Tag Archive

Oh, the pain….whether it comes from an accident, surgery, or other cause, the narcotic painkiller du jour prescribed by doctors far and wide was OxyContin. Available legally by prescription, this substance came on the market in 1996 from its maker, Purdue Pharma. And when it did, an aggressive sales and marketing strategy touted its benefits. […]

At first glance, the opioid epidemic seems like an insurmountable problem. According to the CDC, over 70,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2017, nearly 50,000 of which were opioid related. Meanwhile, a recent SAMHSA survey found that nearly 20 million people struggled with some form substance use disorder (SUD) in 2018. And yet, there […]

Fentanyl is a powerful prescription opioid used to treat severe pain. Rates of fentanyl addiction have escalated in recent years, leading to an increase in overdoses and deaths. Some fentanyl is diverted from medical purposes for illicit use; however, much of the street supply of fentanyl is manufactured illegally. Overdose is a serious concern with fentanyl, […]

Codeine is an opioid analgesic that is also used as a cough suppressant medication. It is a commonly abused drug and can lead to tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction. Possible long-term consequences of codeine misuse include frequent oversedation, a risk of overdose, chronic constipation, sexual dysfunction, low sex drive, and disrupted menstrual cycles. What Is […]

They’re called supervised injection sites (SIS). You may know them by other terms too. These include drug consumption facilities (DCF), fix rooms, medically supervised injection centers (MSIC), safe injection sites, safer injection facilities (SIF), and overdose prevention sites.  Although their names may differ, they function the same way. They provide a service – actually, a […]

The opioid epidemic is perhaps the worst public health crisis the U.S. has ever endured. Each year, tens of thousands of individuals die of opioid-related overdoses, while millions more suffer from addiction. To win the war against opioids, the country needs every weapon in its arsenal. Unfortunately, one of the most effective weapons in that […]

Regardless of the negative consequences of substance use, and despite ongoing education and prevention campaigns, many people still use drugs. The evidence suggests that stigmatizing or locking up those who use drugs does not solve the problem—or the other problems related to addiction, such as the spread of HIV, overdoses, or drug-related crime. Alternative approaches […]

Viral hepatitis is a disease that often results in liver inflammation and damage. If you inject drugs, it’s important to know how to protect yourself from becoming infected with the viruses that can cause different types of hepatitis. Most prevention efforts focus on sexual activity and injection practices. If left untreated, hepatitis can cause a […]

Many individuals who use intravenous drugs are at high risk of contracting numerous bloodborne infections, including HIV and hepatitis viruses.1 Needle exchange programs can help prevent the spread of these diseases by providing clean needles and disposing of used ones. Individuals can also get other services at these programs, such as medical care and screenings. […]

Drug use—and the behaviors that sometimes accompany it—can increase the risk of contracting HIV. Studies show that about 30,000 new cases of HIV are attributed to sexual contact, and around 2,000 people contract HIV from injecting drugs.1 Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug equipment can expose people to HIV.2 However, certain types of substance use […]