Opioid withdrawal increases health risks for people who inject drugs

(Keck School of Medicine of USC) Experiencing the symptoms of opioid withdrawal increases the odds that a person who injects drugs will share needles or have a non-fatal overdose, according to new USC study published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. The study, which has implications for others with opioid use disorder, says medication-assisted treatment for opioid withdrawal is urgently needed and recommends that the drug buprenorphine be made available to those at risk.
Source: EurekAlert! - Infectious and Emerging Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news