Opioids | LocalHealthGuide

Picture of a U.S. penny next to milligrams of fentanyl, which is a fatal dose for most drug users. DEA

Fentanyl deaths rise in Washington State

In the first half of 2018, there were 81 deaths linked to fentanyl, versus 48 deaths recorded during the same time period last year, a 70% increase in deaths.

November 30, 2018 Addiction / Methamphetamine / Opioids / Pregnancy

Meth and opioid use during pregnancy rises, study

Amphetamine and opioid use in pregnancy has increased substantially over the last decade in the U.S., particularly in rural counties, a new study has found

November 14, 2018 Opioids / Painkillers / Pregnancy / Substance Abuse / Women's Health

Childbirth in the Age of Addiction

While most mothers who get a bottle of pain pills when leaving the hospital won’t develop dependence or an addiction, some will.

October 17, 2018 Addiction / Opioids / Substance Abuse

How Fentanyl Changes the Opioid Equation

With lethal amounts of fentanyl showing up in heroin and other drugs throughout the country, active drug users are at a greater risk of dying than ever before

October 3, 2018 Drugs / Health News / Opioids / Substance Abuse

VA Adding Opioid Antidote To Defibrillator Cabinets For Quicker Overdose Response

The VA is adding naloxone kits to AED cabinets in its buildings across the country, an initiative that could become a model for other health care organizations.

September 25, 2018 Addiction / Benzodiazepines / Opioids / Painkillers / Substance Abuse

Workers Overdose On The Job, And Employers Struggle To Respond

Many employers — ill-equipped or unwilling to confront an issue they are at a loss to handle — turn a blind eye to addiction within their workforce.

September 21, 2018 Addiction / Benzodiazepines / Emergency Medicine / Opioids

Most Hospital ERs Won’t Treat Your Addiction. These Will.

Despite an overdose epidemic that is killing nearly 200 Americans a day, the vast majority of hospitals do not offer addiction treatment to ER patients.

September 17, 2018 Drugs / Opioids / Substance Abuse

Fewer Trying Heroin, But Pot Use Up

The survey found a small increase in the number of people with substance use disorders who receive specialty treatment, but 92% do not.

August 28, 2018 Mental Health / Opioids / Suicide

Suicide By Opioid: New Research Suggests Overdoses Should Be Classified As Self-Harm

Suicide rates have been steadily climbing, but their numbers are likely even higher.

August 22, 2018 Addiction / Opioids

Opioid Overdose Deaths Rose in 2017 Driven by Fentanyl

Nearly 72,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2017, about 7 percent more than in the previous year, CDC report.

August 14, 2018 Addiction / Opioids / Painkillers / Pregnancy / Substance Abuse / Women's Health

For Addicted Women, the Year After Childbirth Is the Deadliest

The opioid epidemic has addicted nearly 3 million Americans and killing more than 350,000. But pregnant women and new moms are particularly vulnerable.

August 2, 2018 Drugs / Opioids

Rival Opioid Makers Sought To Cash In On Alarm Over OxyContin

As Purdue Pharma faced mounting criticism over deaths linked to OxyContin, rival drugmakers saw a chance to boost sales of similarly dangerous painkillers

August 1, 2018 Drugs / Opioids / Painkillers / Seniors

Poll: Providers Aren’t Doing Enough to Warn Older Patients About Opioids

Many Americans over 50 favor limits on painkiller prescribing, and those who receive prescriptions need more counseling about risks and safe disposal options.

July 24, 2018 Drugs / Opioids / Painkillers

Opioid Maker Changes Public Service Ad In Washington Post

Purdue Pharma had said that taking opioids such as its painkiller OxyContin can prove dangerous even as prescribed — then appeared to backtrack a few days later.