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Opioid use disorder medications underused after injection-related infections

Deaths from injection-related infections like endocarditis have increased among young people, likely due to the growth of injection drug use and stronger, shorter-acting fentanyl.

24 Jul 2024

Rescue from above: How drones may narrow emergency response times

The drones are coming. Starting in September, if someone in Clemmons, North Carolina, calls 911 to report a cardiac arrest, the first responder on the scene may be a drone carrying an automated external defibrillator, or AED.

22 Jul 2024

Marshall University receives $3.3 million grant to examine genetic mechanisms behind fentanyl addiction

Marshall University was awarded a $3.3 million grant (#R01DA057931) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to examine the genetic mechanisms that underlie fentanyl addiction.

19 Jul 2024

Marine fungus-derived aniquinazolin B could be a potential opioid alternative

Opioids have long been known as natural substances with substantial pharmacological effect. They have been used as effective painkillers.

17 Jul 2024

New research aims to help lessen the risk of opioid misuse and overdose

New research aims to help reduce the quantity of unused prescription opioids after emergency department visits and lessen the risk of opioid misuse and overdose.

15 Jul 2024

States set minimum staffing levels for nursing homes. Residents suffer when rules are ignored or waived.

For hours, John Pernorio repeatedly mashed the call button at his bedside in the Heritage Hills nursing home in Rhode Island.

12 Jul 2024

Lifesaving drugs and police projects mark first use of opioid settlement cash in California

Sonja Verdugo lost her husband to an opioid overdose last year. She regularly delivers medical supplies to people using drugs who are living — and dying — on the streets of Los Angeles. And she advocates at Los Angeles City Hall for policies to address addiction and homelessness.

12 Jul 2024

UCLA study finds insomnia drug suvorexant prevents opioid addiction in mice

New research led by UCLA Health has found a drug that treats insomnia works to prevent the addictive effects of the morphine opioids in mice while still providing effective pain relief.

9 Jul 2024

Novel compound amplifies naloxone's power to reverse overdoses

In a Stanford Medicine-led study, researchers combed through billions of compounds to find one that could enhance naloxone’s ability to fend off more potent opioids, with promising results in mice.

4 Jul 2024

Researchers identify potential drugs that make naloxone more potent and longer lasting

The ongoing opioid epidemic in the U.S. kills tens of thousands of people every year. Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, has saved countless lives by reversing opioid overdoses.

3 Jul 2024

PVP-037: A novel imidazopyrimidine adjuvant enhancing vaccine immune responses

Many vaccines are only partially effective, have waning efficacy, or do not work well in the very young or the very old.

3 Jul 2024

Pain doesn’t belong on a scale of zero to 10

Over the past two years, a simple but baffling request has preceded most of my encounters with medical professionals: "Rate your pain on a scale of zero to 10."

2 Jul 2024

Study reveals novel therapeutic approach for excessive alcohol use

In a significant finding, researchers from The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) and UConn Health have discovered that sodium valerate, a short-chain fatty acid produced by gut microbes, can dramatically reduce binge drinking behavior and blood ethanol concentration in mice.

25 Jun 2024

Health care price hikes affect employment and economic stability

Rising health care prices in the U.S. are leading employers outside the health care sector to reduce their payroll and decrease their number of employees, according to a new study co-authored by Yale economist Zack Cooper.

24 Jun 2024

Study uncovers new insights into the main human cold and menthol sensor TRPM8

Chronic pain affects millions worldwide, and current treatments often rely on opioids, which carry risks of addiction and overdose.

21 Jun 2024

Drug-related infant deaths surge in the U.S., study finds

A recent study from the Journal of Perinatal Medicine reveals a significant rise in drug-related infant deaths in the U.S. between 2018 and 2022, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions.

18 Jun 2024

Only a third of outpatient mental health facilities offer medication for opioid use disorders

Only a third of outpatient community mental health treatment facilities in 20 states with the highest opioid related overdose deaths report offering medication treatment for opioid use disorders, suggesting efforts may be needed to strengthen such services, according to a new RAND study.

18 Jun 2024

Report reveals rising rates of fatal opioid overdoses in Ontario shelters

Researchers from the Ontario Drug Policy Research Network (ODPRN) at St. Michael's Hospital and Public Health Ontario analyzed health data from the Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario and ICES, and found that there were 210 accidental opioid-related toxicity deaths within shelters between January 2018 to May 2022, with the number of deaths more than tripling during the study period (48 before the pandemic versus 162 during the pandemic).

18 Jun 2024

HEALing Communities Study: Data-driven intervention did not reduce opioid-related overdose death rates

A data-driven intervention that engaged communities to rapidly deploy evidence-based practices to reduce opioid-related overdose deaths – such as increasing naloxone distribution and enhancing access to medication for opioid use disorder – did not result in a statistically significant reduction in opioid-related overdose death rates during the evaluation period, according to results from the National Institutes of Health's HEALing (Helping to End Addiction Long-Term) Communities Study.

17 Jun 2024

Study: Out-of-pocket costs impact naloxone access

Patients are less likely to fill prescriptions for naloxone when they face increases in out-of-pocket costs, according to research by the University of Michigan.

13 Jun 2024