Opioids News and Research

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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.

Longtime crusader against Oxycontin begins to see the fruits of her struggle

In the 15 years since she lost her son to a single OxyContin pill, Barbara Van Rooyan has had but one up-close look at the people representing the company that made it.

17 Sep 2019

Purveyors of black-market pharmaceuticals target immigrants

The bootleg medications were smuggled across the border and sold to mostly Latino immigrants in public spaces throughout Los Angeles — at swap meets, parks, beauty salons and makeshift stands outside mom-and-pop grocery stores.

16 Sep 2019

New study identifies focus points to prevent opioid overdose deaths

A new study identifies specific locations where medication and harm reduction services for people with opioid use disorder should be available in order to have the greatest impact on reducing opioid overdose deaths.

16 Sep 2019

Accelerating drug discovery process to help patients

An international research team has developed a new strategy that can predict the potential clinical implications of new therapeutic compounds based on simple cellular responses.

15 Sep 2019

Reducing opioid overdose risk in incarcerated women after prison release

More than 75 percent of incarcerated women in Oregon's state prison system require treatment for a substance use disorder.

11 Sep 2019

Teens with severe opioid use disorder can be treated with medications

Teens who misuse prescription or illicit opioids might benefit from opioid treatment medications, according to a new study led by a Yale researcher.

11 Sep 2019

Developing next generation treatment to counteract opioid addiction

There are many moments in the human experience when tragedy elicits not only compassion, but inspiration. When Mike Zhang heard the story of a mother whose son died of an opioid overdose just one month after the teenager's introduction to the drug at a party, the Virginia Tech researcher wanted to help.

11 Sep 2019

Prolonged opioid use linked to low testosterone

A new study has confirmed that a major effect of opioid overuse in adults is hypogonadism, or the abnormally low secretion of testosterone. This is associated with low sexual interest, loss of muscle and bone mass, increase in fatty tissue and infertility.

9 Sep 2019

Study examines screening and treatment of opioid-induced low testosterone in men

Long-term opioid use previously has been linked with low testosterone in men. What has been unclear is how many men taking opioids had been screened or treated for low testosterone.

8 Sep 2019

Study finds alarming risk for people coming off chronic opioid therapy

With a huge push to reduce opioid prescribing, little is known about the real-world benefits or risks to patients.

6 Sep 2019

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Waiting for the Trump health plan

President Donald Trump has been promising to reveal a new health plan since early this year. That hasn't happened yet. Now, there is a debate about whether having a plan for Democrats to criticize would help or hurt the president's campaign.

5 Sep 2019

School districts double down on drug testing, targeting even middle schoolers

Thirteen-year-old Aura Brillhart and her 11-year-old sister, Morgan, will face a new sort of test in school this year: a drug test.

5 Sep 2019

Opioids after surgery overly prescribed in USA and Canada

A new study covering several institutions shows that patients recovering from surgery in the US or Canada have a 50% chance of being treated with opioids. This is seven times as high as the corresponding percentage in Sweden. Within the US, the initial dosages are likely to be over 200 morphine milligram equivalents (MME) – much more than in Canada.

5 Sep 2019

Inflammation in the gut and brain may exacerbate symptoms linked with opioid withdrawal

Opioid dependence has become a national crisis with serious impact on economic and social welfare, and numerous casualties.

29 Aug 2019

We still don't understand the full impact of prenatal opioid exposure on childhood development

While the opioid epidemic has been reported on extensively, data on the effects of prenatal opioid exposure on childhood development is still lacking.

29 Aug 2019

In India’s burgeoning pain market, U.S. drugmakers stand to gain

Pain, like death, is a universal phenomenon. The sour grimace on the woman's face, registering her bodily complaints to Dr. G.P. Dureja in his East Delhi office, would be recognized anywhere. Slouched shoulders, pinched forehead. She wore a willowy black kurta and cast a disapproving glance at the five pain physicians-in-training huddled behind Dureja, founder of Delhi Pain Management Centre and one of India's pioneering pain physicians.

28 Aug 2019

Study reveals link between popular pain medication and greater risk of hypoglycemia

Since its approval in 1995, the opioid tramadol (marketed as ConZip and Ultram) has become a widely prescribed remedy for osteoarthritis and other painful indications, in part because it presents a lesser risk for some side effects and has a lower abuse potential when compared to other opioids.

28 Aug 2019

Australian overdose deaths - sinister new trend

The incidence of unintentional overdose leading to death is still going up in Australia, says Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2019. Most of the drugs involved are very powerful. They include prescription opioids and benzodiazepines as well as illegal substances like heroin and crystal methamphetamine or “ice”.

27 Aug 2019

Front-line primary care providers given tools to play larger role in tackling opioid abuse

Buprenorphine and naltrexone can help break a person's addiction to life-threatening opioid use disorder, but they can be hard for front-line, primary care providers to prescribe, according to researchers at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center.

27 Aug 2019

Survey reveals escalating interest to use marijuana or cannabinoids for managing pain

Millennials lead the escalating interest in marijuana and cannabinoid compounds for managing pain – with older generations not far behind – and yet most are unaware of potential risks.

26 Aug 2019

Opioids News and Research

Further Reading

Longtime crusader against Oxycontin begins to see the fruits of her struggle

Purveyors of black-market pharmaceuticals target immigrants

New study identifies focus points to prevent opioid overdose deaths

Accelerating drug discovery process to help patients

Reducing opioid overdose risk in incarcerated women after prison release

Teens with severe opioid use disorder can be treated with medications

Developing next generation treatment to counteract opioid addiction

Prolonged opioid use linked to low testosterone

Study examines screening and treatment of opioid-induced low testosterone in men

Study finds alarming risk for people coming off chronic opioid therapy

KHN’s ‘What the Health?’: Waiting for the Trump health plan

School districts double down on drug testing, targeting even middle schoolers

Opioids after surgery overly prescribed in USA and Canada

Inflammation in the gut and brain may exacerbate symptoms linked with opioid withdrawal

We still don't understand the full impact of prenatal opioid exposure on childhood development

In India’s burgeoning pain market, U.S. drugmakers stand to gain

Study reveals link between popular pain medication and greater risk of hypoglycemia

Australian overdose deaths - sinister new trend

Front-line primary care providers given tools to play larger role in tackling opioid abuse

Survey reveals escalating interest to use marijuana or cannabinoids for managing pain

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