For the last couple of years, when trying to explain the experience of the opioid crisis, I've often said, "I imagine it's kinda like the AIDS epidemic in the late 1980s and early 1990s." However, I always qualify the statement by emphasizing "kinda" and saying something like, "I'm not saying it's that rough." Now, Andrew … Continue reading “the opioid epidemic is the new AIDS”

From Atul Gawande: We are running out of ways to emphasize how dire the opioid overdose crisis has become. In 2015, United States drug overdose deaths exceeded 50,000; 30,000 involved opioids. There were more deaths from opioid overdose than not only from motor vehicle accidents, but also than from HIV/AIDS at the peak of the … Continue reading Sentences to ponder

From the Brookings Institute: Forty percent of the men who aren’t working and aren’t even looking for work report taking pain medication every day, compared to 20 percent for those in the workforce.

You may recall that Van Jones, Patrick Kennedy and Newt Gingrich have started engaging in advocacy around the opioid epidemic. Here's what I said at the time: You may have heard that the unlikely crew of Newt Gingrich, Patrick Kennedy & Van Jones have taken interest in addressing the opioid crisis. More allies is a great … Continue reading Van Jones, Newt Gingrich and Patrick Kennedy opioid advocacy paid by drug maker

Yesterday, I posted about the Joint Commission's review of the unintended consequences of their emphasis on pain without the proper input, review and feedback systems. The opioid crisis that this has contributed to have been a disaster for families, communities and health care professionals who are trying to navigate the standards, untrustworthy standards of care, … Continue reading In case you were wondering how Pharma’s faring

JAMA just published an article on the history of the Joint Commission standards on pain and the lessons learned from the opioid crisis that followed. The article describes the impetus for the increased attention to pain. In 1990, Max2 decried the lack of improvement in pain assessment and treatment over the previous 20 years and … Continue reading the unintended consequences were, in retrospect, predictable

So . . . congress recently passed $1,000,000,000 to address the opioid crisis. Much of that money is expected to be spent on medication assisted treatment. Buprenorphine has been the most frequently touted form of medication assisted treatment. I've reviewed the research here and found that it does not live up to the hype. A … Continue reading New buprenorphine study – more disappointing outcomes

Ok this post is a little odd. I've spent a lot of years trying to understand the transmission/kindling of hope in others. A friend recommended the podcast, "Missing Richard Simmons." It's good! But, I'm not posting this to recommend it. There's a segment in the first episode with a person named Kathy whose life was affected … Continue reading The mechanics of hope

I've gotten several questions about yesterday's post on looming changes for publicly funded treatment in Michigan. These questions made me realize I probably needed to provide a little background. To be honest, I haven't followed it that closely and it's all a little confusing. Background Michigan is one of a shrinking number of states that … Continue reading Confused about the changes coming to publicly funded treatment in Michigan? Here’s the background.

If you haven't heard, there's been serious discussion about making major changes to publicly funded mental health and substance use disorders in Michigan. The current system carves out money for those services and give it to 10 regional entities that contract for and oversee Community Mental Health services and substance use disorder services. The question … Continue reading Changes coming to publicly funded treatment in Michigan