Oxycodone

Protega Pharmaceuticals receives FDA approval for RoxyBond, an abuse-deterrent oxycodone hydrochloride IR 10 mg tablet, designed to reduce misuse via intranasal and intravenous routes.

Health systems urge federal government to extend telehealth waivers, which are set to expire at year-end, to continue remote prescription of controlled substances like Oxycontin and Xanax. The American Hospital Association (AHA) and American Telemedicine Association (ATA) advocate for a two-year extension, citing patient access issues and the need for permanent rules. The DEA aims for a balance between access and safety in remote prescriptions.

Colorado's opioid crisis worsens, with 1,865 overdose deaths in 2023; state funding aids response but lacks access to all FDA-approved reversal agents. Fur industry cruelty prompts growing fur bans, with Denver considering joining. Pro-Palestinian protests on U.S. campuses criticized as anti-Semitic. Colorado Parks and Wildlife's role in wildlife conservation highlighted, funded largely by hunting and fishing. A proposal suggests using rest areas for affordable housing to address upkeep and homelessness.

Javoni Marcelius Butler, 43, convicted of fentanyl distribution and money laundering, faces 5-100 years in prison.

Mass General Brigham researchers tested LLMs to address race-based disparities in pain perception and prescribing, finding no racial or gender discrimination. GPT-4 and Gemini LLMs provided subjective pain ratings and management recommendations, with GPT-4 being more conservative in opioid prescriptions. The study suggests LLMs could help mitigate clinician bias in pain management.