Aug 15 The year after childbirth is the deadliest for addicted women By Christine Vestal, Stateline Growing evidence suggests that women should receive continuous medical attention during what is now called the “fourth trimester” — a period lasting at least a year after childbirth. Continue reading
Apr 04 Places with legal marijuana issue fewer opioid prescriptions, large studies find By Kate Sheridan, STAT An analysis of more than five years of Medicare Part D and Medicaid prescription data found that after states legalized weed, the number of opioid prescriptions and the daily dose of opioids went way down. Continue reading
Oct 11 Watch 11:15 Synthetic opioids are driving an overdose crisis By PBS News Hour, Frank Carlson Fifty times more powerful than heroin, Fentanyl is driving a surge in overdose deaths and ratcheting up the stakes in the opioid crisis. Where does the synthetic drug come from, and how can it be managed? William Brangham reports from… Continue watching
Aug 20 Opioid crisis strains foster care system; programs aim to keep kids with mom By Michael D. Regan and Shefali Luthra, Kaiser Health News One Kentucky program is eyed by other jurisdictions as a way to get addicted parents into recovery and help them care for their children at home. Continue reading
Aug 08 Column: How Big Pharma is hindering the fight against the opioid epidemic By Robin Feldman, The Conversation While opioids have become easier to obtain through illicit markets, a drug that could save countless lives has become increasingly out of reach. Continue reading
Jul 31 Almost half of all opioid misuse starts with a friend or family member’s prescription By Roni Dengler Easy access to prescriptions through friends and family facilitates more than half of the opioid misuse in the U.S., according to a survey of more than 50,000 adults. Continue reading
Jun 27 51 percent of opioid prescriptions go to people with depression and mood disorders By Catherine Caruso, STAT People with mood disorders are at increased risk of abusing opioids, and yet they received many more prescriptions than the general population, according to an analysis of data from 2011 and 2013. Continue reading
Nov 24 Watch 7:19 Surgeon general’s report calls for response to addiction crisis By PBS News Hour U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is warning Americans of the prevalence of substance abuse and the risks of not addressing it. His new report describes the lethal impact and widespread scope of addiction. William Brangham speaks with Murthy for more… Continue watching