Fentanyl mixed with cocaine or meth is driving the '4th wave' of the overdose crisis
A new study finds a 50-fold growth in deaths from combined use of stimulants and opioids. The toxic and contaminated drug supply is to blame.
opioids
Veterinary sedative showing up in street drugs tested in NC
State health officials are warning that a tranquilizer normally used for veterinary purposes is showing up in street drugs in the Piedmont.
Opioids are overrated for some common back pain, a study suggests
New research calls into question prescribing the drugs even for short-term pain relief – especially given the risk of addiction.
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.
Mexico's leader denies his country's role in fentanyl crisis. Republicans are furious
Republican lawmakers want Mexico to accept U.S. military aid to cripple drug cartels making and smuggling deadly fentanyl. López Obrador mocked the idea as a threat to his country's sovereignty.
State updates strategy to help dentists combat opioid misuse
An updated North Carolina Dental Opioid Action Plan was released this week by the state Department of Health and
Walmart offers to pay $3.1 billion to settle opioid lawsuits
The retail giant becomes the latest major player in the drug industry to announce a plan to settle lawsuits filed by state and local governments over the toll of opioids sold at its pharmacies.
CDC issues new opioid prescribing guidance, giving doctors more leeway to treat pain
The updated recommendations seek to course correct after guidelines from 2016 were criticized for harshly limiting access to needed pain medication.
Overdose-reversing drug now available from free vending machine in Forsyth
Forsyth County health officials have added a vending machine at the county detention center that offers the overdose-reversing drug Narcan (Naloxone).
