Opioid abuse — winning and losing

Opioid abuse is decreasing dramatically … at least in some states. While the nation as a whole is seeing an 11 percent drop, states that expanded Medicaid are seeing much better numbers, in part because of buprenorphine. (The ACA requires insurers, including Medicaid, to cover medication-assisted addiction treatment.)

In Medicaid-expanding states, buprenorphine prescriptions increased from 40 to 138 per 1,000 enrollees, Urban researchers found. In non-Medicaid-expanding states, they increased from 16 to 41.

Two drugmakers settle two opioid suits

Endo Pharmaceuticals (2017 revenue: $3.5 billion) has agreed to pay $10 million* to settle lawsuits from two Ohio counties for its role in the opioid crisis.

Allergan (2018 revenue: $15.8 billion) has agreed to pay $5 million** to those counties for its role.

Flu shots: Remember when we were the good guys?

Migrant children being held in U.S. detention camps won’t be given the flu vaccine this year, even though three have already died from flu-related complications. Concentration with other immigrants makes it easy for infectious diseases to spread, making the problem worse.

Gender, cost, and diabetes meds

A new survey finds that, among the people who can’t afford their diabetes meds, women are more likely than men to skip doses to save money (14.9% compared to 11.6%) but are also slightly more likely to ask for a lower-cost alternative.

Also of note: People over 65 are more likely not to skip their meds than younger folks.

Smoking: the gift that keeps on giving

Former smokers are even more likely to suffer from depression and substance abuse than either non-smokers or current smokers.

On the other hand: Quitting smoking cuts cardiovascular risk in as little as five years.

Sorry, jet-setters, you still have to suffer

Hetlioz, the anti-jet-lag drug from Vanda Pharmaceuticals, still hasn’t gotten FDA approval, leaving the company “perplexed.”

Pain in the brow

Imagine a patient comes to you with a painful eyebrow. What advice can you give? Medical News Today has some answers.