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 [...]
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 [...]
(View of Platz Park during the Open Drug Scene) If you had asked me 5 years ago what we needed to do to help one of our patients to stop misusing opioids, I most likely would have said the best approach is cold turkey, or a quick taper with [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
OSHA posts additional guidance regarding drug testing post-accident. http://bit.ly/2nx14ey
According to the National Safety Council, Missouri’s legislature is again mired in debate over implementation of a proposed prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). As a past Missouri native, this reluctance to implement a PDMP is distressing. PDMPs are databases designed to track prescribing and dispensing of controlled prescription drugs. [...]
Here is a link to Part 2 of an article written for SEAK. http://workerscompensationconference.com/pain-relief-tylenol-vs-opiod/
I have been doing some research for an upcoming presentation and for a research paper for an organization I recently joined. Everything I have been reading lately points to concerns that decreased opioid prescribing will lead to an increase in heroin abuse. I have shared this information in numerous talks [...]
SEAK asked me to post an update to my talk I gave on cost drivers last year at their National Occupational Conference. Here is a link to that update: http://workerscompensationconference.com/workers-compensation-cost-driver-opioids/
California doctor convicted in over dose deaths of 3 of her patients This is the first conviction of this type.
