Articles tagged “opioid-addiction”

Danny Whitmire, who runs Jumpstart Ministries in Walnut Ridge, paid an undercover agent $100 for pills he believed were oxycodone, court records say.

A U.S. bankruptcy judge rejected Richard Sackler and Lin Gao's bid to keep their Greenwich estate out of the $7.4 billion Purdue Pharma opioid settlement.

A JAMA Psychiatry trial found eight weeks of Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement changed prefrontal activity in people on methadone or buprenorphine, tracking with less craving.

Oregon opened a New Season methadone and buprenorphine clinic in Gresham with $1.8 million in opioid settlement money, the 11th program the state board has funded.

Prosecutors charged Clara Wilkerson, three doctors and a clinic operator with selling opioid prescriptions for $250 to $500 in cash at fake Detroit clinics.

A British Columbia study of 17 youth, caregivers and providers produced eight recommendations for making opioid agonist treatment work for patients aged 16 to 24.

Interviews with 18 Baltimore methadone patients found money trouble and constant drug exposure pulled them off treatment, and that patients built their own defenses.

In a JAMA Network Open study of 399,500 Medicaid patients, starting above 50 morphine milligram equivalents raised the odds of opioid use disorder or overdose.

Washington is among 22 states billing Medicaid for work inside jails. King County now offers release planning to nearly all 1,400 people in its two lockups.

Gov. Kay Ivey awarded $280,806 in federal Justice Department money for 12-month residential substance abuse treatment at eight Alabama prisons.

A systematic review of 25 studies finds methadone maintenance prolongs the QT interval, with risk higher at larger doses, in women and with benzodiazepines.

Among 110,136 veterans with opioid use disorder, White patients' medication rates rose to 35% by 2022 while Black patients reached 29.3%, a new VA study finds.

Weber County, Utah, awarded settlement grants to a recovery court and a 90-day treatment program, and plans an endowment modeled on the state's permanent fund.

Colorado's attorney general filed a Denver court complaint alleging Alvogen sold generic oxycodone for more than a decade without required suspicious order monitoring.

DEA and more than 4,300 law enforcement partners will collect unused prescription medications at 4,400-plus sites on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Weill Cornell and Penn researchers engineered AM-3, a morphine-based compound switched on by light, producing pain relief in mice without addiction or breathing risks.

Jose Llerena, 49, admitted paying recruits to pose as patients at South Florida clinics so a pharmacist already convicted of illegal dispensing could fill their prescriptions.

A $13.3 million Arnold Ventures grant funds a Pittsburgh randomized trial of weekly semaglutide for alcohol and opioid use disorder, launching in early 2027.

Kent's hearing examiner cleared a 2,883-square-foot expansion so Therapeutic Health Services can open the city's second opioid treatment program.

A commentary in Supportive Care in Cancer argues that linking opioid doses to pain, not fixed schedules, may separate therapeutic use from addiction risk.

Somerset County, Maine's jail won a $3.1 million SAMHSA grant to fund its extended-release buprenorphine program until jails can bill Medicaid.

The FDA is taking public comment through Nov. 20 on how the first federally funded ibogaine trials should handle dosing, cardiac monitoring and safety.

A Northwestern study in the journal Brain found long-term prescription opioid users reported the same back pain as matched patients taking none.

A state performance audit found all 100 sampled Medicaid opioid treatment claims missed at least one requirement and flagged $875,696 in overpayments.

In interviews with 20 people recovering from opioid use disorder, Johns Hopkins researchers found 70% reached a rock bottom but only 10% said it drove them to stop.

A Duke-led survey of 585 pharmacists finds most see benefits in dispensing methadone through community pharmacies, but few know the model is already legal.

Psyence BioMed's Texas unit partnered with DEA-registered Benuvia to plan U.S. manufacturing of pharmaceutical-grade ibogaine, a drug studied for opioid use disorder.

In mice, deleting the EphB1 receptor made morphine relieve pain more effectively by keeping mu-opioid receptors on the surface of nerve cells.

A Vanderbilt-led study of 9,360 Tennessee pregnancies found more days of buprenorphine or naltrexone around delivery was linked to lower overdose and death risk.

Jerry Jones III, a former emergency physician, admitted trading buprenorphine and stimulant prescriptions worth nearly $295,000 in mobile payments.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a consumer fraud lawsuit accusing Express Scripts and Optum of steering opioid prescriptions for profit.

Proposition 132 would make possessing any amount of fentanyl a felony with mandatory prison time and sharply raise penalties for selling it, at a cost of millions.

Federal officials cleared Maine's Whole Person Care Waiver, letting MaineCare cover reentry services up to 60 days before release from jail or prison.

Across 234,944 Medicaid opioid-related encounters, 14% filled buprenorphine within 30 days, and Black and Hispanic patients were least likely to start or stay on it.

UC San Diego receives a five-year, $12.6 million NIDA award to launch the Polysubstance Addiction Research Center studying cocaine, opioids and alcohol.

BAART Programs adds office-based buprenorphine treatment at 11 opioid treatment centers in six states, two days after sister brand MedMark expanded at 25 sites.

Yakima County's first inpatient medical detox facility begins accepting patients, bringing medication-assisted withdrawal care to a county that lost 90 people to overdoses in 2025.

JAMA Network Open study suggests methadone may reduce death risk 22% more than buprenorphine for opioid overdose survivors, though experts question clinical significance.

Senators Markey and Paul reintroduce MOTAA 2.0 to expand methadone access beyond clinics, facing fierce opposition from treatment providers who warn of diversion risks.

Governor Newsom launches CA Bridge Connect, a first-in-the-nation free service offering immediate same-day help for Californians seeking opioid addiction treatment.

Iowa's new I-BEACON program provides round-the-clock clinical guidance to physicians treating opioid addiction, funded by the state's opioid settlement.

Vanderbilt Health opens enrollment for the TAB study, a randomized trial testing whether the GLP-1 medication tirzepatide can help stabilize patients on buprenorphine and prevent relapse.

University of Tennessee audit uncovers serious problems in Dr. Craig Towers' influential study promoting detox for pregnant women with opioid addiction, raising ethical concerns about patient consent.

Vanderbilt University researchers begin testing whether GLP-1 medications used for diabetes and obesity can help prevent relapse in patients with opioid use disorder.

Fewer than 39,000 Americans under 26 filled buprenorphine prescriptions in 2023, a decline from 2017, even as youth overdose deaths surged 25%.

Survey data reveals over 75% of opioid treatment programs adopted flexible take-home medication policies, but advocates question whether cultural shift reaches patients who need it most.

Connecticut has invested more than $4 million in opioid settlement funds into its first state-funded mobile methadone units, with a rural northeast van starting Aug. 18.

Four years after Colorado required county jails to provide MOUD and post their policies, nearly 40% have no publicly available policy, CU Anschutz researchers found.

An economic analysis finds Mindfulness-Oriented Recovery Enhancement saves $12 for every dollar spent on opioid misuse — more than $324,000 per patient over a lifetime.

Sublocade maker Indivior will merge with Supernus Pharmaceuticals in an all-stock deal creating a $2.2 billion CNS biopharmaceutical company.

Vancouver, Wash., approved a five-year, $4.94 million contract for the Cowlitz Indian Tribe to operate the city's mobile opioid treatment program.

JAMA Network Open study of 36,752 patients finds buprenorphine-naloxone reduces nonfatal opioid overdose risk compared to extended-release naltrexone following medical detox.

House lawmakers introduce MOTAA 2.0 to allow pharmacy-based methadone prescribing, expanding access to the 80% of U.S. counties without opioid treatment programs.

New research finds that more than 93% of rural U.S. counties have no Medicare-enrolled opioid treatment program, creating deadly barriers to methadone access for older adults.

Texas begins first state-funded Phase 1 clinical trials of ibogaine for opioid use disorder, PTSD, and traumatic brain injuries with additional legislative funding.

Maine's 15 county jails spent an estimated $12.6 million on addiction and mental health care last year, leaning on grants and opioid settlement funds officials call unsustainable.

Oregon, Rhode Island and Michigan have shelved plans to start Medicaid before release from jail, and only four of 19 approved states have programs running.

H.R. 9790 would let board-certified addiction specialists prescribe methadone for pharmacy pickup, bypassing clinics absent from 80 percent of U.S. counties.

Arizona's Medicaid agency AHCCCS debuts a GenAI locator built on Google's Gemini that connects residents to more than 100 vetted opioid treatment providers.

Governor Kay Ivey awards $70,694 grant to implement substance abuse treatment combining medication-assisted treatment with counseling for inmates at Jefferson County Jail.

The Department of Veterans Affairs is expanding FDA-authorized virtual reality therapy to treat chronic pain in veterans, offering an eight-week home-based program that reduces reliance on opioids.

Study in Drug and Alcohol Dependence finds standard methadone and buprenorphine doses often inadequate for heavy fentanyl dependence, raising treatment retention concerns.

Delaware becomes one of the first states to implement uniform emergency department protocols for treating opioid use disorder, aiming to transform overdose visits into recovery opportunities.

Grand County, Utah demonstrates how rural communities can use opioid settlement funds to create integrated recovery systems combining clinical treatment, peer support, and community-based programs.

DyAnsys Drug Relief receives FDA clearance as a non-narcotic auricular neurostimulation device designed to alleviate opioid withdrawal symptoms during detoxification.

North Carolina's new 2026-2027 state budget allocates $80 million to the Opioid Abatement Fund for addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery services across all 100 counties.

Indivior's decision to pull extended-release buprenorphine from Australia by year-end highlights the unintended consequences of Trump's 'most favoured nations' pricing approach on addiction treatment access worldwide.

The Modernizing Opioid Treatment Access Act 2.0 would allow board-certified addiction physicians to prescribe methadone directly, breaking the monopoly of specialty clinics and bringing treatment closer to patients.

The funding package includes $96 million for the new STREETS program and $612 million for expanded behavioral health services, marking a significant federal investment in street-based outreach and community-wide recovery support.

Landmark BMJ study of 600,000+ veterans finds GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy associated with 14-25% lower risk of developing substance use disorders, including alcohol, opioids, and stimulants.

Overdoses accounted for a quarter of 46 in-custody deaths in 2025 as medication-assisted treatment waitlists leave hundreds of inmates without care, despite $8 million in opioid settlement funds earmarked for jail programs.

New research reveals the staggering tolerance levels of people who use illicit fentanyl, explaining why medication-assisted treatment protocols designed for heroin era often fail.

SAMHSA's April guidance cautioning against indefinite methadone and buprenorphine use reignites debate over medication-assisted treatment as overdose deaths decline nationwide.

Governor Hochul announces opening of Kate Rothko Center for Recovery, a 60-bed residential addiction treatment facility combining medication-assisted treatment with expressive arts programming.

A powerful synthetic opioid 10 times stronger than fentanyl has emerged in East Tennessee, claiming more than 50 lives and spreading to multiple states.

Washington University study of 600,000 veterans finds GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy associated with reduced risks of substance use disorders and fewer overdoses across alcohol, opioids, nicotine, and other drugs.

Federal researchers receive FDA approval to begin Phase I clinical trial of mitragynine, marking first government-sanctioned human study of kratom's potential therapeutic effects.

Aegis Treatment Centers launches second Mobile Medication Vehicle to bring daily opioid treatment to Amador and Calaveras counties, eliminating geographic barriers in California's Sierra foothills.

Rock Island County uses opioid settlement funds to help RICCA reopen first women's recovery home in nearly 20 years, addressing major service gap for women seeking addiction treatment in western Illinois.

Real-world data shows patients with fentanyl use disorder treated with monthly injectable buprenorphine stayed in treatment longer than those on daily sublingual formulations

Comprehensive Healthcare launches mobile unit in Ellensburg to expand medication-assisted treatment access in Kittitas County, eliminating geographic barriers for rural patients seeking opioid use disorder care.

Louisiana's Jefferson Parish plans to use $65 million in opioid settlement funds for a new drug court, raising questions about whether law enforcement or treatment providers should control addiction crisis resources.

New data from Lancaster County Prison shows medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction reduced reincarceration rates by nearly 50%, offering a model for correctional facilities nationwide.

A new review reveals that the vast majority of adolescents with opioid use disorder are denied access to life-saving medications like buprenorphine, despite FDA approval and clinical guidelines supporting their use.

SAMHSA's updated guidance states that medication-only models for opioid use disorder are inadequate, reigniting tensions between comprehensive care ideals and the practical realities of treatment access.

Illinois lawmakers approve landmark legislation requiring county jails to provide medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, addressing critical care gaps in correctional facilities.

Groundbreaking initiative brings buprenorphine and counseling to detained individuals, addressing a critical gap in addiction care within the state's criminal justice system.

Real-world evidence demonstrates extended-release buprenorphine significantly reduces opioid relapse, bloodstream infections, and healthcare utilization compared to daily oral formulations.

Ohio's Ibogaine Treatment Study Committee convenes to explore clinical trials for ibogaine-assisted therapy, spurred by Trump's executive order accelerating psychedelic research and veteran advocacy.

DEA advisory highlights escalating threat from fentanyl combined with cychlorphine, medetomidine, nitazenes, and xylazine—substances that resist naloxone and are driving overdose deaths across multiple states.

Kentucky launches statewide recovery housing certification program to address housing instability as primary barrier to sustained addiction recovery, setting standards for sober living facilities.

Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey announces $1 million investment from state's $230 million opioid settlement fund to strengthen Mainspring's integrated recovery support model in Kittery.

New NIH-funded research reveals that oral small-molecule GLP-1 drugs like orforglipron suppress hedonic feeding by modulating the central amygdala, opening potential pathways for treating substance use disorders.

A deadly synthetic opioid called cychlorphine, estimated to be 10 times more potent than fentanyl and undetectable by standard test strips, has been linked to dozens of overdose deaths across Tennessee, Arkansas, California, and other states.

New JAMA Network Open research from Yale brings together 42 national experts to develop consensus guidelines for initiating addiction medications in hospitals as fentanyl transforms treatment protocols

Arizona secures $108 million from the $7.4 billion Purdue-Sackler settlement, bringing the state's total opioid recovery to $1.2 billion amid rising overdose deaths.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announces $200 million state allocation from $7.4 billion Purdue-Sackler settlement, bringing state's total opioid recovery past $2 billion milestone

Attorney General Jeff Jackson announces North Carolina's share of $7.4 billion national settlement, bringing state's total opioid recovery funds to $1.6 billion for addiction treatment and prevention.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces $286.5 million state allocation as $7.4 billion Purdue Pharma settlement takes effect, bringing Texas opioid recoveries past $3 billion milestone

The historic $7.4 billion Purdue Pharma and Sackler family settlement becomes legally effective May 1, 2026, with states beginning to receive funds for addiction treatment and prevention programs.

Federal court sentences OxyContin maker to historic penalties, clearing path for bankruptcy settlement that includes $865 million for victims—but many will be shut out under tightened eligibility rules.

Physicians publish urgent editorial urging federal action to protect access to addiction medications during climate emergencies after Hurricane Helene exposed critical gaps.

New data presented at ASAM 2026 shows extended-release buprenorphine (Sublocade) associated with lowest overdose rates among medication options and supports remission as meaningful treatment endpoint.

State regulations force daily clinic visits and limit take-home doses, making medication-assisted treatment more burdensome than federal standards require.

State Senator Pat McMath proposes using unspent opioid settlement dollars to fund clinical research into psychedelic-assisted therapy for veterans, first responders, and people with opioid dependence.

New research reveals 20% of US pharmacies block access to buprenorphine, with independent pharmacies and southern states showing significantly higher refusal rates for this life-saving opioid addiction medication.

JAMA Network Open study finds Medicaid expansion in eight states increased buprenorphine prescriptions by over 21%, with Oklahoma seeing 43% drop in overdose deaths.

Advocates press Congress to expand Veterans Treatment Courts and restore VA benefits access for incarcerated veterans struggling with service-connected mental health and substance use disorders

New research in Journal of Psychiatric Research reveals individuals with opioid use disorder face 1.88 to 4.17 times greater odds of suicidal thoughts, with moderate cases showing highest attempt rates.

New BMJ research finds semaglutide and similar medications associated with 14% reduced risk of developing substance use disorders and 50% fewer deaths among veterans already in treatment.

Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Missouri are coordinating clinical trials of ibogaine—a Schedule I psychedelic—for opioid addiction and PTSD despite federal restrictions.

Two competing bills represent fundamentally different approaches to kratom policy—one seeks complete prohibition while the other acknowledges harm reduction uses for addiction recovery and pain management.

University of Cincinnati launches one of nation's largest trials pairing weight-loss drugs with proven addiction medication to improve treatment retention and reduce cravings.

New research from Ohio University finds primary care physicians view opioid use disorder as more treatable than diabetes, yet only 8% have ever prescribed buprenorphine, creating treatment deserts in rural America.

Proposed legislation SB 365 mandates that Connecticut emergency departments offer buprenorphine to patients with opioid use disorder, despite hospital opposition citing costs.

New Nature Mental Health study finds combining low-dose ketamine with mindfulness training improves outcomes for people receiving buprenorphine treatment, opening door to psychedelic-assisted interventions

Somerset County commissioners chose to protect a jail Sublocade program with zero overdose deaths over prevention services as opioid settlement funds run short.

New study finds NET Device reduces opioid and stimulant use for 3 months post-treatment, offering hope for polysubstance addiction amid no approved medications for stimulants

Cychlorphine, an emerging synthetic opioid more potent than fentanyl, has been connected to at least 16 overdose deaths in East Tennessee since October. Federal authorities track 22 samples nationwide as harm reduction officials warn naloxone may require multiple doses.

Mississippi Senate passes HB 314, allocating $5M from opioid settlement funds to join Texas and Arizona in FDA clinical trials of ibogaine for opioid addiction and PTSD treatment.

Weill Cornell research shows state laws eliminating insurance prior authorization for buprenorphine don't significantly improve 180-day retention rates, highlighting need for broader policy interventions.

Civil rights lawsuit alleges Missouri DOC and Centurion Health deny life-saving medication to prisoners with opioid use disorder, despite $7M in settlement funds and rampant drug availability.

Washington University analysis of 600,000+ VA patients finds GLP-1s tied to 50% reduction in drug-related deaths and lower risk across alcohol, opioid, cocaine, and nicotine use disorders.

Missouri's Veterans Mental Health Innovation Act would fund FDA ibogaine clinical trials for opioid use disorder and traumatic brain injury, joining Texas and Arizona in breakthrough therapy research.

State programs like Project Nurture combine prenatal care, substance use treatment, and peer support after Oregon data showed mental health and SUD led pregnancy-related deaths.

In a landmark policy shift, the FDA announced it will approve new drugs based on a single rigorous trial plus confirmatory evidence—a change that could accelerate development of therapies for opioid use disorder, alcohol addiction, and stimulant dependence.

New research from Harvard Medical School shows that just 10 yoga sessions can reduce the most severe phase of opioid withdrawal from nine days to five, offering a promising tool for addiction recovery.

New federal rules allow providers to prescribe six-month supply of buprenorphine via audio-only telehealth for opioid use disorder treatment, eliminating pandemic-era restrictions while implementing safeguards.