Tag: opioids
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Xylazine Crisis: Zombifying Drug Wounds and Overdoses
What is Xylazine and why is it alarming? Xylazine, commonly known as tranq, is a potent animal sedative that has quietly moved from veterinary clinics to the streets. Although it was first developed in the 1960s as a medicine for controlling blood pressure, it never became a human-approved drug. In recent years, it has appeared…
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Global drug addiction mortality doubles as new cases fall: a wake-up call for harm reduction
Overview: a paradox in the global drug problem Recent analyses based on the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data reveal a striking paradox: while the number of new drug use disorder (DUD) cases has declined in many regions, deaths and disability from drug addiction have surged. This paradox exposes critical gaps in global harm-reduction…
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Global drug addiction mortality rates surge despite fewer cases
Introduction: A paradox in global drug use New international data reveal a troubling paradox: the incidence of drug use disorders (DUDs) is not rising as rapidly as death and disability from drug use. A comprehensive analysis based on the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study shows that while new cases of drug addiction have…
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Global Drug Addiction Mortality Surges Despite Fewer New Cases: A Global Health Alarm
What the latest analysis reveals A sweeping epidemiological review using the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 data shows a troubling paradox: global drug-use disorders (DUDs) are yielding far more deaths even as new cases decline. The study, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, tracks trends from 1990 to 2021 and emphasizes that mortality and disability…
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Tramadol’s Limited Relief in Chronic Pain: Benefits Don’t Outweigh Harms, Study Finds
New analysis questions tramadol’s role in chronic pain management A comprehensive data analysis published online in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine raises concerns about the widespread use of tramadol for chronic pain. While the drug is a dual-action opioid used for moderate to severe pain, the study suggests its analgesic effect in chronic conditions is limited…
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Tramadol: Limited relief for chronic pain, higher risks
Summary: What the new analysis shows about tramadol and chronic pain A recent pooled data analysis published online in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine questions the overall value of tramadol for chronic pain management. The review suggests that while tramadol can slightly reduce pain, the magnitude of relief may be below what many clinicians and patients…
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Tramadol: Limited Relief for Chronic Pain, with Serious Risk Increases
Overview: Tramadol’s Role in Chronic Pain Management Tramadol, a dual-action opioid commonly prescribed for moderate to severe pain, has long been a staple in clinical guidelines for managing chronic conditions. Yet a comprehensive data synthesis published in BMJ Evidence Based Medicine suggests its benefits may be far more modest than once believed, while the risks…
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Bridging the Gap: Integrating Pain and Mental Health Care at UHN
Overview: A new model for pain and mental health at UHN At University Health Network (UHN), a groundbreaking shift is underway. Dr. Jeffrey Wieskopf joined the organization in 2022 with a clear mission: treat chronic pain and mental health as a single, interconnected system. His work goes beyond managing physical symptoms; it seeks to ease…
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Bridging Pain and Mind: UHN’s Holistic Approach to Chronic Pain and Mental Health
Breaking the Silos: A New Model for Pain and Mental Health Care At Toronto’s University Health Network (UHN), a quiet revolution is underway. Since joining UHN in 2022, Dr. Jeffrey Wieskopf has championed a mission that treats chronic pain and mental health as two sides of the same coin. His approach challenges traditional silos in…