November 24, 2019

Fentanyl Hysteria

November 24, 2019/ Jason Hine, MD

In this podcast episode we sit down with ED toxicologist Ryan Marino to talk about the phenomenon known in the media as "Fentanyl Hysteria"- a trend of fear-mongering, exaggerated reporting, and misinformation.

October 18, 2018

Buprenorphine, the Opioid Epidemic, and the Emergency Provider

October 18, 2018/ Jason Hine, MD

How we deal with the Opioid Epidemic in the Emergency Department has been a topic of hot debate. We sat down with addiction medicine specialist Dr. Ken Starr to discuss buprenorphine use in the Emergency Department.

July 27, 2018

Subdissociative Dose Ketamine in the Emergency Department

July 27, 2018/ Jason Hine, MD

Emergency medicine physicians have a love affair going on with ketamine for its versatility. In this post we discuss the optimal use of subdissociative dose ketamine (SDK) for analgesia as an alternative to opioids, with our guest Sergey Motov (@painfreeED).

May 30, 2018

Combating the Crisis - Not Your Osler's Endocarditis Anymore

May 30, 2018/ Jeff Holmes

IV drug use (IVDU) is on the rise, along with those diseases which occur from its use (osteomyelitis, septic arthritis, endocarditis, skin and soft tissue infections, spinal epidural abscess). Until we can turn the tide of the opiate wave, we must be able to diagnose and treat the diseases that occur from IVDU. We are excited to introduce a new series of educational posts dedicated to helping the emergency provider care for patient with opiate addiction. In today's inaugural post we review the contemporary epidemiology of infective endocarditis and its association with IVDU.

May 20, 2017

A New Era of Opioid Prescribing in Maine

May 20, 2017/ Timothy Fallon, MD

Opioid overdose deaths have continued to climb over the past few years. This national trend is also being seen in Maine where it ranked #13 in terms of overdose deaths per 100,000 population (MMWR: Increases in Drug and Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths — United States, 2010–2015). In response to this trend, Maine has recently passed legislation controlling the prescription of opioids and benzodiazepines. Here are are six provisions of the new law every prescribing physician should know.