Higher quantity of opioid prescriptions may result in increased opioid consumption among patients after surgery, according to a study published in JAMA Surgery.  By Anuja Vaidya - 11/12/18

While U.S. overdose deaths attributable to opioid use continue to rise year after year, healthcare providers are working to combat the crisis by developing new strategies to limit post-surgical narcotic use in pain management. At one Virginia hospital, an innovative approach blending two distinct procedures is showing promising results with certain urological surgery patients.  By Leo Vartorella - 11/9/18

With the increase of illicit drug use and overdoses, the emergency response drug naloxone should be made available over the counter, write Michael Hufford, PhD, co-founder and CEO of Harm Reduction Therapeutics and Donald Burke, MD, dean of Pittsburgh-based Graduate School of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh,  in an op-ed published by STAT.  By Harrison Cook - 11/9/18

Researchers at the University of South Florida in Tampa conducted a study analyzing how opioid prescriptions affect children across different states.  By Harrison Cook - 11/8/18

Michigan surgical patients only take about one-quarter of their opioid prescriptions, according to a study published in JAMA Surgery.  By Harrison Cook - 11/8/18

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama will remove brand-name opioid OxyContin from its preferred drug list beginning Jan. 1, according to a news release obtained by NBC 15.  By Morgan Haefner - 11/7/18

Mac Miller, a popular Pittsburgh-based rapper, died from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol, according to a toxicology report released Nov. 5 by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.  By Harrison Cook - 11/6/18

A study published in JAMA Network Open examined the patient-level factors associated with persistent opioid use among workers' compensation claimants.  By Anuja Vaidya - 11/6/18

The FDA announced its approval Nov. 2 of a new prescription opioid called Dsuvia, despite public and medical criticism for the drug's approval in the midst of the opioid epidemic, according to STAT.  By Harrison Cook - 11/5/18

New research has potentially tied opioid use to an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation.  By Anuja Vaidya - 11/5/18

For years, providers viewed opioids as the go-to pain therapy for patients. However, many hospitals are now rethinking pain management protocols amid the ongoing opioid epidemic.  By Alia Paavola - 11/2/18

New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals now offers buprenorphine at adult medicine clinics in 18 community and hospital-based ambulatory care centers across the city, the health system annouced Nov. 1.  By Harrison Cook - 11/1/18

Amazon introduced a slate of initiatives targeted toward supporting patients with opioid use disorder Oct. 24, in honor of the opioid bill President Donald Trump recently signed into law.  By Jessica Kim Cohen - 10/30/18

The amount of infants born with neonatal abstinence syndrome in rural areas is on the rise, according to research from Minneapolis-based University of Minnesota.    By Harrison Cook - 10/29/18

Stanwood, Wash., is responding to the opioid epidemic by mobilizing its Multi-Agency Coordination group, which is typically used to respond to natural disasters, according to NPR.  By Harrison Cook - 10/29/18

President Donald Trump signed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act Oct. 24 to increase the country's opioid epidemic response efforts.  By Harrison Cook - 10/25/18

CMS on Oct. 23 introduced the Maternal Opioid Misuse model, which seeks to provide better care coordination for pregnant and postpartum Medicaid members with opioid use disorder.  By Harrison Cook - 10/24/18

Fatal drug overdoses have fallen nationwide over the last six months, according to a CDC report. However, health experts warn against early claims of the opioid and drug epidemic ending.  By Harrison Cook - 10/23/18

Most hospitals are leaning on EMRs to support their opioid management programs, according to a KLAS Research report.  By Jessica Kim Cohen - 10/23/18

The Office of National Drug Control Policy, Ad Council and Truth Initiative created a new drug prevention ad as part of the White House's "The Truth About Opioids" public awareness campaign, which targets young adults between ages 18 to 24.  By Harrison Cook - 10/22/18