Complexities of Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia Poorly Understood
NATIONAL HARBOR, MD — Opioid-induced hyperalgesia is among the most pressing concerns in the national discussion of opioid addiction, underscored by the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) call for clinical trials to better understand the risks, but the issue is mired in more complexities and confusion than many may even realize, an expert says.
Applying Farr’s Law to project the drug overdose mortality epidemic in the United States
A Columbia University study predicts that the projected drug overdose mortality would peak in 2016–2017 at 16.1 deaths per 100,000 population and then decline progressively until reaching 1.9 deaths per 100,000 population in 2035.
Varenicline for opioid withdrawal in patients with chronic pain: A randomized, single-blinded, placebo controlled pilot trial.
The objectives of this randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot trial were to investigate the effects of varenicline on opioid withdrawal among chronic pain patients undergoing opioid detoxification in an interdisciplinary pain program and the feasibility of varenicline use in this population.
Low Dispositional Mindfulness Predicts Self-medication of Negative Emotion With Prescription Opioids
Although evidence is mounting that opioids are abused to self-medicate negative emotions, little is known about the traits and factors linked to opioid self-medication. From the Journal of Addiction Medicine. Read more.
Born addicted: Drug-screening pushed for pregnant women
USA Today They are the tiniest victims of the nation’s opioid epidemic, born into agony — trembling, sweating and crying inconsolably from the pain of drug withdrawal. And as their numbers soar, doctors, health officials and drug-control professionals are pushing to screen all pregnant women for substance abuse. More.
Schedules of Controlled Substances: Rescheduling of Hydrocodone Combination Products From Schedule III to Schedule II
With the issuance of this final rule, the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration reschedules hydrocodone combination products from schedule III to schedule II of the Controlled Substances Act. This scheduling action is pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act which requires that such actions be made on the record after opportunity for a hearing through […]
HIV Infection and Risk, Prevention, and Testing Behaviors Among Injecting Drug Users — National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, 20 U.S. Cities, 2009
This report summarizes two separate analyses using unweighted data from 10,200 eligible IDUs in 20 MSAs from the second collection cycle of NHBS in 2009. Both an HIV infection analysis and a behavioral analysis were conducted. Different denominators were used in each analysis because of the order and type of exclusion criteria applied. More.
Notes from the Field: Increase in Fentanyl-Related Overdose Deaths — Rhode Island, November 2013–March 2014
During November 2013–March 2014, twice as many all-intent drug overdose deaths were reported in Rhode Island as were reported during the same period in previous years. Most deaths were among injection-drug users, and a large percentage involved fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50–100 times more potent than morphine (1). More.
Medication Assisted Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
Bulletins on effective practices to identify and treat mental health and substance use disorders (SUDs) covered under Medicaid.1,2 Nearly 12 percent of Medicaid beneficiaries over 18 have a SUD, and CMCS is committed to helping States effectively serve these individuals.3 More.
Schedules of Controlled Substances: Placement of Tramadol Into Schedule IV
With the issuance of this final rule, the Deputy Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration places the substance 2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]-1-(3- methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanol (tramadol), including its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, into schedule IV of the Controlled Substances Act. More.
