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How much of a problem is doctor shopping? “Doctor shopping” is defined as ≥1 day of getting overlapping prescriptions for opioids from ≥2 prescribers and going to ≥3 pharmacies to have them filled. A recent article published in the Journal of Pain Research looked at patients with chronic noncancer...
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Bracing statistics from the journal Addiction show that medical marijuana to combat chronic pain has, for some patients, negative consequences. In a group of 527 people—82% white, 49% male, average age 45.6 years—looking to be certified or recertified for medical marijuana it was found that over 40%...
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An article in JAMA Network Open asked the question, “Have prescriptions for Schedule II opioids with high abuse potential, vs Schedule IV tramadol (lower abuse potential), decreased in the 18-month periods before and after publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opioid...
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As stated in the abstract of an article in JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, a journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, “Approximately 40% of childhood cancer survivors experience chronic pain, with many also reporting pain-related disability. Given associations established in the...
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A study reported in the journal Sleep posits that adolescents who experience sleep deficiency may develop into adults who misuse prescription opioids. The study, the self-reported National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health followed >12,000 participants over the course of 12 years...
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In research presented today by the American Chemical Society (ACS), it is stated that long term opioid use can lead to chronic inflammation and heightened pain sensitivity. Why? Study leader Cody J. Wenthur, PharmD, PhD, commented, “…we started thinking that the patient’s own immune system could be...
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In a recent issue of the journal of Substance Use & Misuse, a study of sickle cell disease patients was discussed. It is well known that, in the sickle cell disease population, chronic pain rates are high. Perhaps less well known are the levels of mental health issues. Even less known? Levels of...
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The American Medical Association just released a new OPIOID TASK FORCE 2020 PROGRESS REPORT in the hopes of reducing drug overdoses and deaths. Although prescription opioid overdose deaths have decreased, illicit drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine have risen. Last year, fentanyl...