Articles: analgesics.
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Editorial Comment
Opioids and autism spectrum disorder: liaisons dangereuses?
A recent laboratory study in the Journal examined the effects of repeated exposures of neonatal mice to fentanyl on autism-like behaviour via opioid receptor-mediated DNA hypermethylation of the Grin2B gene, which encodes the GluN2B subunit of the NMDA receptor. These experiments provide mechanisms and biological plausibility but do not directly demonstrate that opioid exposure in early life induces autism spectrum disorder in humans. Experimental modelling of human neuropsychiatric disorders is extremely challenging since most subjective psychiatric symptoms used to establish diagnosis in humans cannot be convincingly ascertained in laboratory rodents. While some human epidemiological data show associations between repeated exposures to opioids during early life, it remains undetermined whether opioid exposure is an independent risk factor for developing autism spectrum disorder in the young.
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Editorial Comment
Moving the Needle to Reduce Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) Hepatotoxicity.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Mar 2023
EditorialSociety of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists White Paper on the Role of Opioid Stewardship Pharmacists.
Opioid stewardship is one essential function of pain and palliative care pharmacists and a critical need in the United States. In recent years, this country has been plagued by two public health emergencies: an opioid crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, which has exacerbated the opioid epidemic through its economic and psychosocial toll. To develop an opioid stewardship program, a systematic approach is needed. ⋯ To ensure dedicated time and attention to critical opioid stewardship efforts, SPPCP recommends and endorses opioid stewardship models employing a full time, opioid stewardship pharmacist in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Early research suggests that opioid stewardship pharmacists are pivotal to improving opioid metrics and pain care outcomes. However, further research and development in this area of practice is needed and encouraged.