Latest News On Substance Misuse

Latest KFF Health News Stories

Drug Overdose Deaths Soar Nationally But Plateau In Some Western States

KFF Health News Original

Fatalities are climbing in states that have been flooded by the deadly opioid fentanyl, but are remaining flat — or even falling — in many Western states, where the drug has not yet been as common as other parts of the country.

Maine Voters Chose Medicaid Expansion. Why Is Their Governor Resisting?

KFF Health News Original

Even though voters in Maine decided to expand Medicaid through a ballot measure, the law’s fate is still unclear. Gov. Paul LePage says the Legislature must find funds for it without raising taxes. Advocates say the law is on their side and expansion must be implemented.

Pharmacists Slow To Dispense Lifesaving Overdose Drug

KFF Health News Original

Laws in California and most other states allow pharmacists to provide naloxone to patients or their friends without a doctor’s prescription. But many don’t do so, citing lack of demand and awareness among patients, their own fears of insufficient compensation and the challenges of treating opioid users.

Arizona Declares Opioid Emergency, But Signals Are Mixed Over Best Response

KFF Health News Original

Arizona is one of a few states that have declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. There’s no uniformity in what that means from state to state, though, and even within Arizona, there’s a wide divergence of opinion on how best to tackle the problem.

Stopping Opioid Addiction At One Key Source: The Hospital

KFF Health News Original

Based on research conducted at the University of Michigan’s medical center, a group of surgeons developed a strategy to help post-surgical patients from misusing or abusing their prescription painkillers.

Taking A Page From Pharma’s Playbook To Fight The Opioid Crisis

KFF Health News Original

Doctors and pharmacists in Northern California are emulating drug company sales reps with a fresh purpose in mind: They visit medical offices in the hardest-hit counties to change their peers’ prescribing habits and curtail the use of painkillers.

Despite GOP Efforts To Corral Medicaid Spending, States Expand Benefits

KFF Health News Original

States are adding a variety of services, including expansions of mental health and substance abuse treatments and dental care, according to a 50-state survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

For Low-Income Drug Users, Medi-Cal Offers A Fresh Start

KFF Health News Original

Under a five-year agreement with the federal government, California is using Medicaid dollars to expand drug treatment, including more inpatient care and a broader range of medications.

A Long And Winding Road: Kicking Heroin In An Opioid ‘Treatment Desert’  

KFF Health News Original

Heather Menzel thought returning to her rural California hometown was the answer to her addiction problems. Then she discovered the town had no medical treatment options for her — but plenty of heroin.

¿Funcionan los seguros de salud basados en la Biblia?

KFF Health News Original

Los ministerios de salud son esencialmente programas de costos compartidos que se aplican a nivel nacional. Para ser miembro hay que tener una mirada de fe sobre la atención médica.

Opioid Treatment Funds In Senate Bill Would Fall Far Short Of Needs

KFF Health News Original

The $45 billion for opioid treatment in the Senate bill sounds like a lot of money, but an advocate estimates it would provide $1,000 to $2,000 per year for each person in Pennsylvania who might need treatment. Meanwhile, one year of methadone treatment for opioid addiction costs about $4,700 per year,

In Texas, People With Mental Illness Find Work Helping Peers

KFF Health News Original

Peer support, well-known in addiction treatment, is gaining ground for people with serious mental illness. Texas and 35 other states are training and paying peer support specialists to help bridge a gap in mental health treatment.