Are Better-Educated Boomers More Likely to Abuse Opioids?

A new study conducted by researchers from the University at Buffalo School of Nursing is one of the first to focus specifically on the risk factors for opioid misuse in older adults. This population is particularly sensitive to adverse effects from opioids, according to the researchers. Study author...

Chronic Opioid Therapy and Spinal Fusion

Findings from new research conducted at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center conclude that long-term opioid therapy is associated with an increased risk of complications following spinal surgery. Lead author Safdar Kahn, MD,  an orthopedic spine surgeon at Wexner Medical Center’s...

Can a Failed Osteoarthritis Drug Have Other Pain Management Uses?

Although human trials of a new compound developed by Eli Lily and Co. for the treatment of osteoarthritis failed to demonstrate efficacy, the drug may still have substantial utility in the pain management armamentarium. Findings from a study conducted by researchers from Indiana University suggest...

Abuse Deterrent Technologies to Minimize Opioid Abuse

Although opioids remain an important tool in aiding the management of pain in the United States, the balance between the potential benefits and harms must be considered. Some specific harms are manifested in the abuse of opioids for nonmedical purposes. The primary access to prescribable opioids for...

Addiction Help: Vaccinating Against Heroin Abuse and Overdose

In what is described as a major milestone, researchers from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) report that they have successfully formulated a new vaccine that can treat heroin addiction and prevent lethal overdose. The formulation is shelf-stable for at least 30 days and has been proven safe in...

Naloxone: Silver Bullet or Tool in the Shed?

Naloxone received FDA approval for the treatment of opioid overdose in 1971. Only recently has its use at the community level become more commonplace. Dr. Zacharoff looks at naloxone's role in improving the safety and efficacy of opioid analgesics, and in arresting the surge in unintended opioid...

Drug Testing: What's the Risk for Your Practice?

Providers who do not understand medical necessity for drug testing, controlled medication prescribing, and substance abuse treatment are at risk as payers increasingly scrutinize these areas. Attorney Jennifer Bolen outlines some "pearls and pitfalls" for clinicians. Watch for important tools you...

Substance Use Disorder: The Tools of Treatment

Dr. Cheatle reviews some medication and non-medication treatment options for addressing substance use disorder. The message to primary care: a multimodal approach works best, and treatment of the SUD without attention to management of the patient's underlying pain is the likely route to relapse.

The Silent Epidemic: Pain, Addiction, and Suicide

Patients with chronic pain and substance use disorders often have accompanying psychiatric and medical disorders that place them at elevated risk for suicide. Dr. Cheatle, a professor of psychiatry, discusses the epidemiology of suicidal ideation in this population and offers some guidance in...

Common Threads in Pain and Dependency

In this discussion, senior faculty members Heit and Gourlay reflect on some of the challenges resulting from the recent "decade of pain". Both the overuse of opioids and the solutions that have been proposed in response have led to changes in how we diagnose and treat this patient population...