You searched for Opioids - CLOSLER

April 21, 2021 | 2 min read

Opioid Monitoring in Primary Care

By Jeffrey Millstein, MD, Penn Medicine

Discussions about opioid use with patients must be approached with curiosity and concern, rather than suspicion. Implemented with sensitivity, opioid monitoring programs can strengthen the clinician-patient relationship.

"Odysseus in front of Scylla and Charybdis." Henry Fuseli. 1794-1796. Public domain.

November 7, 2019 | 4 min read

Responsible Opioid Prescribing

By Travis Rieder, PhD, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics

Responsible opioid prescribing requires navigating between the Scylla of over-prescribing and the Charybdis of under-prescribing. Clinicians can work toward this goal by initiating prescriptions when (and only when) appropriate, managing them over the long-term, and knowing how to compassionately deprescribe when the time comes.

April 17, 2024 | 2 min read

Kratom—the opioid-like herbal drug your patients may be using

By Megan Buresh, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Kratom use is on the rise. It is important to ask patients about use in a nonjudgmental manner.

December 11, 2019 | <1 min read

Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Building a therapeutic relationship with people with substance use disorders is critical when supporting them on their journey to health.

July 9, 2019 | 5 min read

Pain, Opioids, and the Constant Shadow of Stigma

By Travis Rieder, PhD, Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics

When a patient reports pain, their words need to be met with listening, compassion, and a discussion of how best to address the pain.

September 5, 2019 | 2 min read

Book Review of “In Pain”

By Traci Speed, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Clinicians need to understand that patients' pain is real to build rapport and reassurance, which will help patients be open to the full range of treatment options.

Employers must cultivate a nurturing culture that supports the emotional and physical needs of their employees.

February 9, 2021 | 3 min read

How to Support Patients With Chronic Pain and Substance Use Disorder

By Juliette Perzhinsky, MD, MSc, Central Michigan University

All patients must be treated with empathy. Those suffering with chronic pain and addiction may be especially deserving of compassion.

"Macy uses personal stories to follow the threads of the opioid crisis that has blanketed Appalachia."

April 29, 2021 | 2 min read

Book Review of “Dopesick”

By Suchita Sata, MD, Duke University

Treatment for opioid use disorder is often inaccessible and unaffordable. Nevertheless, clinicians must connect patients to available services while advocating for improved systems of care.

January 29, 2025 | 2 min read

Addiction in older adults

By Bethea (Annie) Kleykamp, PhD, MA, University of Maryland

Deaths in the U.S. due to tobacco and opioid-related overdose are more common among older adults from historically marginalized groups. Treatments tailored to their unique needs can help reverse this trend.

September 4, 2024 | 1 min read

Validating a patient’s experience of pain

To effectively treat opioid use disorder, clinicians must consider a patient's both physical and psychological experiences.

September 27, 2023 | 1 min read

Guardrails And Ambulances

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Over 100,000 Americans die every year from overdoses, and most are preventable. Discuss with patients and loved ones the dangers of having old prescription or counterfeit pills, as well as the importance of keeping naloxone on hand.

November 14, 2022 | 2 min read

The Benefits of Overdose Prevention Centers (OPCs)

By Bennett Allen, PhD, New York University, Noa Krawczyk, PhD, New York University

Supervised injection facilities prevent death and do not encourage drug use. Sharing this information can keep our patients safer.

September 23, 2019 | 3 min read

How to Manage Chronic Pain and Opioids

By Ryan Graddy, MD, AbsoluteCARE Medical Center, Atlanta, Georgia

Safe opioid stewardship is a key objective when managing chronic pain. Combining evidence-based strategies and compassionate care can help you to realize these goals.

February 22, 2018 | 3 min read

Family History and Addiction Risk

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

For some patients the risk of becoming addicted to prescription opioids is extraordinarily high and may outweigh any pain control benefit.

May 16, 2018 | 2 min read

The Stigma of Opioid Use Disorder

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Building a strong therapeutic alliance between patient and clinician—via open communication, mutual respect, and trust—is a lifeline for the individual patient with an Opioid Use Disorder.

August 31, 2022 | 2 min read

Reducing overdose risk for minority patients

By Brendan Saloner, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Omeid Heidari, PhD, NP, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When caring for patients with opioid and other substance use disorders, focus on using tools such as evidence-based medications, naloxone, and fentanyl test strips.

October 2, 2024 | 1 min read

Pain management: a perspective from a doctor in Kuwait

Pain and suffering are ubiquitous. Observing approaches and practices in the U.S. highlighted for me the importance of open dialogue, patient empowerment, and multimodal approaches.

March 2, 2025 | 1 min read

Art for hope

By William Stoehr, artist, Boulder, Colorado

My artwork portrays the pain and loss experienced by those affected by substance use disorders. I hope it helps clinicians gain a deeper understanding of the human cost of stigma, prompting more empathetic and nonjudgmental patient interactions.

July 27, 2023 | 2 min read

Book Review of “The Pastoral Clinic”

By Juliana Fan, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Garcia’s ethnography highlights the need for healthcare professionals to foster hope, particularly when working with patients with opioid use disorder. Remember to be kind, patient, and positive with those who are suffering.

April 6, 2018 | 1 min read

The Human Tragedy of the Opioid Crisis

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Addiction impacts more than just my patient, but their entire family. And our job as doctors is—in some way—to care for all of them, to bring them in close, and to try to relieve their suffering in some way.

August 21, 2018 | 1 min read

Talking With Young Adult Patients About Alcohol

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinicians need to be vigilant to discuss alcohol use with patients and remember that the legal drug, alcohol, causes more morbidity and mortality than opioids.

February 21, 2019 | 1 min read

Substance Use Disorders in Later Life

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Substance use disorders in older adults often go undiagnosed because screening is frequently overlooked. Key to supporting patients to make a change is developing rapport and trust.

Art For Hope

By William Stoehr – Artist – Boulder, Colorado My art focuses on eliminating the stigma of substance use disorder and its related mental health issues. My sister died of an opioid overdose. She might still be alive if it were not for prescription opioids and the stigma which suffocates discussion, blocks action and causes pain. The first…

March 8, 2022 | 3 min read

Tips For Assessing The Intensity of Pain

By Brian Lee, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, David Madder, DO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When assessing pain, we often ask patients to assign it a number between 0 and 10. Asking about the effect of pain on behavior and functional status can often give us a more meaningful understanding.

December 18, 2023 | 1 min read

The healing power of story

By Shwetha Mudalegundi, medical student, Johns Hopkins Medicine

I used a narrative medicine technique when caring for a patient who mistrusted the healthcare system. By writing his story and reading it back to him, he understood that the care team was truly listening.

May 17, 2022 | 1 min read

Word Choice Related to Substance Use Disorders

By Beth McGinty, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Words matter; calling patients with a substance use disorder an “addict” defines them by their addiction. We need to ensure that our patients feel comfortable and supported so that they will engage in treatment.

May 29, 2018 | 2 min read

Love At First Sight

By Margaret Chisolm, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

A clinically excellent physician always takes the time to ask his/her patient about the history of substance use in their parents and siblings, as well as aunts, uncles, grandparents, and cousins; and always asks about adoption.

May 31, 2018 | 6 min read

Tips for Taking Care of Patients, From a Physician Who’s Been One

By Scott Vasher, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

The lessons I learned from being hospitalized have stuck with me and guided me in all of my practice.

February 23, 2023 | 3 min read

Embracing Care Partners

By Ariel Green, MD, PhD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When caring for older adults, collaborate with and support their care partners – their loved ones. Their vital roles are often overlooked.

August 24, 2018 | 1 min read

Understanding How Your Patient Perceives Their Pain

By Erica Leonard, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

By asking these seven assessment questions, you can better understand your patient’s pain in order to build a plan of care together.

August 5, 2024 | 2 min read

Shaping great clinicians

To ensure the next generation of healthcare professionals is outstanding, clinicians need to role model clinical excellence. Asking open-ended questions and listening to patient concerns are two ways to demonstrate patient-centered care.

Miami, FL, USA - March 23, 2024: Passing out Narcan nasal spray at the Ultra Music Festival Miami.

April 23, 2024 | 1 min read

Outside the clinic walls: making Narcan accessible to everyone

By Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Addiction is a chronic disease that requires a combined approach of medical treatment and community engagement. Clinicians must work to educate their community about addiction and provide them with resources like Narcan.

February 13, 2024 | 3 min read

Unsent letters from a palliative care doctor to a patient and her dog

By Lingsheng Li, MD, MHS, University of California, San Franscisco

Sometimes we never get the chance to tell a patient what we admire about them. After my patient died, I realized I’d been inspired by the inner strength she showed by caring for her dog despite health and life challenges.

September 21, 2023 | 1 min read

Healthcare Professionals And Fatal Overdose

By Hannah Fetting, MSN, CRNP, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Colleagues with a substance use disorder deserve the utmost compassion. We can offer nonjudgmental support, just like we do for all other conditions.

March 2, 2023 | 2 min read

Meaningful Chords

By Ben Roberts, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, ACHPN, Johns Hopkins Medicine

When my patient’s wife brought his guitar to the hospital, I realized it’s impossible to overestimate the impact of reuniting patients with what matters most to them. Do what you can to make this happen.

April 4, 2018 | 3 min read

Race, Funding, and Access to High Quality Care

By Sophie Lanzkron, MD, MDH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Sophie Lanzkron, MD, MHS, advocates for systemic change to increase access to high quality sickle cell care for all patients.

February 12, 2020 | 1 min read

Agents of Change—Learning From Gen Z Healthcare Students

By Kevin Pan, Medical Student, Ohio University School of Medicine

Excellent clinicians are committed to reducing health inequity.

Plato, Greek philosopher. A disciple of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle, he founded the Academy in Athens. This is his statue, located before the Academy of Athens, Greece.

June 29, 2022 | 3 min read

Being PerfecT in Healthcare

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Moral questions often arise in healthcare. Contemplating how our efforts might translate into the most good deserves our thoughtful consideration.

March 13, 2018 | 2 min read

Reading Your Patient and Changing Your Plan

By Mike Fingerhood, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

We usually already have an agenda set when we see patients. However, we have to be ready to improvise by reading the patient, and be open to changing our plan.

December 15, 2021 | 1 min read

The Power of Humor

By Jennifer Eitingon, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

My dying patient taught me that laughter can sometimes normalize difficult situations. Finding humor in the problem lightened the mood and allowed us to devise a care plan that preserved her dignity.

August 26, 2021 | 1 min read

Destigmatizing Addiction: The Power of Words

By Namrata Walia, MD, Baylor College of Medicine

Please use the term 'person with substance use disorder’ instead of ‘addict’!

September 26, 2019 | 3 min read

The Necessity of Being an Advocate

By Zackary Berger, MD, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Clinical care and advocacy are intertwined. In every clinical encounter, we should think about ways that we can advocate for our patients.

The author having fun ice skating with colleagues at Patterson Park, Baltimore, Maryland.

February 25, 2019 | 5 min read

General Internal Medicine: An Opportunity to Engage Holistically

By Paul O'Rourke, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

General internal medicine focuses on the importance of knowing and treating the whole patient. The entire patient, in their biopsychosocial context, must always be considered to provide high-quality, patient-centered care.

March 19, 2019 | 3 min read

Reversing the Backslide: Sexually Transmitted Infections in the US

By Matthew Hamill, MBChB, PhD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Open, non-judgmental, respectful, medically-relevant conversations need to be the cornerstone of all therapeutic relationships. As long as patients feel valued and at the center of their care, patients are willing to engage in discussions about sexually transmitted infections.

A crowd organized by the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee sang “We Shall Overcome” in Farmville, Virginia, in 1966, after a speech by Stokely Carmichael.

January 18, 2019 | 9 min read

From Clinic to Senate

By Kali Cyrus, MD, MPH, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Advocacy does not have to mean changing legal precedents; it can also be taking a mentee out for coffee, giving feedback about your colleague’s stereotyping of a patient, or not patronizing restaurants with unfair wage practices.

"Abstract Painting (726)" 1990, Gerhard Richter, Tate Museum.

December 6, 2018 | 5 min read

Lines Blurred

By Ekene Ojukwu, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Really taking care of a patient means making hard choices, saying things people don’t want to hear, and letting them decide if they will engage in their own care. At the same time, it means learning different ways of listening, looking for opportunities and strategies to trust our patients, believing their stories, and seeing them as full individuals