New Statistics Show Rising Concerns from Parents Around Opioid Epidemic

Dr. Bonnie Milas, professor of Clinical Anesthesiology & Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has a uniquely personal stake in the battle against the opioid epidemic. After tragically losing two sons to accidental opioid overdoses, she is now on a mission to rally parents and others to be ready to rescue in case of an opioid emergency.

Opioid overdose is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, and many people do not realize opioid overdoses can happen anywhere and at any time, most commonly in our own homes. Naloxone is a medication designed to reverse the effects of a life-threatening opioid emergency and can be used to revive someone during an overdose while waiting for emergency personnel to arrive.

Younger generations are particularly at risk for opioid overdose as fentanyl poisonings continue to be on the rise. In 2022, 22 high school age adolescents died each week from overdoses driven by fentanyl-laced prescription pills.

According to a new survey, nearly 9 in 10 parents believe that normalizing the topic of opioid overdose and reversal treatments like naloxone could help save lives, and that a more robust national conversation could be part of the solution.

In addition, 90 percent of survey respondents agree that schools, public libraries, dorms and professionals who work with teenagers and college kids should have access to naloxone. Increased naloxone access could already be making a big impact, as the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) recently announced provisional data on drug overdose deaths in 2023, finding there was a 3 percent decrease in deaths compared to 2022.

As back to school quickly approaches, Dr. Milas will be available on July 18 to discuss the “Ready to Rescue” campaign, which aims to raise awareness about opioid risks and educate the public, including parents, on how to be prepared with naloxone to help save a life in an opioid overdose emergency. She will also discuss how her personal experience has fueled her passion for calling attention to the dangers of opioid use in addition to:

The importance of breaking the stigma associated with opioid overdose, because accidents happen

How to talk about opioids and overdose with children, and why parents should always be prepared, especially parents of children going to college

The signs of an opioid emergency and how everyone has the power to save a life.

CAN YOU TELL US WHY THIS IS SUCH A PERSONAL MISSION FOR YOU?

WHAT IS “READY TO RESCUE” ALL ABOUT?

WHAT ARE SIGNS OF OPIOID EMERGENCY AND THE BEST ACTIONS TO TAKE?

IS THERE A STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH OPIOID OVERDOSE AND WHY?

HOW DO YOU BELIEVE PARENTS CAN HELP WITH THIS ISSUE… AND WHERE CAN THE AUDIENCE FIND MORE INFORMATION?

BIO:
DR. BONNIE MILAS

Bonnie Milas, MD, is a mother and clinical professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Milas is an outspoken advocate for those suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD) and is painfully aware of the impact it has as she lost both her sons to the disorder. Through her work locally with the Bucks County Drug and Alcohol Commission and nationally with the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), she is an ardent educator of naloxone overdose rescue.

Dr. Milas’ clinical practice involves caring for patients undergoing cardiopulmonary surgical procedures and those in the intensive care unit following surgery. Helping to deal with the ravages of infected heart valves from intravenous drug use, she handles the post-operative management of opioid withdrawal and pain control. Dr. Milas’ writing on saving lives of those suffering from OUD has appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer and USA Today.

Interview is courtesy: Emergent BioSolutions; References available

The post A MOTHER’S TRAGIC LOSS OF TWO SONS TO OPIOID OVERDOSESINSPIRES RALLYING CRY TO PARENTS appeared first on Good News!.

zynrelef.com (http://zynrelef.com)

As we are approaching Pain Awareness Month in September, it is a time to highlight the issues of postoperative pain and postoperative pain management in the United States. Recent data shows that 67% of patients filled an opioid prescription between 30 days before through 14 days after surgery. In the past, postoperative pain management has been a one-size-fits all approach and there is an urgent need for it to be more individualized.
While patients routinely are searching for a safe and effective way to manage the pain they experience following surgery, many tell doctors they want to avoid the adverse effects that are commonly experienced by those receiving opioids to reduce their pain. The most common adverse effects are dizziness, nausea and constipation. But even more than that, patients want to avoid any risk of misuse and addiction.
Now there’s been a new development; what some surgeons are calling a “game-changer” for postoperative pain. The FDA recently approved a treatment that works on both inflammation and pain at the surgical site for up to 3 days for those who undergo bunion surgery, hernia repair and total knee replacement surgeries. Clinical trials have shown that this new treatment reduces the need for and can eliminate in many patients, potentially addictive opioids. The safety and efficacy of this new treatment has not been established in highly vascular surgeries, such as intrathoracic, large multilevel spinal, and head and neck procedures. The new treatment also contains an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), a type of medicine which:

can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This risk increases with higher doses and longer use of an NSAID.

cannot be used during heart bypass surgery.

can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, and tears.

Dr. Alan Rechter, an orthopedic surgeon, will be available to discuss the newest method of effectively managing postoperative pain. He will explain why this latest development is such an important step in helping patients who are undergoing a variety of procedures.
Interview Courtesy: Heron Therapeutics

References:

NCHS, National Vital Statistics System. Estimates for 2020 are based on provisional data. Estimates for 2015-2019 are based on final data (available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/mortality_public_use_data.htm (https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/mortality_public_use_data.htm)).

Santosa KB, Hu HM, Brummett CM, et al. New Persistent Opioid Use Among Older Patients Following Surgery: A Medicare Claims Analysis. Surgery. 2020;167(4):732-742. doi:10.1016/j.surg.2019.04.016

U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Data presented at June 11-12, 2019 Joint Meeting of the Drug Safety and Risk Management (DSaRM) Advisory Committee and Meeting of the Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee (AADPAC).

ZYNRELEF [Package Insert]. San Diego, CA: Heron Therapeutics Inc.; 2021.

Viscusi E, Gimbel JS, Pollack RA, Hu J, Lee G-C. HTX-011 reduced pain intensity and opioid consumption versus bupivacaine HCl in bunionectomy: phase III results from the randomized EPOCH 1 study. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2019;44(7):700-706. doi:10.1136/rapm-2019-100531.

Viscusi E, Minkowitz H, Winkle P, Ramamoorthy S, Hu J, Singla N. HTX-011 reduced pain intensity and opioid consumption versus bupivacaine HCl in herniorrhaphy: results from the phase 3 EPOCH 2 study. Hernia. 2019;23(6):1071-1080. doi:10.1007/s10029-019-02023-6.

BIO-Alan Rechter, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgeon at Orthopaedic Associates
Dr. Alan Rechter is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and has practiced medicine in Houston since 1995. He joined Orthopaedic Associates in 1999 and has staff privileges at Methodist West & Houston Orthopedic & Spine Hospital in Bellaire. He is a former Clinical Assistant Professor of Orthopedics at the University of Texas Medical School.
Throughout his career, he received numerous awards. He was recognized by Merck Pharmaceuticals as one of the top ranked medical school graduates during his graduating year. He received a prestigious AO International Fellowship in Germany, which affords focused training in the arts of trauma, hand and joint reconstructive surgery.
Dr. Rechter received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida and his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, NE. Dr. Rechter completed his training in orthopedic surgery at the University of Texas in Houston after being Chief Resident for the 1998-1999 academic year.

ZYNRELEF is approved for use in adults to reduce pain for up to 3 days after removal of bunions, groin hernia repair, and total knee replacement. ZYNRELEF is applied into the wound at the time of surgery.
Important Safety Information
ZYNRELEF contains an NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug), a type of medicine which:
• can increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke that can lead to death. This risk increases with higher doses and longer use of an NSAID.
• cannot be used during heart bypass surgery.
• can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, and tears.

ZYNRELEF should also not be used:
• if you are allergic to any components of ZYNRELEF, aspirin or other NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen or naproxen), or have had an asthma attack, hives, or other allergic reaction after taking any of these medicines.
• as a paracervical block, during childbirth.

The most common side effects of ZYNRELEF are constipation, vomiting, and headache.

The medicines in ZYNRELEF (a local anesthetic and an NSAID) can affect the nervous and cardiovascular system; may cause liver or kidney problems; may reduce the effects of some blood pressure medicines; should be avoided if you have severe heart failure; may cause a rare blood disorder, or life-threatening skin or allergic reactions; may harm your unborn baby if received at 20 weeks of pregnancy or later; and may cause low red blood cells (anemia).
Tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions and about all the medicines you take including prescription or over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements to discuss if ZYNRELEF is right for you

#alan #rechter #death #overdose #prescription #opioids #cdc #pain #awareness #houston #texas #surgery #zynrelef #heron #therapeutics #fda #medicine #safety #asthma #headache

The post AT A TIME WHEN DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE CLIMBING A NEW TREATMENT FOR POSTOPERATIVE PAIN MAY HELP REDUCE THE NEED FOR OPIOIDS AFTER SURGERY appeared first on Good News!.