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Going forward, all my new articles will appear on Substack. This will give us a cleaner, more reliable way to stay connected with thoughtful, evidence-based commentary on pain, addiction, health policy, and the science that matters most to patients, and people interested in the health-related topics I write about.
You’ve probably heard by now that a medical examiner has determined Prince, the musical superstar, died of a fentanyl overdose. While other opioids get more attention, fentanyl is the stealth bomb for abusers. Fact About Fentanyl Fentanyl is 100 times more dangerous than morphine. The dose at which fentanyl produces the pain relief that users…
The New CDC Opioid Guidelines The Centers for Disease Control meant well when it issued the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain in March of 2016. On its website, the CDC asserts that it created the guideline on “the basis of a systematic review of the scientific evidence while considering benefits and harms,…
According to Steve Rolles, Senior Policy Analyst for Transform (who was quoted in an article in Sputnik News): “The drivers of drug dependence are a complex mix of social and cultural factors — including [such] inequality as poverty, as well as wider issues with education, mental health and social service provision. Problematic drug use tends…
Connection Can Make People Feel Better Hugs and friendship … the combination of that connection can make people feel better. Science has proven it, and that’s the type of news I want to share. First, a disclaimer. I don’t mean to trivialize pain or turn the discussion into a Shirley Temple film. I have dedicated…
Opioid Crisis Town Hall Meeting On May 12, CNN broadcast a town hall meeting about the American opioid crisis with Sanjay Gupta and Anderson Cooper. The show’s audience included people who had used opioids for pain, and some who had become addicted to opioids. It has caused a considerable stir among people in pain. Much…
In a recent well-conceived and reasonable Huffington Post blog, Dr. Steven J. Stack presents his seven ways that American physicians can reverse the opioid crisis. However, the blog’s opening line — “The medical profession must play a lead role in reversing the opioid epidemic that, far too often, has started from a prescription pad” — is…
We don’t yet know why Prince died. The facts aren’t in, and I don’t want to draw conclusions until I have more information. That said, some entertainment media outlets (TMZ, Variety, and more) are reporting that Prince was treated with naloxone, which is the antidote for opioids including heroin, in the days before his death.…
The Conversation Is About Compassion and Addiction When I published my recent blog, Prince and Why We Need More Compassion About Addiction, I began by saying that we didn’t yet know why Prince died. The facts weren’t in, and I didn’t want to draw conclusions until I had more information. I still don’t have all…
Fans and Supporters Saddened by Loss of Prince When the news broke about the death of Prince, and reporters began to link his death to a possible opioid addiction, I empathized with his fan base and supporters who were deeply saddened by the loss. All the facts weren’t in — they’re still not — but…
Fans and Supporters Saddened by Loss of Prince When the news broke about the death of Prince, and reporters began to link his death to a possible opioid addiction, I empathized with his fan base and supporters who were deeply saddened by the loss. All the facts weren’t in — they’re still not — but…
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