ER Docs Turning to Buprenorphine to Combat the Opioid Crisis

According to a recent report the number of buprenorphine prescriptions written in California emergency departments rose from only 2% in 2017 to 16% in 2022. At least one out of every three patients filled two buprenorphine prescriptions within 40 days of the first ER visit.

Most of us know that the ongoing opioid crisis has ravaged families and communities in recent years. The number of emergency room visits related to opioid misuse increased steadily since 1999.

There are various FDA approved medications to treat opioid withdrawal. Buprenorphine has proven to be particularly safe and effective. It binds opioid receptors in the brain to reduce drug cravings and ease withdrawal symptoms. However this medicine doesn’t produce a euphoric feeling and people using buprenorphine won’t feel high. That means there’s very little risk of misuse or addiction if any at all.

The increase in buprenorphine prescriptions in the ER is no coincidence. It’s a part of a concerted effort to get patients into recovery as quickly as possible.

For instance, an organization called BRIDGE started an initiative in California that allows emergency departments to prescribe this medication for opioid use disorder. The program is designed to increase treatment access for people with substance use disorder.

The emergency room is often the first point of contact people using opioids have with any kind of healthcare system. This could make it the perfect place to make a difference in their lives.

The increasing number of buprenorphine prescriptions written by clinicians is a hopeful sign but there is more work to be done. The percentage of patients in continuous treatment is declining. This trend may indicate a need to continue investing in emergency department resources and programs like BRIDGE to help with ongoing treatment.

Hopefully patients will take advantage of the help made increasingly accessible in ER departments nationwide. This may indeed be a pivotal moment in stemming the tide of opioid addiction.

Surgeon General Warns of Alcohol-Cancer Connection

Excessive alcohol use is a pervasive problem throughout the U.S. Alcohol dependency can develop slowly, over time, and you may not realize you have developed an addiction that requires treatment.

But addiction isn’t the only risk associated with alcohol use. Alcohol consumption is a leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States says U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. The Surgeon General’s advisory draws a direct link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk. Alcohol consumption ranks behind only tobacco use and obesity as a preventable cancer risk factor.

The advisory points to growing scientific evidence of the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk. It also notes that less than 50% of Americans recognize that alcohol consumption significantly increases the risk of at least seven types of cancer.

The Surgeon General’s Advisory recommends increasing awareness to reduce deaths caused by an alcohol-cancer connection, including putting a Surgeon General’s health warning label on all beverages containing alcohol.

Dr. Murthy noted that the connection between alcohol and cancer has been well established. He asserts that alcohol is responsible for, “About 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States – greater than the 13,500 alcohol associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S.” He goes on to say that most Americans are unaware of the risks.

The risk increases for esophageal, liver, breast, colorectal, mouth, voice box and throat cancer. An estimated 16.4% of breast cancer can be attributed to alcohol consumption. And the increased cancer risk pertains to all types of alcohol rather than to hard liquor alone.

The advisory further states that the risk of cancer is proportional to consumption but the risk may increase for throat, mouth and breast cancers with as little as one drink a day. Every individual’s risk is different. Social, economic, biological and environmental factors all play a part.

The advisory contains other recommendations in addition to the updated health warning label on alcohol products. It also calls for new alcohol consumption guideline limits to reflect the increased cancer risk.

Community groups and public health professionals should increase education efforts to alert the public that alcohol consumption is a modifiable cancer risk factor. Healthcare providers should inform patients about the risks, increase alcohol screenings, and refer for alcohol detoxification and addiction treatment as needed.

Huge Heroin Interception in Brownsville, Texas

The United States Customs and Border Protection in Texas recently seized more than $158,000 in heroin. The interdiction occurred at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge.

The January 15 seizure began when a 2000 Chevrolet was referred to Customs and Border Protection for a secondary inspection following a primary examination. Some of their enforcement tools included a canine unit and a non-intrusive inspection system. This technology allows officers to detect drugs and weapons as well as other contraband that could pose radiological or nuclear threats to the country.

The non-intrusive inspection system can also increase the speed at which legitimate trade and passengers can move. Officers can screen and find drugs and other items using handheld devices for streamlined examinations.

The officers found over nine pounds of suspected black tar heroin in the bust.

Homeland Security special agents immediately arrested the driver of the Chevrolet. Border Patrol also seized the vehicle and the narcotics. A criminal investigation has been launched.

We know the border can be a primary port of entry for various drugs. But the use of specific enforcement tools can help reduce the amount of illicit substances spreading into the United States. Searches such as these aren’t preventing the traffic flow but they are helping block the flow of dangerous substances sliding into the country.

It is only one small piece of assistance for the opioid crisis but still a definite step in the right direction. Such innovative tactics improve safety for residents across the US.

For Many, Dry January Is Becoming Sober 2025

You might have heard of Dry January on social media platforms or television. During this time, people swear off booze for a month. Many people participate in the trend as a way of committing to a more fit year or slacking off drinking too much for a while. A recent report shows millions of Americans are becoming curious about sobriety beyond January.

About 60 percent of Americans have reported drinking occasionally since the 1940s according to The New Consumer Coefficient Capital. This number has remained consistent until now. The statistic is starting to make a downward shift. According to the report 26% of Americans polled are planning to drink less this year. Why the sudden change after approximately eighty years?

As we start a new year we often reflect on the old one. Did we accomplish our goals and what would we want to do better this year? For some of us it’s all about health. Of those surveyed 32% cut back on drinking to live longer and 24% made the change to shed some weight. Another 23% stopped drinking for mental health reasons.

Even for the occasional drinker we now know that no amount of alcohol is healthy. It can affect our sleep patterns, increase cardiac issues and many other problems. The World Health Organization in 2022 deemed alcohol unsafe at any amount.

Dry January helps people reassess their relationship with drinking. It gives them time to notice how much better they feel when they aren’t consuming alcohol, and they may become more aware of the role it plays in their daily activities. It may even illustrate how much fun is possible without even a sip of alcohol.

The “Sober Curious Movement” is relatively new but more people are finding ways to socialize and enjoy a night out without alcohol. Today there are sober bars and after work socials that don’t include drinking. It’s not clear yet where this new curiosity about sobriety will lead but for now, it seems that the dry season is extending far beyond Dry January.

Brain Structure Differences Associated with Early Adolescent Substance Use

The National Institute of Health (NIH) conducted a study of almost 10,000 adolescents to compare the brain structure between those who did and didn’t use substances before the age of 15. It appears that there were structural brain differences before any substances were used, reports show.

Experts speculate that maybe structural differences could play a role in early substance misuse and potential addiction. Environmental, genetic and other neurological factors could also play a role.

Nora Volkow, M.D., who is the director of the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) asserts, “Understanding the complex interplay between the factors that contribute and that protect against drug use is crucial for informing effective prevention interventions and providing support for those who may be most vulnerable.”

The data were derived from the largest longitudinal study of brain development and health in the United States among adolescents and children. The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Developmental Study (ABCD Study) was supported by NIDA and nine other institutes.

In St. Louis, Washington University researchers used the data from the ABCD Study to assess MRI scans. Children between the ages of nine and 11 years old were followed over a three year period.

The goal was to see if the brain structure captured in the MRI’s had any association with initiating substances. Although other substances were assessed, the primary substances that were monitored were cannabis, nicotine and alcohol. Out of the 9,804 participants, 3,460 reported back with initiation substances before the age of 15.

The researchers identified five structural differences in the brain on a global level in the scans of those who reported they’d already used substances and those who had not. Researchers also identified 39 structural differences on the regional level, meaning that these structural differences were localized to smaller areas of the subject’s brain.

Researchers also noted structural differences depending on the substance that the participants used. The most significantly impacted areas of the brain are those linked to impulsivity and sensation seeking.

Alex Miller, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Indiana University and the study’s co-author. Dr. Miller hopes that “these types of studies, in conjunction with other data on environmental exposures and genetic risk, could help change how we think about the development of substance use disorders and inform more accurate models of addiction moving forward.”

Those involved in research have also shared that these studies should not be used as a tool for diagnostics.

Accidental Drug Exposure Killing Pets in Record Numbers

According to a recent report, hundreds of pet cats and dogs in the US and Canada are unintentionally poisoned each year. Is this from prescription medication that was accidentally left out? Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

According to data from the U.S. Pet Poison Control Helpline, the majority of accidental drug exposures among companion animals involve cocaine and methamphetamines that were in their owners’ homes.

The consequences are often dire for dogs or cats that ingest meth or cocaine. Death may occur quickly, according to Orrin Ware, a professor with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. No amount of exposure is healthy or safe because of the toxicity and risk of death to the animal.

The likelihood of losing the pet is high without treatment. This is why noticing when the animal is sick and getting emergency medical care is critical. Nevertheless, even prompt medical intervention may not help save their lives.

The study traced data from 2019 through 2023. The research focused on dogs and cats poisoned by cocaine or meth.

About 65% of the accidental drug exposures of cats involved cocaine. Meth was involved in 58% of unintentional drug exposures involving dogs. More than 430 dogs were poisoned by substances found in the home during the study period. Accidental overdoses are now extending to pets living with owners who use illicit substances.

The risk to animals appears to be increasing as drug legalization and use spread across the country. Recognizing the risk even small amounts of drugs pose to house pets is essential to saving animals’ lives both in the home and abroad in the community.