Addiction Medicine

Advanced Practice Matters with Theresa & Jeremy: MAT and the DATA Waiver Debate

Until recently, medication-assisted therapy (MAT), an evidence-based treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD), was restricted to physician prescribing only.

A Comparison of the Alpha-2-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists for Managing Opioid Withdrawal

Lofexidine is an alpha-2-adrenergic receptor agonist distributed in the United States by US WorldMeds under license from Britannia Pharmaceuticals Limited (brand name: Lucemyra).

The Rise in Tianeptine Abuse: Our Next Kratom Problem?

As pain management clinical pharmacists working with an interdisciplinary pain team, it is not uncommon to find patients using and abusing various substances not prescribed to them. What is relatively rare is when a patient reports using a substance of which the team is unfamiliar.

Gamma PEMF Therapy: A Pilot Study For Its Use in Managing Opioid Addiction

PEMF that activates brainwaves associated with contentment may reduce common opioid withdrawal symptoms.

Cases in Urine Drug Monitoring Interpretation: How to Stay in Control (Part 2)

Basic principles in urine drug monitoring (UDM) are reviewed and applied to a patient testing positive for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and opiates

What’s In A Name? In This Case, That Which We Call Addiction Is Not Dependence

Jennifer Schneider MD, PhD, digs into a common—and frustrating—misunderstanding in pain medicine terminology.

Should Probuphine be considered for MAT?

With addiction rising, demand for formulations such as buprenorphine (Probuphine) to aid in opioid addiction treatment (MAT) continues to grow.

Buprenorphine Prescriptions Divided by Race and Income

Critical disparities identified among patient population groups.

National Drug Use & Abuse Trends: Prescribed and Illicit

A 5-year analyses from Millennium Health showed that patients undergoing drug monitoring, or UDT, as part of chronic opioid therapy, among other reasons, tested positive for a broad range of other unexpected medications. Plus, a look at buprenorphine and gabapentinoid abuse and drug-detection trends.

Should Emergency Naloxone Be in Schools?

With a rise in opioid overdoses, the authors look at the growing trend of storing emergency naloxone, such as Evzio or Narcan, in school campuses across the US.

Buprenorphine: A Promising Yet Overlooked Tool

Partial agonists such as buprenorphine may offer an effective opioid alternative for pain management.

Single-Dose, Longer Lasting Antidote May Prevent Overdoses

Using polymer nanoparticles, researchers are developing a better-acting emergency alternative from naloxone.

NIH Funds Early Clinical Trial to Test Experimental Drug on Opioid Cravings

ANS-6637 may reduce “surges” without affecting dopamine brain levels.

FDA-Approved Naloxone Devices Produce Higher Blood Levels than Improvised Devices

Improvised devices are typically used as quick-acting options for the untrained.

Sandoz Announces Generic Version of Suboxone

The buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film is now available in the US

What are the dangers of loperamide abuse?

Inside the pharmacodynamics and presentation of loperamide including potential abuse and related patient behaviors.

Cases in Urine Drug Monitoring Interpretation: How to Stay in Control (Part 1)

Basic principles in urine drug monitoring (UDM) are reviewed and applied to a patient testing positive for oxycodone and amphetamine.

SUBLOCADE for Opioid Use Disorder

Withdrawal and craving scores for the buprenorphine product remained constant and consistently lower than placebo.

AMA Reviews Colorado, Pennsylvania Opioid Reform

Where the states are exceeding, and what they can do to improve.

A New Digital Therapeutic for Opioid Use Disorder

Recently FDA-approved, reSET-O encourages CBT guidelines to coincide with opioid use disorder treatment.

Urine Drug Monitoring

Strategies for ordering, understanding, and communicating opioid therapy screening results.

States Take Action to Manage Opioid Addiction

With Lindsey Vuolo, JD, MPH, Paul George, MD, MPHE, Josiah Rich, MD, MPH, and Jeff Gud

FDA Expands Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioids

FDA makes a motion to increase medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.

Two New Urine Drug Screens Get Approval for Quick In-Office Testing

Gaining clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 2 new drug screening tests offer practitioner immediate, in-office results for the 5 most commonly abused opioid-derived drugs and for fentanyl.

Trump Orders Commission to Examine Opioid Addiction

President Trump established a new commission to combat opioid addiction, taps Governor Chris Christie to head--Practical Pain Management gets reaction from physicians in the field.

Managing Opioid Use Disorders and Chronic Pain

Drug-seeking behaviors may be very similar to those presented in patients with inadequately controlled pain.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Heroin Addiction: Possible New Treatment

New research suggests that deep brain stimulation of the brain (subthalamic nucleus) may reduce heroin abuse in an animal model.

New Smartphone App Helps Doctors Treat Opioid Addiction

New SAMHSA smartphone app provides doctors instant access to resources for medication assisted treatment (MAT).

Survey Finds Physicians May View Opioid-Addicted Patients Negatively

Survey finds that many clinicians have negative attitudes about opioid addiction, often blaming the patient. Learn more about the new national survey.

HHS Releases Steps to Stem Opioid-related Overdose, Death and Dependence

HHS takes steps to stem tide of opioid-related overdose, death, and dependence.

Interpreting Negative Urine Drug Test Results

When a clinician orders urine drug testing for a patient prescribed chronic opioid therapy (COT), it is essential that the results are interpreted correctly because they often have significant clinical implications. A positive test result showing drugs and/or metabolites found in urine is easily understood.

Demystifying Benzodiazepine Urine Drug Screen Results

Benzodiazepines, which first entered the US pharmaceutical market in the early 1960s, fall under the class of drugs referred to as sedative-hypnotics.1 Benzodiazepines possess anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, sedative, muscle relaxant, and amnesic effects.2 They are generally well-tolerated, safe, and effective for short-term use.

Can a Buprenorphine Transdermal System (Butrans) Be Used to Treat OUD?

Experts answer the question: Can Butrans be used for opioid addiction?

Treating the Opioid-addicted Chronic Pain Patient: The Role of Suboxone

Chronic pain and addiction are frequent comorbidities, creating a therapeutic dilemma for many pain specialists.

Oxycodone to Oxymorphone Metabolism

Interpreting urine drug tests in pain patients treated with oxycodone requires an understanding that oxymorphone, although considered a minor metabolite, can sometimes equal or exceed urine concentrations of oxycodone.