A new study that looks at the long-term costs of addiction finds heroin, oxycodone and cocaine rank as the top three most expensive substances. Each addiction costs more than a million dollars to support over a 50-year period, CNBC reports.
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams released a report Thursday that recommends ways families, doctors, educators and business leaders can talk about and prevent addiction, according to The Washington Times.
Deaths from suicide, substance use and other forms of self injury have surpassed deaths due to diabetes in the United States, according to a new study.
Deaths from suicide, alcohol, and drug—known as “deaths of despair”—rose in all states from 2005 to 2016, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund.
Substance use disorders, suicides and diabetes are driving a rise in premature deaths in almost half of the United States, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
A network of health centers in New York state is using safety planning – which has most often been associated with reducing risk of suicide – in an attempt to reduce opioid overdoses.
Authorities planning for natural disasters such as hurricanes must prepare for its effect on people struggling with drugs or alcohol, experts tell the Associated Press. The stress of hurricanes leads to an increased danger of relapse and overdose.
The practice of mindfulness may be helpful for people trying to reduce their dose of the opioid medication buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), according to Zev Schuman-Olivier, MD, Executive Director, Center for Mindfulness and Compassion, Cambridge Health Alliance.
Addiction treatment is most successful when it lasts more than 30 days, according to researchers at the University of Southern California. They found after one year, the treatment success rate was 55 percent for those who underwent a 30-day treatment program, and 84 percent for those in treatment programs that lasted longer.
Some health experts are warning that repealing the Affordable Care Act could slash treatment for addiction and mental health, the Associated Press reports.
Aetna is the latest health insurer to announce it will no longer require preauthorization for opioid addiction treatment, Kaiser Health News reports. The change takes effect this month and applies to commercial plans.
In 2015, more than 12 million Americans reported misusing a prescription opioid in the past year. All of us – health care professionals, parents, educators, community leaders, law enforcement and policy makers – have a role to play in reversing the nation’s opioid epidemic and saving lives. The American Medical Association and the Partnership together are committed to ensuring that physicians and families have the education and resources they need. We urge you to join us in our efforts to reverse this national epidemic.
The price of Evzio, a device that delivers the opioid overdose antidote naloxone, has soared from $690 in 2014 to $4,500 today for a twin-pack, Scientific American reports.
Prescribers have a vital role to play in reducing Americans’ misuse of prescription medications, especially opioids, which is why the resources provided via “Search and Rescue” are such an important part of a comprehensive solution.
A growing number of states are investing in peer recovery coaches to help fight drug addiction, CNN reports. These coaches, who have struggled with addiction themselves, meet with patients regularly to help them navigate recovery, and to tackle issues including housing and employment.
We lose nearly 130 people a day to drug overdoses. It is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, and the loss is felt most acutely by the families left behind. By doing a better job of helping families and their addicted children, we can most effectively reduce these deaths and the accompanying pain and suffering, explains Tom Hedrick, founding member of the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.
After receiving a number of calls from parents of young adults who are addicted to drugs, asking whether they can force their child into treatment against their will, the National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws found it is possible to do so in 37 states—if strict guidelines are met.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that pediatricians consider offering medication-assisted treatment, such as buprenorphine, for teen and young adult patients with severe opioid use disorders, USA Today reports.
