I came across this public-accesss story, and wanted to share the perspective: Pauline Bartolone, Kaiser Health News Even as opioids flood American communities and fuel widespread addiction, hospitals are facing a dangerous shortage of the powerful painkillers needed by patients in acute pain, according to doctors, pharmacists and a coalition of health groups. The shortage, … [Read more…]
I’ll share an interesting story about the data used for the prescription drug database in Wisconsin and other states. I’ve been holding back on writing about this issue in hopes that the reason for the story would be corrected, and I would have no story to tell. But that hasn’t happened. A new law in … [Read more…]
A quick note tonight, hopefully with a longer post to follow this weekend… I’ve been frustrated by the people behind the Wisconsin PDMP, or Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, for their mistakes related to buprenorphine. Whoever came up with the numbers made a rookie error when calculating the equivalent morphine dose of patients taking buprenorphine products. … [Read more…]
I won’t weigh in on the upcoming election, for fear of being barraged with insulting tweets by one candidate or ‘offed’ by the other. But the current opioid dependence crisis provides a great chance to learn whether you stand on the side of ‘limited government’ or the alternative. The TREAT Act takes 5 minutes to … [Read more…]
I was reading more about Obama’s executive order over at Dr. Burson’s blog. I guess she is a ‘competitor’ in the blogging world, but I have to admit that her blog has a lot more detail about the issue than I do. If you haven’t been there yet, check it out. Keep coming back here … [Read more…]
I just read an article in the Daily Beast that reads like a better version of something I would write about the value of medication-assisted treatment of opioid dependence. I appreciate Christopher Moraff telling a story that has been untold far too long, and I hope the story raises questions across the country. But I … [Read more…]
I just noticed a couple of my recent posts…. these people have it wrong, and that person has it wrong. One of these days I really need to print something positive and uplifting. But not today. Excuse the self-flattery, but I like to think of myself as a physician scientist. That concept motivated my PhD … [Read more…]
I’ve been spending more time answering questions on SuboxForum, and less time writing blog posts. I’ll share a comment from today in the hopes that someone looking for help will stumble across this page. A newcomer to SuboxForum posted this succinct question: Will someone PLEASE help me take the first steps into the right direction? … [Read more…]