Massachusetts State

Worcester, MA

New York City, NY

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BLOCK WORK MEDIA GROUP

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid that is 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin. This short-acting drug cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled when mixed into other drugs, making it particularly dangerous.

Fentanyl: Understanding the Danger and How to Avoid Overdose

Denver, CO

Contributors represent independent, third-party users who have joined our contributor program and self-verified their accounts. They have also demonstrated their experience writing hard news for other outlets. Contributors are expected, like all users, to adhere to our Community Standards.

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David Heitz

More dangerous substances are entering the Denver drug supply, Harm Reduction Action Center warned in a newsletter this week. “The Iron Law of Prohibition posits that as law enforcement becomes more intense, the potency of prohibited substances increases,” HRAC Executive Director Lisa Raville wrote in the newsletter. That is exactly what is happening, she said.

Dangerous substances entering Denver drug supply

The Guardian

We look at the use of the drugs after a study found millions of people are at risk after being prescribed them

How opioid painkillers work, why they are addictive and how to avoid dependency

A new scientific review of 148 studies enrolling over 4.3 million adult chronic pain patients treated with prescription opioid painkillers has found that nearly one in ten patients experiences opioid dependence or opioid use disorder and nearly one in three shows symptoms of dependence and opioid use disorder. This review provides a more accurate -- and more concerning -- rate of opioid misuse than has previously been calculated. It was conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and appears in the scientific journal Addiction.

Prescription Painkiller Misuse in Chronic Pain Patients

Colorado State

A bill quietly introduced this spring in the Colorado legislature to decriminalize the possession of drug paraphernalia obtained by harm reductionists has become law. As low-key as the legislation was introduced, the bill was signed into law without fanfare June 6. It garnered little to no media attention.

Colorado legalizes needles, pipes for meth and crack if obtained by harm reduction group

HealthDay

The rate of overdoses caused by the ingestion or inhalation of fake Oxycontin pills is soaring, especially in the U.S. West Rates of such cases treated at one hospital in the West rose from 3 in 2017 to 209 by 2022 The counterfeit pills are typically laced with fentanyl, and some people may know this and be using them deliberately FRIDAY, July 26, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The rate at which young Americans are ending up in hospital ICUs after using fake Oxycontin pills spiked with fentanyl is soaring, especially in the U.S. West, a new report warns.

Fake Oxycontin Pills Widespread and Potentially Deadly: Report

Polk County, FL

Fort Meade, FL

Uncovering Florida

The Polk County Sheriff's Office has made an arrest after conducting an investigation into a case of credit card fraud involving 28-year-old Burger King employee, Kellyn Miley. The incident was discussed in detail during this morning's briefing with Sheriff Grady Judd.

Burger King Employee Caught Using Customer's Credit Card for Food at Former Job

Nausea, sweating, and diarrhea are just some of the possible symptoms of opioid withdrawal. How soon those symptoms start and how long they last can vary by person, but the general opioid withdrawal timeline can last 1 to 3 weeks. Opioids are a class of drugs originally developed to manage...

Your Guide to the Opioid Withdrawal Timeline

ScienceAlert


Given how profound an influence opioids have on the world – for better or worse – scientists know surprisingly little about how these drugs actually work.
A recent study led by researchers from University of California Davis describes a new method by which researchers can watch in real-time as the nervous system responds to the activation of its opioid receptors.



					
			

By incorporating fluorescing receptors in neurons of mice, the team showed it was possible to visualize the activity of opioids as they operated inside a living brain.
For many people, the word 'opioid' brings to mind drugs like heroin and fentanyl. However, the...

Opioids Watched in Real Time as They Work Deep Inside The Brain

In addition to collecting more than 8,000 used needles in the past year from Denver drug users, the Harm Reduction Action Center passed out 10,000 meth pipes and “snort kits,” according to a newsletter sent to its supporters Thursday. They also connected about 1,700 people to medical, mental health and substance abuse treatment.

Denver group hands out 10K meth pipes, ‘snort kits,’ connects 1,700 to treatment annually

Everyday Health

Hypoglycemia symptoms include having anxiety, emotional instability, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Here's a list with more signs to watch for.

10 Warning Signs of Low Blood Sugar

Newly identified compound enhances naloxone’s potency and duration, according to a mouse study. The ongoing opioid crisis in the U.S. claims tens of thousands of lives annually. Naloxone, known by its brand name Narcan, has been instrumental in saving numerous lives by reversing opioid overdoses. However, the emergence of new, more potent opioids is making it increasingly challenging for first responders to revive individuals who overdose.

Breakthrough Research Supercharges Naloxone’s Power Against Deadly Opioids

The FDA approved Zurnai, the first nalmefene hydrochloride auto-injector for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older. The agency approved the first nasal spray formulation of nalmefene in May 2023. Drug overdose persists as a major public...

FDA Approves First Nalmefene Hydrochloride Auto-Injector to Reverse Opioid Overdose

Georgia State

Atlanta, GA

Daily Coffee Press

A 40-year-old man has been sentenced to over 28 years in prison for distributing significant amounts of fentanyl and other controlled substances to dealers in the Middle Georgia region. Authorities revealed that investigators uncovered evidence linking the drugs provided by the defendant, 40-year-old Lagary Williams, also known as "Frog," from Atlanta, to a fatal overdose.

Atlanta Man Sentenced to 28 Years for Supplying Deadly Fentanyl Linked to Fatal Overdose

Interesting Engineering

iSOS, the implantable device, autonomously administers naloxone within minutes if an overdose is detected, without requiring a bystander to administer the medicine.

New implantable device automatically treats opioid overdose in minutes

In a significant move to address the ongoing opioid crisis in the United States, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Zurnai, the first nalmefene hydrochloride auto-injector. This newly approved device is designed for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdoses in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 years and older.

Lifesaving Auto-Injector to Combat the Opioid Crisis: FDA Greenlights Zurnai

USC study finds cannabis can help manage withdrawal symptoms, as well as cravings and anxiety after withdrawal

Cannabis could help people cut down or stop opioid use, research shows

Ohio State

The Lantern

On Tuesday, licensed Ohio dispensaries began legally selling non-medical marijuana to consumers; however, the drug’s possession, growth and/or usage are still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus. Credit: Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times/TNS [Original caption: Four citizen-led petitions with proposals to update Dallas’ charter hit the 20,000 valid signature threshold to make it on the Nov. 5 election ballot, including one that would ban police officers from arresting or citing people carrying less than four ounces of marijuana.] As of Tuesday, students 21 and older can now legally purchase marijuana in Ohio.

Dispensary sales of recreational marijuana began Tuesday; possession and usage still prohibited on Ohio State’s campus

Thousands of Americans struggle with opioid use disorder (OUD), and while there are three widely available drug treatments for OUD, only about one in five receive OUD medications to combat it. The opioid epidemic has blazed on for decades, and public health officials continue to search for ways to support those who need treatment.

Why Aren’t More People Prescribed Opioid Use Disorder Medications?

Douglas, GA

A local Walmart employee was recently arrested on a misdemeanor charge after allegedly stealing over $60 worth of merchandise from the store. Additionally, she faced a felony charge after officers discovered suspected methamphetamine in her locker during the arrest.

Douglas Walmart Employee Arrested for Methamphetamine Possession and Shoplifting

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Shrewsbury, MA

Leicester, MA

West Boylston, MA

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Northborough, MA

Boston 25 News WFXT

NewsBreak

‘More toxic’: Potent sedative triggering unexpected spike in overdoses, Mass. hospital warns

https://dcusoqhsuupgy.cloudfront.net/transcodes/OGPj0000/default.mp4

‘More toxic’: Potent sedative triggering unexpected spike in overdoses, Mass. hospital warns

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