Drug Overdose

The gender gap in life expectancy in the United States has grown in recent years, with women living nearly 6 years longer than men on average, according to the results of a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine.

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.

Opioid overdoses are the number one cause of accidental death in the United States, and rates of mental health diagnoses are rising exponentially.

The CDC has awarded $279 million to 49 states, the District of Columbia and 40 local health departments to address rising drug overdoses in communities, the agency announced.

Recent data show that fentanyl-related overdoses are increasing in the United States, and the issue “demands our immediate attention and a comprehensive approach,” an expert said.

Health care support workers, social or behavioral health workers and registered nurses were at an increased risk for death by drug overdose compared with non-health care workers, underscoring the need for interventions, data show.

The number of overdose deaths attributable to illegally manufactured fentanyl laced with xylazine has skyrocketed in recent years, according to data in CDC’s MMWR.

Members of the AMA adopted new policies on substance use during its annual meeting of the House of Delegates, according to a press release.

There has been a landscape of litigation to hold responsible parties accountable for their part in the opioid crisis.

The FDA has approved Opvee as the first nalmefene hydrochloride prescription nasal spray to reverse opioid overdose in adults and children aged 12 years and older, according to a press release from the agency.