The opioid-death surprise

Indiana University researchers, reviewing 11 years’ and 50 states’ worth of data, found a disturbing surprise:

State programs designed to reduce opioid use have resulted in fewer prescriptions … but more overdoses, more cases of opioid abuse, and more deaths.

[T]he study found that all overdose deaths increased following the implementation of naloxone access laws, especially deaths attributable to heroin, synthetic opioids, and cocaine. Good Samaritan laws were also associated with increases in overall overdose deaths.

Looking to buy some good masks?

There are real masks and there are fake masks. You probably want the real ones, but a lot of what’s on Amazon (even with great reviews) is fake (as are the reviews). So the New York Times’s Brian Chen goes hunting for the real deal, and explains how to find it, with “it” being genuine N95 or KN95* masks.

* The K just means they’re made in China, but the quality is as good — unless you’re walking through a Covid clinic.

Yes, they come in black too.

First and goal at the 9

Covid-19 cases are going down. Social distancing is a huge factor (“Americans withdrew into their homes after the winter holidays and hunkered down during the subsequent spike in cases that grew out of all that yuletide socializing”) but the vaccine is a bigger and bigger factor.

Good news and more good news:

So hang in there. Maybe all we need is a little Perseverance.

You can help

GPhA occasionally receives requests for vaccination volunteers, especially during the pandemic. If you’d like to be on the call list for the next time we get a request, let us know — just complete this quick Google form. Easy!

Anti-vaxxers targeting Covid

Anti-vaxxers are trying — and so far failing — to pass laws forbidding businesses from requiring Covid-19 or other vaccinations. (These are a lot of the same folks who didn’t want mask requirements either.)

In the U.S. there are no federal vaccine requirements, but states obviously have them — notably for kids to attend school. States also have workplace-safety laws (think hairnets or gloves). And employers can mandate whatever they want, as long as they don’t run afoul of anti-discrimination laws (think dress codes).

So far it’s too early to know if some businesses (think restaurants) might require employees to be vaccinated, but you can see the battle lines being drawn.

Naltrexone as an opioid alternative

University of Michigan dentists have shown that oral naltrexone — more commonly thought of as an alternative to naloxone — can be used as a non-addictive treatment for chronic pain.

Using naltrexone for pain isn’t new; it’s been used that way off-label for years. But, claims the paper’s lead author, “this is the first in-depth, systematic review of the literature to determine if the drug is indeed a good option for patients.”

“We found a reduction in pain intensity and improvement in quality of life, and a reduction in opioid use for patients with chronic pain.”

Wait, what?

Overuse of SABA inhalers for asthma is a significant cause of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK, “similar to driving an average diesel car for about 900 million miles [a year].”

ICYMI

Georgia’s Medicaid waiver plan has apparently been nixed by the Biden administration, which said that the plan’s work requirements, especially during the pandemic, are unacceptable. State officials are considering their options.

Captain Obvious abides

“As Pot Legalization Spreads, More Teens Are Lighting Up”. (Note: Other studies have shown that more people are trying marijuana after legalization, but not continuing to use it.)