addiction
This Is How Prince’s Death Begins Conversation About Addiction
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…
Read MorePrince and Why We Need More Compassion About Addiction
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.…
Read MoreWill the New Opioids Restrictions Help to Reduce Overdoses?
New CDC Opioid Guidelines Politicians and some government officials tell us that the new CDC opioid guidelines will reduce deaths due to overdoses. But, based on the evidence we’ve seen so far, that is unlikely. The latest CDC report shows a continual increase in opioid-related overdose deaths despite about a 25% decrease in the…
Read MoreWho Is to Blame When Athletes Get Addicted to Heroin?
“I remember, the first pain pill they gave me, I felt really good. I actually felt very calm. I felt a sense of confidence that I never felt before. I knew it was going to be the start of something,” said a former high school football star to Soledad O’Brien on an episode of…
Read MoreThis Is Why an Implant Cannot Stop Heroin Addiction
A recent The Daily Beast article asks the question: Can an implant stop heroin addiction? Heroin Addiction Implant The short answer is that, no, an implant cannot stop heroin addiction. The buprenorphine implant the article cites is only used once someone has already developed an opioid addiction. Therefore, the implant isn’t preventing heroin addiction, it’s…
Read MoreWhy You See The Pendulum of Addiction Fear Swinging Again
Addiction Fear “The data about the ability of opioids to cause addiction haven’t changed. But that ‘old’ news can’t compete with the fire-breathing, vote-getting, be-seen-to-be-doing-something mentality of our political and regulatory folks,” said Charles F. von Guenten, MD, PhD, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Palliative Medicine. I couldn’t have said it better. Of course, this…
Read MoreAbuse-Deterrent Formulations Are Part of the Solution to Overdose Crisis
Curbing The Epidemic of Drug Overdoses Dr. Robert Califf, the new commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, is focusing his energy on curbing the epidemic of drug overdoses. He told a panel of FDA advisors last week that abuse-deterrent formulations (ADFs) may be part of the solution. However, many speakers at that panel…
Read MoreAddiction Isn’t a Death Sentence
Drug and Alcohol Programs Secretary Gary Tennis of Pennsylvania is 100% correct. In a recent Reading Eagle article, he talks about changing our attitude about addiction to deal with the overdose epidemic. “The best cure for opioid addiction is seeing it as a disease,” says Tennis. Yes. Addiction is a Disease We have to see…
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