Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines

Genetic Predisposition May Help to Explain Opioid Addiction

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

In a perfect world, doctors would be able to identify patients who are prone to opioid addiction and prescribe them non-opioid painkillers that wouldn’t lead to dependence. For years, researchers have been trying to advance care to this point by looking for genes that contribute to addiction. There are currently a number of potential candidates, so patients may request genetic testing to see if the carry one or two copies of susceptibility gene variants before deciding on a course of treatment.   What Are Opioids? Opioids are a group of sleep inducing pain relievers that specifically interact with an opioid …

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Increase in pregabalin and gabapentin prescriptions may increase opiod overdose death

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

Researchers in England and Wales have correlating the rising number of opioid overdose deaths with a recent increase in pregabalin and gabapentin prescriptions. If you are struggling with opioid use disorder, please call us today at 504-510-2331.   Read more about the correlative study here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170511113513.htm

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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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

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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10th Annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, April 30

April 6, 2020 / Criminal Justice, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Public Health

The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day aims to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Last year more than 3,800 federal, state and local organizations took in more than 702,000 pounds of unused, expired or unwanted drugs at more than 5,000 collection sites across the United States. Cumulatively, these drug take-back events have collected over 5 million pounds of drugs. If you would like to participate this year, please mark down the following information on your calendar! April 30, 2016 10:00 AM …

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Teen Athletes More Likely To Abuse Painkillers

April 6, 2020 / Heroin and Opioids, Pain, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Public Health, Young Adults/Teens/College-Aged

Teen athletes are frequently prescribed narcotics for sports-related injuries, making them prime candidates for opioid addiction and abuse. One study indicated that this demographic is 50% more likely to abuse prescription painkillers than their non-athletic peers. This shocking statistic can be attributed in part to their desire to get back to the sport as soon as possible after injury in order to please the coach, their family, etc. Additionally, the area of the brain responsible for reasoning and impulse control is not yet fully developed in teenagers, leaving them more susceptible to engaging in risk-taking behaviors such as opioid abuse. …

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November 2015’s Dream Journal

April 6, 2020 / 12 Steps, Addiction Science, Alcohol, Art Therapy, Chicago, Co-Occurring Disorders/Comorbidity, Criminal Justice, Dream Journal, Drug Testing, Drugs and the Brain, Heroin and Opioids, Holistic Care and Treatment, Inpatient, Intensive Outpatient, Intervention, Medical Consequences, Mental Health, Mindfulness, New Orleans, Outer Banks, Outpatient, Pain, Prescription Drugs & Cold Medicines, Prevention, Recreation, Research/Trends/Statistics

Dream Journal Volume XXXIV / NOV 2015 Note from Dr. B. The ongoing opioid overdose crisis has prompted the CDC to take action in the form of developing new guidelines for qualified prescribers. First and foremost, the CDC stresses that opioid therapy should be utilized only if all other treatment options have been exhausted. Opioids can vastly improve functionality and quality of life, but the benefits must be weighed against the risks of tolerance, addiction, overdose, etc. If opioids are absolutely necessary, the prescribing physician and patient should work together to formulate a safe plan of approach and establish realistic treatment …

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