Drug Abuse
Study: More than 115 million pills with illicit fentanyl seized in 2023
The number of pills containing illicit fentanyl that were seized by United States law enforcement in 2023 was 2,300 times greater than the number in 2017, according to a study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy.
‘Very clear’ need, desire for trauma-focused treatment in women’s prisons
NEW YORK — A poster presented at the American Psychiatric Association annual meeting highlighted the need for greater access and engagement in trauma-focused care for incarcerated women, including peer-led interventions.
NIDA awards $14.8M grant for development of anti-fentanyl monoclonal antibody
A clinical-stage biotechnology company has been awarded a multiyear grant totaling $14.8 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to develop a subcutaneous formulation of an anti-fentanyl monoclonal antibody.
Among those with ACS, history of cocaine use, procedures less common in Black patients
ATLANTA — Among patients with ACS and a history of cocaine use, non-Hispanic Black patients were less likely than white patients to receive cardiac catheterization or revascularization, researchers reported.
People who use drugs have double the rate of readmission for S. aureus
People who use drugs experienced double the rate of hospital readmission and lower rates of antibiotic completion for invasive Staphylococcus aureus infections than their non-drug-using peers, according to a study.
More than 2 million patients with CVD have reported marijuana use
Despite the modest strength of current evidence, cardiologists should screen and test their patients for marijuana use in select CV settings, according to a review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Public reporting may impede access to valve surgery in endocarditis
Study findings indicate that an increased scrutiny of surgical outcomes has contributed to an approximately 30% decline in valve surgeries for infective endocarditis, regardless of patients’ injection drug use status — an “unintended consequence” of implementing public reporting of outcomes for aortic valve surgery, researchers said.
Carvedilol safe for patients with HF, cocaine use disorder
Researchers have determined that carvedilol is a safe treatment option in patients with HF who have a cocaine use disorder. Further, treatment may be effective for those with reduced ejection fraction.
Americans spend nearly $150 billion on illicit drugs each year
In 2016, Americans spent $145 billion on cannabis, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, according to a new report.
USPSTF: Screen adults, but not children, for illicit drug use
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently issued its first draft recommendation that specifically encouraged primary care clinicians to screen all adults for illicit drug use, including nonmedical uses of prescription drugs.