Research/Trends/Statistics

Although many have been describing the new street drug W-18 as an opioid, and although illegal drug manufacturers have been using it as a fentanyl substitute, recent news suggests that it is most likely not an opioid. What Is W-18? W-18 was originally found in drug products in Sweden in 2014 and later in Canada…

Oxycodone and Hydrocodone are both opioid pain relievers. Opioids are a class of chemically related drugs that interact with opioid receptors in the nervous system throughout the body. This drug class includes both legal substances, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and fentanyl, and illegal substances, such as heroin. The interaction between opioids and their…

Women are more likely to have chronic pain, receive a prescription for opioids, and stay on higher doses of opioids for longer periods than men. As Two Dreams founder and CEO Andrea Barthwell, MD, DFASAM points out, “there are real biological differences in the way in which we handle these chemicals.” To learn more, click…

In 2008, the NIH started funding the Human Microbiome Project in an effort to identify and characterize the microorganisms of the human body (such as those on the skin and in the vagina, mouth, and the intestinal tract) to determine if they play a role in human health and disease. This research has started unraveling…

In a perfect world, doctors would be able to identify patients who are prone to opioid addiction and prescribe them non-opioid painkillers that wouldn’t lead to dependence. For years, researchers have been trying to advance care to this point by looking for genes that contribute to addiction. There are currently a number of potential candidates,…

The Research Society on Alcoholism has recently found evidence that alcohol causes cells to age at an expedited rate. Specifically, they found that individuals with alcohol use disorder has shortened telomere lengths in their cells. This suggests that the more alcohol individuals consume, the more at risk they are for age-related ailments such as cancer,…

A study published in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse revealed that alcohol and tobacco use is correlated with perceived body image. For example, girls who perceived themselves to be too fat were more likely to use alcohol and tobacco, whereas boys who perceived themselves to be too fat were only more likely…

A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics looked at the changing frequency of buprenorphine or naltrexone prescription in youth between the ages of 13 and 25 years. Researchers found that the drugs were prescribed more in 2014 than in 2001, but that still only 25% of individuals received buprenorphine or naltrexone, and certain populations, including…

A recent study conducted by Oregon State University found that college students in Oregon have been increasing their marijuana usage ever since it was legalized for recreational use. Interestingly, the students increasing their marijuana use have also reported recently, heavy alcohol use. Learn more here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/06/170614160510.htm If you are struggling with substance use of any…

A new study conducted by the Society of Nuclear Medicine revealed that the brain receptors involved with the impulse to drink reduce their bioavailability during periods of alcohol-dependency. This finding suggests that clinicians can use receptor bioavailability during sobriety to predict long-term success. If you are struggling with alcohol use disorder, please call us today…