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Abuse-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 MoreThe Reasons Caregivers are Heroes and Saints
Some religions call their holiest people saints. In secular speak, a saint is a person who is pure, honest, and beyond reproach, and who mostly devotes their life to benefit others. In our more common vernacular, we use the word “heroes” to describe those who sacrifice themselves for the good of others. Saints and Heroes:…
Read MoreIs Death from Pain a Natural Death?
What is a natural death? That’s partly a judgment call, and it reveals our prejudice against pain patients. Pain treatment and cancer treatment are two colors of the same spectrum. They both serve the same purpose, and yet they’re perceived very differently. Pain treatment with an opioid is unacceptable to many advocating against the use…
Read MoreWhat Is the Icon for Chronic Pain?
The Icon For Cancer: The Jimmy Fund Say what you will about Boston sports teams. One of them, the Boston Braves, helped launch “The Jimmy Fund.” It all started in 1948. At that time, members of polite society rarely mentioned cancer. Fear, superstition, and ignorance caused people to whisper about cancer, steer clear of anyone…
Read MoreChronic Pain and the Death of a New York Times Journalist
The death of the New York Times journalist, Sarah Kershaw, reminds me painfully of too many conversations I had with my patients during the course of my career as a pain doctor, about whether or not they wanted to live. During the 30 years of my practice, countless patients told me they had no hope…
Read MoreIs Acupuncture Effective in Relieving Chronic Back Pain? A guest post by Matt Bailey
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medical treatment to cure body pain and has been considered a safe method to relieve body pain for decades. Acupuncture works by promoting the body’s natural self-healing process. This 3,000-year old traditional medical treatment has proven to be effective in most cases of chronic body pain. The method of acupuncture…
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…
Read MoreThis is How Heroin and Prescription Opioids Are Different
Patrick Clarke, of Rockville, is correct in his letter to the Washington Post‘s editor. Heroin is not the same thing as prescription opioids. There’s a huge difference. I’m not talking only about the pharmacology. I’m talking about the reasons why people use heroin and prescription opioids. Heroin and Opioids Are Different Heroin is most commonly used…
Read MoreLawmakers Are Looking in All the Wrong Places
In the movie titled with their names, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid look back at an unknown posse that’s following them far more doggedly than the two outlaws would desire. At night, watching the lights of the oncoming riders, both men wonder aloud, “Who are those guys?” The next day, from a bluff where…
Read MoreWhen to Say No
An article called “7 Words That Could Have Biotech and Big Pharma Very Worried,” written by Sean Williams and recently posted on The Motley Fool, tells both sides of the story. Pressure on price for pharmaceuticals is a real concern. Affordability is important. A drug can only work if patients can afford to pay for…
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