Each day, over 130 people die from opioid-related overdoses. This includes both prescription and illicit opioids. The National Institute on Drug Abuse attributes the opioid overdose crisis to unscrupulous pharmaceutical companies, who misled healthcare providers to believe opioid pain relievers were not addictive. Other researchers, while agreeing that increased drug supply was an important factor, argue that economic and social issues fueled the crisis, viewing the issue through the lens of a structural and social determinants of health framework.
Read morePhiladelphia’s City Council could have fought opioids by placing limits on pharma reps
Does over-prescribing of opioids lie at the heart of the addiction crisis? Some members of Philadelphia City Council along with many public health experts think so. Last week, a bill came before City Council to limit the activities of pharmaceutical sales representatives, also known as detailers, who promote prescription drugs to physicians.
Read morePolicy Pathways to Address Provider Workforce Barriers to Buprenorphine Treatment [from American Journal of Preventive Medicine]
George Consortium member Rebecca L. Haffajee has a new article in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine focusing on some of the reasons why only 40% of people with opioid use disorder actually receive medication-assisted treatment. One major reason is that so few physicians are licensed to even prescribe buprenorphine (such as Suboxone). Numerous workplace barriers contribute to this lack of licensing, including insufficient training, lack of peer support, inadequate reimbursement, and regulatory hurdles.
Read moreIt's Time for Uncomfortable Solutions to the Opioid Epidemic [from The Fix]
We are thrilled to present some work from brand new George Consortium member Abraham Gutman! This piece from The Fix discusses the fact that we need to get creative, and uncomfortable, in addressing the opioid crisis. Be sure to follow Av's great Twitter feed at @abgutman.
Read moreQ&A: Holding Drugmakers Accountable for Opioid Crisis
Recently, George Consortium member and University of Michigan professor Rebecca Haffajee gave an interview to the Associated Press, addressing issues around opioid companies and litigation:
Read moreThe PORTAL Literature Scan for March
Every month, our friends at the Program on Regulation, Therapeutics, and Law (PORTAL) - part of a collaboration between Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital - publish a great list of the best and most interesting studies, policy analyses, and editorials about regulation, therapeutics, and law.
Read more"Benefits, Limitations, and Value of Abuse-Deterrent Opioids" in JAMA Internal Medicine
Two members of our team - Dr. Gregory Curfman and Professor Leo Beletsky - and friend of PHLW Ameet Sarpatwari have an important new piece out in JAMA Internal Medicine entitled "Benefits, Limitations, and Value of Abuse Deterrent Opioids."
Read moreBriefly: Some Interesting Public Health Law Moves in Massachusetts
As you enjoy a very nutritious helping or two of Thanksgiving dinner this week, here's some interesting happenings in Massachusetts public health law for you to chew on (haaa).
Read more"Graham-Cassidy" Provides Zero Funding to Address the "Opioid Crisis"
One of the few positive provisions of the summer’s Senate “health care” bills was the inclusion of funding to states to “support substance use disorder treatment and recovery support services.” With more than 30,000 people dying from heroin and painkiller overdoses in the United States every year, sufficient funding to address and effectively treat the issue is crucial. Yet the latest version of the “health care” bill has omitted this funding entirely.
Read moreBriefly: Massachusetts Governor Proposes New Crime of Manslaughter for 'Drug Dealers'
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker filed legislation yesterday which would, among other things, create a new crime of manslaughter for drug dealers if a person dies from using their drugs. Specifically, anyone who "manufactures, distributes, or dispenses" any controlled substance would be "strictly liable" if "a death...results from the injection, inhalation, or ingestion of that substance."
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