How the U.S. denies lifesaving medications to people with opioid addiction

Virtually every sector of American society is obstructing the use of medications that could prevent tens of thousands of deaths each year.

March 5, 2024 Check out STAT+

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Thumỹ Phan for STAT How the U.S. is sabotaging its best tools to prevent deaths in the opioid epidemic A STAT investigation shows that virtually every sector of society obstructs the use of methadone and buprenorphine to treat opioid addiction. By Lev Facher STAT+ | Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic cuts risk of kidney disease progression, trial shows A Novo Nordisk study showed that its diabetes drug Ozempic lowered the risk that patients with kidney disease would see progression. By Andrew Joseph It's time to stop treating menopause like a disease, researchers argue in series of Lancet articles Lancet articles challenge conventional approach to treating menopause symptoms, urge a greater mental health focus, less emphasis on menopause as a disease. By Annalisa Merelli Molly Ferguson for STAT STAT+ | Q&A: Nora Volkow on how to get 'at least 50% less people dying' from opioid overdose Volkow, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, talks about the power of methadone and buprenorphine as opioid addiction treatments. By Lev Facher STAT+ | WTO proposal for Covid diagnostics and therapeutics waiver is abandoned The proposal was furiously opposed by the pharmaceutical industry, with help from some countries where drugmakers have global headquarters. By Ed Silverman Q&A: Microsoft research head explains how generative AI could help doctors be more human Microsoft's Peter Lee, a member of the 2024 STATUS List, believes artificial intelligence can be trained to solve bias problems in AI. By Nicholas St. Fleur Watch: Why fentanyl withdrawal is agony and how medication can prevent it An expert explains how opioids like fentanyl and heroin work in the brain and why they cause such terrible withdrawal symptoms. By Alex Hogan Opinion: How ideas from ancient Greece like 'a bun in the oven' continue to affect reproductive health policy A great deal of what we think we know about procreation owes more to ancient religion and philosophy than it does to modern science. By Kathleen M. Crowther

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