Fentanyl mixed with the veterinary sedative xylazine has been linked to a sharp increase of overdose deaths across the country. By Daniel Arkin President Joe Biden’s drug czar on Wednesday declared that fentanyl mixed with xylazine, an animal tranquilizer known as “tranq” that has been linked to a rising number of overdose[Read More…]
National News
As opioids overdose deaths keep rising, report urges lawmakers to develop new approaches
BY: ASHLEY MURRAY WASHINGTON — Lawmakers should view America’s staggering opioid crisis, including the rise of illicit fentanyl, through an “ecosystems” approach, argues a massive RAND Corporation report published last week. That means they should examine the gaps and interconnections among emergency response, data collection, education, treatment, housing and law enforcement, the report[Read More…]
Inmates with opioid addiction report peer navigators are crucial for successful community reentry
by Rutgers University Recently incarcerated people with opioid use disorder have trust in working with peer support specialists who recovered from addiction and faced similar life experiences, according to a Rutgers study. The study, published in the journal Psychiatric Services, found that peer support specialists were most valued for providing emotional and community-based[Read More…]
Fentanyl accounts for a majority of fatal overdoses. But ERs aren’t testing for it.
After her son’s death in 2018, Juli Shamash began advocating for legislation that would require hospitals to test for fentanyl. Tyler’s Law took effect in California this year. By Maura Barrett and Bianca Seward LOS ANGELES — When Tyler Shamash survived a drug overdose at 19, his mother, Juli, asked his doctor several[Read More…]
FDA acts to restrict illicit import of xylazine, animal tranquilizer linked to overdose deaths
BY KERRY BREEN The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Tuesday that it was taking action to restrict unlawful importing of the veterinary drug xylazine, which has been “increasingly found” in the nation’s illicit drug supply. The action, an import alert, allows for the detainment of shipments of xylazine and the[Read More…]
Addiction drug prices vary widely
By Sabrina Moreno Medication used to treat opioid use disorder has become cheaper over the last several years, but affordability can still be a problem, depending on a patient’s insurance, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. Why it matters: Experts have called for improved access to medication-assisted treatment like buprenorphine to[Read More…]
1 big thing: How opioid misuse is costing health systems
Share of emergency department inpatients treated for opioid use disorder, by state By Tina Reed The addiction crisis is increasingly eroding health systems’ finances, with the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) costing hospitals more than $95 billion a year, new data provided first to Axios’ Maya Goldman from Premier Inc. AI Applied[Read More…]
Some Schools Will Get Money From Opioid Settlements—But It Won’t Be Easy
By Mark Lieberman Some school districts stand to benefit from the recent state and local settlements in lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors—but actually getting those funds will take considerable time and effort. Many district leaders and experts contend that major companies like Purdue Pharma and McKinsey, as well as retail[Read More…]
Biden talks fentanyl crisis in Mexico: What experts say should be done to stop overdose deaths
By Claire Thornton | USA TODAY President Joe Biden will meet with Mexican officials Mondayto discuss how to stop illicit drugs from coming through the southern border, a problem that continues to fuel a new wave of the deadly fentanyl crisis across the United States. CONTEXT: There were107,622 drug overdose deaths in 2021, according to the Centers[Read More…]
Justice Department announces $340 million will be awarded to address substance use disorders, fight overdose epidemic
Last week, the Justice Department announced that it will distribute $340 million to help with recovery efforts as part of a new strategy to address the substance use crisis. Read more here.