Drug overdoses in the United States were deadlier than ever in 2021, according to provisional data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly 108,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2021, and about two-thirds of those deaths involved fentanyl or another synthetic opioid.
Overdose deaths have
Even as drug use has declined among teenagers during the pandemic, overdose deaths increased, likely due to the highly potent opioid fentanyl, according to a new JAMA study. Overdose deaths among teenagers 14-18 held steady for years before doubling in 2020 as the pandemic set in, and they continued … Continue to full story .......
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 .......
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
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 .......
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 
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 .......
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
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 .......
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
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 .......
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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Preventing Opioid Misuse Among Girls – Community of Practice (CoP) grant from the Federal Office of Womens Health