Category: Opioids
INTERNATIONAL OVERDOSE AWARENESS DAY: TAKING ACTION TO SAVE LIVES
This year, King County is working with community partners to expand the use of naloxone (also known as Narcan) – a powerful and very safe tool that can save the life of someone experiencing an opioid overdose – and educate the community about available treatments for opioid use disorder.
What is fentanyl and why is it behind the deadly surge in US drug overdoses? A medical toxicologist explains
Buying drugs on the street is a game of Russian roulette. From Xanax to cocaine, drugs or counterfeit pills purchased in nonmedical settings may contain life-threatening amounts of fentanyl.
Seizures of fentanyl-containing pills rise dramatically
The number of individual pills seized by law enforcement increased nearly 50-fold from the first quarter of 2018 to the last quarter of 2021 and the proportion of pills to total seizures more than doubled, with pills representing over a quarter of illicit fentanyl seizures by the end of 2021.
How the pandemic helped spread fentanyl across the US and drive opioid overdose deaths to a grim new high
The soaring death toll has been fueled by a much more dangerous black market opioid supply. Illicitly synthesized fentanyl – a potent and inexpensive opioid that has driven the rise in overdoses since it emerged in 2014 – is increasingly replacing heroin. Fentanyl and fentanyl analogs were responsible for almost two-thirds of the overdose deaths recorded in the 12 months period ending in April 2021.
Drug Deaths Soar, Prompting New Crackdowns and Funding
Nationwide, there has been a 31% increase in overdose deaths during the pandemic compared with the year before, fueled largely by the presence of the potent opioid fentanyl in heroin, methamphetamines and other illicit drugs.
Washington state overdose rates on pace to break another record, health officials say.
Health officials urge people to carry naloxone and know overdose signs
Opioid-addiction medication underused in WA, UW study shows
Opioid users may need multiple care episodes with buprenorphine before their recovery trajectory is established.
Opioid Deaths Spark Push to Ease Buprenorphine Rules
Doctors say requirement to take an 8-hour course and submit to Drug Enforcement Administration oversight has stymied the drug’s availability.
Fatal overdoses spike in King County
These last two weeks mark a sharp increase—double the average number of weekly fatal overdoses throughout much of 2020.
COVID-19 Eased Drug Treatment Rules—And That Saved Lives
“Telehealth sessions have been a lifeline for those walking the long road to recovery during a stressful, isolating time.”
Perspective: Why opioids cannot fix chronic pain
Emotional pain and chronic pain are related, and painkillers, ultimately, make things worse
Cannabis found not to be a substitute for opioids
A meta-analysis of the studies found cannabis use didn’t reduce illicit opioid use during treatment nor did it retain people in treatment.
With Safe Injection Sites, ‘Somebody Has to Go First.’ It Could Be Philadelphia.
A non-profit wants to open a safe injection site in Philadelphia’s Kensington neighborhood, known for high-quality, cheap heroin and daily overdose deaths.
Overdose Prevention Should Include Alcohol Too, Study Suggests
Alcohol ramps up the effects of drugs that act on the brain and nervous system, and vice versa, which increases the risk of overdose.
Opioid Treatment Scam May Be Coming to Your State
Patient “brokers” can make initial commissions of as much as $2,000 for each patient they recruit for for-profit opioid treatment programs.