DRUG-RELATED NEWS
New Marijuana Testing Technology May Make Roads Safer... But Does it Go Far Enough?
Scientists and researchers are on the verge of unveiling new testing technology to assess cannabis impairment accurately. But solely criminalizing cannabis-impaired drivers will not solve the problem of impaired driving. Treatment will.
Overdose Deaths from Illicit Tranquilizers Up 520 Percent During Pandemic
While 2020 brought a shocking surge in opioid overdose deaths, another form of drug overdose also got much worse that year. Unfortunately, this one did not receive anywhere near the coverage. Benzodiazepine-related overdoses skyrocketed 520% in one year, raising alarms among public health officials and families alike, yet going almost completely unreported in the media.
Many Drugs Now Mixed With Fentanyl = More Overdoses
Fentanyl has been the drug to blame for much of the recent spike in fatal overdoses occurring across America. It’s worse than that though. In recent years, autopsy reports have shown that fentanyl is being laced into other drugs not usually associated with overdose deaths. The result? A seemingly unstoppable increase in drug overdose deaths, all linking back to a highly potent opioid.
Medication for Fentanyl Addiction Not Enough Treatment for Addicts
News headlines have been reporting on recent developments regarding an up-and-coming “vaccine” for fentanyl addiction. However, fentanyl addiction cannot be treated with a vaccine, as vaccines are made to inoculate people against communicable illnesses, not treat drug addiction.
2020, Death Rates, and Drug Overdoses
The Journal of the American Medical Administration just released a report itemizing the top causes of death in the U.S. for 2020. According to their data, drug overdoses were one of the leading causes of death that year.
The Drug Overdose Epidemic
While deaths from COVID-19 are front-page news on a daily basis, another national public health crisis, overdose deaths from the use of illicit drugs, is growing. For many, the correlation represents strong evidence that another painful result of the pandemic is an increase in deaths from drug addiction.
Why Did Overdoses Drop in 2018 and Why are They on the Rise Again?
Public reports indicate the U.S. drug overdoses declined slightly in 2018. Was this the result of public policy, or was it the result of foreign nations cracking down on drug trafficking?
A Potentially Lethal Error
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, people all across the country are taking extra precautions to protect their health. But what about those who are also struggling with an addiction to drugs and alcohol?
The War on Drugs – An Ongoing Issue
The War on Drugs has often been called one of the most unpopular criminal justice reform policies in recent U.S. history. Begun in the early-1970s and accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s, the War on Drugs was a Nixon-era policy that declared drug abuse as “public enemy number one.”
National Panel Urges Changes to Addiction Screening
A surprising headline in an August 13th, 2019 issue of “U.S. News“ reads, “All U.S. Adults Should Be Screened for Illicit Drug Use, National Panel Urges.” That came as a bit of a shock. Such an approach has never been suggested before.
