Latest news with #Naloxone
CTV News
17 hours ago
- Health
- CTV News
Toxic drug supply causing complex overdoses in Sudbury
Officials are warning that street drugs are being mixed with other substances, making Naxalone ineffective to combat overdoses. Officials are warning that street drugs are being mixed with other substances, making Naxalone ineffective to combat overdoses. Outreach workers and Public Health Sudbury and Districts say toxic overdoses have been increasing in the area lately. Officials said illegal drugs are being cut with substances that Naloxone -- a medication for opioid overdoses – can't reverse. Naxalone Officials said illegal drugs are being cut with substances that Naloxone -- a medication for opioid overdoses – can't reverse. (Alana Everson/CTV News) In May, the Go Give Project said it handed out about 220 Naloxone kits, a fast-acting medication that reverses the effects of an opioid overdose. But Ali Farooq, The Go Give Project co-founder, said it only works on opioid overdoses. Increase in toxic overdoses 'While it will reverse the effects of the opioid that the individual is suffering, it will not have any other effect on any other contaminants or additives to the supply,' Farooq said. He said outreach workers are seeing an increase in toxic overdoses, which he attributed to a more toxic drug supply. 'This usually ties in when we have big drug busts in the province and around the country,' Farooq said. 'It limits the supply coming in and therefore we find more and more contaminants mixed in with the drugs going out onto the streets.' Sam Mortimer Public Health nurse Sam Mortimer said it's a reminder of just how toxic the unregulated drug supply is and making overdoses more complex. (Alana Everson/CTV News) Public Health said it's a reminder of just how toxic the unregulated drug supply is and making overdoses more complex. 'Those sedatives and tranquilizers that have been added into the supply in recent years increase those effects,' said public health nurse Sam Mortimer. 'We are seeing people who are staying asleep or sedated for a lot longer, which puts them at a greater risk. And it also decreases their ability to breathe, which, again, puts them at risk for respiratory distress or arrest.' Health unit officials said it's still vitally important to administer Naloxone in an overdose, call 911 and give rescue breaths while waiting for help.
France 24
7 days ago
- Health
- France 24
US overdose capital Baltimore on long road to recovery
The 40-year-old and his small team visit neighborhoods considered "hot spots" for drug trafficking to hand out the precious antidote, sold under the brand name Narcan. The easy-to-use nasal spray has become a key tool in the fight against the deadly US opioid crisis, claiming 750,000 lives between the late 1990s and 2022. "Just over the past week, we distributed 200 Narcan kits," Trionfo, who oversees an addiction assistance program with the local branch of Catholic Charities, told AFP. On their route, the team spots a man sprawled out amid a pile of rubbish in the corner of a stairwell. They hand him a box of Narcan and a brochure about their organization. The man takes it with one hand, as he awkwardly hides a syringe behind his back. Their last Narcan kit goes to another man, legs covered in brown scars, who is waiting near a dilapidated building. These scenes are not uncommon in this East Coast city, which is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Washington and is renowned for endemic crime. Baltimore was the setting of the hit television series "The Wire" in the early 2000s, depicting its burgeoning drug scene from a variety of angles. And last year, the New York Times dubbed the city the "American overdose capital." Between 2018 and 2022, the drug-related mortality rate was nearly twice as high as in any other major American city. The leading killer: fentanyl. 'Tremendous efforts' Since the height of the opioid crisis in 2021, the outlook has improved in much of the country, including in Baltimore. The number of fatal overdoses in the city plummeted by 35 percent last year, to 680 down from 1,043 in 2023. The city's proactive policies, coupled with preventative work done by Catholic charities in Baltimore's communities have helped make a dent in the problem. "We've had tremendous efforts throughout the city to get people into treatment, and then we've also had tremendous efforts in getting Naloxone out there," said Michael Fingerhood, head of addiction medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Distributed broadly for about a decade, Narcan has worked like a "fire extinguisher," Fingerhood said. In Baltimore, Narcan is now available everywhere: pharmacies, vending machines throughout the city, even in libraries. Funded by restitution The drop in mortality in Baltimore is also linked to the composition of the fentanyl being sold there, Fingerhood said. "The drug supply has less potent fentanyl and has additives that are less likely to cause overdose." Awareness of the risks associated with the powerful synthetic opioid has also grown among users, pushing them to be more "cautious," said Bakari Atiba, community engagement director at Charm City Care Connection. The nonprofit assists addicts in Baltimore -- known as Charm City -- and recently received funding from a restitution program fueled by lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. "I'm not saying people are going to stop using," Atiba said. "That's not even our goal." © 2025 AFP
Int'l Business Times
7 days ago
- Health
- Int'l Business Times
US Overdose Capital Baltimore On Long Road To Recovery
Carrying a bag filled with the overdose-reversing drug naloxone, Adam Trionfo roams the brick-lined streets of one of America's oldest port cities, Baltimore. The 40-year-old and his small team visit neighborhoods considered "hot spots" for drug trafficking to hand out the precious antidote, sold under the brand name Narcan. The easy-to-use nasal spray has become a key tool in the fight against the deadly US opioid crisis, claiming 750,000 lives between the late 1990s and 2022. "Just over the past week, we distributed 200 Narcan kits," Trionfo, who oversees an addiction assistance program with the local branch of Catholic Charities, told AFP. On their route, the team spots a man sprawled out amid a pile of rubbish in the corner of a stairwell. They hand him a box of Narcan and a brochure about their organization. The man takes it with one hand, as he awkwardly hides a syringe behind his back. Their last Narcan kit goes to another man, legs covered in brown scars, who is waiting near a dilapidated building. These scenes are not uncommon in this East Coast city, which is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Washington and is renowned for endemic crime. Baltimore was the setting of the hit television series "The Wire" in the early 2000s, depicting its burgeoning drug scene from a variety of angles. And last year, the New York Times dubbed the city the "American overdose capital." Between 2018 and 2022, the drug-related mortality rate was nearly twice as high as in any other major American city. The leading killer: fentanyl. Since the height of the opioid crisis in 2021, the outlook has improved in much of the country, including in Baltimore. The number of fatal overdoses in the city plummeted by 35 percent last year, to 680 down from 1,043 in 2023. The city's proactive policies, coupled with preventative work done by Catholic charities in Baltimore's communities have helped make a dent in the problem. "We've had tremendous efforts throughout the city to get people into treatment, and then we've also had tremendous efforts in getting Naloxone out there," said Michael Fingerhood, head of addiction medicine at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Distributed broadly for about a decade, Narcan has worked like a "fire extinguisher," Fingerhood said. In Baltimore, Narcan is now available everywhere: pharmacies, vending machines throughout the city, even in libraries. The drop in mortality in Baltimore is also linked to the composition of the fentanyl being sold there, Fingerhood said. "The drug supply has less potent fentanyl and has additives that are less likely to cause overdose." Awareness of the risks associated with the powerful synthetic opioid has also grown among users, pushing them to be more "cautious," said Bakari Atiba, community engagement director at Charm City Care Connection. The nonprofit assists addicts in Baltimore -- known as Charm City -- and recently received funding from a restitution program fueled by lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. "I'm not saying people are going to stop using," Atiba said. "That's not even our goal." "It's about meeting people where they are, making sure they're safe, making sure they're supported, and making sure they have pathways to recovery if they want it." Adam Trionfo, Therapeutic Support Specialist, at Our Daily Bread Employment Center (ODBC) with the Catholic Charities, hands out supplies and a box of Narcan to to men in Baltimore, Maryland AFP Dexter Daniel, a Peer Recover Coach at Our Daily Bread Employment Center (ODBC) with the Catholic Charities, holds boxes of Narcan to hand out on a street in Baltimore, Maryland on June 10, 2025 AFP Genese Hubbard, a Peer Recover Coach at Our Daily Bread Employment Center (ODBC) with the Catholic Charities, hands out supplies and Narcan to an unhoused women living in an alley in Baltimore, Maryland on June 10, 2025 AFP
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
R.I. overdose deaths decline for second year in a row
Publicly-accessible Boxes containing Naloxone, an opioid reversal drug also known by the brand name Narcan, line up outside the East Bay Recovery Center in Warren. (Photo by Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current) Rhode Island saw its lowest number of fatal drug overdoses since 2020, according to health department data presented to the Governor's Overdose Task Force on Wednesday. 'This is a sign of hope,' Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement Wednesday. 'We know there is still much work ahead, but the steps we are taking are saving lives.' This is the second year in a row that overdose deaths have dropped. There were 329 Rhode Islanders who died from overdoses in 2024, representing an 18.6% decrease from 2023, and a 25% drop compared to 2022. That means the state is well on its way to achieving its goal of a 30% reduction for 2030. The goal was set in 2022, the year a total of 436 people died of drug overdoses. The 2024 data demonstrated another longstanding trend now broken: For the first time since 2013, cocaine-related deaths were implicated in 61% of fatal overdoses, surpassing the 57% of deaths associated with fentanyl. All opioid-related overdoses, in fact, fell from 85% the previous year to 69% in 2024. But more than one substance can contribute to an overdose, so distinguishing the role of cocaine or fentanyl in a death is not so neatly accomplished. A large portion of overdoses — 118 in all — involved both substances being used in tandem in 2024. About three in five people who died from cocaine also had fentanyl in their system. The annual overdose data is compiled and interpreted by the Rhode Island Department of Health's (RIDOH) Substance Use Epidemiology Program, which finished reviewing the 2024 results last week, according to Joseph Wendelken, a department spokesperson. The data is largely based on autopsy and toxicology findings from the Office of the State Medical Examiners. Personal medical history also informs the coroners' findings. The data does not include deaths with undetermined causes. 'Though decline is encouraging, this is still an incredible loss in our community,' Heidi Weidele, the health department's lead fatal overdose epidemiologist, told the task force Wednesday during her presentation on the data. The scale of loss did not affect all people equally: 70% of overdose deaths in 2024 were men, a number consistent with recent years. Similarly, people ages 45 to 54 were the largest age-based cohort of overdose deaths, followed by people ages 55 to 64. By race, non-Hispanic white Rhode Islanders comprised the largest share of overdoses at 73%, even though they were also most likely to have a history of substance use treatment. Most of the state's overdoses were concentrated in urban areas, with Woonsocket, Providence and Pawtucket reporting the highest numbers. Though decline is encouraging, this is still an incredible loss in our community. – Heidi Weidele, lead fatal overdose epidemiologist, Rhode Island Department of Health Weidele said the deceased most commonly worked in 'natural resources, construction, maintenance, and service occupations, which is similar to what we've seen in past years,' she told the task force. 'And service occupations would be things like health care support, law enforcement, food preparation, grounds maintenance, and personal care.' Other statistics from the report painted a grim picture of the deceased leading up to final moments: Most never sought substance use treatment, or received medical treatment for a previous overdose. Eight out of 10 died in private, in a home, garage or camper. Most overdosed alone, with no bystander present in 60% of cases. The availability of lethal drugs has also influenced overdose trends over the years. In 2009, prescription drugs accounted for 62% of overdose deaths. By 2020, prescription drugs accounted for only 9% of fatal overdoses, while illicit drugs like fentanyl and cocaine comprised 72% of overdose deaths. In 2024, the state actually saw 34% of deaths attributed to combinations of illicit and prescription drugs combined — the highest percentage since at least 2009. A few uncommon culprits in overdose deaths were still marked as 'substances of concern' by the state health department. These included novel benzodiazepines, tranquilizers which belong to the much broader category of research chemicals — substances derived from or chemically very similar to legal and regulated drugs. In this case, novel benzodiazepines like clonazolam — about two-and-a-half-times stronger than Xanax — accounted for nine fatalities in 2024. Brown University researcher: Street drugs are getting more potent and more mysterious Xylazine, a veterinary anesthetic increasingly being used to cut street-sourced opioids, was another rogue substance that continued to impact overdose data in 2024. It was involved in 37% of opioid-related deaths. 'Every single overdose death is preventable,' Health Department Director Dr. Jerry Larkin said in a statement Wednesday. 'Recovery is within reach for every person living with the disease of addiction.' McKee strengthened the Overdose Task Force — a coalition of more than 150 members divvied up into nine workgroups — in 2022 via an executive order, hoping to ensure a sustained state response to the opioid overdose crisis. Among the initiatives it steers are determining how to dispense opioid settlement funds, naloxone distribution networks, peer outreach, and recovery support and public awareness campaigns. Earlier this year, Rhode Island also opened the nation's first state-regulated harm reduction site at Project Weber/RENEW in south Providence, where people can use drugs and receive medical attention in the event of an overdose. Despite a fierce floor debate in the Rhode Island House of Representatives, legislation to extend the injection site's pilot authorization was extended by the General Assembly and later signed into law by McKee on June 6. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Naloxone boxes installed across Berkeley County to combat rising overdose deaths
MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – A new initiative to combat the opioid crisis is now underway in Berkeley County, where public access boxes containing Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, are being installed in high-traffic community spaces. The boxes, known as 'Nalox Boxes,' offer free, anonymous, 24/7 access to the life-saving medication, which can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose within seconds. They're being installed outside churches, fire stations, community centers, and local businesses throughout the county. 'This sends a powerful message,' said Dean Stephens, Director of Development at WakeUp Carolina. 'There's no stigma attached to it. We're all part of this community. We're all in this fight.' The program is a collaboration through the Berkeley County Overdose Fatality Review Board, which includes EMS, law enforcement, public health agencies, and recovery nonprofits. So far in 2025, 31 people have died from drug overdoses in Berkeley County, 17 involving fentanyl, according to the Berkeley County Coroner's Office. That's a more than 21% increase compared to the same period in 2024. 'My goal is to work less in these situations,' said Berkeley County Coroner Darnell Hartwell. 'We want to stop the deaths and provide support to the families who go through this tragic situation.' The boxes are maintained by partnering agencies who will routinely restock and monitor them. WakeUp Carolina and the Ernest E. Kennedy Center are among several community distributors responsible for providing free naloxone and overdose education. 'We believe this initiative is just one small step toward addressing the opioid epidemic,' said Rihanna Thomas, a clinical counselor at the Ernest E. Kennedy Center. 'By expanding access to Narcan, we believe we can save lives.' County leaders say they plan to install at least 25 Nalox Boxes by the end of summer, with hopes of expanding the program even further. The ultimate goal is to have one within walking or biking distance for every home in Berkeley County. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
