Lung risks from marijuana use may be worse than cigarettes: study
The media reports a study that found that smoking pot was associated with potentially worse lung damage than cigarettes containing only tobacco. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, the governor signed an executive order to partially legalize medical marijuana.
USA Today: Marijuana may be more harmful to lungs than cigarettes, study finds
According to a new study, smoking marijuana can damage the lungs more than cigarettes. The study, published Tuesday in the peer-reviewed journal Radiology, found that marijuana may be linked to an increased risk of emphysema compared to smoking tobacco alone. (Rodriguez, 11/15)
NBC News: Smoking marijuana may increase risk of lung disease, chest scans show
The Canadian researchers’ analysis, published Tuesday in Radiology, compared chest scans of marijuana smokers and tobacco-only smokers who were age-matched. They found that twice as many people who inhaled cannabinoids developed paraseptal emphysema as people who smoked only cigarettes. (Carroll, 11/15)
In other marijuana news –
The Courier-Journal: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear Signs Order to Partially Legalize Medical Marijuana
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear on Tuesday signed an executive order to legalize the possession and use of medical marijuana by certain eligible people in the state, provided it was purchased legally outside of Kentucky and that it is less than eight ounces. Kentucky is currently one of 12 states to still ban medical and recreational marijuana, despite public polls showing that legalizing medical marijuana is popular among its residents. (Sonka, 11/15)
Detroit Free Press: Recall of certain marijuana products sold at Green Culture in Flint
Michigan’s cannabis regulatory agency announced on Tuesday that it has recalled certain products sold by the Green Culture marijuana dispensary in Flint after the agency tested its products and found them to contain unacceptable levels of banned pesticides, metals heavy, mold and bacteria. (Roberts, 11/15)
In Opioid and Addiction News —
Reuters: Opioid overdose reversal drug likely safe for over-the-counter use, says FDA
Naloxone, an opioid overdose reversal drug, may be safe and effective for over-the-counter use in some forms, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday, potentially paving the way for its use in the federal level. The FDA would still require data on individual products from manufacturers to be available over-the-counter at the federal level. (11/15)
Stat: Fentanyl makes it harder to start addiction treatment
Doctors are reporting a disturbing trend when it comes to fentanyl. The potent drug, they say, not only causes overdoses, it also makes it harder to start drug treatment. In particular, fentanyl appears more likely to cause severe withdrawal symptoms in patients taking buprenorphine, a key drug used to treat opioid use disorder. (Fasher, 11/16)
Anchorage Daily News: Anchorage Police Plan to Start Transporting Overdose Drugs
The new policy, confirmed by a police spokeswoman on Tuesday, marks a break with the long-standing practice of having Anchorage Fire Department paramedics, rather than police officers, carry the potentially life-saving drug. . (Berman, 11/15)
KHN: Addiction recovery player-coaches work without borders
Sarah Wright stops by the hotel room-turned-office of her peer support specialist several times a day in this suburb of Denver. But her visit on a Wednesday morning in mid-October was one of her first with teeth. The specialist, Donna Norton, had pushed Wright to go to the dentist years after homelessness and drug addiction had damaged his health, down to the jawbone. Wright was still getting used to his dentures. “I haven’t had teeth for 12 and a half, 13 years,” she said, adding that they made her feel like a horse. A new smile was Wright’s last big step as she works to rebuild her life, and Norton has been there every step of the way: opening a bank account, finding a job, developing a sense of self-worth. (Bichell, 11/16)
#Wednesday #November