Seniors remain largely locked out of residential addiction treatment under Medicare, which has long excluded non-hospital residential care – despite about 1 in 15 adults over 65 having a substance use disorder and thousands of overdose deaths among those 65+.…
News Archives
Surviving a loved one’s suicide
STASH reviewed a study by Nassau Community College et al that explored the possibility that suicide-bereaved adults report more problematic substance use than others, to cope. Suicide-bereaved adults were more likely than a nationally representative sample to report using marijuana (27%…
US vaping trends 2013-2023
Since 2013-14, not only are more people in the US vaping, but those who vape are doing so more often, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and University of Waterloo shared. See also University of California et al study on the…
Back pain, opioids and overdose
In this New York University and Columbia University study of 399, 500 opioid-naive adults with Medicaid insurance, the incidence of opioid use disorder or overdose diagnosis was 2% at 13 months after starting treatment for acute lower back pain. Initiating higher-dose opioids…
Australia: psychosocial health and alcohol
Monash University published Psychosocial health and hazardous alcohol use among 50-70-year-olds, finding that the profile of ‘socially connected, poor mental health’ has the highest probability of hazardous alcohol consumption, while ‘low social connection and good mental health’ has the lowest.
The missing link in drug policy
In her independent review of drugs 5 years ago, Dame Carol Black delivered a warning the UK could not afford to ignore. Drug-related deaths were at a record high. Prevention, treatment and recovery services were “not fit for purpose”. She called…
Why drug harm matters to all of us
“Drug-related crime affects far more than those directly involved. It can bring violence into neighbourhoods, place vulnerable people at risk of exploitation and leave families dealing with the devastating consequences of addiction… Support services often see the lasting impact on…
Childhood adversity costs £billions
Childhood trauma can leave scars that reach into adult life, increasing mental illness, physical health problems and other difficulties – including addiction. Bangor University, Liverpool John Moores University et al estimated that the health effects linked to adverse childhood experiences cost…
Redefine addiction recovery success
“A research project is challenging the way addiction recovery is measured,” Yahoo News reported. Delamere addiction treatment and behavioural health provider reached a milestone in its research partnership with Manchester Metropolitan University, funded by Innovate UK. While initial goals often focus…
