By Jason Mullins
Recent headlines concerning a federal raid at an area doctor’s office has prompted one area doctor and his patients to speak out in support of a controversial treatment option for people suffering from addiction to prescription pain medication.

Last week, agents from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services entered a doctor’s office in Gate City, Va., that prescribes Suboxone to treat patients who are addicted to opioid-based drugs, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone. The raid was part of a year-long investigation into the clinic.  » More

Philadelphia (July 22, 2011)—A new study by researchers at Drexel University’s School of Public Health suggests that abuse of prescription painkillers may be an important gateway to the use of injected drugs such as heroin, among people with a history of using both types of drugs. The study, published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, explores factors surrounding young injection drug users’ initiation into the misuse of opioid drugs. Common factors identified in this group included a family history of drug misuse and receiving prescriptions for opioid drugs in the past. The results support a need for efforts to prevent misuse of prescription drugs, particularly during adolescence. » More

Cheryl Clark, for HealthLeaders Media, October 27, 2010
Medication and illegal drug-related problems put twice as many middle-aged and older Americans in the hospital in 2008 as in 1997, according to a report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. » More

Patients treated for pain conditions often receive an opioid analgesic and also take other prescription or non-Rx drugs, which can lead to opioid-drug interactions that have potential for adverse effects or even fatal outcomes. To avoid problems, prescribers need to be aware of all medications and other substances their patients are taking and the likelihood of toxicity resulting from their interaction. » More

Catasys On Healthcare September 2010 Newsletter
This edition of the Catasys newsletter outlines 8 drivers impacting cost savings from your substance dependent population. Surprisingly, national averages show $160 million in claims are incurred by substance dependent members in a 1 million member health plan. The majority of these costs are medical, driven by the consequences of substance abuse (and are mitigated if the substance abuse is successfully addressed).  » More