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Inappropriate pain management after surgery a major cause of opioid crisis
Targets to eliminate pain after surgery are a major cause of the opioid crisis in several countries, according to a new report co-authored by Professor Lesley Colvin of the University of Dundee. Published in The Lancet, the report brings together global evidence detailing the role of surgery in the opioid crisis. The authors conclude that pain management has been a substantial contributor to the crisis due to inappropriate prescribing of opioids.
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Young Australians and COVID-19: Increased depression, anxiety, but reduced alcohol-related harm
There was a significant increase in depression and anxiety symptoms for young Australians during COVID-19, but no greater help-seeking from mental health professionals, says a new report. There was however, a decrease in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms.
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Model to predict drug overdose deaths in US
For two decades, the number of Americans who die each year from drug overdoses has steadily risen, from less than 20,000 in 1999 to more than 80,000 in 2020. By studying patterns of these drug-related fatalities, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego State University (SDSU), and international collaborators have designed and validated a prediction model to signal counties at risk of future overdose death outbreaks. The goal of the open-source tool is to predict and prevent deaths through early deployment of public health resources.
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Beyond remission: From alcohol dependence to optimal mental health
New research published online in the journal Substance Use & Misuse is good news for those struggling with alcohol dependence: the possibility of ending this dependency gets easier with age. Moreover, more than half of individuals who have been dependent on alcohol are free of any addictions or mental illness, and nearly 40% are in excellent mental health.
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Predisposition to addiction may be genetic
People who have a high sensation-seeking personality trait may be more likely to develop an addiction to cocaine, according to a Rutgers study.
