All articles tagged with #opioid overdoses
A three-day heat wave in Chicago coincided with a surge in opioid overdoses, with 60 cases reported over the weekend, prompting public health responses. The heat may have contributed to increased drug use, especially in outdoor areas, and most overdoses involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Despite the spike, overall overdose deaths have decreased compared to previous years.
Over Presidents Day weekend, the Vail Police Department witnessed nine deployments of Narcan during the John Summit concert, with medical staff on site for the event provided through a private company. The town of Vail will not release further information about the Narcan deployments, and there is no indication of a connection between the incidents. Colorado has laws in place to protect individuals who are overdosing, and over-the-counter Narcan is available at multiple pharmacies in Eagle County. Harm reduction measures, including education and access to Narcan and fentanyl test strips, have come into the national and statewide conversation as opioid and fentanyl overdoses continue to rise.
A pilot program launching next month will provide Portland firefighters with more resources to assist individuals suffering from opioid overdoses, as the city has seen a rise in drug-overdose calls in recent years, particularly in Old Town/Chinatown. The program aims to address the increasing number of drug-related deaths in Portland, which now surpasses the number of fatalities from car accidents.
The gender gap in life expectancy in the United States has reached its widest point in nearly three decades, with women now outliving men by nearly six years, according to a study published in JAMA Network. The study also revealed that overall life expectancy has declined among Americans, with factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid overdoses, alcohol-related deaths, unintentional injuries, accidents, and suicide contributing to the decrease. These factors disproportionately affect men, highlighting the need for further research and intervention to address the widening gap.
Park View High School in Loudoun County, Virginia, has reported nine opioid-related overdoses this year, with eight occurring in the last three weeks. Four of the overdoses happened inside the school. The overdoses are believed to involve fentanyl, and three students were given Narcan, an anti-overdose drug. The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is investigating the source and distribution of the drugs. School staff are being trained on how to use naloxone, another anti-overdose drug.
Pharmacies in Eagle County, Colorado, have started selling over-the-counter Narcan, a nasal spray used to reverse opioid overdoses. The FDA-approved medication can quickly restore normal breathing to individuals experiencing opioid overdose. The availability of Narcan without a prescription aims to increase access to the life-saving medication, reduce stigma around opioid use, and promote education and prevention services. This move comes as drug overdoses, particularly from synthetic opioids like fentanyl, continue to be a public health concern in the region and across the country. Local organizations and government entities have been working to improve community availability of Narcan, and a regional effort is underway to address the impacts of the opioid epidemic.
Tybee Island officials express major safety concerns on the second day of Orange Crush due to multiple wrecks causing gridlocked traffic, a shooting incident, overwhelming crowds leading to restaurant closures, and the need for extra doses of Narcan for opioid overdoses.