Implementing Health Reform: CMS 2015 Draft Letter To Issuers; OPM Multi-State …
CMS must independently determine that it is in the best interests of consumers to certify a plan and will review complaints and oversight findings in making this determination. CMS or the state will review plan service areas, … Another major … Read more on Health Affairs (blog)

'Yellow Brick' re-released; Sidibe apologizes for slur
The remarks drew stern criticism from Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. … The finale of American Horror Story: Coven hooked 4.2 million total viewers, making it the highest-rated season finale of the … Read more on Windy City Times

As mayor, Dimas says, he'd return focus to city services
He also led efforts to go into Santa Fe schools to teach youth about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, an issue that Dimas later faced firsthand when one of his daughters, who had been in and out of rehab, died of a drug overdose. “You're always … Read more on Santa Fe New Mexican.com

Help available to addicts seeking recovery, though space sometimes limited in …
Detoxification facilities where patients have brief stays while going through drug withdrawal are available at Providence Behavioral Health and the Carlson Recovery Center in Springfield, Roose said. They have 30 beds each. Roose said the Holyoke … Read more on GazetteNET

Doctor struck off over care given to patient who overdosed in rehab
A doctor has been struck off for failing to provide good clinical care to a patient who died of a drug overdose. Dr Lal Sharma was contracted to work part-time at Castle Craig Hospital, a drug and alcohol dependence clinic near Peebles in the Borders … Read more on stv.tv

Parents' distraught after delayed custody hearings keep daughter in hospital …
'Hopefully Justina will now get the treatment she needs. Her health is very fragile and it is feared it will take years for her to recover from this ordeal, mentally as well as physically.' Ex Boston Children's Hospital nurse Kathy Higgins wrote a … Read more on Daily Mail

Question by Liz: What exactly are the current barriers to naloxone access?
Law makers introduced a way to prevent drug overdoses in america, which is now the second leading cause of accidental deaths. One of those ways is to remove the barriers of Naloxone (Narcan) access, does anyone know what those barriers are?
In response to mark, I’m actually on the medication, well on suboxone which has naloxone in it. So do you think that’s the one and only barrier to getting it? And I know that you have to go through a program to get it in the first place, in Maine there’s a waiting list. Maybe this means making it more available and not needing a specialized doctor to prescribe it?

Best answer:

Answer by Mark R
One is that it can only be prescribed by a liscensed physician with a specialty in drug addiction treatment. “narcan” is what is given to stop an overdose of opiates since it it is a competitive inhibitor of opiate receptors.

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Anti-Addiction Drugs Found In Philip Seymour Hoffman's Apartment
New York City detectives confirmed that, along with the 50 bags of heroin found in Philip Seymour Hoffman's apartment at the time of his death, they also found a variety of prescription drugs including the addiction-treatment drug buprenorphine … Read more on ABC News

Experts worry about effect of dropping hundreds of addicted Mainers from …
At the end of 2013, hundreds of recovering drug addicts lost their MaineCare coverage, in many cases limiting or ending their ability to get methadone treatment. From left, Lindey Saunders, 35, of Ellsworth; Brandi Harriman, 28, of Glenburn and Jacob … Read more on Bangor Daily News

2 arrested for selling Suboxone, a drug created to treat addiction
WAPPINGERS FALLS — Two Dutchess County residents were arrested for trying to sell Suboxone, a drug prescribed to treat opiate addiction, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office announced. Town of Wappinger resident Dillon Farmer, 22, and Town of … Read more on Poughkeepsie Journal

Sober living homes offer hope, support to recovering addicts
Hansen House's residential treatment houses are licensed by the state Department of Health and Human Services, offer treatment and are staffed 24 hours a day, every day, Hansen said. The treatment center Hendricks House in Vineland manages them, she … Read more on Press of Atlantic City

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Heath Ledger & Jane Doe: Every Death Matters
The latest numbers from the Center for Disease Control (2010) tell us that 105 Americans die EVERY DAY from drug overdoses and many others per day use it as a form of suicide. Overdose rates have steadily risen … Climbing in severity fuels dissension … Read more on Bangor Daily News

Law is one way of forcing addicts into treatment
The judge orders her/him to a licensed inpatient substance abuse treatment facility, such as the Women's Addiction Treatment Center (WATC) facility in New Bedford, the Men's Addiction Treatment Center (MATC) in Brockton or another community treatment … Read more on Capecodonline

Question by Anty: What are the long term effects of being born addicted to drugs?
The immediate effects on an infant are the withdrawal symptoms and failure to thrive and bond with the caregiver. Are there any long term effects? As in, during the toddler or teenage years. Are any effects seen when they’re older?
What do you mean by “funny”? I’m asking a serious question.

Best answer:

Answer by MyNickname
Funny how u used “long term”……

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Old shoes can help fight drug abuse
4 Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person. 5 Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts. 6 Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an … Read more on Eastern Arizona Courier

Meeting targets prescription drug abuse
COLUMBUS — Polk County community leaders will come together today to discuss the growing problem of prescription drug abuse, addiction to pain medication and unintentional drug overdose. The dinner meeting will take place starting at 5:30 p.m. at the … Read more on Asheville Citizen-Times

Death Of 'That '70s Show' Actress Ruled Accidental Drug Overdose
Accidental Death, Autopsy, Drugs, DUI, Lisa Robin Kelly, Overdose, rehab, That 70s Show. LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The August 2013 death of “That '70s Show” actress Lisa Robin Kelly has been ruled an accident caused by multiple drug intoxication … Read more on CBS Local

James Avery Dead: 'Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air' Actor Dies At 68
<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/19/lee-thompson-young-dead_n_3780781.html?ref=topbar" target="_blank">"The Famous Jett Jackson" star was found dead</a> in his apartment by his landlord in Los Angeles on Aug. 19, 2013. Young's rep … Read more on Huffington Post