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.

Proposed National Resilience Strategy to reverse catastrophic increases in 'deaths of despair'

Startling increases in nationwide deaths from drug overdoses, alcohol, and suicides constitute a public health crisis – spurring an urgent call for a National Resilience Strategy to stem these "deaths of despair."

26 May 2018

Exercise alters brain's dopamine system to help treat addiction, study finds

New research by the University at Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions has identified a key mechanism in how aerobic exercise can help impact the brain in ways that may support treatment -; and even prevention strategies -; for addiction.

25 May 2018

‘Time’s up’: Covered California takes aim at hospital C-section rates

Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace under the Affordable Care Act, has devised what could be a powerful new way to hold hospitals accountable for the quality of their care. Starting in less than two years, if the hospitals haven’t met targets for safety and quality, they’ll risk being excluded from the “in-network” designation of health plans sold on the state’s insurance exchange.

24 May 2018

Study sheds new light on sharp rise in fatal drug overdoses in recent years

A study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine sheds new light on the sharp rise in fatal drug overdoses in recent years, one of the most severe public health challenges of our time. The study found that the growth in fatal overdoses for non-Hispanic whites aged 22-56 years was sufficiently large to account for the entire growth in mortality rates and years of potential life lost (YPLL) for this population from 1999 to 2015.

22 May 2018

Local anesthetic drug not linked to reduction in opioid use, complications after knee surgery

Contrary to what some studies may suggest, the local anesthetic drug, liposomal bupivacaine, did not reduce in-hospital opioid prescriptions or opioid-related complications in patients who received the drug during total knee replacement surgery as part of a multimodal approach to manage postsurgical pain, finds a new study published in the Online First edition of Anesthesiology, the peer-reviewed medical journal of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

22 May 2018

In-hospital opioid prescribing may increase post-discharge opioid use, shows study

Patients who receive an opioid for most of their hospital stay and patients who are still taking an opioid within 12 hours of being discharged from the hospital appear more likely to fill a prescription for opioids within 90 days of leaving the hospital, according to new research presented at the ATS 2018 International Conference.

21 May 2018

Clinical study supports usual medical care plus chiropractic care for low back pain

U.S military personnel with low back pain who received usual medical care plus chiropractic care reported moderate improvement in their pain intensity and disability compared with patients who received usual medical care alone.

18 May 2018

FDA OKs first non-opioid drug for adults with opioid withdrawal symptoms

The United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), in a statement this week, approved a new drug Lucemyra (lofexidine hydrochloride) for the treatment and alleviation of opioid symptom withdrawal symptoms in adults in whom the drugs have been withdrawn abruptly.

17 May 2018

Opioid overdoses are rising faster among Latinos than whites or blacks. Why?

The tall, gangly man twists a cone of paper in his hands as stories from nearly 30 years of addiction pour out: the robbery that landed him in prison at age 17; never getting his high school equivalency diploma; going through the horrors of detox, maybe 40 times, including this latest bout, which he finished two weeks ago. He’s now in a residential treatment unit for at least 30 days.

17 May 2018

FDA approves new treatment to mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Lucemyra (lofexidine hydrochloride) for the mitigation of withdrawal symptoms to facilitate abrupt discontinuation of opioids in adults.

17 May 2018

Reversing an overdose isn’t complicated, but getting the antidote can be

A few months ago, Kourtnaye Sturgeon helped save someone’s life. She was driving in downtown Indianapolis when she saw people gathered around a car on the side of the road. Sturgeon pulled over, and a man told her there was nothing she could do: Two men had overdosed on opioids and appeared to be dead.

16 May 2018

Opioid pharmaceutical marketing influences physicians' opioid prescribing rates

A new study shows the significant impact that even a meal or two paid for by a pharmaceutical company can have on prescribing rates, despite a national decline of opioid prescribing rates.

15 May 2018

Researchers to explore how to prevent stress-related chronic pain conditions

More than 50 million people in the United States suffer from pain in the absence of injury. This includes patients with migraines, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and many other disorders.

15 May 2018

New survey shows 80% of oncologists have discussed medical marijuana use with patients

Data from a new survey show that as many as 80% of oncologists have discussed medical marijuana use with their patients.

11 May 2018

Using opioid-sparing pain management techniques to better prevent addiction and abuse

Over 2 million people each year switch to persistent opioid use after surgery, and nearly half of all U.S. opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid.

10 May 2018

Study: Stigmatizing language in medical records may play a role in how the patient is treated

A Johns Hopkins study found that physicians who use stigmatizing language in their patients' medical records may affect the care those patients get for years to come.

9 May 2018

Walmart announces new regulations for filling opioid prescriptions

Walmart, at the beginning of this week announced regulations regarding filling opioid prescriptions in its own in-store and Sam’s pharmacies. The company as part of its Opioid Stewardship Initiative has vowed to curb not only opioid addictions but also prevent their overdosages and prevent the over-prescription of opioids by doctors.

9 May 2018

New chemical sensing chip could detect cocaine within minutes

What if you could test for cocaine, opioids and marijuana as quickly as a breathalyzer identifies alcohol? A new, low-cost chemical sensing chip brings us one step closer to this technology, which has long been on the wish list of police officers and others looking to monitor drug use and curb dangerous driving.

7 May 2018

New online assessment tool can guide doctors to find the best pain treatment plan

People in chronic pain are some of the most difficult patients to treat. They have complex circumstances that medicine can't always remedy. Pain can be amplified, by depression and anxiety, genetics and quality of life. Genetics can also play a role in how people experience pain.

4 May 2018

Medical marijuana use reduces pain and need for opioid painkillers, finds study

A questionnaire of older men and women suffering from chronic pain who were given medical marijuana found that the drug significantly reduced pain and their need for opioid painkillers, Northwell Health researchers report.

2 May 2018

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading

Proposed National Resilience Strategy to reverse catastrophic increases in 'deaths of despair'

Exercise alters brain's dopamine system to help treat addiction, study finds

‘Time’s up’: Covered California takes aim at hospital C-section rates

Study sheds new light on sharp rise in fatal drug overdoses in recent years

Local anesthetic drug not linked to reduction in opioid use, complications after knee surgery

In-hospital opioid prescribing may increase post-discharge opioid use, shows study

Clinical study supports usual medical care plus chiropractic care for low back pain

FDA OKs first non-opioid drug for adults with opioid withdrawal symptoms

Opioid overdoses are rising faster among Latinos than whites or blacks. Why?

FDA approves new treatment to mitigate opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults

Reversing an overdose isn’t complicated, but getting the antidote can be

Opioid pharmaceutical marketing influences physicians' opioid prescribing rates

Researchers to explore how to prevent stress-related chronic pain conditions

New survey shows 80% of oncologists have discussed medical marijuana use with patients

Using opioid-sparing pain management techniques to better prevent addiction and abuse

Study: Stigmatizing language in medical records may play a role in how the patient is treated

Walmart announces new regulations for filling opioid prescriptions

New chemical sensing chip could detect cocaine within minutes

New online assessment tool can guide doctors to find the best pain treatment plan

Medical marijuana use reduces pain and need for opioid painkillers, finds study

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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