Dental News - Recovery from opioid use requires persistence and great range of services

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 13. August 2019

save

BOSTON, U.S.: In order to bring the opioid epidemic in the U.S. under control, researchers and health care providers alike are on the hunt for solutions that will lead affected patients to a successful recovery. The first national study of opioid problem resolution suggests that individuals with opioid use problems may require intensive medical, psychological and social support services over a long period.

For this study, the research team, led by Dr. Lauren A. Hoffmann from the Recovery Research Institute at Massachusetts General Hospital, investigated a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults who reported having resolved an opioid problem. It was found that those who achieved longer-term recovery (between one and five years since first having resolved the problem) were more likely than individuals who had resolved an alcohol problem to have used formal addiction treatment, pharmacotherapy, recovery support services and support groups. Providing the first national prevalence estimate of opioid recovery, the study suggests that 1.18 million American adults have resolved a primary opioid use problem.

“Essentially, those who resolved an opioid problem in midrecovery were four times as likely to have ever used pharmacotherapies, two-and-a-half times more likely to have used formal treatment, and about two times more likely to use recovery support services and mutual help organizations compared with individuals who reported resolving an alcohol problem and were in midrecovery,” Hoffman said.

“We didn’t find those differences in the first year, and this is important because taken together it suggests that individuals with an opioid problem might require additional treatment or additional resources to achieve longer and more stable recovery duration,” she added.

Compared with individuals with alcohol use disorder, people with opioid problems tend to be more socially stigmatized and have fewer resources available to them and may be less likely to disclose their recovery status to others, which could make them feel more lonely or isolated, the investigators said.

The study, titled “Recovery from opioid problems in the US population: Prevalence, pathways, and psychological well-being,” was published online on Aug. 2, 2019, in the Journal of Addiction Medicine, ahead of inclusion in an issue.

Tags:

And From Great Of Opioid Persistence Range Recovery Requires Services Use

To post a reply please login or register

New products and services from exocad: AI-enabled services and minimally invasive dentistry in focus

COLOGNE, Germany: Exocad, an Align Technology company, is showcasing its latest developments, including new AI-enabled services, the upcoming Chemnitz ...

Nanodiamonds might aid recovery from root canal treatment

LOS ANGELES, U.S.: California-based researchers have recently been working on a tiny, but powerful ally that could help prevent infection after root canal ...

New medical device may help reduce opioid use and prescription

CLOSTER, N.J., U.S.: Many dental professionals have recognized the benefits of using cryotherapy for oral pain management and swelling relief in dentistry, ...

“Addressing the oral disease burden requires collaboration and partnerships”

At the forefront of innovative approaches to healthcare, Haleon is making significant strides in integrating oral healthcare with broader medical care. ...

KaVo and Planmeca unveil a vast range of new products at IDS 2025

KaVo Dental and Planmeca are presenting an extensive range of product innovations at the 2025 International Dental Show (IDS). The companies are showcasing ...

“The beauty of the Midwinter Meeting lies in the range and depth of its scientific programme”

Known for its expansive scientific programme and wide-ranging opportunities for professional growth, the Midwinter Meeting continues to attract a global ...

US dentistry teeters toward recovery

NEW YORK, U.S.: Dentists in the U.S. are seeing more patients despite the continued and alarming spread of SARS-CoV-2 within the country. In the same week ...

IDS 2025: Asiga unveils range of innovative products

COLOGNE, Germany: Award-winning 3D printer manufacturer Asiga continues to take a scientific yet user-focused approach to dental workflows with a suite of ...

Interview: “This profession requires incredible precision and focus”

Dr Magdalena Osiewicz has run her own private practice in Cracow in Poland since 2010 while also working as assistant professor at Jagiellonian ...

Ten guiding principles as we recover from lockdown and the COVID-19 pandemic

One of the lessons we have all observed in recent months is that the effects of COVID-19 and the responses of populations and their governments have varied ...

Education

Live webinar
Mon. 15 September 2025
1:00 pm EST (New York)