DrugRehab.com provides information regarding illicit and prescription drug
addiction, the various populations at risk for the disease, current statistics and trends, and
psychological disorders that often accompany addiction. You will also find information on spotting
the signs and symptoms of substance use and hotlines for immediate assistance.
Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the individual.
In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer information on
outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of care. In this section, you
will find information and resources related to evidence-based treatment models, counseling and
therapy and payment and insurance options.
Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the
individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer
information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of
care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based
treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.
The recovery process doesn't end after 90 days of treatment. The transition back to
life outside of rehab is fraught with the potential for relapse. Aftercare resources such as
12-step groups, sober living homes and support for family and friends promote a life rich with
rewarding relationships and meaning.
Our community offers unique perspectives on lifelong recovery and substance use
prevention, empowering others through stories of strength and courage. From people in active
recovery to advocates who have lost loved ones to the devastating disease of addiction, our
community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.
Calling all innovators: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration needs your help.
The FDA on Sept. 19 launched the 2016 Naloxone App Competition, a public contest focused on using innovative technologies to fight the opioid epidemic. The agency is asking the public for mobile app designs that would help opioid abusers locate naloxone, an overdose reversal medication.
The app competition is intended to make naloxone more accessible as not everyone has access to the lifesaving drug.
“The goal of this competition is to develop a low-cost, scalable, crowd-sourced mobile application that addresses this issue of accessibility,” Dr. Peter Lurie, associate commissioner for public health strategy and analysis at the FDA, said in a press release.
In the past, mobile phone apps have been used to educate the masses on the use of naloxone, Lurie said. But no current application connects carriers of this medication with victims of opioid overdose.
That’s where tech-savvy or clinically educated individuals can help.
The FDA looks to recruit innovators of all professions for this competition. These professionals may include computer programmers, clinical researchers, public health advocates or entrepreneurs.
Participants will be equipped with access to data on the epidemic, the approved chemical formula of naloxone and public health recommendations associated with the drug.
Registration ends Oct. 7, 2016.
From Oct. 19 to Oct. 20, the agency will host a two-day coding event for registered participants to cultivate their ideas. The gathering will be held virtually and on the FDA campus in Silver Spring, Maryland. There, entrants can collaborate and innovate together.
Participants can submit their final prototype, a video and a summary of their work on Nov. 7, 2016.
A judging panel — comprising members of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the FDA — will review submissions. The highest-scored entrant will receive $40,000.
The Importance of Naloxone
Naloxone, brand name Narcan, is an FDA-approved medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Opioids include heroin, hydrocodone and fentanyl.
The medication blocks opioid receptors, mitigating the effects of overdose. Naloxone can be injected into a muscle or intravenously, or sprayed up the nose. Once administered, an overdose victim can regain consciousness within two minutes.
Nearly every state has passed a law allowing the purchase of naloxone without a doctor’s prescription. Hawaii, Kansas, Missouri, Montana and Wyoming have yet to pass a law improving the accessibility of the medication.
Drug stores and pharmacies across the United States are expanding access to the drug.
Use of the medication has skyrocketed over the last decade. A survey by the Harm Reduction Coalition found that various organizations provided more than 152,000 naloxone kits to laypersons from 1996 to 2014. Laypersons included drug users, their families and friends, and service providers.
The accessibility of naloxone nearly tripled from 2010 to 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is working to expand access to naloxone, particularly in rural and tribal communities. In September 2015, the Health Resources and Services Administration provided $1.8 million in funding to improve naloxone accessibility in 18 rural communities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 28,000 people died of opioid overdose in 2014 — more than any year on record. More than six of every 10 drug overdoses involved an opioid.
The rate of overdose deaths involving opioids have nearly quadrupled since 1999, per the HHS.
The FDA hopes to reverse this trend using 21st century technology.
“Through this competition, we are tapping public health-focused innovators to help bring technological solutions to a real-world problem that is costing the U.S. thousands of lives each year,” FDA commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf said in a press release.
Follow the 2016 Naloxone App Competition on social media using #NaloxoneApp. Visit fda.gov for more information.
Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
Matt Gonzales is a writer and researcher for DrugRehab.com. He graduated with a degree in journalism from East Carolina University and began his professional writing career in 2011. Matt covers the latest drug trends and shares inspirational stories of people who have overcome addiction. Certified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in health literacy, Matt leverages his experience in addiction research to provide hope to those struggling with substance use disorders.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016, September 8). Injury Prevention & Control: Opioid Overdose. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2015, June 19). Opioid Overdose Prevention Programs Providing Naloxone to Laypersons — United States, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6423a2.htm
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