Stricter rules for prescribing opioids may not be the only answer to curbing addiction to painkillers
opioid
Hazelden Introduces Antiaddiction Medications into Recovery for First Time
Recovery from opioid addiction may no longer mean complete abstinence from drugs
Could an Addiction-Proof Painkiller Finally Be on the Horizon?
New research on a drug that boosts the pain-relieving effect of opioids, while cutting their addictiveness, hints tantalizingly at non-addictive treatment options for pain patients
Abuse-Proof OxyContin Pushes Addicts to Heroin and Other Opioids, Survey Finds
Abuse-deterrent reformulations of widely misused prescription painkillers may not be the “magic bullets” many hoped they would be in the battle against addiction
Scientists Identify Opium Poppy Genes that Make Promising Cancer Drug
A new study suggests that we can scale up production of poppy plants that produce a potent anti-cancer agent.
Recreational Use of Prescription Painkillers Linked to Other Drug Problems in Teens
Nearly 1 in 4 high school seniors has ever taken a prescription opioid pain reliever either medically or recreationally, according to a new study. Nonmedical use of these drugs was associated with a higher risk of smoking, …
Number of Babies Born Suffering from Drug Withdrawal Triples
The rate of babies born to mothers who use prescription painkillers during pregnancy has risen sharply over the last decade. Though the long-term effects of such drug exposure are uncertain, true harm can come of labeling these …
The Conundrum of Risky Painkillers for Veterans with PTSD
War veterans with severe pain may need drugs like morphine and hydrocodone to manage it, but the medications are associated with higher rates of overdose and self-harm in those with post-traumatic stress.
In the Brain, Broken Hearts Hurt Like Broken Bones
Sticks and stones may break your bones, but names can hurt just as much.
A Lifesaving Overdose Antidote Should Be Made More Widely Available
A new CDC report finds that naloxone, a drug that reverses overdose, could save thousands of lives if public health agencies distributed it more broadly
Getting a Better Buzz from Alcohol
We drink for the buzz, and researchers have learned how alcohol makes us feel so good — some more so than others
Could Medical Marijuana Reduce Patients’ Need for Opioid Painkillers?
A small, new study backs a long-standing claim of advocates of medical marijuana: pain patients can safely use cannabis while taking opioid painkillers, and may actually need fewer pills because of it.
Why Swearing Sparingly Can Help Kill Pain
Letting loose with a satisfying string of expletives can significantly reduce physical pain, research has shown. But according to a new study, it doesn’t work as well if you make a habit of cursing frequently.