overdose

A report cites CDC data showing that in 2022 Florida saw a 2.6% decrease in drug overdoses. One of the largest drops came out of Brevard.

Addiction treatment experts hope to increase access to the medication, which can reverse opioid overdoses. But hurdles remain: cost and stigma.

Colorado is among several states that ensure schools have access to naloxone for free or at reduced cost. But most districts hadn’t signed up by the start of the school year for a state distribution program.

Whether xylazine is leading to more deaths — as suggested by officials in Washington — is not yet clear. In fact, some early data suggests the drug may inadvertently be diluting the effects of fentanyl.

Xylazine is already a schedule I controlled substance in Florida, meaning it is a crime to possess it or sell it in the state. Attorney General Ashley Moody has urged the DEA to add it to the controlled substances list.

It’s a move that some advocates have long sought as a way to improve access to a life-saving drug, though the exact impact will not be clear immediately. Here’s a look at the issues involved.

Some people say it’s reasonable for densely populated areas to receive more settlement funds, since they serve more of those affected. But others worry this overlooks rural communities disproportionately harmed by opioid addiction.

The developments amount to what could be the last round of huge settlements after years of litigation over the drug industry’s role in an overdose crisis that has been linked to more than 500,000 U,S. deaths.

The recent fentanyl deaths in Gadsden County were so alarming they drew the attention of nearly every state agency to the county for a recent roundtable.

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