From USA Today NIH director: US needs more treatments for opioid addiction, chronic pain by Ken Alltucker The head of the National Institutes of Health said Wednesday that science can help the nation find newer and smarter ways out of an epidemic that resulted in more than 49,000 opioid overdose deaths last year. NIH Director Francis […]
Opioids
Maryland Opioid Overdoses Increase 14.8%
From the Baltimore Sun Opioid overdoses in Maryland increased 14.8 percent in first six months of 2018 by Andrea K. McDaniels The number of opioid overdoses in Maryland increased 14.8 percent in the first half of the year as public health officials and others continue to struggle to get a handle on the epidemic.Opioid overdoses […]
September 2018 Dialogue eNewsletter now available
Read inspirational, personal recovery stories and get all the information you need for National Recovery Month.
Overdose Deaths Reach a Record High in Delaware
From Courier Express by Rob Petree A record number of people died in Delaware from suspected overdoses in August, according to reports from the Delaware Division of Forensic Science. The monthly total of 39 deaths was the highest since the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) began tracking deaths from suspected overdoses in late […]
2018 Annual Surveillance Report of Drug-Related Risks and Outcomes
From the CDC. This report brings together the latest data available on the drug overdose epidemic in America, including opioid prescribing patterns, and various health behaviors and outcomes such as drug use and nonfatal overdoses and deaths. Prescription drug misuse, illicit drug use, substance use disorder, and overdose remain critical issues in the United States, […]
Researchers identify key brain circuits for reward-seeking and avoidance behavior
From NIH. Previously unrecognized pathways in mice have relevance for mental health and addiction research. Researchers have identified connections between neurons in brain systems associated with reward, stress, and emotion. Conducted in mice, the new study may help untangle multiple psychiatric conditions, including alcohol use disorder, anxiety disorders, insomnia, and depression in humans. “Understanding these […]
Notification of patient overdose deaths reduces clinician opioid prescriptions
From NIH. NIH-funded study shows clinicians reduced prescriptions following behavioral “nudge.” Clinicians were more likely to reduce the number and dose of opioid drugs they prescribed after learning that one of their patients had died from an overdose from a controlled substance than those not notified, according to a recent study appearing in the August […]
PA Law to Require Notification on Drug-Exposed Babies
From the Chronicle of Social Change. New Pennsylvania Law Requires Notifications on All Drug-Exposed Babies by Marisol Zarate The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services will hear about every child born in the state that is exposed to drugs at birth, thanks to a bill signed into law this month by Gov. Tom Wolf (D). According to […]
Effective Treatments for Opioid Use Disorder Are Underutilized
From NIH. NIH research confirms effective treatments for opioid use disorder are underutilized A National Institutes of Health-funded study found that treatment of opioid use disorder with either methadone or buprenorphine following a nonfatal opioid overdose is associated with significant reductions in opioid related mortality. The research, published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine, was […]
Attorney General Jeff Sessions announces Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge to combat crisis
From Healthcare Finance. Operation S.O.S. was inspired by prosecution efforts in Manatee County, Florida, which realized a 77 percent drop in overdose deaths. By Susan Moore Attorney General Jeff Sessions chose Maine as one of his stops to promote the newly-announced operation Synthetic Opioid Surge or S.O.S., because the state is among 10 areas of […]