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Rwanda avoids US-style opioids crisis by making own morphine

Cara Anna, Claire Galofaro

December 25, 2019 |

Associated Press |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Rwanda, Bushekeli

The Rwandan government is on a mission to get palliative care to everyone who needs it by creating their own morphine instead of being beholden to pharmaceutical companies driven by profit. Using Uganda's simple recipe for morphine, the government partnered with nonprofits to produce and distribute morphine for free and under close watch. The drug costs pennies to make and is hand-delivered by community workers to those who need it, no matter how far. Although fear and uncertainty remain over the possibility of opioid addiction, many patients are greatly relieved to now live pain-free.

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The Cost of Regulating Pain

Anastassia Gliadkovskaya

December 20, 2019 |

Secret Structures |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States

The CDC's 2016 guidelines on prescribing opioids for chronic pain attempted to address the opioid-addiction crisis by restricting the supply of the drugs at their source. The guidelines discouraged their use when possible and suggested strategies to taper patients off of them. Since then, thousands of people have lost access to necessary medications and to their doctors, thanks to overreactions to the CDC guidelines that unintentionally led to deaths by street drugs or withdrawal.

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A Sip Of Morphine: Uganda's Old-School Solution To A Shortage Of Painkillers

Nurith Aizenman

November 25, 2019 |

NPR |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Uganda, Kampala

Liquid morphine offers a low-tech, low-dose alternative to other opioids when it comes to pain management. Uganda has taken steps to increase palliative care by allowing nurses to prescribe doses of morphine to patients, due to the shortage of doctors. The drug is affordable or free to some patients, and the low doses in liquid form prevents patients from developing addictions associated with other opioid drugs.

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Colorado's Opioid Crisis Slows, In Part Because Of a Drug That Reverses Overdoses

John Daley

May 28, 2019 |

Colorado Public Radio |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

Increasing the availability of naloxone reduces the number of deaths from opioid overdose. In Colorado, the Naloxone for Life initiative, which began in 2016, has distributed thousands of kits to emergency first responders and has also made the medication available without a prescription. As a result, paramedics have used the medication to reverse several hundred overdoses in Colorado, administering over 700 doses in Denver in 2018 alone.

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Some states reuse tons of unused prescription drugs; Maine burns them

Jon Chrisos

April 29, 2019 |

WGME-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Iowa

Every year, unused medications are thrown away costing states millions of dollars. A program in Iowa that has now spread to other states throughout the nation is tackling this issue by recycling and repurposing these drugs so that they can be distributed to populations that wouldn't otherwise be able to access them.

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A Shave, a Haircut – and a Blood Pressure Check

Joseph P. Williams

April 15, 2019 |

U.S. News & World Report |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Inglewood, California

The African American community is disproportionately impacted by high blood pressure, but barbershops across Los Angeles County are stepping up to fill a gap between diagnosis and care. The businesses offer a detection and management program to that includes checking patrons blood pressure as well as connecting the client with an on-site pharmacist.

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With search for Alzheimer's drugs failing, tech firms try to offer solutions

Casey Ross

January 10, 2019 |

STAT |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Las Vegas, Nevada

With little progress made on a successful treatment for Alzheimer's and prices for monitored care and medications rising, several technology companies are focusing on better ways to manage care. Through tactics such as virtual reality, robotic animals and facial analyzation, these companies are trying to both better serve the patient as well as support the families.

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Britons Pay Hundreds for H.I.V. Drugs. Why Do Americans Pay Thousands?

Tina Rosenberg

September 25, 2018 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: England, Liverpool

When it comes to helping H.I.V. patients, Britain's National Health Service is able to keep prices for treatment much lower than the United States does by encouraging the use of generic drugs. The National Health Service's structure allows it to incentivize prescribing generic treatment in a way that the American system doesn't, especially as H.I.V. treatments are not being consistently replaced by something found to be more efficient.

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As with birth control, Colorado makes anti-smoking drugs available at pharmacies — no doctor visit required

Jennifer Brown

September 19, 2018 |

The Colorado Sun |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Colorado

With a new prescribing protocol in place, drug store pharmacists can prescribe anti-smoking medications. People often visit a pharmacy more than their doctor, and the new protocol allows greater access to necessary medications for those wishing to quit.

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Is medical marijuana the antidote to Lebanon's trade deficit?

Rebecca Collard

August 22, 2018 |

Public Radio International (PRI) |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Lebanon, Bekka Valley

The Lebanese parliament has started considering whether to legalize cannabis for medical use. The move would raise much-needed funds and create state-sanctioned jobs, according to McKinsey consulting firm. The government has tried to combat the hashish industry in Bekka Valley for decades.

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