Throughout the past year, a substance called xylazine has been saturating the drug supply in many parts of the United States. Xylazine is a powerful sedative used in veterinary medicine, typically for larger animals like horses and cattle. It is not considered to be safe for humans. However, the drug has been found to be […]
addiction treatment
Join Us In Pittsburgh for the 2023 Scaife Medical Student Fellowship in Substance Use Disorders!
We are excited to announce that for the first time since prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, we will be hosting a portion of the fellowship in Pittsburgh for experiential, in-person learning.
Pennsylvania has Legalized Fentanyl Test Strips, But Legality Does Not Equal Accessibility
In early November, Governor Tom Wolf signed legislation that legalized the use of fentanyl test strips in Pennsylvania. Before reaching Governor Wolf’s desk, the legislation passed the PA House and Senate unanimously. This change comes as fentanyl continues to escalate overdose rates in Pennsylvania and across the United States. Fentanyl, which is undetectable by sight, […]
Overdose Awareness Day: Honoring Those We Have Lost By Preventing Future Overdose Deaths
August 31 marks International Overdose Awareness Day. This is a day to remember those we have lost in the past year to overdose of opioids and other substances. As of November 2021, more than 100,000 people have lost their lives annually to substance overdose. In order to properly commemorate those lives we have lost, we […]
IRETA Continues to Provide Intensive Learning Experience on Substance Use Disorders for Medical and Pharmacy Students
For 23 years, IRETA has hosted medical students for the Scaife Medical Student Fellowship in Substance Use Disorders. The program has been held virtually since 2020, due to COVID-19. This year’s program continued online. For three weeks in both June and July, small cohorts of medical and pharmacy students logged in from across the country […]
How Can We Better Serve Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals in Addiction Treatment Settings?
Despite that fact that transgender and gender non-conforming people disproportionately experience substance use and mental health disorders, there is a lack of trans-inclusive care and knowledge about gender identity within the addiction treatment field.
Happy National Nurses Week from IRETA
This week is National Nurses Week. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the nurses who work specifically in the field of substance use disorder treatment.
The Importance of Speaking the Same Language in Addiction Treatment
There is a recognizable need for improved treatment for substance use disorder in the United States. Drug overdose deaths are at an all-time high and standardization of the delivery and coverage for addiction treatment can be hard to find. Unfortunately, as it stands, addiction treatment and reimbursement practices can vary greatly from state to state, […]
