Heroin and Opioids

Opioids: Who Is Using Them and Why?

April 6, 2020 / Addiction Science, Heroin and Opioids, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone

Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States; 44 people die every day from prescription drug overdose. Recently, it came to light that a large portion of these drug-related deaths (6 out of every 10 cases) were caused by one family of drugs: opioids. Public health officials say that this opioid problem has been growing over the past 15 years, and it can no longer be ignored. Opioid Drug Use Is on the Rise Painkiller prescription availability and drug use has been on the rise for years. In 1991, 76 million doses of oxycodone (OxyContin) …

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Canadian researchers have successfully used anti-gout medication to diminish opioid withdrawal symptoms in rodents

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Research/Trends/Statistics

Canadian researchers have successfully used anti-gout medication to diminish opioid withdrawal symptoms in rodents, and are currently in the process of developing a human clinical trial. If you are struggling with opioid addiction or withdrawal symptoms, please call Two Dreams at 504-510-2331 for a free consultation! Read more about the ongoing research here: http://www.news-medical.net/news/20170130/Researchers-discover-that-existing-anti-gout-drug-can-reduce-severity-of-opioid-withdrawal-symptoms.aspx

Physicians may be able to prescribe appropriate doses of methadone based on personalized genetic observation

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Research/Trends/Statistics

Researchers have found a genetic variant associated with opioid addiction in African Americans, which indicates that physicians may be able to prescribe appropriate doses of methadone based on personalized genetic observation. Our staff here at Two Dreams is excited to hear this news, as we believe that the best outcomes in addiction treatment stem from creating a personalized treatment plan for each patient. If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid use, please contact us today at 504-510-2331. Learn more here: http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/mp2016257a.html http://www.medicaldaily.com/opioid-addiction-2017-personalized-treatment-race-identifies-african-american-409370 https://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/2017/01/27/black-americans-found-genetically-more-susceptible-to-opiate-addiction/

Studies have shown that children exposed to drugs of abuse in the womb are more likely to struggle academically

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Research/Trends/Statistics

Studies have shown that children exposed to drugs of abuse in the womb are more likely to struggle academically. If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction while pregnant, please contact us immediately at 504-510-2331; we will help you through this difficult time in a judgment-free environment. Read more here.

American effort reduced risky opioid prescriptions for veterans

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Research/Trends/Statistics

An American initiative has managed to promote safer opioid prescription regimens and, as a result, decrease veteran’s risk of overdose or death. By taking caution when prescribing opioids in high doses or in combination with sedatives, VA prescribers have taken a significant step in combatting the opioid crisis. Read more here… If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid addiction, please contact us today at 504-510-2331

Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia: How Painkillers Can Paradoxically Cause More Pain

April 6, 2020 / Addiction Science, Drugs and the Brain, Heroin and Opioids, Pain

What is opioid-induced hyperalgesia? Opioid-induced hyperalgesia is the occurrence of increased pain sensitivity in response to opioid administration. In other words, taking opioids in excess and/or for a long period of time has been known to lower the individual’s pain threshold so pain seems worse even if the opioid dose is increased. This phenomenon is often associated with opioid tolerance and opioid inefficiency.   What is the difference between opioid tolerance, and opioid-induced hyperalgesia? “Tolerance” suggests that the drug has progressively stopped causing a pharmacological response, but that the issue can generally be overcome by increasing the dosage. “Opioid-induced hyperalgesia” …

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Fentanyl Patches: Pain Relief Leading to Unintentional Opioid Drug Overuse and Addiction

April 6, 2020 / Addiction Science, Heroin and Opioids, Pain, Public Health, Research/Trends/Statistics

The increased access to and overuse of painkillers seen in today’s opioid epidemic was the result of past drug policy changes. In the late 1990s, the laws governing the prescription of opioids became relaxed, giving access to populations besides cancer patients with chronic pain. In 2000, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations introduced new pain management standards, and at the same time many physicians were advocating for changes in practice to increase the use of opioids to treat chronic pain. The opioid drug epidemic was highlighted by the Centers for Disease Control in 2015, but it was actually …

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Probuphine: What You Need to Know

April 6, 2020 / Addiction Science, Heroin and Opioids, Pain

Probuphine is the first buprenorphine implant for treatment of opioid dependence. It supplies patients with a constant, low-level dose of buprenorphine for six months at a time and is designed to improve patient compliance and outcomes.   What is buprenorphine? Buprenorphine is a drug meant to help relieve cravings during opioid maintenance therapy and heroin detoxification. It is a synthetic opiate, meaning it can “trick” the brain into thinking it’s a real opiate and trigger a similar release of feel-good chemicals to counter withdrawal symptoms. It is also a partial opioid agonist, meaning that it binds to the same receptors …

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Opioid Dependence: Patient Care and Public Health Challenges

April 6, 2020 / Addiction Science, Heroin and Opioids, Pain, Research/Trends/Statistics, Suboxone Treatment

Non-medical prescription opioid use is a major public health problem. In 2011, 5.1 million people in the United States were using opioids, 4.5 million of whom were using for non-medical purposes and 620,000 of whom were using heroin. 2.2 million of those using opioids were considered clinically dependent. 1.8 million of these dependent individuals were using for non-medical purposes, and 369,000 were using heroin. On the bright side, 750,000 of the nonmedical users sought treatment for their opioid dependence. It is important to recognize that opioid dependence is a chronic disease, not a moral failing. Dependence causes dysfunction in neural …

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Top Seven Misconceptions About Opioid Abuse in Chronic Pain

April 7, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Medical Consequences, Pain, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines

Panic and confusion about the opioid endemic are causing the rapid spread of misinformation throughout the United States. Here we debunk some of the most common misconceptions about opioid abuse, especially as it relates to chronic pain.   1. “Addiction” is the same as “physical dependence” or “tolerance.” Addiction is a disease made up of both physical and psychological components. It may include physical dependence or tolerance, but these elements are not required. Physical dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms upon cessation, or by the development of tolerance in which an increase in substance use is necessary to achieve an …

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