Heroin and Opioids

Decrease in opioid prescriptions for the first time in decades

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Research/Trends/Statistics

For the first time in 20 years, experts are reporting a decrease in the number of written opioid prescriptions. The hope is that this reduction signals a turning point in the opioid epidemic, that perhaps prescription guidelines and warnings about the dangers of addiction are resonating in the medical community. This decrease has not been correlated with a decrease in fatalities, and the use of illicit drugs is still highly alarming, but at least we are seeing some sign of success in terms of policy-making and education. Read more here

Opioid Outreach Program Could Alleviate Crime

April 6, 2020 / Criminal Justice, Heroin and Opioids, Public Health

The Community Outreach Addiction Team (COAT) hires individuals in opioid addiction recovery. Their job is to encourage active users to seek treatment and provide a relatable point of reference for those reluctant to stop using. This program is still experimental and currently only in place in Maryland, but if it proves to be effective in the fight against opioid abuse and drug-related crimes then others around the country are likely to establish similar platforms. Read more here: http://www.wmdt.com/news/more-local-news/UPDATE-Opioid-outreach-program-could-alleviate-crime/38897486

What is Fentanyl?

April 7, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Pain, Research/Trends/Statistics

Fatal drug overdose rates are on the rise, and synthetic opioid “fentanyl” is partially to blame.   What is Fentanyl? Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid analgesic and anesthetic, known commercially as Sublimaze, Durogesic, Duragesic, Fentanyl citrate, PriCara, Lazanda, Nasalfent, Subsys, or Actavis. It is a full, mu-opioid receptor agonist, which means that the drug binds to mu opioid receptors in the brain to stimulate endorphin production. Binding causes the release of endorphins and an increase of dopamine in the central nervous system. These phenomena cause analgesia (pain relief), euphoria, relaxation, etc.   When is Fentanyl Prescribed? Who Should Take …

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Alternative/Integrative Medicine Finally Becoming More Mainstream

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Holistic Care and Treatment, Pain

Holistic lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, meditation, etc., have been shown to improve health and sometimes even reverse certain disorders. As opioid overdoses and fatalities become more commonplace, physicians and patients alike are turning to these alternative/integrative solutions for their medical problems. This is an important shift for mainstream medicine, as the focus has historically been on medication and surgical options. This pharmacological option is still viable in many cases but encouraging consideration of alternatives, especially for patients with chronic pain, is sure to at least somewhat decrease the prevalence of opioids in our society. Read more about this …

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This Treatment Could Alleviate Chronic Pain Without Opioid Medications

April 7, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Pain, Prevention

Individuals with chronic pain are increasingly demanding alternative/integrative treatments and attempting to avoid opioids when possible. While opioids can be great for short-term use, their long-term potential for addiction is concerning and a major contributing factor in the current opioid crisis. Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington are working on a new electronic stimulation device that will hopefully serve as an opioid-free method of pain management. The wireless device stimulates neurons deep in the brain’s pleasure center to cause the release of dopamine and reduce the sensation of pain. Click here to learn more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/electrical-stimulation-brain-chronic-pain_us_57028d58e4b0a06d58062cbc

New Advice for Treating Chronic Pain With Opioids

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Pain, Public Health

Physicians and patients alike have been concerned by the seemingly restrictive opioid prescription guidelines issued recently by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The argument is that the guidelines limit access to prescription painkillers and actually hurt patients who need opioids to stay functional. Authors have been quick to argue back, stating that they acknowledge opioid effectiveness in certain instances, but that they don’t want physicians to see them as their first or only option for treating pain. Opioids have been shown to be ineffective for most types of chronic pain and can actually cause more, generalized pain …

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Doctors Can Do More to Fight Addiction

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Medical Consequences, Pain, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Public Health

Physicians are being asked to change their practices and their mentalities regarding prescription painkillers. Opioids have revolutionized the way we treat pain in America, but they have also brought on a plethora of dangers and negative consequences. Doctors need to consider each patient’s addiction risk factors and medical needs thoroughly before pulling out the prescription pad. Monitoring and follow-up care should be required for every patient, and access to anti-addiction medication (such as Buprenorphine) must be made available to all who need it. Until physicians make these changes, the opioid endemic is going to continue. Read more here: http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2016-03-31/doctors-can-do-more-to-fight-addiction

Commentary: When it Comes to Opioids, Doctors Need to Focus on People, Not Pills

April 6, 2020 / Addiction Science, Heroin and Opioids, Pain, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines

Medicine cannot be considered a strictly formulaic field; medical professionals must consider each individual holistically in order to make appropriate decisions regarding opioids. There are physicians on both sides of the spectrum: some are “pill-pushers” who prescribe opioids for every case of pain they encounter, while others are so stingy about prescribing painkillers that they deprive their patients of care they desperately need. It is important for doctors to find a middle ground between the two extremes in order to provide the highest quality and safest treatment plans possible. Opioid prescription rates are too high right now, yes, but they …

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FDA is Adding Black Box Warning Labels to Opioids. American Academy of Pain Management Urges Caution.

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines

The FDA has taken a big step in the fight against opioid overdose, adding black box warnings to immediate release opioid painkillers including oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and other related drugs. These warning labels caution that use leads to an increased risk of abuse, addiction, overdose, and death. The hope is that these warnings will remind patients and physicians that opioid prescription is not to be taken lightly, and that a more serious attitude toward the drugs will decrease overdose and death rates. The Executive Director of the American Academy of Pain Management, Bob Twillman, PhD, issued a statement shortly after …

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HHS Releases National Pain Strategy

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Pain, Public Health

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a plan to lessen the prevalence and encumbrance of chronic pain in the United States. The report addresses necessary improvements in the realms of education, prevention, and overall treatment. For example, medical students receive an astoundingly low level of education about pain and prescriber precautions, so curriculums are slowly being implemented to fix this deficit in knowledge. The Department is also issuing recommendations on prevention strategies, such as workplace regulations to avoid injury. Of course, one of the biggest issues facing the chronic pain community is the misuse of opioids, which …

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