Category Archives: News

Are your children using emojis to talk about drugs?

Posted on April 17, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Parents need to scrutinize what their kids are doing and watch for certain coded languages and transactions, said William Kimbell, assistant special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Houston.  Based on DEA information and other sources, the Houston Chronicle created a guide to help parents identify … Continue to full story .......

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House of Representatives approves bill legalizing marijuana; now US Senate to consider bill

Posted on April 9, 2022 by TCYSAPC

April 9, 2022 – The Hill — The House passed legislation on Friday to legalize marijuana nationwide and eliminate the longstanding criminal penalties for anyone who distributes or possesses it.   The measure now goes to the Senate, where Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is working with fellow Democrats to introduce

… Continue to full story .......
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Another Fentanyl Overdose Surge Overwhelms Travis County as Harm Reduction advocates urge access to fentanyl testing strips

Posted on March 30, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Travis County Chief Medical Examiner Keith Pinck­ard shared data showing that overdoses have been steadily rising the last three years, with a 38% increase in accidental deaths from 2019 to 2020, and another 20% increase in 2021. From 2020 to 2021, fentanyl deaths tripled, even as deaths from other drugs, … Continue to full story .......

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Medical marijuana doesn’t help anxiety and depression and doubles addiction risk, new study finds

Posted on March 26, 2022 by TCYSAPC
Using medical marijuana to treat pain, anxiety and depression failed to improve these symptoms while doubling the risk of developing cannabis use disorder, a new study by Massachusetts General Hospital, published in the journal JAMA Network Open.  Cannabis has been reported to improve pain, sleep, as well as
… Continue to full story .......
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University of Texas now providing Narcan to students, staff and faculty for free

Posted on March 23, 2022 by TCYSAPC

The University of Texas said it is now providing a potentially life-saving medication used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose for free to everyone on campus. In addition to being available for emergency access in all on-campus residence halls, Narcan, or naloxone, is now available for free to … Continue to full story .......

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Is Alcoholism a Disease?

Posted on March 23, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Alcoholism is the lay term for alcohol use disorder (AUD), which is a brain disorder affecting nearly 15 million people aged 12 and older in 2019, according to a national survey. Some people may also know it as alcohol abuse, alcohol addiction, or alcohol dependence. AUD ranges from mild to

… Continue to full story .......
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ATCEMS seeing 30 opiate overdoses every day and 20 times a month Narcan is administered before EMS arrives

Posted on March 12, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Heidi Abraham, the deputy medical director at Austin-Travis County EMS, said they’re seeing roughly 30 opiate overdoses every day right now. She also noted that roughly 20 times a month people are getting Narcan administered to them before EMS arrives.

Narcan is a brand name for naloxone and is … Continue to full story .......

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3rd death tied to last week’s overdose deaths near Sixth Street in Austin

Posted on March 11, 2022 by TCYSAPC

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The county’s chief medical examiner reported that there were three people that died from a series of overdoses last week.  While the final toxicology testing is not complete, initial results showed that in all three cases, cocaine, methamphetamine and fentanyl were detected. One patient also had

… Continue to full story .......
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Young people’s e-cigarette use is not a substantial gateway to regular smoking, study shows

Posted on March 11, 2022 by TCYSAPC

A study published by the scientific journal Addiction has found that prevalence of e-cigarette use in England among young adults between 2007 and 2018 did not appear to be associated with substantial increases or decreases in the prevalence of smoking uptake. Several longitudinal observational studies have previously pointed towards a … Continue to full story .......

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“That one pill ended his life”: Local panel educates parents, kids on dangers of fentanyl

Posted on February 28, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Feb. 2022 (KXAN) — A Cedar Park mother whose son died from a pill laced with fentanyl organized an event Monday night to answer other parents’ questions about the deadly drug.   Becky Stewart started “A Change for Cam,” named after her son, after he died in March 2021. The goal … Continue to full story .......

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Suicides by drug overdose increased among youth, elderly and Black women in last five years: study

Posted on February 16, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Understanding rates of suicide can be tricky, a new study initially found a decline in the overall number of intentional drug overdoses. But after isolating data, they found suicide rates actually went up for young people, Black women and the elderly.   The American Psychological Association cites teen suicide as

… Continue to full story .......
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Cannabis may impair driving ability for up to 4 hours, study finds

Posted on February 15, 2022 by TCYSAPC

Cannabis can impair a person’s ability to drive up to 4 hours after the drug is used, according to a recent study.  “Although performance was improving at 3.5 hours, recovery was not fully seen until 4.5 hours post smoking’” researchers stated in the report published in the JAMA Psychiatry.… Continue to full story .......

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