France’s Approach to the Opioid Epidemic – Part 3 in a series

In 1987, Health Minister Michèle Barzach imposed the liberalization of syringe sales in France. For a long time, the struggle against HIV rested on this political measure alone. In Europe, buprenorphine for the treatment of opiate addiction was first registered in France and by the year 2000 was available [...]

2020-02-03T16:48:57-06:00February 10th, 2020|

Portugal’s Approach to the Opioid Epidemic – Part 2 in a series

In my December 13, 2019, article on Switzerland’s Approach to the Opioid Epidemic, I detailed the history of the Swiss opioid epidemic and the “Four-Fold” Approach they used to address their epidemic. While the Swiss stressed prevention, they also allowed for a controversial (in the US) Heroin Substitution Program [...]

2020-02-03T11:57:44-06:00February 3rd, 2020|

Are there Alternatives to the Opioid Epidemic the United States is not Considering?

Frequent readers of my blog may recall my multiple articles on different aspects of the epidemic as it relates to the workers’ compensation industry, and how CompAlliance has structured their Opioid Protocols as a result. On June 6, 2018, in my article, Opioid Limits on Prescribing – Has the [...]

2019-12-11T12:04:07-06:00December 11th, 2019|

Part 2 The Ethical Responsibility to Manage Pain and the Suffering it Causes

Yesterday I touched on the ANA Position Statement providing ethical guidance and support to nurses and some of the responsibilities a nurse has when managing a patient in pain. I was asked today why a Case Manager would be responsible for assisting in the management of pain, to describe [...]

2020-06-18T13:03:52-05:00May 16th, 2019|

Part 1 The Ethical Responsibility to Manage Pain and the Suffering it Causes

I was reading an ANA Position Statement providing ethical guidance and support to nurses as they fulfill their responsibility to provide optimal care to persons experiencing pain. We in the workers’ compensation industry have participated fully in the national debate on the (in)appropriate use of opioids for pain management. [...]

2020-06-18T13:04:09-05:00May 15th, 2019|

Opioid Limits on Prescribing – Has the Pendulum Swung Too Far?

  I don’t need to quote statistics on opioid misuse disorder to set the tone for this article.  That’s a good thing I guess; it must mean our overall awareness of the topic is current. When I first started talking about this topic at conferences, about 70% of my [...]

2019-09-03T16:07:36-05:00June 6th, 2018|

Is There Evidence for Medical Cannabinoid Use in Children?

  As you may know I present at conferences regularly on opioids and marijuana and their implications in the workplace.  One of the statements I make during these talks applies to the need for research into the evidence of efficacy, dosage, type, etc.  of medical marijuana. If you had [...]

2019-09-03T16:10:32-05:00January 11th, 2018|

Talking About the Opioid Epidemic

I am always honored when an organization asks me to speak on the Opioid Epidemic.  I am not a professional speaker by any means.  I don’t travel around the country speaking at conference after conference on this topic. I mainly speak at the regional or local level, with a [...]

2019-09-03T16:13:10-05:00September 18th, 2017|

Case Management and the Opioid Epidemic – What is our Role to Alleviate?

  As a Registered Nurse and mother, I always knew there was more to the practice of these professions than the rules, science, etc. As I was reading an article today, it really helped me to voice what it takes to be a nurse when addressing one of the [...]

2020-06-18T13:07:56-05:00September 5th, 2017|

Medication Assisted Treatment vs. 12 Step – Is it only One or the Other?

Are you a proponent for Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder?  Do you believe that a 12 Step Program should not incorporate MAT?  Is  addiction is a voluntary disorder in your opinion? There was a very interesting article posted today on MedScape for Nurses, titled "Opioid Crisis [...]

2020-06-18T13:18:19-05:00April 7th, 2017|
Go to Top