U-FOLD's intensive autumn continuing in Sigtuna 16-17 November
Throughout the autumn of 2022, U-FOLD is initiating, arranging and engaging in several high-profile arenas, including the Nordic meeting on opioids, bringing together more than 100 representatives from five countries to Uppsala in September. Currently, the forum is preparing for Sigtunadagarna 16-17 November.
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In late September, Uppsala University's Forum for Research on Drug Dependence, U-FOLD arranged the two day 9th Nordic meeting on opioids at the Uppsala University Hospital. An arena attracting more than 100 participants from all the Nordic countries including Iceland. With sessions gathering an extensive part of the Nordic region's leading expertise, the meeting provided a comprehensive picture of opioid addiction, related symptoms and perspectives on future treatment options.
“We learned about current guidelines and how these are implemented into practice in the Nordic countries, as well as interesting national comparisons. With the inclusion of the frequently occurring comorbidity being of great importance, we decided to highlight both psychiatric and somatic comorbidity. Much attention was also paid to overdoses and deaths,” says Fred Nyberg, Senior advisor at U-FOLD.
In Sweden, reports to the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (IVO) regarding overprescribing of narcotic drugs are increasing. These reports concern, among other things, doctors prescribing numerous prescriptions of Oxynorm and Oxicodone with very high dosages. At the Nordic meeting, current data on overdoses and mortality related to Oxycodone in Sweden were presented, confirming significant numbers of elderly women receiving the substance for pain related conditions.
“At the meeting, current studies of depot medications that have a longer duration than traditional preparations in the treatment of opioid addiction were presented. In addition, Norwegian researchers discussed their experiences of new methods to handle overdoses of opioid drugs. We also learned more on how Artificial Intelligence can be used for patient-oriented treatment strategies,” states Fred Nyberg.
This autumn, U-FOLD also accomplished the task to develop a program where Swedish experts can give lectures to future specialist doctors regarding addiction issues with a focus on pharmacological and neurobiological aspects of addiction development/treatment. The initial training was arranged in Stockholm, gathering participants from all over Sweden. The lecturers have extensive knowledge in relevant fields, are active in the Uppsala-Stockholm region and continue to show important commitment to U–FOLD's activities.
Currently, U-FOLD is preparing the Sigtuna Days November 16-17 2022 - Treatment of opioid addiction. These annual educational days are primarily aimed at care employees treating addiction and pain. Registration is now open via https://reg.akademikonferens.se/sigtunadagar2022/deltagare.
FACTS U-FOLD
- Is Uppsala University's Forum for research on drug addiction.
- Was inaugurated in Uppsala in 2011 as a regional gathering of forces against the challenges of addiction.
- Gathers twenty regional organisations that work together for a better society.
MORE INFORMATION
CONTACT
(Image removed) Mathias Hallberg, chair, U-FOLD
Phone 018–471 41 41
E-mail Mathias.Hallberg@farmbio.uu.se
(Image removed) Fred Nyberg, senior advisor, U-FOLD
Phone 018–471 41 66
E-mail Fred.Nyberg@farmbio.uu.se
text: Magnus Alsne, photo: U-FOLD, Mikael Wallerstedt