drug overdose

Dubbed “rainbow" fentanyl, this trend appears to be a new method used by Mexican drug cartels to sell the deadly drug made to look like candy to children.

Festival promoters are allowing lifesaving medication as fentanyl deaths surge, but volunteers are often left to distribute it, and more controversial forms of harm reduction aren't openly allowed.

These steps follow the recent deaths of six people in Gadsden County from fentanyl overdoses. That prompted first lady Casey DeSantis to call for a meeting to work out strategies to warn residents and promote increased awareness.

The order targeted drugs known as nitazenes, which Moody’s office said have been linked since 2022 to at least 15 deaths in Florida, including five reported by the Pasco-Pinellas medical examiner.

Experts are concerned that flashy Silicon Valley technology won’t reach those most in need of treatment for substance use disorders.

The organization's Andrae Bailey says he is pushing for legislation to expand access to Narcan in Florida, along with funding for “medication assisted treatment” for people dealing with opioid addiction.

Black communities face a growing share of overdoses, but addiction treatment resources and attention are still focused on white communities.

Data from the CDC show that overdose deaths last year increased nearly 30% across the country. In Florida, the rate increased more than 37%.

Experts say lockdowns and other pandemic restrictions isolated those with drug addictions and made treatment harder to get.

Massachusetts and New York are among the states agreeing to end the fight to halt a controversial Purdue Pharma bankruptcy plan. The deal shelters members of the Sackler family from opioid lawsuits.