Prevention Resources Inc

(SNJ Today) As part of a three to six month study, Camden County will attempt to distribute free fentanyl test strips to people who are homeless and struggling with substance abuse. The strips test for the presence of fentanyl and provide near instant results. Those who volunteered to take part in the study will be issued the strips as part of a “protect a life” kit, which also includes a dose of Narcan and a list of treatment options. The pilot program aims to determine whether helping the public make more informed decisions about the drugs they are taking can …

(USA Today) Recent findings from the CDC reveal that, contrary to popular belief, THC vaping related illnesses are not caused solely by unregulated black market products. Federal research indicates 1 in 6 of reported cases involved a product purchased commercially within a state where medical and/or recreational marijuana is legal. Click here to read the full article. 

The number of vaping-related lung injuries in the US has risen to 2,290 this week, with 47 deaths recorded, federal officials announced. That figure, recorded on Wednesday, is up by 118 injuries from last week, when 2,172 cases were reported, according to the CDC. Those injuries have been reported in 49 states, the District of Columbia as well as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Alaska is the only state without any vaping-related injuries, the agency reported. Forty-seven deaths have been reported as a result of e-cigarette use in 25 states and D.C. as of Wednesday, officials said. That’s an increase …

Reports of severe disease in 15 young e-cigarette users in New Jersey, more than 200 nationwide, lead to alarm among healthcare officials Credit: Krystian Graba/Pixabay State and local officials in New Jersey are grappling with reports of severe lung disease in 15 relatively young patients with a history of e-cigarette use, part of a growing concern that has involved more than 200 patients in at least two dozen states. Read full article here

Consumers are likely aware of the recent reports of respiratory illnesses — including some resulting in deaths – following the use of vaping products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remains deeply concerned about these incidents and is working closely with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state and local public health partners to investigate them as quickly as possible. Read full article here

The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force calls for patient-centered and comprehensive approaches to pain management. An individualized, patient-centered approach to pain management could help improve care outcomes and patient experience while still addressing the opioid crisis, according to a proposed report from the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force (Task Force). The proposal, published at the end of 2018, outlines how individual providers and the industry as a whole can address pain management for patients with acute and chronic pain, two issues that have become more pervasive in recent years. “Chronic pain affects an estimated 50 million US adults or 20 …