opioids

The Surgeon General recommends more Americans carry naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote.

Health & Safety

Reversing An Overdose Isn't Complicated, But Getting The Antidote Can Be

7:55am May 07, 2018

by Jake Harper

The U.S. surgeon general has recommended that naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal drug, be widely available to consumers. But there are several barriers to consumers' ability to acquire it.

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Risk from opioids get a lot of attention. But benzodiazepines, like Valium and Xanax, pose problems, too, says John Schumann, an internal medicine doctor.

Benzodiazepines: America's 'Other Prescription Drug Problem'

3:26pm April 26, 2018

by John Henning Schumann

Drugs like Valium, Xanax and Ativan are more popular than ever. Frequently used to treat anxiety, the medicines can be risky, especially when mixed with alcohol or opioids.

Parents Lose Their Daughter And Their Life Savings To Opioids

11:33am April 19, 2018

by Yuki Noguchi

Last year, we traveled to Muncie, Ind., to report on the economic impact of the opioid epidemic. We returned recently and discovered that economic losses don't tell the story of all that's being lost.

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Physical therapist Ingrid Peele coaches Kim Brown through strengthening exercises to help her with her chronic pain, at the OSF Central Illinois Pain Center in Peoria.

Health & Safety

For Chronic Pain, A Change In Habits Can Beat Opioids For Relief

1:11pm April 06, 2018

by Christine Herman

There's a growing consensus among pain specialists that lifestyle changes can be more effective than drugs in managing chronic pain. But the alternative approach requires patient commitment.

Researchers looked at states with medical marijuana dispensaries and those that allow home cultivation.

Opioid Use Lower In States That Eased Marijuana Laws

4:29pm April 02, 2018

by Richard Harris

Researchers looked at states with medical marijuana dispensaries and those that allow home cultivation. They found lower use of opioids, when compared with states where marijuana remains illegal.

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When it comes to chronic pain, how do patients and doctors find the right treatment?

Questions And Answers About Opioids And Chronic Pain

8:09pm March 09, 2018

Are opioids the best way to manage long-term pain? NPR's Ari Shapiro talked with Dr. Ajay Wasan, a pain specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, to find out.

Renea Molden was able to stop taking opioid painkillers with the help of non-opioid alternatives.

Opioids Don't Beat Other Medications For Chronic Pain

7:07pm March 06, 2018

by Alex Smith

Nonopioid treatments for common conditions that leave people in chronic pain fare as well as opioid treatments and have fewer risks and side effects.

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Emergency rooms are seeing a jump in opioid overdoses. Timely treatment with naloxone can reverse the effects of opioids.

Jump In Overdoses Shows Opioid Epidemic Has Worsened

6:19pm March 06, 2018

by Rob Stein

Opioid overdoses increased 30 percent nationwide between 2016 and 2017, with some places showing even more dramatic spikes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Opioids could make some patients' pain worse.

Health & Safety

When Opioids Make Pain Worse

6:56pm March 03, 2018

by Clayton Dalton

For some people, something as simple as having an IV line inserted can be excruciating. An emergency room doctor noticed a strange pattern. Many of these sensitive patients were regular opioid users.

Colorado State Rep. Brittany Pettersen (right) is advocating for more treatment money for opioid addiction, in part because of the substance abuse struggles of her mother, Stacy (left).

States Seek More Federal Funding For Opioid Treatment, Not More Promises

11:33am March 01, 2018

The Trump administration has talked about prioritizing the opioid crisis, but states have seen little in the way of new resources. And, in some states, getting into treatment is becoming even harder.

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