FDA chief warns about kratom to treat opioid addiction; will seek more regulatory power
Jayne O’Donnell, USA TODAYPublished 9:00 a.m. ET Nov. 14, 2017 | Updated 4:57 p.m. ET Nov. 14, 2017 Citing 36 deaths, the Food and Drug Administration chief warned consumers Tuesday not to use the herbal supplement kratom to ease opioid withdrawal and announce plans to step its regulatory oversight to combat the opioid epidemic. The FDA public health advisory on kratom follows the […]
Heroin withdrawals are awful, but you and your loved one can get through it
By David Heitz Heroin withdrawals can be dangerous and fatal, particularly to a heroin addict who already may be in poor health due to prolonged drug use. For even a healthy pregnant woman, however, heroin withdrawals can result in loss of the fetus. Symptoms include: Vomiting. Restless legs. Cold sweats. Anxiety. Irritability. […]
Our one-on-one interview with NBA superstar, Hawks owner Grant Hill
By David Heitz Weekend warriors who shoot hoops with their pals are at risk of becoming heroin addicts. It’s actually not a National Enquirer statement. By now we know that professional athletes pay an incredible price over time for their sports prowess. Injuries lead to opioids. Some become addicted to opioids. We hear about it […]
Recovery advocate Anita Devlin says President Trump ‘in denial’
By David Heitz Although First Lady Melania Trump may have stolen the show, President Trump declared the opioid epidemic “a public health emergency” on Thursday. But will it really be enough to turn the tide and stop overdose deaths? Here’s an even bigger question. If resources weren’t an issue, what’s the single biggest […]
Study shows Medicare and Medicaid still too loose about paying for opioid painkillers
By David Heitz Our most vulnerable populations continue to receive opioids at high doses under the Medicare Part D program, even though private insurers already have taken steps to curb such practices. Powerful opioid painkillers may be appropriate in rare cases, for the short-term, or for people with terminal illness. But the U.S. Centers for […]
Study: Two weeks of pain pills is plenty for most surgeries
By David Heitz For most common surgeries, a two-week supply of opioids – tops — is plenty to get most patients past the serious discomfort phase. That’s the conclusion of research published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association Surgery, or JAMA Surgery. The research went on to say that many who […]
