Every year, at least 16,000 Americans die from overdosing on prescription pain drugs, more than from heroin and cocaine combined. Preventing these deaths should be a national priority, and two measures that could help to reduce these tragedies are an excellent way to start.
The medical profession faces the dueling challenges of addressing the acute pain that accompanies almost all medical procedures and also reducing any unintentional drug addiction.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is again pushing new regulations aimed at making New Yorkers healthier. This time, he's calling for restrictions on the amount...
Last year I wrote a three-part series for Huffington Post that asked some questions about the latest panic over opioid painkillers, and its effect on ...
My morning with Ritchie, part of a required residency rotation on addiction, offered a rare glimpse into patients' lives outside hospital walls and the important, if unsettling, work that complements our efforts as physicians.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 15,000 Americans die annually from overdosing on prescription painkillers, know...
As I reflect on why this wave of opiate addiction is so rapidly gaining hold in America, I realize that the answer lies in the new realities of how doctors must practice to earn their livelihood.
Prescription opioids perform a vital role in pain management, but their overproduction lax regulation has had the inevitable result of mass diversion to illicit channels.
A new report conducted by the New York City Health Department reveals the number of opioid painkiller prescriptions is steadily on the rise, with more...
Today we continue our Year-End Retrospective with a look at the biggest news stories of scientific research into cannabis, public opinion polls on legalization, and statistical research on cannabis consumers.
Dr. Drew Pinsky spoke Friday on his HLN show 'Dr. Drew' about the death of 'Grease' star Jeff Conaway. Pinsky treated Conaway on the VH1 show 'Celebri...
Treating severe pain is also almost entirely in the hands of governments. Political commitment is needed to overcome the regulatory barriers and lack of training of health providers worldwide.
"Addiction" is always about the underlying pain. The solution? Legalize and regulate all drugs. Integrate drug policy into public health. Treat addicts as humans, their physical and psychological issues as medical conditions.
In The End of Overeating, Dr. Kessler explains how humans, much like Pavlov's dogs, become hardwired to anticipate foods with fat, sugar, and salt. So, how can we change the way we think about food?