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Addictions and Drugs

Federal needle exchange programs are to reduce health care costs, blood-borne infections

New research suggests that every dollar spent in Prison Needle Exchange Programs (PNEPs) in Canadian federal prisons will save $2 in infection treatment costs, making the case for further investment in these programs. The research is published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). “Needle exchange...

Drug overdose more likely in patients who leave hospital against medical advice

People who initiate a premature or “before medically advised” (BMA) hospital discharge have a 10-fold increase in the risk of drug overdose in the following month, according to new research in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). Patients leave hospital prematurely for a range of reasons,...

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Overdose-induced brain injury

The toxic drug crisis is a long-standing public health emergency, but many are unaware...

Long-term follow-ups improve health outcomes for people with substance use disorders

A novel longitudinal outreach program for people with opioid use disorder (OUD), set into...

Clinic improves access to mental health services for patients with addiction and mental health issues

People with substance use disorders are up to three times more likely to have...

Emergency department discussions about opioid use

The emergency department’s role in providing life-saving care can extend into longer-term treatment plans...

Optimizing opioid prescriptions after the ED to reduce opioid overdoses, misuse

New research aims to help reduce the quantity of unused prescription opioids after emergency...

Artificial intelligence and patient care: Considerations of medication safety

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has generated significant excitement globally. One notable AI system is ChatGPT...

A quarter of deaths among young adults in Canada were opioid related in 2021

Premature deaths related to opioids doubled between 2019 and 2021 across Canada, with more...

Common drug interactions with over-the-counter medications

TJ, a 45-year-old male with symptoms of a common cold (sore throat, headache, runny...

Researchers identify an economic solution to Canada’s opioid crisis

Nasal-administered naloxone is more cost-effective and could help reduce the number of opioid-related fatalities compared...

Finding innovative solutions to reduce substance use costs on health care

Substance use is quietly adding significant stress to the currently strained health-care system in...

Canadians give governments an ‘F’ in meeting their mental health and substance use health needs

Federal and provincial governments are getting a resounding ‘F’ from Canadians when it comes...

Few patients receive opioid agonist therapy after opioid overdose, despite benefits

In the week following any hospital visit for an overdose, only one in 18...

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