FDA says harm of untreated opioid addiction outweighs risks of concomitant benzodiazepine use Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction is an important tool that has the potential to help millions of Americans with an opioid use disorder. In fact, patients receiving MAT cut their risk of death from all causes in half, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. However, health care providers and patients face significant challenges when determining how best to treat opioid use disorder, especially when the MAT drugs contain methadone or buprenorphine – which are also opioids. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued ... October 13, 2017 General Drub Abuse, Drug Prescribing, Medical Solutions to Drug Abuse, Opioids 0 0 Comment Read More »
Free CME: Medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is offering two free training sessions on the use of medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorders. The training, “The Effective Use of Medication Assisted Treatment in an Opioid Dependent Population,” will be held in Sacramento on July 18 and repeated in Orange County on July 20. Registration is first-come, first-served. Attendance is capped at 100 participants – you must register by July 3. Physicians can receive up to 7 continuing medical education (CME) credits. To register, click on the links below: ... June 22, 2017 General Continuing Medical Education, Drug Abuse, Medical Solutions to Drug Abuse, Opioids, CME 0 0 Comment Read More »
DHCS gets federal grant to increase access to opioid treatment in California The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has received a $90 million grant from the federal government to expand drug treatment services in California, primarily in counties and tribal communities that have higher rates of opioid-related overdose deaths. One key initiative will target those areas with an innovative approach to increase access to medications used to treat opioid addiction. DHCS will use a large portion of the grant from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to expand Californians’ access to medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders, ... May 22, 2017 General Drug Abuse, Medical Solutions to Drug Abuse, Opioids, Prescription Drugs 0 0 Comment Read More »
No cost online buprenorphine waiver courses available Physicians must obtain a federal waiver if they wish to prescribe buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder. Across the country, many people suffering from opioid use disorder are unable to access medication-assisted treatment for their condition due to a lack of nearby physicians with waivers to prescribe buprenorphine. California is no different. In 2013, there were only 1,460 waivered physicians actively prescribing buprenorphine in California, which amounts to approximately 3.9 physicians per 100,000 people, particularly impacting rural and underserved areas in the state. To help physicians obtain waivers, the American ... September 22, 2016 General Opioids, Drug Abuse, Medical Solutions to Drug Abuse 0 0 Comment Read More »
Senate passes opioid addiction treatment measure Last month, the U.S. Senate voted 94-1 to fund opioid education and prevention initiatives, improve treatment programs and expand the availability of the overdose prevention drug naloxone. The bill, known as the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA; S 524), would increase opioid abuse and prevention education efforts to the public, veterans, and incarcerated individuals; expand the availability of naloxone; identify and treat incarcerated individuals (as well as develop alternatives to incarceration); expand drug take-back efforts and disposal sites for unwanted medications; and create prescription opioid and heroin treatment intervention ... April 4, 2016 General Federal Legislation, Medical Solutions to Drug Abuse, Opioids, Drug Abuse 0 0 Comment Read More »
