In a clinical trial supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a research team found that administering weekly injectable extended-release buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy led to higher rates of abstinence from illicit opioids than buprenorphine given daily under the tongue (sublingual), one of the standard methods of treatment. … Read more
A sweeping cohort-based analysis of four decades of mortality data reveals how cardiovascular deaths, external causes, and generational health patterns are reshaping longevity in the United States. Study: Insights into US life expectancy stagnation from birth cohort mortality dynamics. Image Credit: tomertu / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy … Read more
A major study of US veterans suggests that GLP-1 diabetes medications may influence addiction-related outcomes, revealing a surprising connection between metabolic treatments and substance use risk. Study: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and risk of substance use disorders among US veterans with type 2 diabetes: cohort study. Image Credit: Kotcha K / Shutterstock A recent study … Read more
Researchers at Columbia University have found that accidental drug overdose, homicide, and suicide are the leading causes of death among pregnant and postpartum women. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. “Overdose and violence are not typically on our radar when it comes to thinking about approaches to reducing maternal morbidity and mortality, but these events are far more common among pregnant and postpartum women … Read more
Opioid overdoses continue to take a devastating toll across the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2023, the nation recorded roughly 105,000 drug overdose deaths overall, with nearly 80,000 deaths involving opioids. Worldwide, opioids are also responsible for the majority of drug-related deaths. A University of California … Read more
An opioid prescribing practice standard for chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) was associated with accelerated declines in opioid doses and high-dose prescribing in British Columbia (BC) but also with more aggressive and inappropriate dose tapering, a new analysis showed. In addition, the standard resulted in restricted access to opioids for patients who may have benefited from … Read more
Illicit drug toxicity is an “escalating public health emergency” in Canada that significantly affects adolescents, yet pediatricians are ill prepared to manage it, new research suggested. A study of more than 1000 pediatricians in Canada who care for young people aged 12-18 years found that while close to 14% reported caring for at least one … Read more
Specialized hospital services that aid people with opioid use disorder regardless of why they are admitted can boost the number of patients who begin treatment with FDA-approved medication for opioid use disorder and increase the likelihood they remain engaged in that care once discharged, according to a new study. Reporting results from the first parallel … Read more
The French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products has alerted healthcare professionals and parents about a concerning trend known as the “Paracetamol Challenge” that is gaining popularity, particularly on social media, among children and adolescents. This challenge involves the deliberate ingestion of toxic doses of paracetamol to evaluate one’s resistance and … Read more
THURSDAY, March 20, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The total injury death rate in the United States increased from 2013 through 2021, then declined through 2023, according to a March data brief published by the National Center for Health Statistics. Sally C. Curtin, from the National Center for Health Statistics in Hyattsville, Maryland, presents trends in … Read more