Apparently, twitter-bots are targeting more than elections: Social media accounts run by internet robots may be driving much of the discussion around the health threats posed by e-cigarettes, according to a study led by San Diego State University researchers, who also found most of the automated messages were positive toward vaping. More than 70 percent … Continue reading Vaping draws strong support — from bots

Outside of very rural areas, I've often scratched my head when advocates express concern about access to buprenorphine. I mean, there are a lot of prescribers in most areas. I had a conversation yesterday that prompted a google search that led me to this. (OBT refers to office-based treatment with buprenorphine.) Access to OBT in … Continue reading Cash only

Reckitt Benckiser and Invidor, the manufacturers of Suboxone are back in the news. The Justice Department in filings last week in federal court in Abingdon, Virginia, said it was intervening in four separate whistleblower lawsuits related to the Britain-based companies’ marketing of Suboxone and the related drug Subutex. . . . Among the complaints unsealed … Continue reading U.S. joins lawsuits against manufacturers over drug Suboxone

The FDA issued a new set of draft guidelines for pharmaceutical manufacturers the presents what has previously been referred to as "alternative endpoints." I posted about this in March. Here's that previous post. "alternative endpoints"?  I caught a few minutes of the White House opioid summit yesterday and the phrase "alternative endpoints" caught my attention. … Continue reading Alternative endpoints

https://www.facebook.com/TomsRiverFirstAid/photos/a.733539540031111.1073741826.523071714411229/2023434401041612/?type=3&theater More here.

All three of these were in my inbox this morning from one list or another. Recovery=missed work? I don't know anything about this guy, but I doubt he's missing work because of his recovery. He may be missing work because of his addiction, or because of addiction treatment, or to get through a period of … Continue reading Headlines that bother me

I recognize that these are from two different countries but, really.    

Food for thought from Keith Humphreys. https://twitter.com/KeithNHumphreys/status/1018861045253922816

First, an historical perspective from Bill White: Most drug epidemics don't simply disappear: they transform themselves into something else. For example, periods of excessive stimulant use are often followed by periods of rising alcohol, sedative and opiate use. There are drug facilitated cycles of stimulation, introspection, intoxication, and emotional anesthesia. Repeated episodes of each drug … Continue reading Food for thought on the cyclical nature of drug trends

Variations of this infographic are making the rounds. I'll offer 2 warnings: I'd be very cautious about telling mutual aid groups what they should and shouldn't say within their communities. (Or outside them, for that matter.)It's one thing to recommend language for professionals and people who choose to become advocates, but it's another to do … Continue reading Recovery dialects