Simple Fentanyl Test Strips Can Save Lives

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As I recently discussed on San Diego News Station KUSI, fentanyl is cheap to make and is up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine.

Fentanyl causes a euphoric high and therefore has been mixed in with cocaine, heroin, meth, benzodiazepines, and other street drugs.  The unpredictable potency of these concoctions has made the already dangerous activity of taking opioids to become unbelievably risky.  When a batch of extra-strong fentanyl is unleashed in a city, there can be a rational overdoses that kills many people in a matter of days.

Fentanyl Test Strips Can Greatly Increase Safety

Some public health experts are now experimenting with fentanyl test strips, which give users a means for testing the their drugs before taking them. One of the proponents in this effort is Emily Siqveland who serves as Arlington County, Virginia’s Opioids Program Manager. The …

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Washington State Debates Using Medications for Addiction Treatment

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There has been much talk recently in the state of Washington about the opioid epidemic. A two-day summit was recently held with two main focuses:

  • Reduction of legally purchased drugs
  • Medications in the treatment of opioid addiction

However equally important both topics are the questions surrounding the use of medications for treatment is gaining more attention.

A handful of people that work in law enforcement spoke about the importance of treating opioid addiction as a ‘medical condition’ and it was their general consensus that the drugs should be removed from the shadows of society. They agreed that using medications has proven to reduce deaths and help people lead functional lives.

Much Debate About Using Medications

The debate over using medications to help addicts recover has been very contentious over the last two decades. however, prescribing medications to opioid addicts is still the preferred method for treatment towards rehabilitation. Experts will …

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Pennsylvania Gets Boost in Addiction Recovery Funding

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The Health and Human Services Administration made the announcement that $485,000,000 will be granted towards funding addiction recovery in America’s battle with opioids. The money will be distributed throughout the United States with Pennsylvania getting the fourth largest disbursement. 

Why Pennsylvania?

The disbursement of funds was determined by factoring which states had the most severe problems with addictions and how each state presented their proposals for the grant money. Pennsylvania health administrators were clear in stating that opioid addiction is the number one public health problem in their state.

Reports have indicated that there were more than 3,500 overdoses that led to deaths in the state of Pennsylvania in 2015. This is a 20% increase in deaths from opioids in 2014 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tom Wolf, Governor of Pennsylvania, estimates this number will go up even higher in 2016 and in 2017 if left

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Tiger Woods’ DUI An Issue of Vicodin Not Alcohol

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Tiger Woods has recently been arrested for a DUI but his blood alcohol level was 0.0%. It has been determined by law enforcement agents Mr. Woods was taking prescription pain killers due to his recent back surgery. It was determined that the medications were the cause of his impairment. The list of pharmaceuticals that he has been prescribed are below:

  • Soloxine
  • Vicodin
  • Turox

Vicodin is a highly addictive prescription painkiller that is commonly distributed. Turox is an anti-inflammatory drug. Soloxine a drug used for dogs with hyperthyroidism. It has been shown that the synergy of these drugs can lead to serious complications with health. In some cases the combination of such drugs have even led to death. However it is the Vicodin that is the most dangerous drug in this group.

Mr. Woods’ arrest gives a signal for Americans to be on alert in regards to their safety on the …

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Florida is Ground Zero for Patient Brokering Arrests

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With the most recent addition of Amanda LaFrance arrested in Florida for steering patients to treatment centers in return for cash kickbacks, Florida is far and away the epicenter of this illegal activity.

Amanda, who is 25, was caught in a government sting intended at chipping away at this unethical practice is notable for her young age, but not for the size of her crime. Her alleged transgression of receiving $6,750 pales in comparison to the types of figures that ringleader James Kigar was moving around (the main operator of Whole Life Recovery, which is the drug rehab at the center of the controversy).

Many Ask, “What is the Big Deal About a Referral Fee?”

The practice of brokering patients is, in short, getting financial payment for referring patients to a specific treatment center. If this does not sound like much of a crime to you, then you are …

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Canada Struggling With Influx of Fentanyl

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Canada has been recently inundated with Fentanyl, which is an incredibly potent opiate painkiller that is very popular with those addicted to narcotics.

Recently, one article in particular seems to encapsulate how serious the problem is: A Killer High: How Canada Got Addicted to Fentanyl.

This article chronicles the pain suffered by the survivors of those who overdose, and also features excellent reporting about how easy it is to obtain the drug online.…

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State Attorney Generals Push Congress to Pass CARA

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38 state attorney generals across America have banded together to urge the U.S. Senate to pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) of 2015. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller, whose home state is facing a huge uptick in opiate use, told the Associated Press that the nationwide epidemic demands a comprehensive response. Advocates say the act will arm states with the necessary tools to effectively confront the growing crisis of addiction – primarily to opiates and crystal meth – that has recently surged to epidemic proportions in communities across Midwestern states such as Ohio and Indiana.…

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Thousands Touched By Addiction Attend UNITE to Face Addiction Rally

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The October 4, 2015, UNITE to Face Addiction rally in Washington, D.C., was a historic moment for those in recovery and the first-ever rally of it kind. Tens of thousands of supporters touched by addiction turned out on the National Mall in Washington. D.C. for the inaugural event, meant to bring awareness for the struggles faced by those suffering from the disease of addiction. Organizers hailed the event as an opportunity to change the conversation from one of problems to solutions for addiction in America. 

The UNITE to Face Addiction rally was organized by Facing Addiction Inc., a 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to finding solutions to the addiction crisis, as well as an independent coalition of national, state, and local non-profit organizations focused on helping individuals and their families cope with the effects of the devastating disease.

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Spice is Not a Natural “Herbal High”

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The term “Spice” is drug slang for a class of herbal concoctions that have gained a reputation as a safe and way to get high. Sold as incense or potpourri in convenience stores, head shops and over the Internet, Spice consists of a mixture of dried plant leaves and stems that have been soaked in synthetic chemicals. When smoked, Spice produces psychoactive (mind-altering) effects that have been compared by some to marijuana.

Many Spice products carry labels saying “not for human consumption.” Despite these labels, Spice is marketed as a natural “herbal high.” It has been sold since 2004 under a variety of names, including K2, Genie, Incense and Bliss.…

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Federal Panel Votes for More Controls on Vicodin

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Hydrocodone, a narcotic painkiller that is an ingredient in Vicodin, has been responsible for more deaths since 2006 than any other prescription medication. In an effort to stem the growing tide of Vicodin-related deaths, a federal panel has recommended that the FDA reclassify the drug as a Schedule II narcotic. This would place it in the same category as prescription drugs like OxyContin and fentanyl and illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine. All of these drugs that have a high potential for abuse and addiction.…

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