Latest Drug abuse News
House approves bill to decriminalize fentanyl test strips
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Test strips to help drug users identify fentanyl and other potentially deadly chemicals would no longer be classified as illegal paraphernalia under a bill passed unanimously by the Pennsylvania House on Monday. The legislation to amend the state's Controlled...
Kentucky shatters its fatal overdose record; fentanyl blamed
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Fatal drug overdoses rose nearly 15% in Kentucky last year, surpassing 2,000 deaths as the increased use of fentanyl — a powerful synthetic opioid — resulted in a record death toll in the state, according to a report released Monday. The report showed that...
Vermont governor vetoes safe injection sites for drug users
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Gov. Phil Scott has vetoed a bill aimed in part at creating one or more safe injection sites, also called overdose prevention sites, in Vermont where people could legally use drugs under supervision as a way to reduce overdoses. Scott, a Republican, wrote in...
Group formed to oversee distribution of opioid settlement
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky took a step Monday to turn a massive settlement into action to combat opioid addiction, as Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced members of a group overseeing the state's share. The Bluegrass State will receive $483 million from settlements...
Oregon botched drug treatment plan tied to decriminalization
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Efforts to get millions of dollars in funding to treatment centers and related services as part of Oregon's pioneering drug decriminalization have been botched even as drug addictions and overdoses increase, state officials and lawmakers said on Thursday. ...
Editorial Roundup: Ohio
Cleveland Plain Dealer. May 20, 2022. Editorial: As deadly fentanyl claims more Ohio lives, evidence-based treatment is among the answers Ohio and the nation are confronted with a drug abuse crisis typified by misuse of the powerful deadly synthetic opioid, fentanyl....
Idaho announces $119 million opioid crisis settlement
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho officials on Friday announced a $119 million settlement with drugmaker Johnson & Johnson and three major distributors over their role in the opioid addiction crisis. Republican Gov. Brad Little and Republican Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said...
Brazilian police arrest dozens selling crack in Sao Paulo
SAO PAULO (AP) — Hundreds of police officers raided a plaza in Sao Paulo on Wednesday, arresting dozens of people selling crack and cocaine and destroying addicts’ tents in Brazil's largest city. A total 650 agents participated in the raid, and the arrest and search warrants were...
Editorial Roundup: Pennsylvania
Lancaster Lancaster Online/LNP. May 8, 2022. Editorial: Pennsylvania’s closed primaries diminish democracy and encourage extremism THE ISSUE When Lancaster County residents cast their ballots in the May 17 primary election, more than 57,000 registered...
Judge to decide how much pharmacies owe over opioid crisis
CLEVELAND (AP) — A hearing has begun in federal court in Cleveland for a judge to determine how much CVS, Walgreens and Walmart pharmacies should pay two Ohio counties to help them ease the ongoing costs and problems caused by the opioid crisis. A jury in November found the...
