| Signing Opioid Law, Trump Pledges to End 'Scourge' Of Drug Addiction |
| NPR (10/24) – With the nation reeling from an epidemic of drug overdose deaths, President Trump signed legislation Wednesday that is aimed at helping people overcome addiction and preventing addictions before they start. "Together we are going to end the scourge of drug addiction in America," Trump said at a White House event celebrating the signing. "We are going to end it or we are going to at least make an extremely big dent in this terrible, terrible problem." Read more |
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| Study Examines Certain Physicians' Readiness to Treat OUD |
| AAFP (10/03) – As the United States' opioid crisis continues to devastate families and communities, it's particularly concerning that some family physicians feel unprepared to treat these patients. Read more |
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| Science May Have Just Uncovered Why Binge Drinking Is So Seductive For for Many, and That Could Be Big |
| FORBES (10/25) – Scientists may have just uncovered why some people are prone to binge drinking while others can keep their alcohol intake under control. While it’s tempting to write off the difference entirely to willpower, research is pointing to a chemical distinction in how brains are wired, and the discovery could change the game when it comes to treating alcoholism. Read more |
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| FDA Considers Requiring Co-Prescribing Overdose Antidote to go Along with Opioids |
WASHINGTON EXAMINER (10/23) – The Food and Drug Administration is considering requiring doctors to prescribe an overdose reversal drug with prescription painkillers such as OxyCodone, Commissioner Scott Gottlieb announced Tuesday. The overdose antidote, known as naloxone, can save the lives of people who've suffered overdoses. The FDA may require the drug to be prescribed every time a patient receives an opioid to treat pain, or only if they receive a particularly high dose. Read more
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| US Health Chief Says Overdose Deaths Beginning to Level Off |
AP NEWS (10/23) – The number of U.S. drug overdose deaths has begun to level off after years of relentless increases driven by the opioid epidemic, health secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday, cautioning it’s too soon to declare victory. Read more
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| Stigma Surrounds Addiction Treatment for Pregnant People in Indian Country |
| REWIRE NEWS (10/16) – […] Despite being medically approved for use by pregnant people addicted to opioids, buprenorphine and medication-assisted treatment, or MAT, has been controversial both in Indian Country, where the opioid epidemic has hit especially hard, and beyond. But for advocates, the medication is a much-needed resource, which is why some are lobbying for more investment in tribal nations through a fully funded Indian Health Service (IHS). Read more |
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| FDA May Approve New Opioid That's 5- to 10-Times Stronger Than Fentanyl |
| FORTUNE (10/22) – Almost half of all overdose deaths in the United States is caused by Fentanyl, according to research released earlier this summer. So it may seem surprising that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering giving approval to AcelRx Pharmaceuticals for Dsuvia, its single-dose 30 microgram tablet of synthetic opioid sufentanil. Sufentanil is five to 10 times stronger than fentanyl and 500 times stronger than morphine, according to Marketwatch. Read more |
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| For Compulsive Gamblers, Mega Millions Frenzy Means 'Constant Reminders to Play' |
| NBCNEWS (10/22) – With the nation in a frenzy over the record $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot, addiction experts have advice for compulsive gamblers: Now, more than ever, is a good time to reach out for help. The excitement over the jaw-dropping grand prize — along with a Powerball jackpot that has climbed to $620 million — is harmless fun for many people. But for those who have struggled with gambling addiction, the lottery fever can be a trigger. Read more |
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 | Why use SASSI screening questionnaires: |
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- Identifies SUD – even when someone is reluctant to self-disclose.
- Accurately identifies individuals likely to be abusing prescription medications.
- Screens for multiple levels of severity.
- Distinguishes likely SUD from other psychological disorders.
- Useful in developing treatment plans and goals.
- Available for adults, adolescents, and special populations.
TRAINING AVAILABLE - NAADAC CEUs |
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| On College Campuses, Making Overdose Medication Readily Available |
| NPR (10/22) – As the opioid epidemic has escalated around the nation, colleges and universities have been spared the brunt of it. Opioid addiction and overdoses are more rare on campuses than among young adults in the general population. But schools are not immune to the problem, and they're growing increasingly concerned about how to keep students safe. Read more |
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| Charlottesville Company Working to Get Closer to a Cure for Alcoholism |
| THE CAVALIER DAILY (10/11) – Charlottesville-based Adial Pharmaceuticals, a spin-off company from the University, is developing a drug to treat alcoholism in subjects with certain genetic makeups. Founded in 2011 at the University by Bankole Johnson, William Stilley and Joseph Truluck, Adial plans to begin Phase 3 of clinical trial testing for their drug as of Fall 2018. Read more |
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| Cannabis Pain Relief Without the 'High' |
| EUREKALERT! (10/24) – In the wake of cannabis legalization, a team of scientists at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) and McGill University have delivered encouraging news for chronic pain sufferers by pinpointing the effective dose of marijuana plant extract cannabidiol (CBD) for safe pain relief without the typical "high" or euphoria produced by the THC. The findings of their study have been published in the journal PAIN (The Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain). Read more |
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| Diabetics Up to 10 Times More Likely to Die from Alcoholism, Study Warns |
| INDEPENDENT (10/13) – Diabetes sufferers are significantly more likely to die by suicide or from alcohol related issues because of the toll on their mental health caused by managing the condition, a study has found. While the increased risk of physical health conditions like cardiovascular disease and cancer is well understood in diabetes, the Finnish researchers warn that addiction and psychological impacts are neglected. Read more |
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| NJ Medical Marijuana Card for Opioid Use? NJ 'Exploring' Weed in Fight vs. Opioid Crisis |
| APP (10/22) – Opioid addicts in New Jersey, no matter how they got hooked on the deadly drugs, including heroin and prescription painkillers, could soon be prescribed medical marijuana to help them kick their habit, under a new proposal from the state Health Department. A rule change would make prescription marijuana available to potentially thousands of opioid abusers and bring Garden State policy in line with more liberal policy measures in place in neighboring and other states. Read more |
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| FDA to Consider Limiting E-Cigarette Sales to Vape Shops to Curb Youth Use |
| CNBC (10/19) – Regulators are considering prohibiting some e-cigarette sales in convenience stores and confining them to vape shops, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told CNBC on Friday. High school e-cigarette use surged 77 percent last year, Gottlieb said in an interview on "Squawk Box," citing preliminary figures from the federal Youth Tobacco Survey. Read more |
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| Playing Video Games to Cope with Anxiety May Increase Risk for Addiction |
| MEDICAL XPRESS (10/25) – People play video games for different reasons. Some play for entertainment or for the competition, while others game as a way to cope with stress or anxiety. Understanding the motivation to play may be key to identifying some of the causes of gaming disorder, said Douglas Gentile, a professor of psychology at Iowa State University. Read more |
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