In many parts of the US, there are people living on the streets. Many of them are struggling with opioid addiction. This has led to the formation of unauthorized camps in various communities. These camps are a big challenge. They raise questions about how to best support these individuals. Some places have tried different ways to handle this issue. But it's not clea...
The opioid crisis has been a long and devastating battle. Now, a significant step has been taken to address it. All 50 states, along with Washington, D. C. , and four U. S. territories, have agreed to a $7. 4 billion settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. This deal aims to resolve ongoing legal disputes and provide much-needed funds for addiction treat...
A gathering at Viterbo University aims to tackle the opioid crisis head-on. This is the second year for the RESPOND Together summit, a platform for providers to share insights and strategies. The summit's goal is to educate and improve services for those battling substance and opioid use disorders. It's a tough problem. The summit brings together a mix of profession...
Imagine a drug that could save tens of thousands of lives each year. Buprenorphine, a medication used to treat opioid addiction, has been around for over 20 years, but it's not being used as widely as it should be. In 2023, over 105, 000 people died from overdoses, with most of these deaths linked to fentanyl and other opioids. Fentanyl is incredibly potent—about 50 ...
In a significant move towards addressing the opioid crisis, Purdue Pharma and members of the Sackler family have agreed to shell out up to $7. 4 billion. This deal comes after the Supreme Court rejected an earlier settlement. The Sacklers will contribute as much as $6. 5 billion and also relinquish their ownership of Purdue Pharma. Additionally, Purdue Pharma itself ...
You might think the opioid crisis is old news, thanks to all the chatter in the media. But have you ever wondered how this serious issue is shown on TikTok, one of today's hottest video platforms? Not much research has been done on this, so let's dive in! TikTok is huge, with millions of users creating and watching short videos every day. So, it's no surprise that t...
The Justice Department has started a fight with CVS Pharmacy, claiming they've been filling prescriptions that break the law. These aren't just any prescriptions, though – we're talking about dangerous amounts of opioids, and sometimes even mixes of drugs that aren't safe. Plus, they allegedly got paid back by federal health programs for these shady deals. CVS doesn'...
The US Department of Justice has sued CVS, claiming the pharmacy chain filled illegal opioid prescriptions and billed federal health programs. The complaint, filed in Rhode Island, says CVS violated the Controlled Substances Act by dispensing large quantities and dangerous combinations of opioids from 2013 to the present. The Justice Department alleges that CVS freq...
Chicago faced its worst opioid overdose crisis in 2021, with a record 1, 441 deaths. To tackle this, the city introduced the CARE Overdose Response Team, a multidisciplinary group providing immediate assistance after an overdose to reduce risks and prevent future fatalities. This team works outside of hospitals, focusing on the crucial moments following an overdose. ...
Surgery can be scary, especially when it comes to managing pain afterward. Many people worry about becoming dependent on opioids, which are often prescribed after surgery. But what if there was a way to handle pain without these strong drugs? Researchers are working on just that: opioid-free surgery. Opioids have been used for thousands of years to deal with pain. B...