Fentanyl

The measure, which passed the House, is intended to detect the synthetic opioid where time-sensitive care is often the difference between life and death.

Months after being fired and put on probation for taking fentanyl from another hospital, Edwin Valentin pleaded guilty to replacing the painkiller with vials of saline, prosecutors said.

There were about 97,000 overdose deaths in year that ended June 30, according to provisional CDC data. That's a 14% decrease from the previous 12-month period.

The sedation, which uses midazolam and fentanyl, falls in line with the CDC’s new guidance that includes using lidocaine to help manage pain when inserting intrauterine devices.

According to a Florida Department of Law Enforcement report, total drug-related deaths, opioid-caused deaths and deaths caused by fentanyl were all down in the first half of 2023.

In Hillsborough, health officials offered the overdose reversal drug to people who stopped by their Tampa office. Other counties recognized the day with education on recognizing overdoses and saving lives.

"The Fentanyl Project," which focuses on two families dealing with the losses of loved ones, highlights how counterfeit prescription pills are causing fentanyl deaths to skyrocket. We talk with the director.

Powerful synthetic opioids and drugs like meth and cocaine still flood U.S. communities, fueling historically high overdose deaths.

The state's Coordinated Opioid Response network, established in 2022, will cover 17 more counties, including Lake, Orange, Polk and Seminole, for a total of 29.

Some spring break travelers misuse painkillers contaminated with fentanyl. Advocates hope equipping more people with Narcan will save lives.