The potent synthetic opioid has been showing up more on its own, rather than mixed with other drugs. The use of fentanyl, the synthetic opioid said to be 50 times as potent as heroin, is growing on both a local and national level, according to new research. A new analysis, conducted by Indiana University-Purdue University… Continue reading Fentanyl Use Rising Across The US
Tag: opioid epidemic
Overdoses Increasingly Lead To Criminal Charges
Family members and the public aren’t convinced that prosecuting friends—who are often on drugs themselves—is the best use of resources. When someone dies from an overdose it is undeniably a tragedy, but is there someone to blame? Increasingly, the answer—legally speaking—is yes. It’s becoming more common for authorities to charge family members, friends and dealers… Continue reading Overdoses Increasingly Lead To Criminal Charges
Searching For The Next Naloxone
Experts are concerned that naloxone may not be strong enough for synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and carfentanil. Naloxone is—at times—a seemingly miraculous drug. Within minutes of naloxone being administered, someone who was unresponsive because of an opioid overdose can start breathing on their own and regain consciousness. However, despite its strengths, there are issues… Continue reading Searching For The Next Naloxone
Colleges Create Opioid Response Plans Amid National Crisis
Even though overdose deaths on college campuses are relatively rare, many schools are still choosing to put a plan in place. Colleges across the country are focused on responding to the opioid epidemic, even as opioid abuse and overdose deaths remain very rare on campus. According to the American College Health Association, about 7 to… Continue reading Colleges Create Opioid Response Plans Amid National Crisis
Tech Companies Dispute Playing Major Role In Opioid Crisis
“The opioid epidemic is, in a majority of cases, primarily an offline problem,” said a representative of the Internet Association. A summit on Wednesday, June 27, hosted by the Food and Drug Administration, was predicted to draw representatives from Facebook, Google and Twitter, among other relevant tech companies, as well as academics, lobbyists and government… Continue reading Tech Companies Dispute Playing Major Role In Opioid Crisis
Medication-Assisted Treatment Options Limited For Medicare Recipients
“Medicare beneficiaries have among the fastest growing rate of opioid use disorder, but they don’t currently have coverage for the most effective treatment,” says one official. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction and dependence is now seen as the gold standard of care by many addiction treatment professionals, but barriers to treatment make it difficult… Continue reading Medication-Assisted Treatment Options Limited For Medicare Recipients
Support Group Helps Mothers Affected By Opioid Crisis
“Families that are battling this disease, we suffer in silence. The fact that we can have love and kindness from somebody makes a world of difference.” For families affected by opioid use disorder, support groups can be their only outlet. More have cropped up amid the national epidemic of chronic opioid use and death, allowing… Continue reading Support Group Helps Mothers Affected By Opioid Crisis
States Consider Foster Care Alternatives As They Grapple With Parental Addiction
Some states are taking approaches that focus on reducing the trauma of separation from the child while encouraging parents to continue treatment. A new report from The Hill notes that the rise in the number of children who enter foster care has forced state governments to rethink the notion of separating families while parents undergo treatment… Continue reading States Consider Foster Care Alternatives As They Grapple With Parental Addiction
Can Blue Lights Deter Public Drug Use?
Public health experts say the blue lights make people more prone to hurting themselves and further stigmatize those who struggle with addiction. As the nation struggles with an ever-worsening opioid epidemic, some retailers are experimenting with an innovative solution to curb the drug use that takes place in their facilities. According to USA Today, a… Continue reading Can Blue Lights Deter Public Drug Use?
China Presses US To Reduce Opioid Demands
“When fewer and fewer Americans use fentanyl, there would be no market for it,” said one Chinese official. China’s drug control agency has challenged the U.S. to sharply reduce its demand for opioids, The Hill reported. The agency specifically called out the United States’ role in driving demand for drugs like fentanyl. “It’s common knowledge… Continue reading China Presses US To Reduce Opioid Demands