In recent years, there has been an extreme rise in illicitly produced fentanyl being mixed into other drugs such as cocaine, counterfeit prescription pills, and methamphetamines. This, coupled with the increase in drug use and isolation from the pandemic, has … Read More
There are nearly 5.6 million Native Americans living in the United States, comprising 1.7% of the total population. While Native Americans account for only a small portion of the U.S. population, this group experiences much higher rates of substance abuse … Read More
The American Medical Association (AMA) issued a report in 2021 showing a 44.4% decrease in opioid prescribing nationwide in the past decade. Despite this decrease, the country is facing a worsening drug-related overdose and death epidemic. Across the country, the … Read More
During 2020, the nation experienced its worst year ever for deaths relating to substance use disorder. This public-health disaster has been overshadowed by the more than 330,000 deaths attributed to COVID-19, but ironically, it is the pandemic that is exacerbating … Read More
Held every September for the past 31 years, National Recovery Month increases awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders and encourages individuals in need of treatment and recovery to seek help. During its first 30 years, Recovery … Read More
When an opioid use disorder (OUD) patient reduces or ceases opioid intake, potentially life-threatening physical and psychological changes occur in the brain and body. The OUD patient eventually reaches the point of withdrawal after their tolerance to opioids has transitioned … Read More
The Clinical Opiate Withdrawl Scale (COWS) is a clinician-administered analysis that determines the severity of opioid withdrawal in opioid use disorder (OUD) patients and gauges their level of dependence on the substance. While the test was initially developed for Buprenorphine … Read More
Neurostimulation therapy modifies pain signals as they travel to the brain through invasive implants or non-invasive devices. Used for decades as a means to treat a variety of nerve-related ailments, innovative applications of this technology are emerging, including the treatment … Read More
The immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the state of the opioid epidemic are clear. The increased isolation has led to heightened opioid usage and potential overdose. Opioid Treatment Providers (OTPs) such as clinics and addiction treatment centers have … Read More
The coronavirus situation has been unfolding for a few months now, and most opioid treatment centers (OTPs) have found new, creative ways to cope. Depending on where you are living, your state may have already passed its peak by now. … Read More