Blog
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Many Primary Care Doctors Lack Understanding of Opioid Abuse
As NJ’s legislature considers a bill that would require prescribers to have a discussion with their patients about the potential for dependency with certain opiates, a Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health recent study demonstrates that many primary care physicians have a misconception about opioid abuse. Almost half of internists, family physicians and general practitioners incorrectly believe that abuse-deterrent pills are less addictive than standard opioid painkillers, according to the survey. The following story below was recently published in the Clinical Journal of Pain was featured in Join Together. If you are not yet subscribed to our weekly blog on trending topics in substance abuse prevention, please take a moment to register at www.drugfreenj.org/blog.
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World Commemorates International Day Against Drug Abuse
Last Friday, June 26th, I had the honor and privilege of attending the release of the United Nation’s 2015 World Drug Report. June 26th was a significant day for the release of this report as it commemorates the 28th annual International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. This report was particularly important as the UN prepares for the General Assembly Special Sessions (UNGASS) in April 2016.
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nj.com: Deaths from fentanyl, 50 times more powerful than heroin, nearly triple in N.J.
Below is an article that ran last week on NJ.com. The information is vitally important to our communities: Overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl, a prescription opioid up to 50 times more powerful than heroin, tripled in New Jersey in 2014, new data show, adding a destructive new wrinkle to the state's heroin and opioid crisis.
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DRUG USE IN THE WORKPLACE
Reducing drug abuse in the workplace has and continues to be a top priority of PDFNJ’s Drug’s Don’t Work in New Jersey program. Current research has increased the need for focus on this issue. Recently, researchers are noticing a reversal of a longtime decline of drug use in the workplace. It has been noted that the percentage of American Workers that are testing positive for illicit drug use has increased sharply.
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Pill Popping is Pervasive
Doctors should want to discuss such realities with patients before prescribing painkillers, but too often, that conversation never occurs. It's understandable that physicians don't want to be told how to interact with patients, but the extent of painkiller addiction in this country means it can no longer be left to chance. Doctors must talk to their patients about the risks of becoming addicted to prescribed drugs.
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In Memoriam: Gerry Marini, Founder of Drugs Don't Work in NJ
New Jersey's substance abuse prevention and treatment community suffered a great loss last week with the passing of Gerry Marini, founder of Drugs Don't Work in New Jersey. Gerry was a pioneer in the field of substance abuse prevention and treatment, bringing conversation and action to businesses and work places throughout the state to help prevent substance abuse and bring treatment opportunities to the masses.
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NJ Parents Speak Out in Support of New Jersey Senate Bill 2366
Last week this blog published a letter from NJ physicians supporting the right for patients and their families to be fully informed of the potential addictive risks of certain opiate-based prescriptions... today we bring to you a letter from 13 NJ parents who understand firsthand how a child can become easily addicted to these medicines.
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New Jersey Doctors' Open Letter on Safe Prescribing
As New Jersey physicians we are dedicated to our patients and the health of our state. Our top priority is the health and well-being of the residents of New Jersey. Over the past several years we have seen too many New Jersey families impacted by addiction – addiction to opiate pain killers, some of which were accessed from a friend or relative, and some of which were first introduced through a prescription to treat chronic and acute pain.
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Do No Harm Reaches Out To Correctional Facility Doctors
Two weeks ago, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey continued its highly successful partnership with the DEA - New Jersey Division and New York/New Jersey HIDTA for the Do No Harm Symposium. For this event, we also worked with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and the Community Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Morris for a Do No Harm Symposium like no other.
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nj.com: To reduce prescription drug abuse, start with the doctors | Editorial
Below is an editorial that ran last week on NJ.com. The information is vitally important to our communities. ### Here's a tragic reality that addicts know too well: The portal to heroin addiction is usually the family medicine cabinet. That's where you usually find bottles of oxycodone, Percocet, and other prescription medications – opioids with highly addictive qualities – and that is how 81 percent of addictions begin.