When mom Erin Jones posted a selfie with her prescriptions for antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication on Facebook, she inspired a social media movement to help break down the taboo surrounding mental illness. On Sept. 2, Jones — who blogs about being on the Autism spectrum and raising kids with special needs at Mutha Lovin’ Autism – shared this photo on her website’s Facebook page, along with a message about seeking treatment.  “I have tried living this life without prescription help,” she wrote in the caption. “It seems to have me on top of the world one minute and rocking in the corner the next. There is no consistency. I’m done with that. Anxiety and antidepressant medication to the rescue. Sometimes, folks, we just need help.”   The post has over 800 li…

When mom Erin Jones posted a selfie with her prescriptions for antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication on Facebook, she inspired a social media movement to help break down the taboo surrounding mental illness. On Sept. 2, Jones — who blogs about being on the Autism spectrum and raising kids with special needs at Mutha Lovin’ Autism – shared this photo on her website’s Facebook page, along with a message about seeking treatment.  “I have tried living this life without prescription help,” she wrote in the caption. “It seems to have me on top of the world one minute and rocking in the corner the next. There is no consistency. I’m done with that. Anxiety and antidepressant medication to the rescue. Sometimes, folks, we just need help.”   The post has over 800 li…

Opioid use disorders are considered a serious public health problem that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality (Degenhardt et al., 2014; Im et al., 2015; Larney et al., 2015; Yokell et al., 2014). While the recent rate of heroin use in the general population has remained relatively stable, with perhaps even some slight reduction in the use of prescription opioids among 12th graders in 2014 (Johnston et al., 2015), the last-year prevalence of heroin (∼0.7%, MTF) and prescription opioid use (8.8%, NSDUH) among young adults is disproportionately elevated (Johnston et al., 2014; SAMHSA, 2014). (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

Opioid use disorders are considered a serious public health problem that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality (Degenhardt et al., 2014; Im et al., 2015; Larney et al., 2015; Yokell et al., 2014). While the recent rate of heroin use in the general population has remained relatively stable, with perhaps even some slight reduction in the use of prescription opioids among 12th graders in 2014 (Johnston et al., 2015), the last-year prevalence of heroin (∼0.7%, MTF) and prescription opioid use (8.8%, NSDUH) among young adults is disproportionately elevated (Johnston et al., 2014; SAMHSA, 2014). (Source: Drug and Alcohol Dependence)

CONCLUSIONS: BUP induction dosing was guided by an objective measure of opioid withdrawal. Participants with higher baseline COWS whose BUP doses were raised more quickly were less likely to drop out in the first 7 days than those whose doses were raised slower.
SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study supports the use of an objective measure of opioid withdrawal (COWS) during BUP induction to improve retention early in treatment. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:XX-XX).
PMID: 26400835 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal on Addictions)

CONCLUSIONS: BUP induction dosing was guided by an objective measure of opioid withdrawal. Participants with higher baseline COWS whose BUP doses were raised more quickly were less likely to drop out in the first 7 days than those whose doses were raised slower.
SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study supports the use of an objective measure of opioid withdrawal (COWS) during BUP induction to improve retention early in treatment. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:XX-XX).
PMID: 26400835 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal on Addictions)

Authors: Gunderson EW, Hjelmström P, Sumner M, 006 Study Investigators
Abstract
PURPOSE: Sublingual buprenorphine and combination buprenorphine/naloxone (BNX) are effective options for the treatment of opioid dependence. A BNX sublingual tablet approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the induction and maintenance treatment of opioid-dependence in adults was developed as a higher-bioavailability formulation, allowing for a 30% lesser dose of buprenorphine with bioequivalent systemic exposure compared with another BNX sublingual tablet formulation. No data were previously available comparing the higher-bioavailability BNX sublingual tablet to generic buprenorphine or BNX sublingual film; we therefore evaluated treatment retention during induction and stabilization with t…

CONCLUSIONS: BUP induction dosing was guided by an objective measure of opioid withdrawal. Participants with higher baseline COWS whose BUP doses were raised more quickly were less likely to drop out in the first 7 days than those whose doses were raised slower.
SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: This study supports the use of an objective measure of opioid withdrawal (COWS) during BUP induction to improve retention early in treatment. (Am J Addict 2015;XX:XX-XX).
PMID: 26400835 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher] (Source: American Journal on Addictions)

Medic 453 is dispatched for an unconscious female with a suspected narcotics overdose. In approximately four minutes, the EMTs reach a small, 1.5-story home and are met outside by two police officers. The officers enter the house and declare the scene to be secure and safe to enter.
The EMTs find a 40–45-year-old female unconscious and unresponsive on the floor of an upstairs bedroom. The patient’s boyfriend reports he found her about 15 minutes ago. The patient has a history of substance abuse—most recently heroin. The boyfriend claims she hasn’t been using heroin but is on Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone). No drug paraphernalia is found around the patient but track marks from prior use are evident on both arms.
The patient has shallow, labored breathing and no apparent traum…

ConclusionsDespite prison being a highly regulated and controlled environment, some level of diversion and sharing of psychoactive medication occurs among prisoners. The buprenorphine formulations used in OST present particular challenges with respect to supervised dosing in this setting. [White N, Ali R, Larance B, Zador D, Mattick RP, Degenhardt L. The extramedical use and diversion of opioid substitution medications and other medications in prison settings in Australia following the introduction of buprenorphine–naloxone film. Drug Alcohol Rev 2015;●●:●●–●●] (Source: Drug and Alcohol Review)