A new study in The Lancet Regional Health Americas found that the proportion of overdose deaths involving nonbenzodiazepine sleeping drugs (also called z-drugs) and anti-epilepsy gabapentinoids increased more than threefold between 2000 and 2018, coinciding with exponential prescription increases since their introduction into the market.

A new report estimates that 82% of patients experienced medication delays in the last year because of COVID-19 restrictions, prescriptions cost, communication challenges, insurance processes, and/or lack of transportation.

FDA issued draft guidance about its plan to develop nonopioid analgesics for acute pain in an effort to spur the development of nonaddictive alternatives.FDA issued draft guidance about its plan to develop nonopioid analgesics for acute pain in an effort to spur the development of nonaddictive alternatives.

The United States Pharmacopeia (USP) has finally released its updated Chapter <797> revisions. These revisions were written over the past 22 months while USP considered appeals filed by stakeholders. The 2019 version is mostly intact in the revision, but there are some changes to beyond-use dates (BUD) for certain institutions. In addition, USP clarifies when to identify microorganisms found during various sampling activities.

HHS, along with leading clinicians, researchers, and policy experts, has established a standard clinical definition for opioid withdrawal in infants. Additionally, they have created a set of foundational principles that highlight bioethical uses for the definition that focus on identifying clinical and supportive care needs for mothers and their infants.