Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
@suenlw.bsky.social
Addiction medicine & primary care physician, implementation scientist & health services researcher interested in harm reduction & drug policy @UCSF. Opinions my own.
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
Public health efforts are rightly focused on reducing opioid overdose deaths. We know relatively little about severe morbidity among overdose survivors. Our new paper in @journalgim.bsky.social provides the first national estimates of overdose-related hypoxic-ischemic brain injury
rdcu.be/ezNUN
rdcu.be/ezNUN
National Estimates of Opioid Overdose Hospitalizations Resulting in Hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury
rdcu.be
August 8, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Public health efforts are rightly focused on reducing opioid overdose deaths. We know relatively little about severe morbidity among overdose survivors. Our new paper in @journalgim.bsky.social provides the first national estimates of overdose-related hypoxic-ischemic brain injury
rdcu.be/ezNUN
rdcu.be/ezNUN
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
See @suenlw.bsky.social, Rachel Luba, and my Op Ed in @statnews.com on the impact of #climatechange on #methadone and the importance of modernizing the OTP system. www.statnews.com/2025/07/23/m...
Climate disasters create life-threatening disruptions for people on methadone
The U.S.’s reliance on methadone clinics is not just an inconvenience — it is anathema to a world grappling with escalating climate disasters.
www.statnews.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:35 PM
See @suenlw.bsky.social, Rachel Luba, and my Op Ed in @statnews.com on the impact of #climatechange on #methadone and the importance of modernizing the OTP system. www.statnews.com/2025/07/23/m...
People often ask me--what the hell does a SOTA do? A lot actually, especially when it comes to deciding state treatment programs for opioid use disorder! Come to this webinar and learn all you ever wanted to know about SOTAs
📣 On June 6, join AMERSA for a webinar on how State Opioid Treatment Authorities (SOTAs) are working with their state partners to improve methadone care under the new 42 CFR Part 8 rules. Register here: tinyurl.com/2nsfhc6u
#AddictionPolicy #Methadone
#AddictionPolicy #Methadone
May 20, 2025 at 6:06 PM
People often ask me--what the hell does a SOTA do? A lot actually, especially when it comes to deciding state treatment programs for opioid use disorder! Come to this webinar and learn all you ever wanted to know about SOTAs
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
Congratulations to the AMERSA 2024 Best Workshop Award winner! This award, based on participant reviews, is presented each year to an outstanding workshop delivered at the annual conference. @ayeshaappamd.bsky.social @kinnathakarar.bsky.social @madelinemc5.bsky.social @katelcsw.bsky.social
April 26, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Congratulations to the AMERSA 2024 Best Workshop Award winner! This award, based on participant reviews, is presented each year to an outstanding workshop delivered at the annual conference. @ayeshaappamd.bsky.social @kinnathakarar.bsky.social @madelinemc5.bsky.social @katelcsw.bsky.social
Sad to be missing #ASAM but I was shocked to see our paper on low dose buprenorphine initiations named as one of the most impactful papers of the year! It’s an honor and I’m grateful to our amazing team that made this happen 🤩
April 26, 2025 at 12:31 AM
Sad to be missing #ASAM but I was shocked to see our paper on low dose buprenorphine initiations named as one of the most impactful papers of the year! It’s an honor and I’m grateful to our amazing team that made this happen 🤩
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
1. Today the NIH director issued a new directive slashing overhead rates to 15%.
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
NOT-OD-25-068: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates
NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices in the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts: Supplemental Guidance to the 2024 NIH Grants Policy Statement: Indirect Cost Rates NOT-OD-25-068. OD
grants.nih.gov
February 8, 2025 at 12:18 AM
1. Today the NIH director issued a new directive slashing overhead rates to 15%.
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
I want to provide some context on what that means and why it matters.
grants.nih.gov/grants/guide...
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
RFK says he supports methadone and buprenorphine — but majorly misrepresents a study that he claimed shows 12-step programs are more effective vs. opioid addiction
(The study was exclusively about alcohol!)
www.statnews.com/2025/01/30/r...
(The study was exclusively about alcohol!)
www.statnews.com/2025/01/30/r...
RFK Jr. endorses medications for opioid addiction at confirmation hearing, but misleads on 12-step programs
During his Thursday Senate confirmation hearing, RFK Jr. shed light for the first time on his attitudes toward medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction.
www.statnews.com
January 30, 2025 at 8:02 PM
RFK says he supports methadone and buprenorphine — but majorly misrepresents a study that he claimed shows 12-step programs are more effective vs. opioid addiction
(The study was exclusively about alcohol!)
www.statnews.com/2025/01/30/r...
(The study was exclusively about alcohol!)
www.statnews.com/2025/01/30/r...
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
In Spring 2024, we sent trained auditors into all 125 pharmacies in Austin, Texas to find OTC naloxone & attempt to purchase a 10-pack of syringes. Proud to contribute to this study led by @thesudpharmd.bsky.social w/support from a team of dedicated pharmacy students. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
February 4, 2025 at 2:04 AM
In Spring 2024, we sent trained auditors into all 125 pharmacies in Austin, Texas to find OTC naloxone & attempt to purchase a 10-pack of syringes. Proud to contribute to this study led by @thesudpharmd.bsky.social w/support from a team of dedicated pharmacy students. jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
Everyone concerned about data loss right now should learn about the End of Term Web Archive, which I believe has been working on preserving federal websites for the past 8 months. The dataset you fear has been lost may well be here
Just an incredible project. Thank you to everyone involved
Just an incredible project. Thank you to everyone involved
How to Access the EOT Web Archives
Visit web.archive.org
Scroll to 🔎Collection Search section
Select "End Of Term (US Gov 2024)" from the menu
Type in your query term and click search
Or download bulk WARC files from eotarchive.org/data/
#EOT2024 #EOTArchive
Visit web.archive.org
Scroll to 🔎Collection Search section
Select "End Of Term (US Gov 2024)" from the menu
Type in your query term and click search
Or download bulk WARC files from eotarchive.org/data/
#EOT2024 #EOTArchive
February 1, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Everyone concerned about data loss right now should learn about the End of Term Web Archive, which I believe has been working on preserving federal websites for the past 8 months. The dataset you fear has been lost may well be here
Just an incredible project. Thank you to everyone involved
Just an incredible project. Thank you to everyone involved
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) -- which, since 1990, has tracked high school students' behaviors that can influence health and social outcomes (like smoking, drug use, and dietary habits) -- is now offline
January 31, 2025 at 5:45 PM
CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) -- which, since 1990, has tracked high school students' behaviors that can influence health and social outcomes (like smoking, drug use, and dietary habits) -- is now offline
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
During the pandemic, doctors tried microdosing buprenorphine to help fentanyl users avoid withdrawal and start treatment. A UC San Francisco study found this low-dose approach worked only 34% of the time, with most patients unable to reach a full dose despite gradual increases over several days.
Outpatient Low-Dose Initiation of Buprenorphine for People Using Fentanyl
This cohort study assesses rates of successful buprenorphine initiation and retention among adults who use fentanyl receiving a low-dose buprenorphine initiation protocol in the outpatient setting to ...
jamanetwork.com
January 27, 2025 at 10:20 PM
During the pandemic, doctors tried microdosing buprenorphine to help fentanyl users avoid withdrawal and start treatment. A UC San Francisco study found this low-dose approach worked only 34% of the time, with most patients unable to reach a full dose despite gradual increases over several days.
Excited to share findings from our recent study on #opioiduse disorder (#OUD) treatment! We looked at two buprenorphine low-dose initiation (LDI) protocols for people using fentanyl. 🧵👇 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Outpatient Low-Dose Initiation of Buprenorphine for People Using Fentanyl
This cohort study assesses rates of successful buprenorphine initiation and retention among adults who use fentanyl receiving a low-dose buprenorphine initiation protocol in the outpatient setting to ...
jamanetwork.com
January 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Excited to share findings from our recent study on #opioiduse disorder (#OUD) treatment! We looked at two buprenorphine low-dose initiation (LDI) protocols for people using fentanyl. 🧵👇 jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
It’s time scientists leave the ivory tower and explain exactly why their research is important for the general public. We need people to understand the societal implications if science is gutted.
January 25, 2025 at 4:22 PM
It’s time scientists leave the ivory tower and explain exactly why their research is important for the general public. We need people to understand the societal implications if science is gutted.
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
The NIH diversity supplement pages have all been pulled down. What is a diversity supplement and why should the public care? A diversity supplement is funding to help diversify the research workforce. You may be wondering, “so what?”. Let me explain. www.nigms.nih.gov/Pages/PageNo...
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
NIGMS supports basic research to understand biological processes and lay the foundation for advances in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
www.nigms.nih.gov
January 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The NIH diversity supplement pages have all been pulled down. What is a diversity supplement and why should the public care? A diversity supplement is funding to help diversify the research workforce. You may be wondering, “so what?”. Let me explain. www.nigms.nih.gov/Pages/PageNo...
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
Our new study found 44% of syringe services programs (SSPs) distributed safer smoking supplies in 2022. SSPs distributing supplies had more participant encounters and naloxone distribution. Safer smoking supplies are a key tool to connect people who use drugs to life-saving services.
Association of safer smoking supply distribution with participant encounters and naloxone distribution from syringe services programs: Findings from the National Survey of Syringe Services Programs in...
In response to the recent and growing shift from injecting heroin to smoking fentanyl, an increasing number of syringe services programs (SSPs) in the…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 25, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Our new study found 44% of syringe services programs (SSPs) distributed safer smoking supplies in 2022. SSPs distributing supplies had more participant encounters and naloxone distribution. Safer smoking supplies are a key tool to connect people who use drugs to life-saving services.
Lots of stuff happening in the news that is scary. But I would be remiss if I didn't share this piece just published today in collaboration with an all star team of Corey Davis, Derek Carr, Kate Bouton and Phillip Coffin.
journals.lww.com/journaladdic...
journals.lww.com/journaladdic...
Prescribing Psychostimulants for the Treatment of Stimulant ... : Journal of Addiction Medicine
t controlled prescription psychostimulants such as dextroamphetamine, methylphenidate, and modafinil are associated with reductions in self-reported stimulant use, craving, and depressive symptoms. De...
journals.lww.com
January 23, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Lots of stuff happening in the news that is scary. But I would be remiss if I didn't share this piece just published today in collaboration with an all star team of Corey Davis, Derek Carr, Kate Bouton and Phillip Coffin.
journals.lww.com/journaladdic...
journals.lww.com/journaladdic...
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
NIH funding supports the vast majority of all biomedical research in the United States. Virtually every advance in American medicine and biological science comes from NIH. This is a blow against American science.
Call Congress, 202-224-3121.
Call Congress, 202-224-3121.
All NIH study sections canceled indefinitely. This will halt science and devastate research budgets in universities.
January 23, 2025 at 12:41 AM
NIH funding supports the vast majority of all biomedical research in the United States. Virtually every advance in American medicine and biological science comes from NIH. This is a blow against American science.
Call Congress, 202-224-3121.
Call Congress, 202-224-3121.
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
Have you or a loved one been treated for cancer? Ever have a vaccine? Had someone you love revived by chest compressions? If so, then you have benefited from NIH-funded research, which has just been effectively shut down by the cancellation of NIH study sections. No new research allowed.
January 22, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Have you or a loved one been treated for cancer? Ever have a vaccine? Had someone you love revived by chest compressions? If so, then you have benefited from NIH-funded research, which has just been effectively shut down by the cancellation of NIH study sections. No new research allowed.
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
NIH appears to have canceled/postponed all of its study sections—the independent review panels that approve federal grants for health research.
Such grants fund the work/salaries of 300k people at more than 2,500 institutions
Such grants fund the work/salaries of 300k people at more than 2,500 institutions
All NIH study sections canceled indefinitely. This will halt science and devastate research budgets in universities.
January 22, 2025 at 9:27 PM
NIH appears to have canceled/postponed all of its study sections—the independent review panels that approve federal grants for health research.
Such grants fund the work/salaries of 300k people at more than 2,500 institutions
Such grants fund the work/salaries of 300k people at more than 2,500 institutions
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
If you’ve been directly impacted by a pause or cancellation of an NIH study session, we @forbes.com would like to talk to you
All NIH study sections canceled indefinitely. This will halt science and devastate research budgets in universities.
January 22, 2025 at 10:59 PM
If you’ve been directly impacted by a pause or cancellation of an NIH study session, we @forbes.com would like to talk to you
Check out this new paper on the use of Short Acting Full Agonist Opioid (SAFAO) to treat opioid withdrawal in the hospital, led by incredibly talented and self-motivated @ucsfhealth.bsky.social MS4 #GabySteiner 🧵
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Treatment of Inpatient Opioid Withdrawal with Short-Acting Full Agonist Opioids at a Safety-Net Hospital - Journal of General Internal Medicine
Background Fentanyl use leads to increased opioid tolerance in people with opioid use disorder, complicating management of opioid withdrawal syndrome. While accepted as gold standard, methadone and bu...
link.springer.com
January 22, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Check out this new paper on the use of Short Acting Full Agonist Opioid (SAFAO) to treat opioid withdrawal in the hospital, led by incredibly talented and self-motivated @ucsfhealth.bsky.social MS4 #GabySteiner 🧵
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
Help us advance AMERSA's advocacy goals in 2025! The AMERSA Advocacy Committee is seeking an AMERSA member to join the 9-person core working group of the Committee. Learn more here: amersa.org/amersa-advoc.... The deadline to apply is January 20.
January 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Help us advance AMERSA's advocacy goals in 2025! The AMERSA Advocacy Committee is seeking an AMERSA member to join the 9-person core working group of the Committee. Learn more here: amersa.org/amersa-advoc.... The deadline to apply is January 20.
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
The rapid growth of private equity in health care has attracted widespread attention & concern
Our new @jama.com study finds that when private equity takes over a hospital, patients' care experience significantly worsens.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Our new @jama.com study finds that when private equity takes over a hospital, patients' care experience significantly worsens.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
January 9, 2025 at 6:24 PM
The rapid growth of private equity in health care has attracted widespread attention & concern
Our new @jama.com study finds that when private equity takes over a hospital, patients' care experience significantly worsens.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Our new @jama.com study finds that when private equity takes over a hospital, patients' care experience significantly worsens.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
A Rhode Island nonprofit will hold a ribbon-cutting for its supervised consumption site next week, marking the first time the controversial harm-reduction service has been offered (officially, anyway) outside New York City
www.statnews.com/2024/12/06/o...
www.statnews.com/2024/12/06/o...
Rhode Island set to open first supervised consumption site for illicit drugs outside NYC
A Rhode Island nonprofit is set to open a government-sanctioned site for illicit drug use this week, making it just the second organization in the U.S. to
www.statnews.com
December 6, 2024 at 6:19 PM
A Rhode Island nonprofit will hold a ribbon-cutting for its supervised consumption site next week, marking the first time the controversial harm-reduction service has been offered (officially, anyway) outside New York City
www.statnews.com/2024/12/06/o...
www.statnews.com/2024/12/06/o...
Reposted by Leslie Suen, MD, MAS
1/ Excited to share recent paper, "Examining the Impact of Eliminating the X Waiver on Buprenorphine Dispensation in 63 Counties in Pennsylvania," in @sajamersa.bsky.social led by @beccabilden.bsky.social
December 19, 2024 at 8:49 PM
1/ Excited to share recent paper, "Examining the Impact of Eliminating the X Waiver on Buprenorphine Dispensation in 63 Counties in Pennsylvania," in @sajamersa.bsky.social led by @beccabilden.bsky.social