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.

Phase 3 study of tanezumab in patients with osteoarthritis pain meets all three co-primary endpoints

Pfizer Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company today announced that a 16-week Phase 3 study in patients with osteoarthritis pain evaluating subcutaneous administration of tanezumab, an investigational humanized monoclonal antibody, met all three co-primary endpoints.

19 Jul 2018

Prolonged preoperative opioid use linked to adverse outcomes after total knee and hip arthroplasty

Patients who take prescription opioids for more than 60 days before total knee or hip replacement surgery are at significantly higher risk of being readmitted to the hospital and of undergoing repeat joint-replacement surgery, compared to patients with no preoperative opioid use, reports a study in the July 18 issue of The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.

19 Jul 2018

Low-dose ketamine found to be as effective as opioids for treating acute pain

Opioids are commonly prescribed in the emergency department for the treatment of acute pain, but due to the epidemic of opioid misuse, analgesic alternatives are being explored.

18 Jul 2018

New non-invasive procedure to reposition kidney stones could benefit astronauts

A new, painless, non-invasive procedure that harnesses ultrasound technology to reposition kidney stones, in an effort to offer the sufferer quick relief, will undergo testing in emergency patients.

16 Jul 2018

High opioid doses, concurrent sedative use are key factors for overdose risk in Medicaid recipients

Among Medicaid recipients taking prescription opioids, high opioid doses and concurrent treatment with benzodiazepine sedatives are among the key, potentially modifiable risk factors for fatal overdose, reports a study in the August issue of Medical Care.

13 Jul 2018

Insurers fall short in catching and reporting Medicaid fraud, inspectors find

Despite receiving billions of dollars in taxpayer money, Medicaid insurers are lax in ferreting out fraud and neglect to tell states about unscrupulous medical providers, according to a federal report released Thursday.

12 Jul 2018

What a U.S.-China trade war could mean for the opioid epidemic

The American struggle to curb opioid addiction could become collateral damage in President Donald Trump's showdown on trade.

6 Jul 2018

Tennessee-based pain management group to close clinics amid financial turmoil

One of the largest pain management groups in the Southeast is closing multiple clinics amid worsening financial troubles and a federal criminal investigation that targeted its former chief executive.

4 Jul 2018

URI researchers working to develop novel medication to treat alcohol use disorder

Alcohol abuse is among the leading causes of preventable death in the United States, killing more than 88,000 people a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

28 Jun 2018

Illicit drug supply at record heights

According to a 2018 World Drug report released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) this week (26th June 2018) the supply of illicit drugs such as cocaine, opium and heroin have reached record heights.

28 Jun 2018

Pain rehabilitation programs are effective alternative to opioids for managing chronic pain

New research, published this month by the American Pain Society (APS), adds to burgeoning scientific evidence showing that interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation programs are an effective alternative to opioids for chronic pain management.

27 Jun 2018

Drug used to treat opioid dependence poses serious health risks in exposed children

A new study published online today by Pediatrics and conducted by researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy and the Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital found that from January 2007 through December 2016 there were more than 11,000 calls to US Poison Centers for pediatric exposures to buprenorphine – a prescription opioid medication used to treat opioid use disorder.

25 Jun 2018

Overdose risk increases five-fold with concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use

In the first 90 days of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use, the risk of opioid-related overdose increases five-fold compared to opioid-only use among Medicare recipients, according to a new study from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, published today in JAMA Network Open

22 Jun 2018

Study highlights inadequate effort of health care insurers to combat opioid epidemic

Health care insurers including Medicare, Medicaid and major private insurers have not done enough to combat the opioid epidemic, suggests a study led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

22 Jun 2018

Doling out pain pills post-surgery: An ingrown toenail not the same as a bypass

What's the right painkiller prescription to send home with a patient after gallbladder surgery or a cesarean section?

22 Jun 2018

Religious involvement has no significant effect on misuse of prescription opioids, study finds

Does going to church help people avoid struggles with opioid abuse? New research from Florida State University says no.

20 Jun 2018

Study finds IV acetaminophen to be no more effective than oral counterpart for colectomy patients

Intravenous acetaminophen is no more effective than oral acetaminophen for patients undergoing colorectal procedures, Mount Sinai researchers report in a first-of-its-kind study.

19 Jun 2018

After opioid overdose, only 30 percent get medicine to treat addiction

More than 115 Americans die every day of opioid overdose. Many more survive thanks to the antidote medication, naloxone. But a study out Monday finds that just 3 in 10 patients revived by an EMT or in an emergency room received the follow-up medication known to avoid another life-threatening event.

19 Jun 2018

Researchers examine risk factors for opioid dependence in patients undergoing surgery for DS

Researchers investigated risk factors for the development of opioid dependence in patients undergoing surgery for degenerative spondylolisthesis

19 Jun 2018

Study shows link between risky opioid prescriptions and increased odds of death

When patients are prescribed opioids in risky ways, their chance of dying increases and their odds of death go higher as the number of risky opioid prescriptions increase, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

18 Jun 2018

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading

Phase 3 study of tanezumab in patients with osteoarthritis pain meets all three co-primary endpoints

Prolonged preoperative opioid use linked to adverse outcomes after total knee and hip arthroplasty

Low-dose ketamine found to be as effective as opioids for treating acute pain

New non-invasive procedure to reposition kidney stones could benefit astronauts

High opioid doses, concurrent sedative use are key factors for overdose risk in Medicaid recipients

Insurers fall short in catching and reporting Medicaid fraud, inspectors find

What a U.S.-China trade war could mean for the opioid epidemic

Tennessee-based pain management group to close clinics amid financial turmoil

URI researchers working to develop novel medication to treat alcohol use disorder

Illicit drug supply at record heights

Pain rehabilitation programs are effective alternative to opioids for managing chronic pain

Drug used to treat opioid dependence poses serious health risks in exposed children

Overdose risk increases five-fold with concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use

Study highlights inadequate effort of health care insurers to combat opioid epidemic

Doling out pain pills post-surgery: An ingrown toenail not the same as a bypass

Religious involvement has no significant effect on misuse of prescription opioids, study finds

Study finds IV acetaminophen to be no more effective than oral counterpart for colectomy patients

After opioid overdose, only 30 percent get medicine to treat addiction

Researchers examine risk factors for opioid dependence in patients undergoing surgery for DS

Study shows link between risky opioid prescriptions and increased odds of death

Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 and BS 10012 certifications

Expanding research and clinical options for children with cancer

Examining how pain could play a direct protective role in the gut

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