Study: Telehealth reduces likelihood of fatal opioid overdoses

The expanded availability of opioid use disorder-related telehealth services and medications during the pandemic was linked to a reduced likelihood of fatal drug overdoses among Medicare beneficiaries, a study found. Published this week as a brief report in JAMA Psychiatry, the study found Medicare beneficiaries who began opioid use disorder-related care during the pandemic and received telehealth services had a 33% lower risk of a deadly drug overdose. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration this week approved the first over-the-counter nasal spray to reverse an opioid overdose. (CMS news release, 3/29/23)