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Opioid overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50. This is a staggering statistic reflecting a national public health emergency. A study released this month by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health  reported that construction workers, farmers and fisherman are particularly at risk with higher than average rates of overdose deaths. The opioid-related death rate for ...

During a February presentation at the Harvard School of Public Health Angus Deaton, the Nobel Prize-winning economist spoke about the rise in preventable deaths by suicide, alcoholism and addiction calling them “deaths of despair.” Public Health researchers around the world have started to recognize that loneliness plays a significant role in these deaths of despair and, as a result, loneliness ...

In my last post I summarized some alarming trends and statistics reflecting our country’s epidemic of opioid addiction. I also pointed out that while research supports the effectiveness of prescribing opioids for the treatment of acute trauma, before and after surgery, cancer pain and pain associated with end of life illness, “the evidence is limited for the use of chronic ...

Last month a White House panel called our country’s epidemic of opioid addiction and overdose deaths a “national public health emergency.” It’s an ongoing and escalating disaster with an estimated 3.8 million Americans using opioids for non-medical reasons every month and 142 Americans dying every day from overdoses. Opioid overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under ...