Opioids News and Research

RSS

An opioid is a chemical that works by binding to opioid receptors, which are found principally in the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract. The receptors in these two organ systems mediate both the beneficial effects and the side effects of opioids.

Opioid use may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center have found that opioid use might increase a person's risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

6 Jan 2021

FDA takes further steps to strengthen REMS program to confront opioid crisis

While our efforts to combat COVID-19 remain at the forefront of our day-to-day activities, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also continues its work on a number of important public health issues and, in particular, the opioid crisis.

23 Dec 2020

Genetic analysis reveals novel traits associated with COVID-19 severity

Researchers in the United States have conducted genetic correlation studies revealing novel traits associated with the development of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

23 Dec 2020

Long-term opioid use cannot treat chronic pain, has serious health consequences

A broken heart is often harder to heal than a broken leg. Now researchers say that a broken heart can contribute to lasting chronic pain.

22 Dec 2020

Study finds a distinct shift in method of nurse suicides

In a new study, University of California San Diego School of Medicine and UC San Diego Health researchers report that the rate of firearm use by female nurses who die by suicide increased between 2014 to 2017.

22 Dec 2020

Cannabis use during opioid addiction treatment may reduce fentanyl exposure

New research suggests that cannabis use by people in care for opioid addiction might improve their treatment outcomes and reduce their risk of being exposed to fentanyl in the contaminated unregulated drug supply.

21 Dec 2020

Intensive childhood intervention program could help reduce 'deaths of despair'

Mortality rates among young adults are rising in the U.S. due in part to "deaths of despair" -- preventable deaths from suicide, drug overdoses and alcohol-related liver disease.

17 Dec 2020

Study shows high prevalence of back pain in patients undergoing neuroendovascular procedures

Multiple studies have evaluated the incidence of back pain among patients who undergo catheter-based heart procedures while conscious.

17 Dec 2020

Study pinpoints predictors of timely enrollment in therapy for opioid use disorder

For people living with opioid use disorder, the path to treatment is not always clear-cut. Sometimes, there's no path at all.

16 Dec 2020

Study finds gaps in opioid use disorder treatment during COVID shutdowns

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, visits to the doctor declined dramatically. One group of patients that appears to have weathered this trend are those who were already being treated for opioid use disorder.

15 Dec 2020

Mindfulness-based stress reduction may provide benefit to people with migraine

Migraine is a neurological disease that can be severely debilitating and is the second leading cause of disability worldwide.

14 Dec 2020

Fan therapy may offer relief for patients with advanced cancer experiencing breathlessness

Blowing air from a fan into the face of patients with advanced cancer experiencing breathlessness, and other nonpharmacologic interventions, may offer symptom relief, according to new research directed by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center investigators.

10 Dec 2020

Mastectomy and reconstructive surgery may increase risk of becoming persistent drug users

Women who receive mastectomy and reconstructive surgery as part of breast cancer treatment may face the risk of developing persistent use of opioids and sedative-hypnotic drugs, according to data presented at the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, held Dec. 8-11.

9 Dec 2020

Untangling the role of medical cannabis in surgical care

Medical cannabis was legalized in Colorado in 2000, but 20 years later, Camille Stewart, MD, isn't able to prescribe it to her patients. Nor is she able to dictate the dosage or frequency with which patients take the drug.

8 Dec 2020

OU Health Sciences Center receives federal grant for opioid management in older adults

Chronic pain can be quite common among older adults as they face conditions such as arthritis and neuropathy. Treating pain in older adults requires special considerations, however, especially when it comes to opioids.

8 Dec 2020

Despite new CDC guidance, opioid prescription rates have not declined

Research from Saint Louis University finds that among patients at risk for opioid misuse, the odds of receiving a schedule II opioid for non-cancer pain were similar to those not at risk, despite new prescribing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

2 Dec 2020

Researchers develop recommendations for ethical handling of big data on opioid use disorder

The use of big data to address the opioid epidemic in Massachusetts poses ethical concerns that could undermine its benefits without clear governance guidelines that protect and respect patients and society, a University of Massachusetts Amherst study concludes.

1 Dec 2020

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading