The United States is losing ground in our battle against opioid overuse. Overdose deaths were up around 30% in 2020, and opioid overdose is now a leading cause of death for adults ages 25 to 54 in the U.S. See how the new advisory's call to action mobilizes the health care system to address opioid overuse.
The settlement with Purdue Pharma, maker of OxyContin, is an important step forward in managing the nation’s opioid crisis. Learn more.
4 min read | Industry Perspectives
“Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.” Scholars differ on the origins of that quote, but that debate doesn’t change the core truth being expressed. Humans can’t expect to live a life without pain; to be alive is to hurt. Fortunately, science has delivered some very effective ways of minimizing our physical suffering. And there is […]
Mitch Haynes was inspired to apply for the Clinical Pharmacist internship to get opportunities he lacks in the classroom.
Betsy Idol was a good mom. Her son, Cameron, was a good boy. They went to church. He was a Boy Scout. He learned the Bible. He was on the wrestling team. But he also fell in with the wrong crowd. And experimented with drugs. And struggled with his parents’ separation. Cameron moved out of […]
Opioid misuse is a big problem in North Carolina. Over the past year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) has made significant progress in solving the problem. This issue, which touches every corner of our state, inspired one Blue Cross NC employee to act, or should we say “hack.” On […]
The opioid epidemic gripping North Carolina is not only affecting adults or users of street drugs or illegal narcotics. Prescription opioid medications are responsible for more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined. In 2017 alone, more than five North Carolinians died each day from an accidental overdose. That same year approximately 15 percent of N.C. […]
The opioid epidemic continues to touch every corner of our state, but Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) is making progress in solving the problem. In the past year, we have… Began limiting first-time prescriptions of short-acting opioids to a seven-day maximum supply. This is meant to lower the risk […]
Oct. 8, 2017, started off a normal, pleasant evening in the suburban home of Michele Trantham, a national account client manager in Charlotte for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC). Her son, Connor, was home for the fall after two years at East Carolina University. Around 10:30 p.m., she polished […]
One way to reduce the impact of the opioid epidemic is to ensure that people have access to safe therapies that treat opioid use disorder. To that end, Blue Cross NC is taking steps to help patients get the care they need while ensuring their safety. On Nov. 1, we stopped requiring doctors to get […]
