New Research from CDC Traces Routes of Use in Overdose Deaths

Recent findings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that, from January–June 2020 to July–December 2022, injection overdose deaths decreased by 29%, while the smoking overdose death rate increased by 73.7%. Researchers utilized the CDC’s State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (SUDORS) to examine data from 27 states and Washington, D.C. for differences in methods of overdose. Researchers also reviewed other methods of use, such as ingestion and snorting. Most opioid overdose deaths were the result of non-injection use (81.9%). Authors urged policy makers and harm reduction services to focus advocacy on addressing smoking overdoses and other non-injection routes to reduce overdose deaths.

Articles & Resources

CDC—Routes of Drug Among Drug Overdose Deaths—United States, 2020-2022

NIDA-Backed Research Finds GLP-1’s Reduce Opioid Cravings

Last week, at the American Association for the Advancement of Science Conference, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, supported by Novo Nordisk and NIDA, presented the impacts of GLP-1s (liraglutide) on opioid cravings. Researchers found a 30% decrease in opioid cravings because of taking liraglutide. On the tenth day of the study, researchers increased dosages of the GLP-1, which resulted in gastrointestinal distress, causing high dropout rates. The study ran for three weeks and included 20 patients. Of the 20 patients who started the trial, only 9 completed the trial. Addiction psychiatrist Andrew Saxon attended the presentation and commented, “It suggests there’s an additive effect of these two medications [buprenorphine and liraglutide].” More research is needed to better understand the relationship between GLP-1s and addiction treatments.

Articles & Resources

STAT—Opioid cravings were reduced by anti-obesity drug in small study

What We Read Last Week

Several articles were published last week pertaining to the opioid epidemic, covering a variety of different components of the topic. Links to relevant articles are provided below.

Global Newswire—Bicycle Health’s Second Opioid Use Disorder Index Reveals Persistent Gaps in Treatment

Los Angeles Times—Opinion: Many Americans believe migrants bring fentanyl across the border. That’s wrong and dangerous

NPR—More kids are dying of drug overdoses. Could pediatricians do more to help?

Stanford University—Researchers find response to ketamine depends on opioid pathways, but varies by sex

Vox—We have treatments for opioid addiction hat work. So why is the problem getting worse?

Washington Post—D.C. officials scramble to spend as emergency order on opioids lapses

This Week’s Calendar

In the week ahead, there are no relevant events or hearings noticed at this time. In the event that there are any changes to the schedule for this week, we will make additional information available.

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