Category: Addiction
The roots of the North American opioid crisis, and 3 key strategies for stopping it
The traditional “war on drugs” approach that focuses only on criminalization has been unsuccessful. In reality the data shows that illegal drug prices have fallen whilst purity and deaths have increased. Overdose deaths have also increased in prisons showing that places with even the highest level of security are vulnerable to drug smuggling.Focusing on the opioid crisis through a public-health approach includes massively increasing access to care and treatment for patients experiencing substance use disorder. It requires more evidence-based services such as addiction clinics, psychotherapy harm reduction strategies and education for both patients and families about treatments that are available to them.Beyond initial treatment there should be continued professional social support and a wider national effort to address the socioeconomic causes in disadvantaged communities.
Naloxone now available over the counter in King County
The medication naloxone, brand name Narcan, that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose is now available over the counter in King County.
Adele called herself a ‘borderline alcoholic’. But is that a real thing?
British singer-songwriter Adele says she has quit drinking, describing herself as a “borderline alcoholic” when she was in her 20s. She joins a growing number of people who are trying to quit or reduce their drinking. But what does “borderline alcoholic” mean and is it a real thing?
Act expands access to opioid use disorder treatment
Previously, providers were required to complete training and apply for a waiver from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to prescribe buprenorphine. Now, those with a current DEA registration that includes Schedule III authority can prescribe it.
States stiffen penalties for fentanyl, despite public health concerns
Critics argue that harsh penalties could deter those in need of help and worsen societal disparities.
Local resources for those with drug use disorders
Treatment: What’s available and how to access it
Public Health — Seattle & King County describes its efforts to reduce overdoses
If you are a King County resident, order online to have free naloxone mailed to any address. It arrives in plain packaging to protect your privacy.
Addiction Treatment May Be Coming to a Pharmacy Near You
new study showed patients who receive the medicine at pharmacies rather than at doctor’s offices stayed in treatment longer.
Alcohol use is widely accepted, but even moderate consumption is associated with many harmful effects
Research increasingly shows that the dangers of alcohol have been downplayed and its benefits exaggerated. In fact, having even one drink a day can have a negative effect on your health.
As Overdose Deaths Rise, Few Emergency Rooms Offer Addiction Help
Medical professionals and addiction treatment advocates have long argued that buprenorphine, which is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, should be available in every emergency room in the country — just like drugs for heart attacks, strokes and diabetic emergencies. And they argue that emergency physicians should have basic training in addiction medicine and be licensed to write a take-home prescription for buprenorphine.
Fentanyl drives jump in overdose deaths in King County, Public Health – Seattle & King County
Fentanyl is now involved in 70% of all confirmed overdose deaths to date in 2022, up from under 10% before 2018.
What long-term opioid use does to your body and brain
The powerful pain-killing effects of opioids have been known for thousands of years. Some people become addicted to them, but most people who take them for pain do not. However, they are tricky drugs with some unexpected effects.
A New Paramedic Policy May Guide Overdose Patients Into Treatment
Administering buprenorphine to overdose patients within 10 minutes after resuscitation quickly alleviates withdrawal symptoms and results in a nearly six-fold increase in patients showing up for treatment within 30 days, a recent study has found.
How Many Is Too Many? When Drinking Becomes a Problem
For some people, a glass of wine, a beer, or a cocktail is an occasional treat. Others struggle to stop at just one or even many drinks. Some may drink alcohol in moderation, but still feel like they’re not in control of their drinking. How do you know if alcohol has become a problem for you?
Methamphetamine Use, Overdose Deaths, and Arrests Soared From 2015 to 2019
From 2015 to 2019, arrests for meth possession increased 59%; the number of people in the U.S. with a methamphetamine-related substance use disorder jumped 37% and overdose deaths involving meth more than doubled.