The Cyclical and Evolving Nature of Methamphetamine Use: An Evaluation of Near Real-time Urine Drug Test Results.

Objective: To determine methamphetamine positivity and copositivity with other drugs in urine drug test (UDT) results geographically through time.

Methods: This cross-sectional study of UDT results from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2019, included patient specimens submitted by health care professionals across the United States. The analysis used LC-MS/MS to detect cocaine, heroin, alcohol, marijuana and nonprescribed methamphetamine, fentanyl, methadone, buprenorphine, benzodiazepines, and other opioids.

An Examination of State and Federal Opioid Analgesic and Continuing Education Policies: 2016-2018.

Introduction: Opioid overdose deaths in the United States have climbed sharply over the past two decades. Simultaneously, increased awareness of inadequately treated chronic pain has resulted in increased opioid analgesic prescribing. The correlation between these two phenomena has led policymakers to posit that they are causally linked, and to implement policy changes supporting safe opioid prescribing.

Evaluation of Trends of Near-Real-Time Urine Drug Test Results for Methamphetamine, Cocaine, Heroin, and Fentanyl.

This cross-sectional study uses nationally representative urine drug test data to analyze changes in positivity rates for methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl.

Rate of Fentanyl Positivity Among Urine Drug Test Results Positive for Cocaine or Methamphetamine.

Importance: Drug overdose deaths continue to increase, despite the leveling off of prescription opioid use and policy changes limiting opioid prescribing. Illicit fentanyl is the leading cause of drug overdose death, and it is important to characterize the emerging combination of other illicit drugs with fentanyl, which increases the risk of overdose.

Objective: To determine whether rates of the combination of nonprescribed fentanyl with cocaine or methamphetamine have changed in urine drug test (UDT) results through time.

Impact of opioid dose reduction on individuals with chronic pain: results of an online survey.

Background: In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a guideline on opioid prescribing for primary care physicians. Patients with chronic pain receiving long-term opioid therapy were surveyed to assess the incidence and impact of opioid dose reduction following this guideline's promulgation.

Methods: Members of an advocacy organization for people with chronic pain were invited to participate in a 16-item, anonymous, online survey conducted in September/October 2017.

The Role of Continuing Medical Education in Increasing Enrollment in Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs.

Purpose: Opioid diversion, misuse, and abuse are rapidly growing problems in the United States; >60% of all drug overdose deaths involve an opioid. At least 49 states now have fully operational prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) to support legitimate medical use of controlled substances; however, there is considerable underutilization of such programs.

Methods: To increase awareness of PDMPs and their use, a continuing medical education program including 2 webcasts and a series of newsletters was offered to health care providers.

State Policies Regulating the Practice of Pain Management: Statutes, Rules, and Guidelines That Shape Pain Care.

In response to increased awareness of prescription opioid misuse, abuse, addiction, diversion, and overdose, states have promulgated a large number of public policies intended to regulate the practice of pain medicine. Nearly every state now has at least 1 type of policy; others only provide recommendations to physicians. This article reviews the existing policies and extracts specific provisions within each of them.

An Online Survey of Patients' Experiences Since the Rescheduling of Hydrocodone: The First 100 Days.

Objective: To conduct an Internet patient survey through the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association on reactions to the first 100 days following the rescheduling of hydrocodone.

Methods: Face-valid survey questions were created with expert consensus along with repurposed questions used on previous NFMCPA surveys covering domains such as demographics and symptoms. The questionnaire was designed to be administered over the Internet.

FDA/DEA/PDMP/UDT: alphabet soup or sensible and integrated risk management?

Objective: Both prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) and urine drug testing (UDT) are recommended as parts of an ongoing risk management approach for controlled substance prescribing. The authors provide an editorial and commentary to discuss the unique contributions of each to promote better clinical decision making for prescribers.

Design: A commentary is employed along with brief discussion comparing four states with an active PDMP in place to three states without an active PDMP as it relates back to findings on UDT in those states from a laboratory conducting liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Mental disorders in chronic pain patients.

Prominent and distressing emotions, cognitions, and behaviors frequently accompany chronic pain. In many cases, these psychological symptoms will be sufficiently severe to qualify the patient for a diagnosis of a mental disorder, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR). This article introduces mental disorders that are frequently diagnosed in patients with chronic pain.

What do I have to lose? Effects of a psycho-educational intervention on cancer patient preference for resuscitation.

This original empirical study examined effects of a psycho-educational intervention on cancer patients' knowledge, concern, and preferences for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We examined message framing as one factor that might impact subsequent decision making. In addition, we examined personality and coping style as predictors and moderators of patients' reactions to an informational intervention.

Report on the second joint scientific meeting of the American Pain Society and the Canadian Pain Society.

The American and Canadian Pain Societies held their annual scientific meetings jointly in May 2004 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This report summarizes highlights of the meeting.

Report from the 10th World Congress on Pain.

The 10th World Congress on Pain, the triennial meeting of the International Association for the Study of Pain, continued the series' tradition as one of the premier international meetings for pain clinicians and scientists. At this meeting, held in August 2002 in San Diego, California, a broad spectrum of topics was presented, with substantial representation in both the clinical and basic science realms. Increased understanding of basic pain mechanisms, potential new targets for drug treatment of pain, ethical issues, and psychological interventions for pain were all areas of considerable interest.