Bringing DC healthcare providers the latest news, events, and resources to improve care for patients with substance use disorders and chronic pain management.
Trends in Self-Reported Non-Fatal Overdose and Patterns of Substance Use Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Prospective Cohort of Adults who Have Injected Drugs - Baltimore, Maryland, 2014-2022
A recent study investigated the evolving drug use patterns of 721 individuals who inject drugs from 2014 to 2022 and found an 87% reduction in injection drug use at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The emerging fentanyl–xylazine syndemic in the USA: challenges and future directions
This commentary addresses the rising involvement of xylazine in opioid overdoses and proposes three responses: improved drug supply monitoring, healthcare provider education on xylazine-related issues, and expanded naloxone distribution with comprehensive overdose response measures due to the lack of an approved xylazine reversal agent.
A big insurer decides to cover naloxone for overdose; will others follow?
Naloxone was approved for over-the-counter status in March, with Narcan hitting the shelves at the end of August. Despite this step towards increased access, cost is still a barrier, calling for insurance carriers to cover this overdose reversal medication.
