Nanotechnology-Enhanced Naloxone and Alternative Treatments for Opioid Addiction.

Opioids are commonly prescribed to address intense, ongoing pain associated with cancer, as well as long-lasting noncancer-related pain when alternative methods have proven ineffective. Individuals who exhibit both chronic pain and misuse of opioids face a significant danger of experiencing adverse health outcomes and the potential loss of life related to opioid use. Thus, there is a current movement to prescribe naloxone to those considered high-risk for opioid overdose.

The methods and baseline characteristics of a multi-site randomized controlled trial evaluating mindfulness-based relapse prevention in conjunction with peer support to improve adherence to medications for opioid use disorders.

Introduction: Medications for opioid use disorders (MOUD) remain the gold standard for treating OUD, but treatment initiation and adherence remain challenging. Exclusive utilization of pharmacotherapy as a treatment modality for OUD is sub-optimal, and a combination of psychotherapies and pharmacotherapies is recommended. General trends indicate the benefits of peer mentoring and MBRP separately.

Original Research: Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding the Sustainable Development Goals: A Global Study.

Background: Nurses have a critical role to play in achieving the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While Goal 3 (good health and well-being) is of particular importance to nursing, every SDG contributes to the advancement of universal health and well-being. Yet many nurses are unfamiliar with the SDGs and how they relate to everyday nursing practices.

Xylazine: The Drug Taking the World By Storm: What You Need to Know.

Xylazine has taken the world by storm and proactive strategies are urgently needed to combat its negative impacts on population health. Xylazine is an unscheduled non-opioid indicated as a veterinary tranquilizer, also known as "Tranq." This drug is commonly used in combination with other drugs, such as heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine.

Perceived Educational Needs of Substance Use Peer Support Specialists: A Qualitative Study.

The opioid crisis is an ever-growing issue nationwide. The role of peer support specialists has received widespread acceptance in the substance use and behavioral health spheres. However, there is a lack of standardization on the training required for peer support specialists to function as competent members of integrated behavioral health teams.

Social and structural determinants of recovery: The impact of race.

Relapse rates for substance use disorders (SUDs) after treatment are as high as 50%. Evidence suggests that social and structural determinants of recovery influence these outcomes. Important domains to consider include economic stability, educational access and quality, healthcare access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context are the major domains of social determinants of health.

Development and implementation of a novel peer mentoring program for undergraduate nursing students.

Objectives: Given the dynamic and high-stress environment of nursing education today, the need arose for the development and implementation of a novel peer mentoring program to support undergraduate nursing students. Peer mentoring refers to a network of support in which a more skilled or experienced person serves as a role model for a less skilled person for professional development and personal growth. Peer mentoring provides a support system that encourages self-confidence and increases self-worth for both the mentee and the mentor.

The Role of Nursing in Loosening the Pervasive Grip of Intersectional Stigma.

Stigma is a key driver of inequity and affects myriad health behaviors and outcomes, especially those related to substance use disorder, HIV, and mental illness. Intersectionality, theorized by Black feminist scholars, emphasizes the intersecting, structural processes that place people at risk for harm. As people's multiple identities are inseparable and non-additive, their experiences of stigma are complex and multifaceted.

Recovery Ecosystems: A Whole Health Approach to Substance Use Prevention and Treatment.

A is an evidence-based approach that creates the environment that individuals and families need by providing all the necessary tools, services, and supports for recovery to occur. Several models have been proposed in the literature, including the recovery-oriented systems of care model and Recovery Ready Ecosystems Model. A major concern with previous models is lack of focus on how the individual with substance use disorder (SUD) is a partner in the recovery process and interacts with the recovery ecosystem to optimize recovery wrap-around services and supports.

Substance use treatment services for older adults in five states in the Southern United States: a state-by-state comparison of available treatment services.

Substance use disorders (SUD) among older adults have become a serious public health concern. The purpose of this study was to assess which states in the Southern U.S.

Improving Confidence in Clinical Assessment Skills Through Service-Learning Experiences Among Nursing Students.

Background: Service-learning (SL) was incorporated into a nonclinical undergraduate nursing course. This study examined the effects of SL on nursing students' confidence in performing patient health assessments.

Method: Nursing students completed an experiential SL vital signs assessment and a subsequent reflective journal.

Feasibility and Acceptability of a Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention Intervention for Opioid Use Disorders.

In 2021, drug overdose deaths exceeded 100,000 for the first time in U.S. history, mostly attributable to opioid overdoses.

Moderation Effects of Substance Use on Physical and Mental Well-Being in Adults.

Background: Each year about one in five adults experiences mental illness. Although the independent physical and mental health consequences of alcohol misuse and cigarette smoking are well documented, little is known on how substance use moderates the relationship between physical and mental well-being.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine whether substance use moderates the relationship between physical activity and mental health in adults.

COVID-19 and opioid use disorder: Expanding treatment access in rural settings.

Substance use treatment inequities among rural populations are well documented and the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these inequalities, forcing healthcare providers to be creative in the delivery of treatment. Systematic reviews on the use of telehealth to treat patients with substance use disorder indicate that it is a promising alternative to in-person services. This article examines the evidence supporting the use of telehealth in treating patients with opioid use disorder and explores other promising options that can help overcome pandemic-related barriers to treatment.

Relationships Among Exercise, Mindfulness, Mental Health, and Academic Achievement Among Prelicensure Nursing Students.

Background: Nursing school is challenging and can be stressful for many students. Nursing students are also susceptible to stress, anxiety, and depression. Exercise and mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) have been shown to improve mental health outcomes in other populations, but it is not known how these strategies influence academic achievement.

Engaging African-Americans in Research in the Era of Precision Medicine: An All of Us Research Program Initiative.

The purpose of this study was to increase awareness about the All of Us Research Program and to engage African-Americans who live in the Deep South in conversations about research. This was a quasi-experimental single group design with pre- and post-tests. Recruitment occurred via social media, radio and television advertisements, and in-person recruitment.

Intensity and type of physical activity predicts depression in older adults.

Unlabelled: This study examined whether various levels of physical activity among older adults predicted levels of depression and whether there were racial differences in the levels and types of physical activities engaged in by adults aged 50 and older.

Method: Data from the 2015-2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were analyzed for 2,474 adults aged 50 years and older. Variables of focus were demographics, physical activity and depression, assessed using the Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Mental Health - Depression Screener.

Employment implications of nurses going through peer assistance programs for substance use disorders.

Nurses constitute approximately 36% of all healthcare providers, and 2% of the labor force in the United States (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2016). However, about 8% of nurses suffer from substance use disorders ([SUD]; Kunyk, 2015) and must participate in peer assistance programs to maintain their licenses (Darbro & Malliarakis, 2012). The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experiences of nurses with SUD participating in peer assistance programs and the subsequent employment implications.