An opioid overdose epidemic runs rampant in the United States. Astonishingly, even after surviving an opioid overdose, people still return to opioid use in the future. Ars Technica reports that 91% of patients who survive opioid overdose are prescribed more opioids: “Examining a national database of health insurance claims, researchers found that 91 percent of […]
A recent increase in Hepatitis C infections in four U.S. states has the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issuing warnings to the public about this infectious blood-borne illness. The CDC attributes the recent rise in Hepatitis C cases to the increase in illegal abuse of prescription painkillers by young adults. This group often crushes opioid […]
Among scientists who study addiction, there is a lot of debate about the merits of total abstinence from substances of abuse. The credo of self-help groups such as Narcotics Anonymous states that a person in recovery can never again take opiates without risking relapse, even if prescription opioid painkillers are prescribed by a doctor. Other […]
In a shocking revelation from the latest data by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States has seen an unprecedented surge in drug overdose deaths, with more than 111,000 fatalities in the 12-month period ending in April 2023. This alarming number sets a new and tragic record, underscoring the relentless grip […]
As the shadows of the opioid epidemic lengthen across continents and communities, the significance of International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) on August 31st deepens with every passing year. It’s a poignant moment of collective remembrance, and equally, an urgent call for transformative change and compassionate action. The Heart of International Overdose Day Marked globally, International […]
Opioid Drugs Opioids are a type of drug that interacts with specific receptors on the body and brain’s nerve cells, consequently reducing feelings of pain. This class of drugs can include prescription pain relievers, synthetic drugs like fentanyl, and heroin. Despite its addiction risks, physicians widely prescribe opiates to treat acute pain, chronic pain, and palliative […]
Few modern health crises compare to the opioid epidemic. More than 650,000 prescriptions for opioid products are filled every day, while 3,900 people begin using opioids for the first time. Through both prescription drugs and the heroin use they contribute to, opioids kill more than 3,300 people a year while generating $55 billion in social […]
What is Sublocade? Sublocade ™ is the trademark for a new monthly injection of buprenorphine (the active drug in Suboxone). The FDA approved this injectable extended-release buprenorphine drug, in 2017, as a schedule III-controlled substance for the treatment of moderate to severe OUD (Opioid Use Disorder). Before Sublocade ™ was introduced, buprenorphine drugs were typically […]
