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Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, or “plus” (LGBTQ+) are more likely to begin using illegal substances at earlier ages. This was found in a nationwide survey conducted by researchers at Desert Hope, an addiction treatment facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. In the study, out of the 400 respondents who identified as LGBTQ+, 12 percent of survey responders said they started using drugs at age 13 or younger and 35 percent said they were between the ages of 14-17 when their drug use started. These rates were higher than heterosexual or straight identifying individuals, with 7 percent of respondents starting drugs by age 13 and 32 percent starting drugs between the ages of 14-17.This same study also found that these individuals use more types of drugs and have a smaller support system when they do decide to stop using. The results of this research highlight the need for specialized addiction treatment for LGBTQ+ individuals as well as providing a judgement free zone to aid in the treatment process.
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Researchers from the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research at the University of Victoria in British Columbia recently published an article in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs on the effects of moderate drinking. This study found that individuals who meet the criteria for moderate drinking, which is a maximum of 10 drinks a week for women and 15 for men, are not safe from the potentially harmful effects of alcohol consumption. The results of the study found that over 50 percent of cancer deaths within British Columbia that resulted from alcohol use occurred in people who drank moderately. Additionally, 38 percent of all alcohol-related deaths were experienced by individuals who drank below the weekly moderate limits. While Canadian moderate drinking criteria (10 drinks for women and 15 drinks for men) are slightly higher than the United States’ definition (7 drinks per week for women and 14 for men), the researchers posset that there would be little variation in the effects seen.
Temple University researchers in Philadelphia have received a $1.77 million grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This grant will be used to study the use of clavulanic acid as an effective therapy for cocaine use disorder. The Temple researchers will focus on clavulanic acid’s potential ability to interrupt cocaine cravings and re-establish healthier brain functions among those who use cocaine. Previous studies done on animals found a link between clavulanic acid and a reduction in the activation of the reward-pathway triggered by cocaine. The activation of this pathway is responsible for cocaine-users continuously seeking out the drug. The first part of this study will follow individuals who take clavulanic acid for one year while they are receiving treatment for cocaine use disorder. If after this year long period the drug is found to be safe for users and lacking negative side effects, NIDA will provide more funding to expand the study to outpatient treatment centers in other states.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new learning module in its online interactive training series for healthcare providers on Applying CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids. This new module will aid in familiarizing healthcare workers with the recommendations found in the CDC’s Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. It will also discuss the possible benefits of utilizing the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program that features strategies to identify patients who might be at higher risk for opioid overdose or opioid use disorder and determine patients who may benefit from greater caution and increased monitoring or interventions when risk factors identified. Interested individuals can look forward to interactive patient scenarios that will help present and practice applying the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program so healthcare providers will feel more comfortable putting practice to action. This module also counts as a continuing education course for qualifying healthcare professionals and is free.
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