Even before the 2019 COVID crisis, telemedicine (TM) enabled by digital health technologies was considered a key solution to the health care access problem in rural communities. However, use of TM to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) has been limited even during the recent opioid crisis in the U.S…

Alcohol use during adolescence is common and represents a major public health concern, yet fewer than 10% of U.S. teens aged 12-17 who would benefit from treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD) actually receive it. As such, there’s a growing need for expanded prevention, early intervention, and…

The opioid epidemic continues to evolve and impact all groups of people, including women. The end to this evolving epidemic will require treatment solutions that consider women’s risks and needs as they related to opioid use disorder (OUD) and co-occurring conditions. Given that, it is crucial…

Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for 6% of the U.S. population, but 61% of those infected with HIV, as well as 69% of new  infections. More than 30% of new infections occur in young (under age 35) MSM who identify as Black or Hispanic/Latino. And though minority MSM are not more likely to…

As general medical settings increasingly work to integrate substance use disorder (SUD) screening and management, being able to prioritize these practices for patients with medical conditions exacerbated by SUD may help facilitate adoption. Hypertension impacts over a quarter of American adults…

Twelve-step mutual help groups are widely accessed by people with substance use disorder (SUD), but not often subjected to rigorous evaluation. Examining a pool of randomized trials containing a condition in which mutual health group attendance is actively facilitated might help reveal…

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration reports that 11.2% of the U.S. population uses cannabis or illegal drugs (2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health). Cannabis and other drug use are associated with adverse health events, but little is known about the…

Regular exercise is a long-recommended approach to lowering the risk of a number of chronic health disorders, like cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, and certain cancers. It’s also been shown to improve sleep, cognition, mood, and quality of life, and to reduce substance use and…

People experiencing homelessness or unstable housing have higher rates of substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and HIV acquisition, as well as poorer health outcomes like mental illness, psychiatric disorders, tuberculosis, asthma, and bronchitis.
 
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The U.S. has been experiencing a devastating opioid epidemic with enormous negative impacts on public health across the country. While efforts to reduce opioid prescribing have been successful, rates of opioid use disorder (OUD) continue to surge, with 300-400% increases among some populations.…