Articles related to ADDICTION/SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Borgs, also known as “Black Out Rage Gallons,” are a new alcoholic drink that has been trending on TikTok. Half a gallon of vodka, mixed with water and flavoring in a gallon jug, is used to make the drink. It is unclear whether the trend has increased emergency room visits, but it highlights the importance of educating young people about alcohol serving sizes.

As originally reported in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, use of the animal tranquilizer xylazine has now been seen in more than 23 states in the US. Finding the drug in a patient sample should prompt the physician to look for early signs of tissue infection and other symptoms.

According to a University of Washington research, only 40% of rural counties nationally had at least one licensed physician who could prescribe buprenorphine in 2016. The analysis discovered that by 2020, that number had increased to 63%. The increase was attributed by the study to modifications in federal regulations that permit NPs, PAs, and other healthcare professionals to prescribe buprenorphine. Only doctors could perform this in the past, and many remote counties lacked any. In 2002, Suboxone received approval from federal regulators, providing a new option for addiction treatment in communities without methadone facilities. Marshalltown, a town of 27,000 people encircled by rural areas, offers a feasible alternative, according to Andrea Storjohann, NP.

The US Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) this week. The NDSUH offers a window into Americans’ experiences with mental health disorders, substance use, and their pursuit of treatment during the second year of the COVID epidemic through chosen estimates by race, ethnicity, and age group. Enough said—the outcomes aren’t appealing.

Misuse of prescription stimulants was associated with prior year treatment for depression, ADHD, and substance use disorder. Identified risk factors for stimulant misuse include use of prescription drugs in the past month (5.5 times increased risk) and use of illegal drugs in the past month (8 times higher risk).

According to a news release from study lead author Colin Haile, a research associate professor of psychology at UH and the Texas Institute for Measurement, Evaluation and Statistics (TIMES) and a founding member of the UH Drug Discovery Institute, “Our vaccine is able to generate anti-fentanyl antibodies that bind to the consumed fentanyl and prevent it from entering the brain, allowing it to be eliminated out of the body via the kidneys.” The person won’t experience the euphoric benefits as a result, and they can “get back on the wagon” to sobriety.