Opioid Resource Center
Conference Coverage
Growing proportion of cardiac arrests in U.S. considered opioid related
Due to a steep rise, opioid-associated cardiac arrests have become a major public health issue.
News from the FDA/CDC
EDs saw more benzodiazepine overdoses, but fewer patients overall, in 2020
Fentanyl became increasingly involved in benzodiazepine overdose deaths through the first half of the year.
From the Journals
Opioid prescribing laws having an impact
The number of days an opioid was prescribed for each Medicare beneficiary decreased by 11.6 days in 2018 in states that imposed duration limits....
Feature
Record number of U.S. drug overdoses in 2020
The spikes are largely attributed to the rise in the use of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
Conference Coverage
Opioid addiction meds may curb growing problem of kratom dependence
Consider referring patients with moderate to severe KUD for counseling or enrollment in 12-step addiction treatment programs, researchers say.
From the Journals
Adulterants in street drugs could increase susceptibility to COVID
“The clinical message would be that our [substance use] patients ... need to be prioritized for [COVID-19] vaccination,” said Dr. Mark S. Gold.
FDA/CDC
FDA OKs higher-dose naloxone nasal spray for opioid overdose
Kloxxado delivers 8 mg of naloxone into the nasal cavity, which is twice as much as the 4 mg of naloxone contained in Narcan.
From the Journals
Nonfatal opioid overdose rises in teen girls
Data suggest a need for tailored prevention strategies to target opioid overdose risk factors based on age and sex.
From the Journals
Buprenorphine for OUD may also mitigate risk with concomitant benzo, Z-drug use
“It seems like the individuals with polysubstance use are largely ignored in the setting of the opioid epidemic,” said Dr. Kevin Xu.
From the Journals
Opioid-related deaths lower in counties with active cannabis dispensaries
Evidence of a negative association between legalization of medical or recreational cannabis and opioid-related mortality has been mixed.
Feature
Biden administration nixes buprenorphine waiver, docs disappointed
Many clinicians and policy experts turned to Twitter to urge an easing of buprenorphine prescribing, using the hashtag “Xthexwaiver.”