All articles tagged with #overdose crisis
Overdose deaths in the U.S. are declining due to expanded access to medications, telehealth, and community programs, but this progress is at risk if Congress does not act to preserve and expand these policies in 2026.
Nabarun Dasgupta, a UNC researcher specializing in street drug supply and overdose data, was awarded the MacArthur 'genius' grant for his work in understanding and reducing the U.S. overdose crisis, including early detection of declining overdose deaths and promoting harm reduction programs. His efforts have contributed to saving tens of thousands of lives, despite ongoing challenges with drug-related fatalities.
Baltimore is experiencing unprecedented overdose rates, with nearly 6,000 deaths in the past six years, largely due to fentanyl. The article highlights personal stories, including that of former Baltimore Ravens player Jaylon Ferguson, who struggled with mental health issues and ultimately died of an overdose in 2022.
Baltimore is experiencing an unprecedented overdose crisis, with nearly 6,000 deaths over the past six years, driven largely by the synthetic opioid fentanyl. The city's fatal overdose rate from 2018 to 2022 was nearly double that of any other large U.S. city. Despite once having an aggressive overdose prevention strategy, efforts have stalled as officials focused on other crises. The number of Medicaid patients receiving medication to control opioid cravings has also dropped, exacerbating the situation.
Baltimore has become the U.S. overdose capital, with nearly 6,000 deaths in six years, primarily due to fentanyl. Despite initial successful interventions, efforts stalled as city leaders focused on other crises, leading to a quadrupling of the fatal overdose rate since 2013.
Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek of Oregon has signed legislation to recriminalize the possession of small amounts of certain drugs, overturning a voter-backed measure from 2020 that decriminalized minor drug possession. The move comes as the state grapples with a surge in homelessness, homicides, and overdose deaths. The new law makes drug possession a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison and allows for police crackdowns on drug use in public spaces. Another bill signed allocates funds for behavioral health and education programs, emphasizing the need for coordination and non-jail opportunities for misdemeanor sanctions.
Oregon lawmakers passed a bill to recriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs, undoing a key part of the state's drug decriminalization law in response to the deadliest overdose crisis in U.S. history. The measure makes possession of drugs a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail, and aims to increase access to addiction medication and housing without facing discrimination. Supporters argue it will improve access to treatment, while opponents fear it will reinforce a failed punishment narrative and disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
Oregon lawmakers passed a bill to recriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs, undoing a part of the state's drug decriminalization law in response to the deadly overdose crisis. The bill makes drug possession a misdemeanor, punishable by jail time, and aims to increase access to addiction medication and housing without discrimination. Supporters believe it will improve access to treatment, while opponents argue it could disproportionately impact marginalized communities and reinforce failed punitive tactics.
Oregon lawmakers have passed a bill to recriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs, undoing a key part of the state's first-in-the-nation drug decriminalization law. The measure makes possession of drugs like heroin or methamphetamine a misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in jail, while also aiming to make it easier to prosecute drug sellers and increase access to addiction medication and housing without facing discrimination. The move comes as the state grapples with a deadly overdose crisis, but critics argue that the bill represents a return to the failed war on drugs and could disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine reveals that a record number of high school teens died of drug overdoses in 2022, primarily due to fentanyl poisonings from counterfeit pills. The death rate for drug overdoses among teens has more than doubled since 2018, with at least 75% of adolescent drug overdose deaths attributed to fentanyl poisonings. The trend has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Arizona, Colorado, and Washington identified as hotspot states. Experts recommend discussing the dangers of counterfeit pills with teens and keeping overdose reversal medicine readily available at home, while also emphasizing frank conversations about risk reduction strategies for those experimenting with drugs.
Louise Vincent, a former drug user, has become a leading advocate for humanizing and helping people who use drugs amidst the devastating overdose crisis in the US. Vincent argues that the US focus on law enforcement and drug abstinence has failed, and instead advocates for a harm reduction approach that includes providing basic healthcare, access to clean needles, and affordable medical treatments for addiction. She has created the Urban Survivors Union, a space in North Carolina that offers services and care for active drug users, aiming to bring drug users out of the shadows and combat the stigma surrounding addiction. However, Vincent faces opposition from politicians who support tougher drug laws, and the road to acceptance and care for drug users in the US remains challenging.
The U.S. government has unveiled a new strategy to target legal goods associated with the illegal fentanyl trade in an effort to combat the ongoing overdose crisis. The plan involves collaboration between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the postal service, logistic companies, and other agencies to share information and disrupt the supply chain of fentanyl and other synthetic drugs. Legal goods such as molds, presses, and chemicals used in fentanyl production will be targeted. The strategy will initially focus on the San Diego corridor and expand to other cities. The Biden administration has also recently announced indictments and sanctions against Chinese companies involved in importing precursor chemicals for synthetic opioids. Fentanyl, the deadliest drug in the U.S., is primarily sourced from Mexico and China, with China being the main supplier of precursor chemicals.
The increasing use of fentanyl, a potent and deadly drug, has sparked a dilemma in New York City over how to address the drug epidemic. Some argue for decriminalization and a public health approach, citing the failure of aggressive crackdowns and the need to provide support and treatment for drug users. Others express concerns about the rise in open drug use and its impact on communities, as well as the potential for violence and the difficulty of prosecuting higher-level drug dealers. The debate comes as the city grapples with record-high overdose deaths and the tragic death of a 1-year-old possibly due to fentanyl exposure at a day care.
A new study from UCLA has identified a concerning "fourth wave" in the US overdose crisis, with a 50-fold increase in overdose deaths involving fentanyl and stimulants since 2010. Stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine have become the most common drug class found in fentanyl-involved overdoses in every US state. The rise in polysubstance use presents unique healthcare challenges, disproportionately affecting racial minorities and showing regional variances in drug combinations. Experts warn that the combination of fentanyl and stimulants poses significant health risks and challenges for healthcare providers, as there is limited experience in treating this specific combination of substances.
The combination of fentanyl with stimulants like cocaine and meth is driving a "fourth wave" of the overdose crisis in the United States, according to a study published in the journal Addiction. Overdoses involving both fentanyl and stimulants have increased 50-fold since 2010, accounting for 32% of U.S. overdoses in 2021 and nearly 35,000 deaths. The rise in polysubstance overdoses highlights the need for comprehensive treatment strategies that address both opioid and stimulant use disorders. The toxic and unpredictable drug supply makes it crucial for individuals to use test strips to check for the presence of fentanyl in other drugs. Additionally, the availability of the overdose antidote Narcan should be expanded to help prevent fatalities.