opioids

Fentanyl is killing people in Florida and across the U.S. in alarming numbers. Researchers may have discovered ways to lessen the drug's deadly effects and save lives.

Xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, is increasingly finding its way into street drugs across the country. Analysts at New Hampshire's state crime lab estimate they’re finding it in about 15% of the fentanyl they test.

DOJ officials say the drug wholesaler could face "billions of dollars" in penalties for failing to report diversion of prescription opioid pain medications shipped to pharmacies across the U.S.

Several health policy provisions are included in the $1.7 trillion legislation, which was approved by the House a day after the Senate passed it.

The CDC released the new numbers, saying the official number was 106,699. That’s nearly 16% higher than the nearly 92,000 overdose deaths in 2020. Earlier data suggested there were more than 107,000.

One lawsuit was filed by eight Northwest Florida counties and four cities, and another by Miami-Dade and two South Florida cities. They allege that McKinsey & Company “played an integral role in creating and deepening the opioid crisis.”

Pinellas County opioid deaths are being addressed through the Coordinated Opioid Recovery Network, an initiative being slowly rolled out across the state.

The Biden administration is moving to make it easier for Americans with opioid addiction to gain access to medical treatments proven to save lives.

CVS would pay about $5 billion and Walgreens more than $5.5 billion, though neither company has admitted wrongdoing. States have until the end of the year to accept the terms of the settlement.

Emergent BioSolutions has applied to the FDA to sell the opioid overdose-reversal drug over the counter. Addiction experts say it may be a key step to lower fentanyl deaths.