In 2023 fentanyl overdoses ravaged the U.S. and fueled a new culture war fight
Fentanyl fueled unprecedented carnage with 112,000 fatal overdoses. The nation is increasingly divided over how to respond.
harm reduction
One woman's controversial fight to make America accept drug users for who they are
Louise Vincent has used drugs since she was 13. Research shows millions of Americans like her aren't ready or able to stop. Vincent believes it's time people accept that.
An overdose drug is finally over-the-counter. Is that enough to stop the death toll?
Narcan is now available in drug stores without a prescription. The nasal spray can save a life by stopping an opioid overdose. But will people pay the price and ask for it by name?
With $1.5 billion from opioid settlements, NC counties tasked with reversing epidemic
Since the start of the opioid epidemic, 3 million Americans have suffered with opioid use disorder in the United States.
Guilford partnership works to stem rise in opioid deaths
Guilford County is experiencing an increase in opioid overdose deaths and emergency department visits, according to county and state data.
Beth Macy's "Raising Lazarus" highlights those on the front lines of harm reduction
Author Beth Macy’s latest book, “Raising Lazarus: Hope, Justice, and the Future of America’s Overdose Crisis,” documents those who are on the ground working in harm reduction across the United States. Woven throughout these profiles, Macy also dives into the intricacies of the litigation aimed at holding Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family accountable.
Overdose reversal drugs gain support at music festivals, but not fentanyl test strips
Festival promoters are allowing lifesaving medication as fentanyl deaths surge, but volunteers are often left to distribute it, and more controversial forms of harm reduction aren't openly allowed.
To save lives, overdose antidote should be sold over-the-counter, advocates argue
With opioid overdoses surging, harm-reduction groups are calling on the FDA to change naloxone's prescription-only status. This would make it easier to get the lifesaving drug to people at risk.
Overdose deaths are so high that the Biden team is embracing ideas once seen as taboo
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra told NPR the U.S. has to do more to help people using illegal drugs survive. "If we want to keep people alive we've got to try everything the evidence says might work."
Overdose Deaths Rose During The War On Drugs, But Efforts To Reduce Them Face Backlash
Researchers know how to curb the risks of overdose and disease among drug users, but policymakers are reluctant to allow public health measures that include needle exchanges and access to safer drugs.