Topic: opioids

Nobody knows exactly how extensive off label prescribing is, but estimates range from a fifth of all prescriptions written in the US, to a third if we just look at psychiatric meds.

It makes perfect sense to do something that’s been shown to be effective at limiting one very important adverse consequence to the individual and society

I was reading about a dramatic increase in cases of Hepatitis C in Maine, a state that, like the rest of the Northeast, has been (continued…)

It’s not hard to see how the combination could result in retirees with serious, life threatening drug problems.

It also suggests that the ‘return to heroin’ rate among former maintenance clients may be even higher.

Naltrexone maintenance is a lot cheaper than prison. But it’s a lot more expensive than methadone maintenance, which dulls some of its luster.

We haven’t corrected any identified physical deficiency. We’ve simply substituted a medical opioid for an illicit one.

You know what would help put an end to the debate? A protocol and procedures for a successful transition off maintenance for those patients who would prefer not to remain dependent.

Is there a disparity between what you can observe and what the patient reports?

Big investors are… interested in buying low and selling high, in driving up the share price so they can turn around and place bets on how fast it will go down once the bad publicity hits.