Widespread Use Of Prescription Drugs Provides Ample Supply For Abuse
A federal survey found that 119 million Americans over the age of 12 took prescription drugs that included painkillers, tranquilizers, stimulants or sedatives.
drug abuse
An Even Deadlier Opioid, Carfentanil, Is Hitting The Streets
Carfentanil, a powerful opioid used to sedate elephants, is being blamed for a record spike in drug overdoses in the Midwest. It's much stronger, and riskier, than heroin or fentanyl.
Governor McCrory Expands Access To Overdose-Preventing Drug With New Law
Governor McCrory signed a bill Monday increasing the availability of a life-saving medication that's used to treat some drug overdoses.
Details On Death Certificates Offer Layers Of Clues To Opioid Epidemic
Deaths from opioid overdoses are on the rise, and we know that because of data on death certificates. States determine who fills them out and what information they record. And that can vary widely.
Life Expectancy Drops For White Women, Increases For Black Men
Suicide, drug abuse and alcohol have started to shorten the lives of white women, a U.S. report on data from 2013 to 2014 suggests. Life-expectancy for many black men went up from 71.8 years to 72.2.
How A Painkiller Designed To Deter Abuse Helped Spark An HIV Outbreak
When a special coating was added to the opioid Opana, it deterred people from abusing the pills by crushing and snorting them. But some users soon learned how to prepare the pills for injection.
Is Prescription Opioid Abuse A Crime Problem Or A Health Problem?
People still think that abuse of opioid painkillers is something that criminals do, a study of news media coverage finds. Options like expanded access to treatment are rarely mentioned.
To Prevent Addiction In Adults, Help Teens Learn How To Cope
Many people who become addicted to drugs, tobacco or alcohol start using as teenagers. So more effort is being put into helping teenagers stop before they get in too deep.
Welcome To West Virginia, Obama — In 2 Pictures
President Obama is slated to speak in West Virginia Wednesday afternoon, but protesters were lining up hours beforehand — and their welcome wasn't exactly hospitable.
Reversing Opioid Overdoses Saves Lives But Isn't A Cure-All
Having police, school nurses, drug users and family equipped with kits to reverse an overdose saves lives, doctors say. But reversing addiction requires follow-up care that many users aren't getting.