From NPR, by Beth Schwartzapfel and Jimmy Jenkins, July 15, 2021 Prisons and jails in the United States have been increasingly deadly places in recent years, according to new federal data. But one cause of death has climbed most dramatically: overdoses. From 2001 to 2018, the number of people who have died of drug or […]
Spotlight
Vaping linked to increased eating disorder risk among US college students
From Fox News, by Kayla Rivas, 09/14/21 Recent vaping or e-cigarette use was associated with an increased risk of an eating disorder and a higher likelihood of a self-reported eating disorder diagnosis, according to a recent study. While vaping is common among young adults and eating disorder onset typically occurs before age 25, the association […]
OUD Treatment Restrictions Eased
HHS Releases New Buprenorphine Practice Guidelines, Expanding Access to Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Tuesday, April 27, 2021 In an effort to get evidenced-based treatment to more Americans with opioid use disorder, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing new buprenorphine practice guidelines that among other things, remove a longtime requirement tied […]
Telehealth Addiction Treatment Comes of Age
From Treatment Magazine Virtual healthcare, which has proliferated and become more sophisticated during the pandemic, will be an even greater presence in the future By Jason Langendorf Eight months was all it took for Eric Bogue to be transformed from a person frustrated and only half-interested in his recovery into a true believer and apostle […]
Fentanyl Test Strips
From SAMHSA, April 7, 2021 Federal Grantees May Now Use Funds to Purchase Fentanyl Test Strips New Guidance Aims to Reduce Drug Overdose Deaths The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) announced today that federal funding may now be used to purchase rapid fentanyl […]
DEA Community Strategy for DC, MD, VA
From Southern Maryland News Net Launch of New DEA Community Strategy Targeting Overdose Issue Across D.C., Maryland and Virginia The United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has launched a new comprehensive law enforcement and prevention initiative through the DEA Washington Division, aimed at reducing drug use, abuse, and overdose deaths. “Operation Engage” allows participating field […]
Record overdose deaths-82,230
From the Washington Post. 81,230 overdoses set record for such deaths in a 12-month period, CDC says by Linda Searing A surge in the number of U.S. residents who have died of a drug overdose — 81,230 in the 12 months ending last May — set a record for the most such deaths in a […]
National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
From HHS. The Surgeon General Releases Call to Action to Implement the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Office of the Surgeon General (OSG)—in collaboration with the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (Action Alliance)—released The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Implement the National […]
Dropping the X-Waiver for Buprenorphine
From the Psychiatric Times. The Department of Health and Human Services moves to reduce administrative procedural barriers to OUD treatment. by Leah Kuntz In an attempt to remove a potential barrier to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a plan1 to drop the X-waiver requirement for buprenorphine prescriptions. Organizations like […]
Construction Industry Hit Hard by Opioid Epidemic
From the Wall Street Journal Opioid Use Hits Construction Industry as Overdoses Soar by Vipal Monga Mark St. Cyr, a construction superintendent in the Pittsburgh area, often sees telltale signs of opioid use among workers at sites where he works. “If I’m supervising 10 guys, two or three will be using almost every day,” said […]