Keywords Archives: substance use disorder

Veterans and Substance Use Disorder: History Repeats Itself

“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” History repeats itself. History repeats itself. See? But seriously folks, substance use disorders are not a new thing. Today we take a look back to 1923, the issue of use and production of substances and how it […]
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Scripps team develops safe, effective vaccine for heroin addiction

Scientists at the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in California have reported a major breakthrough in their efforts to develop a safe and effective vaccine to treat heroin addiction and and also prevent fatal overdoses. They have developed a new formulation that is safe in animal models and remains stable at room temperature for at least […]
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Michigan steps up prescription monitoring system

The state of Michigan has stepped up its efforts to fight opioid drug abuse and over-dispensing, using improved prescription drug monitoring technology and more stringent enforcement. Along with reducing opiate use, the state also wants to improve patient care for those suffering from substance use disorders, officials said. “We are attempting to prevent over-prescribing and […]
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Delaware to create new addiction treatment system

In Delaware, one of many states hit hard by the opiate epidemic, the state Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) plans to use $2 million in federal funding to set up a new system to treat addicts, with the goal of serving 900 clients in its first year of operation. The proposal calls for […]
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Georgia county pioneers intermediate drug court

Cobb County, Ga., recently pioneered a new kind of “intermediate” drug court, to help defendants facing lesser charges than those whose cases are handled by the county’s other “accountability courts.” The county partnered with WestCare Georgia, an Atlanta-based addiction treatment provider, to create a program for people in the criminal justice system who previously had […]
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WHO adds excessive gaming to list of addictive behaviors

Given the popularity of video gaming among adolescents and young adults, it’s no surprise that some people may over-do the activity, spending unhealthy amounts of time playing the games and displaying the signs of addictive behavior. Accordingly, the World Health Organization has added it to its list of “disorders due to addictive behavior” in its […]
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Colorado’s largest treatment provider closes doors

Tuesday, January 2 was the last day of operation for Arapahoe House in Denver, Colo., the state’s largest provider of substance use disorder treatment. Arapahoe House, which has been providing care since 1975, closed due to budget woes tied to inadequate funding from state and federal programs, including Medicaid. Local and state health officials said […]
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Better treatments needed for opiate-addicted newborns, researchers say

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is funding a new study to analyze treatment options for newborns with opioid withdrawal syndrome. While states have been reporting more cases of the syndrome, the NIH says health care providers in the United States lack standard, evidence-based treatments for the condition. The study, called Advancing Clinical Trials in […]
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Study: only one in four addicted teens, young adults getting treatment

As opioid use disorder (OUD) has continued to increase across the United States, only one in four young adults and teenagers with OUD have received treatment, according to a new Boston Medical Center (BMC) study published online in JAMA Pediatrics. One of the benefits of buprenorphine and naltrexone, two relatively new medications that can help […]
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Treatment industry group concerned about proposed ACA cuts

The national trade organization representing addiction treatment providers is concerned that the Trump administration’s proposed changes in the Affordable Care Act will severely reduce coverage for treatment services. On Tuesday, the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) issued a statement on the administration’s “surprise move” announcing proposed changes in how states may comply with […]
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President’s opiate commission issues recommendations

President Trump’s commission on combating the opioid epidemic  has called on the federal government to establish drug courts in every federal judicial district, lower barriers to treatment, tighten prescribing standards and adopt a block grant system to fund state and local addiction treatment and prevention programs. Those are among the 56 measures proposed by the […]
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Rebuilding Trust after a Relapse

There is no doubt that treatment from drug and alcohol addiction can be a time of healing and hope for the future. Unfortunately though, with statistics for relapse as high as 50 to 90 percent, staying clean long-term is not only challenging for the recovering individual, it can be equally challenging for loved ones watching […]
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IT firm hopes to give addicts a “reset”

One reason the opioid addiction epidemic has taken hold in many rural areas is that many Americans with substance use disorder live long distances from the nearest treatment providers. But a new tool may provide hope. The U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently reviewing a new tool designed to bridge that geographical distance: […]
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When the economy tanks, drug use spikes, study shows

When people feel stressed, it’s well-known that they are more prone to self-medicate and seek relief by using alcohol or illicit drugs. So, it makes sense that substance abuse increases during economic downturns. Researchers from Vanderbilt University, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the University of Colorado Denver have provided empirical evidence […]
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Bills would remove Medicaid exclusion for treatment

For years, federal law has prohibited the use of federal Medicaid financing for care provided to most patients in mental health and substance use disorder residential treatment facilities larger than 16 beds. Now, legislation has been introduced in both the Senate and House to eliminate the exclusion for patients with SUD. Federal funding for states […]
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