Tag: OUD

Monthly buprenorphine injections effective for opioid use disorders

A newly published study suggests the long-acting buprenorphine formulation BUP-XR is more effective than placebo in helping patients struggling with addiction to opioids. BUP-XR is a monthly extended-release injection.

Daily dose buprenorphine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002 and has proven to be effective in the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD). However, daily doses require patients to recommit to taking medication every day and can result in cravings near the end of the 24-hour cycle. Although the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) did not fund this current study, it did support the development of buprenorphine as a treatment for OUD. NIDA’s support also contributed to the development and approval of another long-acting buprenorphine formulation — a six-month subcutaneous implant for some patients who have stabilized on daily dosing (Probuphine®).

Full story at drugabuse.org

Cascade of Care model recommended for opioid crisi

A team of NIDA-funded scientists has offered a critical look at how to build an improved framework of care for the identification and treatment of people with opioid use disorder (OUD).

Building upon the successful Cascade of Care model developed in 2017 to manage patients with HIV and AIDS, the study authors lay out a plan to expand OUD prevention and care at the state and federal levels, while customizing services to fit the unique needs of individuals and their communities. The authors recommend a framework that encompasses four interrelated domains: prevention, identification, treatment and recovery. People at varying stages of risk and need reside at various points within that cascading framework.

Full story at drugabuse.org

New opioid treatment resources for emergency department clinicians

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) today announced the availability of informational resources for clinicians interested in initiating buprenorphine treatment in emergency department settings. Buprenorphine is one of several medicines available for use in many emergency departments to treat opioid use disorders (OUD). The materials were developed by emergency department specialists at Yale University with grant support from NIDA, and contract support from NIDA’s Clinical Trials Network. NIDA is part of the National Institutes of Health.

Emergency department clinicians face unique challenges when faced with patients suffering from opioid overdoses or other effects of OUD. They can often reverse overdoses using the medication naloxone, however, that medication alone does not constitute treatment for the addiction itself. This makes the emergency setting an ideal place for clinicians to begin treatment conversations with patients, however, there have been few tools available to guide them. Since 2002, emergency clinicians have been able to administer buprenorphine to help patients manage opioid withdrawal symptoms, but the practice is still new in many emergency department settings.

Full story at drugabuse.org

Quantum Units Education: New CEU Courses

Opioid Use Disorder: Partnering Clients, Health Care, and Addiction Professionals

Opioid misuse has caused a growing nationwide epidemic of OUD and unintentional overdose deaths.  This CEU course provides information for professionals working with individual who take a Food and Drug Administration-approved medication for opioid use disorder.

Chronic Pain and Opioid Misuse

The crisis of prescription opioid related harms has focused attention toward identifying and treating high-risk populations.  This CE course reviews the epidemiology and clinical management of comorbid chronic pain and prescription opioid or other substance misuse.

For more on these new courses and many more, visit our course page

 

Quantum Units Education: New CEU Courses

Opioid Use Disorder: Medications, Screening, and Assessment

The number of patients presenting with opioid use disorder (OUD) in medical clinics, community health centers, and private practices is increasing.  This CEU course offers a general introduction to providing medications to address OUD and addresses most personal healthcare needs, development of sustained partnerships with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community.

Opioid Use Disorder: Medications, Screening, and Assessment – For Social Workers

The number of patients presenting with opioid use disorder (OUD) in medical clinics, community health centers, and private practices is increasing.  This CEU course offers social workers a general introduction to OUD medications and addresses most personal healthcare needs, development of sustained partnerships with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community.

Responding to Girls in Gangs

This CEU course identifies girls’ reasons for joining gangs, their experiences and activities related to gang involvement, and their motivations and strategies for transitioning away from gangs.  Also provided are recommendations for those who are interested in improving outcomes for gang-involved girls.

For more on these new courses and many more, visit Quantum Units Education