Feb 22 Opioid overdose deaths dropped in these 14 states, prompting cautious optimism By Christine Vestal, Stateline In an opioid epidemic that began in the late 1990s, drug deaths have been climbing steadily every year, in nearly every state. A break in that trend, even if limited to just 14 states, has prompted cautious optimism among some… Continue reading
Dec 21 The opioid crisis is driving down U.S. life expectancy, new data shows By Laura Santhanam Life expectancy fell in the United States for a second straight year -- something that hasn't happened since the 1960s. Continue reading
Dec 11 Fentanyl is so potent doctors don't know how to fight it By Nsikan Akpan Russia once used fentanyl as a biological weapon. Now, illicit use of the lethal opioid is hindering therapy. Continue reading
Dec 04 Deaths during opioid-driven hospital stays have quadrupled By Laura Santhanam The rate of hospitalization among white patients also doubled between 2007 and 2013 -- the “largest and fastest-growing share of hospitalizations” in recent years, according to the study published Monday in the journal Health Affairs. Continue reading
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
Nov 03 China disputes Trump's claim of 'flood' of fentanyl into U.S. By Christopher Bodeen, Associated Press BEIJING — A Chinese official on Friday disputed President Donald Trump's claim that the deadly opioid fentanyl that is flooding the U.S. is mostly produced in China, just days before a visit by Trump at which he has said he… Continue reading
Oct 11 Watch 11:15 Synthetic opioids are driving an overdose crisis By PBS News Hour, Frank Carlson Fifty times more powerful than heroin, Fentanyl is driving a surge in overdose deaths and ratcheting up the stakes in the opioid crisis. Where does the synthetic drug come from, and how can it be managed? William Brangham reports from… Continue watching
Oct 03 Poll: Most Americans think Trump hasn't done enough to fix opioid crisis By Laura Santhanam Only 2 percent of adults nationwide said the country’s opioid problem improved over the last year. Continue reading
Sep 13 5 important stories you may have missed By Erica R. Hendry, Larisa Epatko, Jenny Marder There are more drug overdose deaths than we thought, China is phasing out the production of gas-powered vehicles and other news you might have missed. Continue reading
Sep 12 WATCH: McCaskill leads roundtable on role of drug manufacturers in the opioid crisis By Laura Santhanam Watch the discussion about what factors have fed the opioid crisis live starting at 11 a.m. Continue reading