

Impact of prescription drug monitoring programs on opioid exposures in children

Studies verify novel method of HIV transmission among injection drug users and effective prevention

Drug overdoses among adolescents and young adults on the rise

Amid opioid prescriber crackdown, health officials reach out to pain patients

Many cancer patients use marijuana and prescription opioids, study reveals

FDA grants approval of first generic naloxone nasal spray to treat opioid overdose

Opioid dose variability could lead to increased risk of overdose, study suggests

Universities join hands to confront opioid problem in the central Appalachian region

PCORI’s newly approved awards focus on cancer pain and opioid use disorders

New series offers global evidence detailing role of surgery in the opioids crisis

Cancer patients and those with anemia should not be denied opioids, says CDC

Penn State-led project focuses on opioid addiction treatment in teens

Alcohol, Cannabis and Other Drugs: A Pharmacological Evaluation

Study of OUD treatment creates new metric to illustrate disadvantaged areas in the U.S.

Forensic researchers discover key factors relating to premature adult deaths

Opioid epidemic fuels growing rates of some infectious diseases

UMN study shows impact of opioids on pain and survival in sickle cell disease

People with treatment-resistant depression at higher risk of developing substance use syndrome

Single dose long lasting opioid antidote on the horizon

Sensing a Healthier Future

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

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