fentanyl

What to know about xylazine, the drug authorities are calling a public safety threat

1:01pm March 21, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

The veterinary tranquilizer has been linked to a growing number of overdose deaths across the country, especially in the Northeast. It's often combined with fentanyl, but can't be treated with Narcan.

"They are thriving," says Gary Walker of his adopted children Mazzy and Ransom. The hope is that with better addiction care, more Cherokee children can remain in intact families.

Opioids are devastating Cherokee families. The tribe has a $100 million plan to heal

5:33am March 19, 2023

by Brian Mann

The fentanyl crisis is hitting young people hard, and the highest death rates are in Native American communities. The Cherokee Nation is working to help young families recover.

Queue Listen Now

Health & Safety

Overdose deaths increase 22% in North Carolina

10:54am February 22, 2023

by Neal Charnoff

North Carolina officials say the state has experienced its highest number of overdoses ever in a single year.

Person holding a small container of fentanyl

Education

Guilford County parents will host town hall to raise awareness of fentanyl-related deaths

3:59pm February 21, 2023

by Amy Diaz

Drug overdose deaths in North Carolina have increased 72% since 2019. State officials say that's largely due to illegally manufactured fentanyl.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent searches an automobile for contraband in the line to enter the United States at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in October 2019 in San Ysidro, Calif.

Politicians say they'll stop fentanyl smugglers. Experts say new drug war won't work

7:56am February 21, 2023

by Brian Mann

As fentanyl deaths soar, political pressure is growing to stop Mexican cartels that smuggle the drug. Experts on drug trafficking say trying to lock down the Mexican border is an impossible goal.

Queue Listen Now

In this Oct. 8, 2010 file photo, Mexico's Secretary of Public Safety Genaro Garcia Luna attends a press conference on the sidelines of an American Police Community meeting in Mexico City. Garcia Luna, who is in custody and facing drug trafficking charges in New York, has been charged in a superseding indictment with continuing criminal enterprise.

National

He was the head of Mexico's FBI. Now he's on trial for accepting cartel bribes

5:00am February 14, 2023

Guilty or innocent, the drug-corruption trial in New York of high-ranking former Mexican government official, Genaro Garcia Luna, shows the limits of the U.S. to win its decades-long "war on drugs."

Queue Listen Now

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, leads his panel's first meeting in the new Republican majority — a hearing Wednesday titled, "The Biden Border Crisis — Part I."

In first GOP-led hearing about the border, witnesses paint sharply different pictures

6:23pm February 01, 2023

by Joel Rose

Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee blamed Biden administration policies for the record number of migrant apprehensions. Democrats accused them of fear-mongering and spreading misinformation.

In this image made from video, an empty classroom is shown at David Ellis Academy in Detroit on Feb. 8, 2021.

A middle school teacher faces charges from alleged drug overdose in classroom

6:34am January 09, 2023

by Ayana Archie

The art teacher is being charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of children.

In 2021, the three leading causes of death were heart disease, cancer and COVID-19.

Health & Safety

American life expectancy is now at its lowest in nearly two decades

6:00am December 22, 2022

by Yuki Noguchi

A new report shows the pandemic and the overdose crisis helped push down the average life expectancy in the U.S. for a second year in a row.

Queue Listen Now

In August 2022, the Drug Enforcement Administration and law enforcement partners seized brightly colored rainbow fentanyl pills in 18 states.

Is 'rainbow fentanyl' a threat to your kids this Halloween? Experts say no

1:34pm October 11, 2022

by Brian Mann

The Drug Enforcement Administration is warning that drug dealers are marketing rainbow-colored fentanyl to kids. Many drug experts say that's likely not happening.

Queue Listen Now