A new report conducted by the CDC found that overdose rates disproportionately affected Black people, American Indians, and Alaska Natives when compared to white people. Between 2019 and 2020, overdose rates increased by 30% – rates within that data set showed that overdose rates increased among Black individuals by 44%[Read More…]
National News
Patients who use virtual care options to seek treatment for opioid addiction may lose access
When the pandemic first started, patients turned to telehealth to access treatment. Now, some patients still prefer online treatment options to meet with physicians. Patients who have substance use disorder may lose telemedicine options if federal pandemic-era flexibilities cease. Read more here.
More than 107,000 Americans died of an overdose last year, setting new record
In 2021, the overdose death statistics in the United States translated to nearly one death every five minutes. This increase in overdose deaths began in the 1990s with opioid painkillers, followed by opioids like heroin and currently fentanyl, meth and cocaine have taken the lead. Substance use and overdose deaths[Read More…]
End of COVID-19 emergency endangers substance use treatment
Throughout the pandemic, doctors utilized telehealth services to provide medication assisted treatment to individuals struggling with substance use disorder and reached many who may have never been able to access these services. With the public health emergency scheduled to end in July, physicians worry that the Drug Enforcement Agency will[Read More…]
‘Every time someone uses, it could be their last time’: health and state officials share thoughts on National Fentanyl Awareness Day
The Drug Enforcement Agency launched the first National Fentanyl Awareness Day to inform everyone, especially the country’s youth, about the risks of this illicit drug. In recent years, fentanyl caused a spike in overdose deaths as traffickers are lacing the synthetic opioid in counterfeit pills making substance use a game[Read More…]
Settlements could lead to naloxone shortages
U.S. House lawmakers have warned Attorney General Merrick Garland about the impact of Teva Pharmaceuticals agreeing to provide Texas, Florida and Rhode Island with more than $220 million worth of naloxone. The lawmakers believe this will alter innovation in the current market of medication-assisted treatment and naloxone. Read more here.
Substance abuse rose in the pandemic. That may explain our slow to return to work, study shows
During the pandemic, many individuals started using substances to cope with stress and anxiety. Researchers believe that the increase in drug usage caused the 9% to 26% decline in labor force participation among 25 to 54 year-olds between February 2020 and June 2021. Read more here.
FACT SHEET: White House Releases 2022 National Drug Control Strategy that Outlines Comprehensive Path Forward to Address Addiction and the Overdose Epidemic
In his National Drug Control Strategy, President Biden addresses untreated addiction and drug trafficking, two critical drivers of the American opioid epidemic. Among other things, the Strategy seeks to expand access to interventions like naloxone, increase access to quality treatment programs for high-risk individuals, and reduce the supply of illicit[Read More…]
As overdose deaths involving methamphetamine triple, learning the signs, symptoms & effective treatment is vital
Between 2015 and 2019, overdose deaths involving methamphetamine nearly tripled among the 18-64 age demographic. In order to help save a life, it is necessary to know the signs and symptoms of a methamphetamine overdose and where loved ones can receive timely and effective treatment. Learn more here.
US: Discrimination based on opioid treatment violates law
As the opioid crisis continues, the U.S. Department of Justice is protecting individuals discriminated against for their use of legally prescribed opioids. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects those using medications such as methadone and buprenorphine to fight opioid use disorder. As the law is clarified and discrimination decreases, more[Read More…]