Opiate Substitution Treatment Reduces Risk of Death by 85 Percent, Study Finds
A new study by researchers from Bristol and London have found that opiate substitution treatment can reduce the risk of mortality from opiate overdose or other drug-related events by about 85 percent. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, found that the length of time people were given opiate substitution treatment (OST) significantly affected the success of the treatment. People...
Read MoreAddiction and Crime Creates a Vicious Cycle
It is not unusual for a drug addict to find himself in a cycle of crime and drug use. As individuals throughout the nation – and even the world – develop addictions to painkillers, crimes committed to support the habit continue to increase. A recent End Prohibition report focused on the issue of such cycles as one third of the 265 patients at Bluewater Health’s Addiction...
Read MoreNew Research Points to Brain-Related Reasons for Relapse in Cocaine Addicts
Many people find it very difficult to quit using cocaine after they’ve become addicted, as cravings for the drug can be hard to resist, which often leads to relapse—even after long periods of abstinence. Researchers at Linköping University in Sweden have discovered that a certain molecule in the brain that, if targeted by treatment, could help prevent relapse in cocaine-addicted...
Read MoreLock Boxes Required in Massachusetts Pharmacies to Help Prevent Drug Diversion
With the ongoing problem of medicine cabinets as targets for drug addicts seeking their next fix, lawmakers are searching for ways to help reduce the risk to the individuals in the home and communities, as well as reducing the volume of drugs on the streets. Now, according to a recent Massachusetts news release, the state has passed a law requiring all pharmacies that dispense schedule II, III,...
Read MoreGunfire Resulting in Woman’s Death Driven by Drug Use
The East Hills area of Pittsburg recently reported a killing. A woman lost her life during a gun battle between police and a group of men. The gunfight resulted from a botched robbery of drugs and cash. The Post Gazette reported that a third man, Amir Ferguson, has been charged in the incident. This defendant told detectives that during the crime he was high on Ecstasy and cocaine. Ferguson was...
Read MoreSchedule III Controlled Substances; Lower Risk?
Substances for sale and distribution in the United States intended for human use – and especially human ingestion – are regulated by the federal government. This is true for food, medications and other substances. In the case of medication, the government keeps a very close eye on these substances, involving the Justice Department, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Department of...
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