Fentanyl

Lawmakers have been debating whether and how to stiffen punishments for dealers, while Gov. Gavin Newsom is targeting fentanyl trafficking and distributing more naloxone. The problem, experts say, is one with no easy or clear answers.

Opvee is similar to naloxone, the life-saving drug that has been used for decades to quickly counter overdoses of heroin, fentanyl and prescription painkillers.

Florida was among eight states that had sizeable decreases after reporting some of the highest overdose death rates. But experts caution that overdose deaths could rise again due to things like scaling back telehealth services.

A Florida police department says Narcan saved an officer suffering an overdose. Other cops regularly report being poisoned while encountering trace amounts of fentanyl. Some researchers have doubts.

Law enforcement, firefighters and paramedics can apply to get free naloxone at select Walmart pharmacies in Florida.

Researchers hope to enroll 1,000 adult drug users to study the effects on overdoses, to estimate their costs and to gauge potential savings for the health care and criminal justice systems.

The bill is meant to address fears that dealers are targeting young people with candy-colored fentanyl, but experts say there's little evidence that's happening. They worry more jail time won't solve the state's drug problem.

With the number of overdose deaths exploding, there are calls in Congress for a national emergency declaration similar to the one at the start of COVID. Such a declaration could lead to tougher sanctions.

The two agencies will join forces with local police and the district attorney's office to ramp up efforts against fentanyl trafficking in San Francisco.

The nurse took vials of fentanyl and injected it into herself, then refilled the vials with saline solution and returned them for use during outpatient procedures, investigators said.