Marijuana May Alleviate America’s Opioid Crisis, New Study Suggests
Access to medical marijuana may be cutting down on the overall use of opioids, including prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Percocet, new research suggests.
In a study, researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health analyzed traffic fatality data from 1999-2013 for 18 U.S states. They found that most states that passed medical marijuana laws saw an overall reduction in fatal crashes involving drivers who tested positive for opioids.
“We would expect the adverse consequences of opioid use to decrease over time in states where medical marijuana use is legal, as individu...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - September 17, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Marijuana May Alleviate America’s Opioid Crisis, New Study Suggests
Access to medical marijuana may be cutting down on the overall use of opioids, including prescription painkillers like OxyContin and Percocet, new research suggests.
In a study, researchers from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health analyzed traffic fatality data from 1999-2013 for 18 U.S states. They found that most states that passed medical marijuana laws saw an overall reduction in fatal crashes involving drivers who tested positive for opioids.
“We would expect the adverse consequences of opioid use to decrease over time in states where medical marijuana use is legal, as individu...
Source: Science - The Huffington Post - September 17, 2016 Category: Science Source Type: news
Saving lives by prescribing naloxone with opioid painkillers
In this study, researchers trained staff at six clinics in the San Francisco area on how to co-prescribe opioids and naloxone. They then looked at how often naloxone was actually prescribed, whether co-prescribing translated in fewer emergency department visits related to opioids, and whether the dose of prescribed opioids changed. Here’s what the study found:
When providers were trained in this approach, the number of naloxone prescriptions increased. So doctors seemed willing to co-prescribe.
Patients who were on higher dosages of opioids or had been to the emergency department in the past year because of opioids were...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - August 26, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Sarah Wakeman, MD, FASAM, Medical Director, Massachusetts General Hospital Substance Use Disorder Initiative Tags: Addiction Behavioral Health Drugs and Supplements Pain Management Prevention Source Type: news
oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet, Roxicet, Tylox, Oxycet)
Title: oxycodone and acetaminophen (Percocet, Roxicet, Tylox, Oxycet) < br / > Category: Medications < br / > Created: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AM < br / > Last Editorial Review: 7/28/2016 12:00:00 AM (Source: MedicineNet Chronic Pain General)
Source: MedicineNet Chronic Pain General - July 28, 2016 Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: news
Treating Drug Addiction With Drugs
The old saying goes that you have to fight fire with fire.
Using that logic, health officials have increased the availability of an opioid to combat the rising tide of opiate addiction.
On any given day, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 650,000 opioid prescriptions are dispensed.
Of these, 3,900 people begin using the drugs for nonmedical reasons, and 78 people die from an opioid-related overdose. That's every day.
In western Pennsylvania, for instance, deaths caused by opioids, including heroin and prescription drugs, increased by more than a third last year, according to a new r...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - July 18, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
States' New Opioid Limits Being Met With Some Resistance
This piece comes to us courtesy of Stateline. Stateline is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news service of the Pew Charitable Trusts that provides daily reporting and analysis on trends in state policy.
For governors and lawmakers in nearly every state, the soaring overdose death toll from prescription painkillers, heroin and fentanyl has become an urgent priority.
Lawmakers in dozens of states took decisive action this year to stanch the flow of prescription pain drugs and help those addicted to them. Roughly 2.5 millionAmericans are addicted to opioids, and more than 28,000 people died of overdosesof painkillers or heroin in 20...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - June 28, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Programs to Spot Painkiller Abuse Work, But Are Underused
TUESDAY, June 28, 2016 -- Programs to reduce prescription painkiller abuse are effective but underused, a new study suggests.
Misuse of prescription pain medicines such as hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), codeine and morphine... (Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews)
Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews - June 28, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Source Type: news
Opiates no solution to back pain
Over the last year, the general public has been inundated with a steady stream of reports about the dangers of opiates — pain medicines like codeine, Percocet, and OxyContin. The harm in terms of ruined lives and death from illicit drugs such as heroin is not news. But what is new, and concerning, are the risks of prescription pain medicines — those doctors prescribe for pain due to a range of causes, including musculoskeletal problems like low back pain.
The history of using opiates for chronic pain
Back pain isn’t a new problem either, but the history of how doctors have treated it is probably new to many. A “cli...
Source: New Harvard Health Information - June 20, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Steven J. Atlas, MD, MPH Tags: Addiction Back Pain Behavioral Health Pain Management Source Type: news
Don't dump old pills; here's how to dispose of them safely
Opioids like Vicodin and Percocet are commonly prescribed to dull pain after medical procedures and to treat chronic pain. They also commonly languish in medicine cabinets, sometimes for years, making easy pickings for someone with an addiction.Popular: Radical Islam in America | Graham Opposes Republican Leader | Guns in America (Source: CNN.com - Health)
Source: CNN.com - Health - June 7, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Study: Opioids not effective for long-term back pain
Stephen FellerSYDNEY, May 26 (UPI) -- Opioid painkillers such as oxycodone and Percocet have minimal effects on chronic back pain, according to researchers in Australia. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)
Source: Health News - UPI.com - May 26, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Xartemis XR (Oxycodone Hydrochloride and Acetaminophen Extended-Release) - updated on RxList
(Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs)
Source: RxList - New and Updated Drug Monographs - May 24, 2016 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news
Parents Often Don't Get Rid of Leftover Prescription Opioids
MONDAY, May 16, 2016 -- When children are prescribed opioid painkillers, such as Oxycontin or Percocet, for surgery or illness, about half of parents say they keep the leftover medicine on hand.
"We found that the amount of pain medication... (Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews)
Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews - May 16, 2016 Category: Journals (General) Source Type: news
Should you tough out pain or take painkillers?
You're in pain, and your doctor wants you to give you a heavy-duty drug like OxyContin or Vicodin or Percocet. (Source: CNN.com - Health)
Source: CNN.com - Health - May 12, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Yoga Hope for Addiction
The sad news of rockstar Prince's death was followed by reports that prescription opioids were found at the scene. The latest news reports Prince was possibly addicted to pain medication and his autopsy found the painkiller Percocet in his system.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we're in the midst of a growing epidemic of prescription painkiller overdoses. More than 22 million American adults are struggling with addiction and substance abuse.
The following research suggests yoga is a promising complementary therapy for substance abuse and addictions.
Yoga Helps Substance Depende...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - May 11, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
A patient's guide to prescription painkillers
You're in pain, and your doctor wants you to give you a heavy-duty drug like OxyContin or Vicodin or Percocet. (Source: WDSU.com - Health)
Source: WDSU.com - Health - May 11, 2016 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
