Naloxone, a medication used to pull individuals from the brink of an opioid overdose, can save lives. That’s the message government agencies and medical societies are broadcasting as they strengthen calls to increase access to this prescription drug, known as an opioid antagonist. Naloxone counters the effects of opioids and can reverse an opioid overdose in minutes. Opioid abuse and … Read More
DEA reschedules hydrocodone medications
The federal government has placed new restrictions on the prescribing of medications containing the opioid hydrocodone. Effective Oct. 6, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has published a final rule reclassifying hydrocodone combination products (HCPs), defined as medications combining hydrocodone and another drug, from Schedule III to the more restrictive Schedule II. The proposed rule follows the recommendation of a … Read More
Opioid Overdose Continues to Rise
A worrisome trend continues. Despite medical and government efforts, opioid-related deaths continue to rise across the country. According to the CDC, drug overdose death rates have more than doubled in the past 15 years and now take more lives than automobile accidents among 25 to 64-year-olds. Rates of abuse seem highest in white, middle-aged males and translate to a financial … Read More