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Complex Persistent Benzodiazepine Dependence When Benzodiazepine Deprescribing Goes Awry
Benzodiazepines were discovered serendipitously in the 1950s and later marketed as safer alternatives to barbiturates, leading to increased popularity over subsequent decades. Though touted as
Dependence on Xanax, similar sedatives lead OHSU physicians to coin new diagnosis
The sedatives — benzodiazepines — are considered an underrecognized contributor to public health crisis of drug overdoses. Millions of Americans suffering from anxiety and insomnia
April is Alcohol Awareness Month
This Alcohol Awareness Month is a great opportunity to update your knowledge about alcohol, alcohol use disorder, and their impacts on health and society. Alcohol-related
Drinking any amount of alcohol causes damage to the brain, study finds
London CNN — There is no such thing as a “safe” level of drinking, with increased consumption of alcohol associated with poorer brain health, according
DEA Issues Alert on Rise of Fentanyl Mixed With Xylazine
In a public safety alert issued this week, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said it observed a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl
46.3 Million in US Met Criteria for SUD Diagnosis in 2021
In 2021, 46.3 million people aged 12 or older in the US—about 16.5% of the nation’s population—met the applicable DSM-5 criteria for having a substance
Nitazenes: The opioid 40X stronger than fentanyl
Dr. Joe Schwarcz, a chemistry professor and McGill University office for science and society director, weighs in on the rise in nitazine-related overdoses. Share Follow
The addiction crisis is causing a spike in endocarditis cases
Increased injection drug use has led to a spike in cases of the life-threatening heart condition endocarditis, with cases rapidly accelerating since the onset of
Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, is a new threat in the opioid epidemic: What we know
A new threat has emerged in the United States’ illicit drug supply: an animal tranquilizer called xylazine. The drug is showing up in synthetic opioids, particularly
OHSU doctor urges Oregonians to carry Narcan amid fentanyl overdose spike
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – As the fentanyl crisis spreads across the United States, an Oregon doctor shared more about the state’s rise in fentanyl overdose
Kratom – Uses, Side Effects, and More
Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tree native to Southeast Asia. The leaves contain a chemical called mitragynine, which works like opioids such as morphine. Kratom
Fentanyl Facts
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor