A British Columbia program using biometric dispensers to supply pharmaceutical-grade opioids to patients with opioid use disorder has reduced drug-related harms and could potentially overcome barriers to other safer delivery strategies, an analysis found . Features that encouraged use of the biometric delivery platform included accessibility and choice of participants, lack of consequences for missed … Read more
States that want to increase access to buprenorphine, a life-saving drug used to treat opioid use disorder, should consider efforts to improve professional education and clinical knowledge, according to a new RAND Corporation study. Examining six state-level policies aimed at increasing buprenorphine use, the researchers found that requiring buprenorphine prescribers to receive additional education beyond … Read more
A pilot project training lay community members to screen for and resolve common psychiatric disorders, addiction problems and suicide risk promises to offer timely, evidence-based health services to those with little or no access to effective treatment. The current shortage of mental health physicians is driven by increased demand from a population more willing to … Read more