Aug 14 Watch 9:17 A festering opioid crisis, worn-out families and 'so much pain to process' By Jeffrey Brown, Mike Fritz In “Dopesick,” journalist and author Beth Macy takes readers to the front lines of the opioid epidemic in Roanoke, Virginia, and other nearby communities, telling the story of grieving families, exhausted medical workers and convicted heroin dealers. Jeffrey Brown reports… Continue watching
Jun 07 White House launches anti-opioid ad campaign aimed at youth By Ken Thomas, Associated Press WASHINGTON — The White House launched a series of new advertisements Thursday aimed at warning young people about the dangers of opioids, taking another step in the effort to turn the tide against the deadly epidemic. Continue reading
May 23 This digital pill wants to make following your prescription easier By Cat Wise Most adults say they struggle with remembering to take their prescriptions. A nationwide study is testing a pill with an ingestible sensor that tracks medication adherence from inside the body. Continue reading
May 08 Drug distributors missed suspicious opioid sales to West Virginia, lawmakers say By Alan Fram, Associated Press The responses by drug executives ranged from apologies to explanations to finger-pointing at the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for not doing enough in its role as overseer of sales of legally controlled substances. Continue reading
Apr 30 Watch 7:40 How an opioid addiction can eat your heart alive By Kay Colby, ideastream The pathway to deadly heart infections for people addicted to opioids often begins with a dirty needle or polluted drug. Special correspondent Kay Colby of Ideastream reports on a little-known problem with big consequences for patients and society as a… Continue watching
Apr 19 WATCH: Minnesota prosecutor says no criminal charges will be filed in Prince's death By Associated Press The prosecutor in the Minnesota county where Prince died said Thursday that no criminal charges will be filed in the musician's death, effectively ending the state's two-year investigation into how Prince got the fentanyl that killed him. Continue reading
Apr 19 Doctor who treated Prince agrees to pay $30,000 settlement for illegal prescription By Amy Forliti, Associated Press The settlement between the U.S. Attorney's Office and Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg comes as state prosecutors prepared to announce Thursday morning whether they'll file any criminal charges stemming from their two-year investigation into Prince's death. Continue reading
Apr 19 Americans filling far fewer opioid prescriptions, new data show By Linda A. Johnson, Associated Press Opioid prescriptions and daily doses rose steadily starting in the 1990s, fueled by factors including marketing of new opioid pills such as Oxycontin. The U.S. is estimated to consume roughly 30 percent of all opioids used worldwide. Continue reading
Apr 05 Surgeon general urges Americans to carry opioid overdose antidote By R.J. Rico, Associated Press Speaking at the National Rx Drug Abuse & Heroin Summit in Atlanta on Thursday morning, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams issued his office's first national public health advisory in 13 years. Continue reading
Mar 19 Watch 9:28 Will Trump's focus on prosecution, not treatment, make a dent in opioid addiction? By PBS News Hour President Trump announced his plan to combat nationwide opioid drug addiction at an event in New Hampshire on Monday, calling for aggressive prosecution for traffickers, including using the death penalty. William Brangham discusses these proposals with Sam Quinones, author of… Continue watching