Why do some people require high dosages of opioids to manage their pain, while others only need low dosages, or even cope without? The answer depends on the person’s metabolism and the cause of the pain. A very small number of people have a rare
Prescribers of opioid medication are feeling the pressure as the nation debates ways to address the opioid epidemic. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published a guideline for opioid prescribing practices in March 2016 to provide specific recommendations for the treatment of chronic pain, and
Last week House Republicans proposed eliminating the current deduction for medical expenses not compensated by insurance. The criteria for this deduction have varied widely since it was adopted in 1942, but so far it has always survived the chopping block. The IRS reports that approximately
The presidential opioid commission today released its final report on ways to combat opioid overdoses and drug addiction across the United States. Noting that 175 people currently die of drug overdoses in the U.S. every day, the commission urged immediate federal action to change the
On Saturday, Oct 28, 2017, the Drug Enforcement Agency is holding its next prescription drug take-back day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The goal of take-back programs is to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted
In its continuing battle against the opioid epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched a new communication campaign to educate the public on the dangers of prescription opioids to prevent misuse and abuse. Using the slogan, “It only takes a little
Owners of small businesses are dealing more and more with the drug epidemic at the workplace these days as the use of drugs and alcohol has increased in the last several years. Many want to support employees who are having problems with drugs and alcohol.
CVS Caremark, the prescription drug management division of CVS Health drugstores, will limit opioid prescriptions for new patients to supplies for just seven days. It provides medications for some 90 million people and has considerable influence. CVS will also instruct its pharmacists to contact doctors
On September 25, 2017, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey of West Virginia announced an effort by a coalition of 37 attorneys general from different states to reduce the supply of opioids in the USA by impacting how often the drugs are prescribed. The group composed and
In his last term as governor, Chris Christie is aggressively enacting initiatives to fight opioid abuse. The effort should cost some $200 million, but the Governor has said he is not putting a limit on spending for it because the opioid crisis claims so many
Much of drug testing, particularly in the criminal justice arena, relies on classic urine testing. These tests are the historical go-to tests because they are quick and can check for a large number of illicit and abused substances. However, there is a tendency to over-interpret
According to a national survey, 22.7 million Americans struggled with substance use disorders in 2013, but only 2.5 million received treatment. The gap between those who need treatment and those who receive it occurs largely for two reasons: many addicts do not seek treatment and