A non-prescription drug abuse crisis in Japan seems only one overdose away. The demand for a particular anti-cough drug has been rising, along with the social impact of its abuse due to its psychosomatic effects. The ease of obtaining information online about how to acquire over-the-counter medications or OTCs for achieving overdose, however, does not appear to be the real […]
Buprenorphine is a medication approved for pain and opioid dependence. New findings published in The American Journal on Addictions indicate that a transmucosal dose (which dissolves in the mouth) of buprenorphine followed by an injection of extended-release buprenorphine (BUP‐XR) may be an effective treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder who use fentanyl. The results come from a recent secondary analysis of […]
Nicotine e-cigarettes and two prescription medications that curb symptoms of withdrawal are the most effective stop-smoking aids, according to a comprehensive, multinational review by a team of scientists, including a University of Massachusetts Amherst public health and health policy researcher. Dual forms of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), such as combining a patch with gum or a lozenge, were found to […]
Clinicians treating cancer-related pain must consider whether and how to prescribe opioids to patients who use nonmedical stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamines; however, no guidelines exist related to these common and challenging situations. In a new study, palliative care and addiction experts deemed it appropriate to continue opioids, increase monitoring, and avoid opioid tapering in such patients. The results […]
Researchers report that patients who knowingly took a “sugar pill” placebo along with daily methadone treatment achieved significantly higher 90-day adherence to treatment for opioid abuse disorder than patients using only methadone. The findings were published on April 12 in JAMA Network Open. “The clinical implications of our intervention have great potential impact, as retention in treatment is a serious […]
The story of British Asians struggling with alcohol addiction is unfortunately on the rise. As is the case with 21-year-old Jasmine Thakur*, a student at the University of Birmingham. The taboo surrounding alcohol addiction in South Asian families often results in individuals struggling to seek help and support. The cultural stigma of shame and dishonour surrounding addiction, along with the […]
Switching the painkiller codeine to a prescription-only medicine in 2018 led to a 37 per cent overall drop in its consumption across Australia, according to new findings from wastewater sampling published in the journal Addiction. The samples, taken from 49 wastewater treatment plants, which cover catchment areas for 10.6 million Australians, show the dramatic effect of withdrawing the country’s most misused […]
People who are smokers or vapers at the time of hospitalization for COVID-19 are more likely than non-smokers/non-vapers to suffer severe complications from their SARS-CoV-2 infection. The findings were published on July 26,2022 in PLOS ONE. “In general, people who smoke or vape tend to have a higher prevalence of other health conditions and risk factors that could play a role […]
People who have viewed tobacco content on social media are more than twice as likely than non-viewers to report using tobacco and, among those who have never used tobacco, more likely to be susceptible to use in the future. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC analyzed data from 139,624 participants in a meta-analysis of 29 studies. The […]
Despite the ability of any Michigan pharmacy to dispense medication to combat opioid overdose without writing prescriptions, slightly more than half of pharmacies in the state offer the drug in such a way. The standing order for naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, was passed by the Michigan legislature in 2016. This allows any pharmacist to dispense the overdose reversal drug without […]
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