I’ve spent 15 years treating addiction, mostly to opioids. I’ve worked in residential treatments, methadone programs. I have testified in cases related to overdose deaths. I know the harm that is possible from excess opioid precribing or use. But I also hope that some day, pain treatment becomes more rational. Read more…
I came across this public-accesss story, and wanted to share the perspective: Pauline Bartolone, Kaiser Health NewsEven 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 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 Read more…
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. The error is easy to notice by anyone 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 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 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 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. Today I wonder, is counseling what it is cracked up to be? Excuse the 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. In short, I am Addicted to Heroin. What Should Read more…
With appreciation to the good folks at BDSI, makers of Bunavail: Here is the latest news concerning the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act of 2015 (aka Heroin Crisis Act) It has easily passed Committee and is headed to the Senate floor next week. If approved, the bill is scheduled to go Read more…
Anyone who proposes an easy solution to the overdose epidemic is either a simpleton or a politician. But far too many people entrusted with the power and responsibility to set priorities decry the number of overdose deaths, then stigmatize and demonize every effort to save lives. “Suboxone can be diverted.” “Someone might Read more…
Last week, HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell raised the buprenorphine cap above the current limit of 100 patients per doctor. This move, should it actually occur, will potentially save tens of thousands of young lives per year, given that over 30,000 people die from narcotic overdose each year. But instead of Read more…