A decision analytic dynamic Markov model on the US population aged 12 years or older was used to project the number of fatal overdoses caused by any opioid between 2020 – 2029 and project the number of deaths that can be averted by prescribing restrictions, naloxone distribution, and expansion of MAT interventions. Based on data taken from 2010-2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the US Census, and the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions- III, the status quo, the...

We are witnessing, arguably, the greatest public health issue of our time. However, that is not to say the public health concerns that were present before the pandemic have disappeared.

Opioid addiction and opioid-related deaths continue to cause great harm to society.

This article discusses the way these two critical issues are interacting and causing damage to particularly vulnerable groups of people.

The author describes how social determinants- the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age- influence levels of risk and overall wellbeing.

He comments on the...

A recent study, published by the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI) at Curtin University in Perth, has estimated that the illegal use of heroin and the misuse of pharmaceutical opioids is costing Australia around $15.7 billion and causing more than 2200 deaths a year. 

This is a significant increase from the previous record that was collected in 2007.

Professor Steve Allsop commented:

“Extra-medical use of opioids is likely to result in adverse outcomes that require the use of health services, reduce work productivity, or result in contact with the criminal justice system,”.

The coronavirus pandemic has presented a new challenge for public health services around the world.

Although scientists are working tirelessly to comprehend more about the virus, there are still many unanswered questions.

In a recent interview, Dr. Nora Volkow, who heads the National Institute on Drug Abuse, describes factors that may increase the risk of coronavirus causing greater harm to the infected individual.

Read the full interview here.