Feature Channels: Drugs and Drug Abuse

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14-Sep-2020 8:00 AM EDT
Potent Drug Supply Drop, Not U.S. Domestic Drug Policies, Likely Behind 2018’s Overdose Death Downturn
Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh

The slight decline in drug overdose deaths in 2018 coincides with Chinese regulations on the powerful opioid carfentanil, rather than the result of domestic U.S. efforts to curb the opioid epidemic, a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health analysis revealed today.

Released: 15-Sep-2020 4:35 PM EDT
UTEP Partnership Receives Federal Grant to Combat Opioid Abuse in West Texas Counties
University of Texas at El Paso

The University of Texas at El Paso’s Minority AIDS Research Center (MARC) is the subrecipient of a $1 million implementation grant to target substance use disorders and opioid use disorders in five rural counties along the Texas-Mexico border.

Released: 15-Sep-2020 11:40 AM EDT
Abandoned Buildings, Fear of Calling Police Contribute to High Rate of Fatal Overdoses in Philadelphia, New Study Shows
American University

Abandoned Buildings, Fear of Calling Police Contribute to High Rate of Fatal Overdoses in Philadelphia, New Study Shows

Released: 14-Sep-2020 2:45 PM EDT
Virtual Reality Trains Public to Reverse Opioid Overdoses
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

The United States has seen a 200% increase in the rate of deaths by opioid overdose in the last 20 years. But many of these deaths were preventable. Naloxone, also called Narcan, is a prescription drug that reverses opioid overdoses, and in more than 40 states — including Pennsylvania — there is a standing order policy, which makes it available to anyone, without an individual prescription from a healthcare provider.

Released: 11-Sep-2020 10:10 AM EDT
University of Miami Miller School Researcher Wins NIH Avenir Award to Pursue Innovative Opioid Addiction Research
University of Miami Health System, Miller School of Medicine

Luis M. Tuesta, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, has been awarded the Avenir Award from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health, to study the epigenetic mechanisms of microglial activation and their role in shaping the behavioral course of opioid use disorder.

Released: 8-Sep-2020 8:00 AM EDT
A pain reliever that alters perceptions of risk
Ohio State University

While acetaminophen is helping you deal with your headache, it may also be making you more willing to take risks, a new study suggests. People who took acetaminophen rated activities like “bungee jumping off a tall bridge” as less risky than people who took a placebo.

   
Released: 3-Sep-2020 7:05 PM EDT
UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative launches COVID-19 survey
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences

To better understand the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on cannabis and CBD use, the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative has launched the Cannabis, CBD and COVID Survey.

30-Aug-2020 11:00 AM EDT
Study Details How General Anesthetics And ‘Benzos’ Act on Receptors in The Brain
UT Southwestern Medical Center

As you drift into unconsciousness before a surgery, general anesthetic drugs flowing through your blood are putting you to sleep by binding mainly to a protein in the brain called the ɣ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor. Now UT Southwestern scientists have shown exactly how anesthetics attach to the GABAA receptor and alter its three-dimensional structure, and how the brain can tell the difference between anesthetics and the psychoactive drugs known as benzodiazepines – which also bind to the GABAA receptor. The findings were published online today in the journal Nature.

Released: 27-Aug-2020 4:05 PM EDT
Algorithm aims to alert consumers before they use illicit online pharmacies
Penn State Institute for Computational and Data Sciences

In a study, a team of Penn State researchers report that an algorithm they developed may be able to spot illicit online pharmacies that could be providing customers with substandard medications without their knowledge, among other potential problems.

   
19-Aug-2020 9:00 AM EDT
Clubs Closed? Study Finds Partygoers Turn to Virtual Raves and Happy Hours During Pandemic
New York University

People have traded in nightclubs and dance festivals for virtual raves and Zoom happy hours as a result of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic—yet, many are using drugs in these socially distanced settings, according to a new study by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research at NYU School of Global Public Health.

Released: 24-Aug-2020 9:00 PM EDT
New Remote Learning Program to Prevent Drug Abuse
National Health Promotion Associates

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid misuse and addiction continue to devastate communities around the US.

   
Released: 24-Aug-2020 12:50 PM EDT
COVID poses hardships for people with substance abuse problems
University of Michigan

FACULTY Q&ABoth fatal and nonfatal overdoses have increased this year compared to last, according to a recent report by the Overdose Data Mapping Application Program. And, anecdotal information suggests that compared to last year, people in recovery are relapsing at alarming rates.Faculty from the University of Michigan School of Nursing’s Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health discuss why the pandemic has hit people with substance abuse problems especially hard and the expanded role of virtual recovery programs.

Released: 24-Aug-2020 11:00 AM EDT
Clinical Utility of Hana® Orthopedic Table Highlighted in New Study: 97% of Direct Anterior Approach Hip Replacement Patients Needed Little to No Opioid Pain Medication After Surgery
Mizuho OSI

Mizuho OSI®, a leading manufacturer of specialty surgical tables and pressure injury abatement solutions would like to announce the publication of a new clinical study titled “23-hour Total Hip Replacement Requiring Only 3.5 Opioid Pills Through 6 Weeks: A Non-selected Prospective Consecutive One Year Cohort”, by Andrew Wickline MD, now appearing in the peer-reviewed Journal of Orthopedic Experience & Innovation (JournalOEI)

Released: 20-Aug-2020 11:25 AM EDT
IUPUI study looks at prevention strategy for substance use disorder
Indiana University

A recent study from IUPUI found risk factors for substance use disorder affect age groups differently and proposes a primary prevention strategy for substance use disorder that is individualized for people within defined age groups.

   
11-Aug-2020 8:00 AM EDT
American Chemical Society Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting Press Conference Schedule
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Watch live and recorded press conferences at https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/pressroom/news-room/press-conferences.html. Press conferences will be held Monday, Aug. 17 through Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020

   
Released: 18-Aug-2020 3:05 PM EDT
COVID poses hardships for people with substance abuse problems
University of Michigan

Both fatal and nonfatal overdoses have increased this year compared to last, according to a recent report by the Overdose Data Mapping Application Program. And, anecdotal information suggests that compared to last year, people in recovery are relapsing at alarming rates. Faculty from the University of Michigan School of Nursing's Center for the Study of Drugs, Alcohol, Smoking and Health discuss why the pandemic has hit people with substance abuse problems especially hard and the expanded role of virtual recovery programs.

16-Aug-2020 8:55 AM EDT
Live Press Conference: Negative side effects of opioids could be coming from users’ own immune systems (video)
American Chemical Society (ACS)

A press conference on this topic will be held Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m. Eastern time online at www.acs.org/fall2020pressconferences.

14-Aug-2020 1:35 PM EDT
Patients taking long-term opioids produce antibodies against the drugs
University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison scientists have discovered that a majority of back-pain patients they tested who were taking opioid painkillers produced anti-opioid antibodies. These antibodies may contribute to some of the negative side effects of long-term opioid use.

11-Aug-2020 8:00 AM EDT
Negative side effects of opioids could be coming from users’ own immune systems (video)
American Chemical Society (ACS)

Opioid users can develop chronic inflammation and heightened pain sensitivity. These side effects might stem from the body’s own immune system, which can make antibodies against the drugs. The researchers will present their results at the American Chemical Society Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting & Expo.

13-Aug-2020 10:25 AM EDT
Patients’ Access to Opioid Treatment Cumbersome
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

The “secret shopper” study used trained actors attempting to get into treatment with an addiction provider in 10 U.S. states. The results, with more than 10,000 unique patients, revealed numerous challenges in scheduling a first-time appointment to receive medications for opioid use disorder, including finding a provider who takes insurance rather than cash.

Released: 11-Aug-2020 12:15 PM EDT
Economists conclude opioid crisis responsible for millions of children living apart from parents
University of Notre Dame

Affiliates with Notre Dame’s Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities found that greater exposure to the opioid crisis increases the chance that a child’s mother or father is absent from the household and increases the likelihood that he or she lives in a household headed by a grandparent.

Released: 10-Aug-2020 4:05 PM EDT
Young adults' risks from first-time opioid prescriptions may not be as high as previously thought
Indiana University

Young adults and adolescents who are prescribed opioids for the first time may be at a slightly greater risk of developing a substance-related problem later in life, according to a new study co-authored by Indiana University researchers. However, the risk may not be as high as previously thought.

4-Aug-2020 5:00 AM EDT
Sanford Burnham Prebys awarded $4.5 million NIH grant for mental illness therapeutics
Sanford Burnham Prebys

Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute has been awarded a $4.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to identify new therapies for mental health disorders. The research will be headed by Layton Smith, Ph.D., and Michael Jackson, Ph.D., of the Institute’s Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics. The funding supports the discovery of new classes of drugs that target “orphan” receptors to treat psychological conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and substance abuse.

Released: 5-Aug-2020 8:55 AM EDT
Study Suggests Drug Overdose Linked to PTSD
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Drug overdoses are psychologically traumatic events that can lead to symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a study focused on female sex workers in Baltimore City led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Released: 20-Jul-2020 3:05 PM EDT
Legal marijuana may be slowing reductions in teen marijuana use, study says
University of Washington

A longitudinal study of more than 230 teens and young adults in Washington state finds that teens may be more likely to use marijuana following legalization – with the proliferation of stores and increasing adult use of the drug -- than they otherwise would have been.

Released: 20-Jul-2020 8:45 AM EDT
Traditional PTSD Therapy Doesn't Trigger Drug Relapse
Johns Hopkins Medicine

Johns Hopkins researchers have demonstrated that behavior therapy that exposes people to memories of their trauma doesn’t cause relapses of opioid or other drug use, and that PTSD severity and emotional problems have decreased after the first therapy session.

Released: 16-Jul-2020 9:35 AM EDT
Tufts awards seed funding for work in prevention and treatment of opioid addiction
Tufts University

Tufts awards seed funding to 8 projects that seek to address the complex individual & community challenges wrought by the opioid epidemic. The inaugural awards of the Tufts Initiative on Substance Use and Addiction demonstrate a multidisciplinary drive to address this pressing public health crisis.

Released: 24-Jun-2020 11:25 AM EDT
Linking Hospital and Other Records Can Predict Both Fatal and Nonfatal Opioid Overdoses, Study Suggests
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the odds of a fatal opioid overdose were 1.5 times higher for individuals with one to two visits to the emergency department for any medical issue than for people with no hospital visits.

Released: 18-Jun-2020 11:00 AM EDT
Research News Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins Medicine
Johns Hopkins Medicine

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins Medicine Media Relations is focused on disseminating current, accurate and useful information to the public via the media. As part of that effort, we are distributing our “COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins” every Tuesday throughout the duration of the outbreak.

Released: 16-Jun-2020 4:15 PM EDT
Roth Leads $26.9 Million Project to Create Better Psychiatric Medications
University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a team of internationally acclaimed researchers led by UNC School of Medicine’s Bryan L. Roth, MD, PhD, aims to create new medications to effectively and rapidly treat depression, anxiety, and substance abuse without major side effects.

10-Jun-2020 2:30 PM EDT
Delta Opioid Receptor Identified as Promising Therapeutic Target for Inflammatory Pain Relief
New York University

Delta opioid receptors have a built-in mechanism for pain relief and can be precisely targeted with drug-delivering nanoparticles—making them a promising target for treating chronic inflammatory pain with fewer side effects, according to a new study from an international team of researchers. The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was conducted using cells from humans and mice with inflammatory bowel disease, which can cause chronic pain.

Released: 15-Jun-2020 8:25 AM EDT
Researchers flush out worrying trend of designer drug use
University of South Australia

In a sign that designer drugs are becoming more prevalent in Australia, synthetic cathinones – commonly known as ‘bath salts’ – have been detected in the nation’s wastewater in the largest study of its kind in the country.

11-Jun-2020 7:05 AM EDT
Fentanyl Tops List of Drugs Found in Baltimore Overdose Patients
University of Maryland Medical Center

Fentanyl is not typically part of hospital tests for illicit drug use, however, a new University of Maryland study found after expanding testing that fentanyl, linked to most fatal overdoses in Maryland, tops the list of drugs detected in overdose patients at two Baltimore hospital ERs. The researchers suggest addition of fentanyl to routine drug tests.

Released: 8-Jun-2020 11:00 AM EDT
Study Shows Opioid, Sedative and Antidepressant Use Pre-Surgery Leads to Worse Outcomes
University of Kentucky

A study led by University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center researchers showed that patients who already used opioids, sedatives or antidepressants prior to colorectal surgery experience significantly more complications post-surgery.

Released: 2-Jun-2020 12:20 PM EDT
Tulane social work professor awarded grant to reduce substance abuse and violence among Native American families
Tulane University

The $2.7 million grant from the National Institutes of Health will enable researchers to identify interventions that will lead to a healthier, more resilient Native American community.

26-May-2020 1:40 PM EDT
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Older Adults at Higher Risk for Substance Use
New York University

Middle-aged and older adults who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual have higher rates of using certain substances in the past year than those who identify as heterosexual, according to a new study led by researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research (CDUHR) at NYU School of Global Public Health.

Released: 28-May-2020 3:50 PM EDT
Users of high-potency cannabis four times more likely to report associated problems
University of Bristol

Users of high-potency cannabis are four times more likely to report associated problems, and twice as likely to report anxiety disorder, than users of lower-potency strains, according to new research from the University of Bristol.

22-May-2020 12:05 PM EDT
Follow-up Treatments After Opioid Overdose Rare Among Insured Patients
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Of nearly 6,500 commercially insured patients treated in EDs nationwide for an overdose or other opioid-related medical complications, only 16 percent accessed opioid use disorder (OUD) medications or another form of treatment within three months of the ED visit.

Released: 26-May-2020 4:05 PM EDT
Helping Law Enforcement Solve and Prevent Chemical-Related Violence
Homeland Security's Science And Technology Directorate

S&T-developed Chemical Agents Reactions Database can help federal, state and local agencies check if chemicals found in illegal labs can make illicit drugs, poisons or warfare agents.

Released: 20-May-2020 9:00 AM EDT
Opioid prescribing rates on 14-year decline in pediatric orthopaedic injuries, decreased by more than 50%
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)

Prevention efforts to combat the opioid crisis by limiting early exposure are working in the pediatric population, according to a study released as part of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Virtual Education Experience. The study found that between 2004 and 2017 opioid prescription rates decreased from 60% to 27.8%, a 52% drop, in pediatric patients between 10-18 years old who sought care for a minor fracture or dislocation in an acute care setting. However, patients in the South and Midwest were more frequently prescribed opioids, pointing to a need for further preventative measures.

Released: 14-May-2020 10:25 AM EDT
HEALing Communities Strategy Fast-Tracked Due to COVID-19
University of Kentucky

When Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the early release of some Kentucky inmates due to COVID-19 concerns, the team behind the HEALing Communities Study worked quickly to fast-track one of the evidence-based practices for preventing opioid deaths that was due to launch later this year: the distribution of naloxone to individuals at highest risk for overdose, particularly those being released from local jails.

Released: 13-May-2020 1:45 PM EDT
Job skills training leads to long-term reduction in drug abuse
Ohio State University

Job skills training for low-income youth does more than just help them get better jobs – it makes them significantly less likely than others to use some illicit drugs, even 16 years later.

11-May-2020 10:50 AM EDT
Researchers to track impact of lockdown on alcohol, gambling and pornography use
University of Cambridge

Is the lockdown leading us to drink more alcohol or spend more time gambling online or watching pornography? Researchers today launch a survey aimed at tracking how our habits have changed in response to our forced isolation.

   
Released: 11-May-2020 11:35 AM EDT
Planting seeds for a safe and healthy society
West Virginia University - Eberly College of Arts and Sciences

A new West Virginia University research collaborative is working to address the many challenging conditions facing the state and Appalachia.

Released: 6-May-2020 11:55 AM EDT
Grant will fund pilot program to expand opioid use disorder treatment in Alabama
University of Alabama at Birmingham

UAB is launching a pilot program aimed at getting more opioid users into treatment, using telemedicine in three rural counties and emploing the Alabama One Health Record®, a statewide health information exchange, to track outcomes in these patients.

Released: 5-May-2020 2:45 PM EDT
Financial Incentives Boost Doctor Training in Opioid Treatment Medication
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Offering $750 to emergency medicine physicians exponentially increased those trained to prescribe buprenorphine.

30-Apr-2020 4:15 PM EDT
Drug Overdose Epidemic is Transmitted from Old to Young, Study Shows
Health Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh

The generation a person was born into – Silent Generation, Baby Boomer, Generation X or Millennial – strongly predicts how likely they are to die from a drug overdose, and at what age. Within each generation, there was a steady march toward greater overdose risk at younger ages.

Released: 30-Apr-2020 8:00 AM EDT
Research News Tip Sheet: Story Ideas From Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins Medicine

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Johns Hopkins Medicine Media Relations is focused on disseminating current, accurate and useful information to the public via the media. As part of that effort, we are distributing our “COVID-19 Tip Sheet: Story Ideas from Johns Hopkins” every Tuesday throughout the duration of the outbreak.



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