Nov 17 U.S. surpassed 100,000 overdose deaths in first year of COVID-19 By Laura Santhanam Experts believe the top drivers are the growing prevalence of deadly fentanyl in the illicit drug supply and the COVID-19 pandemic, which left many drug users socially isolated and unable to get treatment or other support. Continue reading
Dec 17 Watch 5:21 News Wrap: FDA panel backs Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use In our news wrap Thursday, a second COVID-19 vaccine moves closer to emergency authorization, President-elect Biden rounds out his environmental team, Vladimir Putin denies ordering opposition leader's poisoning, more than 340 boys kidnapped in Nigeria are freed, the family that… Continue watching
Sep 10 Watch 8:44 Could the pandemic change addiction medicine for the better? By Stephanie Sy, Mike Fritz For many Americans facing addiction, the pandemic has made life significantly harder. Across the country, overdoses have soared, with more than 40 states reporting increases in opioid-related mortality. But the coronavirus is also changing how addiction medicine can be provided,… Continue watching
Jul 05 Watch 8:01 Drug overdoses: The hidden epidemic in the pandemic By PBS NewsHour Suspected cases of drug overdoses soared between March and May, according to data from medical teams,hospitals and the police. According to a Washington Post report, the isolation and economic upheaval caused by the pandemic are fueling this hidden epidemic. Heather… Continue watching
May 16 It’s not just opioids. Deaths from cocaine and meth are surging. By Christine Vestal, Stateline The same lethal drug that has been driving the nation’s spiraling opioid epidemic is also causing an historic surge in overdose deaths among cocaine users. Continue reading
Jan 30 Watch 5:11 To stop overdose deaths, this response team brings treatment options to your doorstep By PBS News Hour Local law enforcement in Chillicothe, Ohio, have found their own way to respond to a slew of fatal opioid overdoses in their community. The Post Overdose Response Team (PORT) sets out each week to find every person in their county… Continue watching
Nov 14 This app tracks drug overdoses in real time By Christine Vestal, Stateline In an opioid overdose epidemic that killed more than 53,000 Americans last year and shows no signs of relenting, nearly every community in the nation is fortifying its public health, emergency medical and law enforcement response. But with limited resources,… Continue reading
Dec 20 Heroin deaths soar compared to other opioids, new study shows By Laura Santhanam Government researchers dove into death certificate data to uncover what drugs are most commonly associated with overdose deaths in the United States. These deaths are on the rise, and heroin is becoming a primarily culprit. Continue reading