opioids
Everything Isn’t as Perfect as It Seems in Ireland
Is the Opioid Crisis Uniquely an American Problem? For the past two weeks, I have been visiting Ireland. I attended a meeting for a few days in Dublin, but then my wife and I toured parts of the beautiful country boasting deeply green meadows that connected huge historic cathedrals and exquisite castles. On the way…
Read MoreUtah Opioid Crisis Summit
University of Utah’s Summit Addressed State’s Opioid Problem On April 23, 2018, the University of Utah’s summit convened to discuss how to solve the state’s opioid problem. The summit’s goal was to identify barriers faced by health care providers and others in providing effective treatment of pain and addiction. The participants’ diverse professional backgrounds provided…
Read MoreRepeating the Mistakes of the Past
I’m pleased to present a blog written by Megan Nalamachu who is a bright, articulate high school student. Her father, Dr. Srinivas Nalamachu, is a treasured colleague and friend. He proudly sent me his daughter’s well-researched work, because he believed I’d be interested in it. He was correct. Megan did a wonderful job rendering a…
Read MorePrescription Drug Advertisements
Selling Prescription Drugs via Direct-to-Consumer Advertising “Next year, how about fewer ads that fuel opioid addiction and more on access to treatment,” White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough complained on Twitter. “Was that really an ad for junkies who can’t [poop]? America, I luv ya but I just can’t keep up,” TV host…
Read MoreWill Tom Petty’s Death Move Funding for Research Forward?
Free Fall Into Opioid Use “And I’m free, free fallin’ (Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’) Yeah I’m free, free fallin’ (Free fallin’, I’m-a free fallin’)” When Tom Petty’s song, “Free Fallin’,” was released in 1989, he probably didn’t expect that his death would occur in October 2017 at age 66 as the result of an…
Read MoreFormer Secretary of State George P. Shultz’s Mea Culpa on the War on Drugs
A Unique Perspective of the War on Drugs George Shultz has fought the war on drugs. He worked as the Secretary of State during the Reagan Administration when First Lady Nancy Reagan failed to significantly decrease drug abuse with her well-intended, yet overly simplistic, “Just Say No” campaign. He has a unique perspective on the…
Read MoreMedical Illiteracy Contributes to the Opioid Crisis
Medical Illiteracy Contributes to the Opioid Crisis was first published in The Hill on December 20, 2016. It was designated by The Hill staff as one of the top 5 health stories of 2016. I’ve had the privilege of regularly contributing to The Hill since November 20, 2016. My opinions do not necessarily represent those of…
Read MoreGaslighting the Public
To Push a Political Agenda It’s troubling to think that our thought leaders and government officials could intentionally mislead the public. But I was reminded this week after watching “The Post,” a film about the massive coverup that spanned three decades of secrets and lies about the Vietnam conflict, that our government has indeed intentionally…
Read MoreUnintended Consequences of Limiting Prescribed Opioids
Arbitrarily Reducing Opioids Payers, legislators, and healthcare systems are implementing limits on how many pills may be dispensed to people with pain in an effort to curb the opioid crisis. CVS announced this past September they would limit the number of pills new patients with acute pain can obtain to a seven-day supply. Last July,…
Read MorePlease Send the FDA Your Comments
New Opioid Policy Steering Committee On September 29 of this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a notice — Opioid Policy Steering Committee; Establishment of a Public Docket; Request for Comments — in the Federal Register, The Daily Journal of the United States Government. The FDA is seeking comments from members of the…
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