Opioids

Age-adjusted drug overdose deaths stabilized from 2021 to 2022

March 22, 2024 - A CDC analysis noted that between 2021 and 2022, the age-adjusted rate of drug overdose deaths did not change significantly, a variation from previous years where the rates climbed overall. However, the CDC notes a broader view of the rates reveals a significant increase from 8.2 deaths per 100,000 individuals in 2002 to 32.6 deaths per 100,000...

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Vertex Non-Opioid Drug Is an Effective Pain Management Medication

by Veronica Salib

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, Vertex Pharmaceuticals issued a press release announcing that VX-548, its non-opioid pain management drug, effectively reduced pain compared to the placebo across multiple...

FDA Recalls 3 IV Drugs from Leiters Health for Potential Superpotency

by Veronica Salib

On January 5, 2024, the United States FDA published an announcement detailing a voluntary recall of multiple intravenous (IV) drugs manufactured by Leiters Health. The release notes that 33 lots of IV...

Researcher Study Non-Opioid Pain Medication for Diabetic Neuropathy

by Veronica Salib

On the tail of their win as the first FDA-approved CRISPR-based gene editing therapy, Vertex Pharmaceuticals announced the results of a phase 2 clinical trial for VX-548, a non-opioid pain management...

FDA Approves Non-Opioid Painkiller for Mild-to-Moderate Pain

by Veronica Salib

Earlier this week, Hyloris Pharmaceuticals, a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Belgium, announced the approval of a potent non-opioid painkiller in the United States. The US Food and Drug...

Understanding Pharmaceutical Drug Addiction: Types, Signs, Treatments

by Veronica Salib

Drug addiction and treatment have become an increasingly serious problem in the United States healthcare system. Substance use disorders are life-threatening mental illnesses that continue to take lives, alter families, and burden...

FDA Approves Second OTC Naloxone for Opioid Overdose Management

by Veronica Salib

Four months after approving the first over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone, the FDA has made another harm reduction tool available by supporting a second OTC Naloxone nasal spray, RiVive. The nasal spray...

FDA Issues Draft Guidance on Devices for Opioid Use Disorder

by Veronica Salib

On July 27, 2023, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance titled Clinical Considerations for Studies of Device Intended to Treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) as part...

White House National Response Plan Addresses Xylazine, Fentanyl Risk

by Veronica Salib

A statement issued by the White House on July 11, 2023, outlined a national response plan to address the ongoing risk of fentanyl laced with xylazine. As more illicit drug overdoses are linked to...

Men in the US Are More Likely to Have a Fatal Overdose Than Women

by Veronica Salib

As the opioid epidemic in the United States continues to progress, a recent study revealed that men are more likely to have a fatal overdose than women. Data from a study — led by researchers...

Mallinckrodt Shareholders Doubt Company Will Pay $200M Opioid Settlement

by Hayden Schmidt

United Kingdom-based Mallinckrodt is considering repeat bankruptcy as its $200 million opioid payment comes due. A Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing from June 5 showed that company...

Government Health Leaders Request Additional Data on Drug Test Strips

by Veronica Salib

Although drug-checking tools such as fentanyl test strips have been championed as critical harm-reduction tools in the opioid epidemic, additional data and research are required to assess their...

Sackler Family Granted Legal Immunity Despite Opioid Epidemic

by Veronica Salib

The Sackler family is getting away with falsely marketing OxyContin, a highly addictive opioid manufactured by their company, Purdue Pharma, as non-addictive. The United States Court of Appeals for the...

FDA Approves New Opioid Reversal Nasal Spray, A Harm Reduction Tool

by Veronica Salib

On May 22, 2023, the FDA approved Opvee, a nalmefene hydrochloride nasal spray that can reverse an opioid overdose in patients 12 and older. This approval adds a harm-reduction tool to existing tools,...

DEA Issues Public Safety Alert for Fentanyl Mixed with Xylazine

by Veronica Salib

On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a public safety alert on fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Linked to a press release by the Biden...

FDA Requires Mail-Back Envelops with Opioid Analgesics Dispensation

by Veronica Salib

As a modification to the Opioid Analgesic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (OA REMS), the FDA will now require mail-back envelops with opioid analgesic dispensation in outpatient settings to...

FDA Grants Approval to Emergent BioSolutions for Over-the-Counter Narcan

by Hayden Schmidt

On Wednesday, the FDA approved Narcan nasal spray for non-prescription over-the-counter use, making it available to consumers across various markets and retail locations. The approval went to Emergent...

Flexible Prescribing Did Not Increase Buprenorphine Overdose Deaths

by Veronica Salib

Despite common misconceptions, researchers published an article in JAMA Network Open noting that buprenorphine overdose-related deaths did not increase during the COVID-19 pandemic when providers were...

FDA Considers New Strategy to Boost Safe Opioid Disposal

by Samantha McGrail

FDA is seeking public comment on a potential change that would require opioid analgesics used in outpatient settings to be dispensed with prepaid mail-back envelopes and that pharmacies provide patient...

FDA Issues Draft Guidance for Development of Non-Opioid Analgesics

by Samantha McGrail

The FDA recently issued draft guidance to foster the development of non-addictive alternatives to opioids to manage acute pain and prevent new addiction. The guidance provides recommendations to...

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