Buprenorphine and opioid overdose
Fentanyl plays a role in more and more opioid overdose deaths. Most fentanyl used ‘on the streets’ starts in China, with precursors shipped to California or Mexico before distribution throughout the US. Fentanyl acts very potently at the same receptors as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. Reports of overdose deaths caused by fentanyl usually blame potency, … [Read more…]
I’d like to share a recent email exchange with a reader. The post is long, but there are several interesting aspects to the discussion. I’ve removed the conversational parts, as well as the identifying information. The initial message: I was an intravenous heroin user for three years. After treatment I was able to stay clean … [Read more…]
I have been struggling with part II, primarily because there are no easy answers to the situation. I realize that I could easily criticize whichever path a doctor suggests for our imaginary patient. As an aside, I believe that a major reason for the lack of sufficient prescribers of buprenorphine in some parts of the … [Read more…]
Written by Daniel Gordon at ThirdAge.com: Former Weezer bassist Mikey Welsh was found dead in a Chicago hotel room Saturday afternoon, the Chicago Tribune reports. Raffaello Hotel staff reportedly found the 40-year-old ex-musician on the floor of his room around 1 p.m. Saturday. The Chicago Tribune reported that narcotics are the suspected cause of death. … [Read more…]
Weeks ago I posted a few new ideas—things like a memorial wall for victims of opioid dependence, and a ‘wall of shame’ for doctors who are known for reckless prescribing of opioids. I mentioned these ideas over at SuboxForum as well. I received good feedback from readers here, and from members there. Sometimes the best … [Read more…]
On May 27th, 2011, actor Jeff Conaway died from complications of opioid dependence. His death has been attributed to several causes—sepsis, pneumonia, and aspiration among them— but there is little debate over the ultimate cause of his death at the age of 60 years, that being addiction to opioid pain medications. Mr. Conaway reportedly struggled … [Read more…]
Today an article on the web site Medscape describes the epidemic of opioid dependence in this country. The article describes what people who work with addiction already know– that use of opioid medications has increased in a way never seen before for any medication. The article does a good job of presenting the statistics, and … [Read more…]
I have been involved in Q and A with a person in another part of the country, and will share some of our exchange after removing the identifying info. BTW, I receive many e-mails from people and I just don’t have time to answer most of them; I DO provide ‘educational consultation’ (not a ‘medical’ … [Read more…]