December 6, 2018

China Agrees to Designate Fentanyl as a Controlled Substance

China has agreed to designate fentanyl as a controlled substance, the Trump Administration announced on Saturday. Analysts told The New York Times the announcement will have little direct impact on the opioid crisis.

November 29, 2018

Drug Overdose Deaths Reach 70,000 in U.S., Setting New Record

A new government report finds more than 70,000 people in the United States died of drug overdoses last year, setting a new record.

November 8, 2018

Prescription Drugs Including Opioids Responsible for Most Overdose Deaths

A new report from the Drug Enforcement Administration finds controlled prescription drugs, including opioids, are responsible for the largest number of overdose deaths of any illicit drug class since 2001.

November 1, 2018

Crack Cocaine Increasingly Laced With Fentanyl

A Philadelphia hospital is reporting a spike in the number of patients who are being treated in the emergency room for overdoses from crack cocaine laced with fentanyl. Experts say fentanyl is being mixed with a number of drugs, including heroin, cocaine and ketamine.

October 11, 2018

Fatal Doses of Fentanyl Increasingly Found in Counterfeit Medications

Counterfeit drugs sold online are increasingly being laced with fatal doses of fentanyl, The Wall Street Journal reports.

September 20, 2018

Senate Votes 99-1 to Approve Package of Bills Aimed at Combating Opioid Crisis

The U.S. Senate this week voted 99-1 to approve legislation designed to combat the nation’s opioid crisis, NBC News reports.

September 13, 2018

Bill to Stop Flow of Fentanyl Through Postal Service Expected to Pass in Senate

A Senate bill designed to stop the flow of fentanyl and other opioids from China to the United States through the Postal Service is expected to pass this week, The New York Times reports.

September 6, 2018

Justice Department Targets Doctors and Drug Dealers in Crackdown on Opioids

The U.S. Justice Department announced it is targeting doctors and drug dealers in its latest crackdown on opioids, The New York Times reports.

August 16, 2018

Drug Overdoses Killed 72,000 Americans Last Year: CDC

Drug overdoses rose 10 percent last year, killing an estimated 72,000 Americans, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

August 9, 2018

FDA Did Not Stop Off-Label Prescribing for Fast-Acting Fentanyl Drugs

The Food and Drug Administration did not act to stop off-label prescribing for fast-acting fentanyl drugs, putting patients at high risk of accidental overdose and death, The New York Times reports.

July 19, 2018

Attorney General Announces Fentanyl Crackdown in 10 Areas

Federal prosecutors in 10 areas especially hard hit by fentanyl overdose deaths will bring drug charges against anyone suspected of dealing the drug, Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced.

July 12, 2018

Featured News: Rapid Response to Fentanyl Overdose is Critical

Fentanyl overdoses share many characteristics with heroin overdoses – with some important differences, according to an addiction specialist at Boston Medical Center’s Grayken Center for Addiction.

July 12, 2018

More Than Half of Opioid Overdose Deaths Caused by Synthetic Drugs

More than half of opioid overdose deaths are caused by synthetic drugs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

June 28, 2018

Justice Department Targets “Dark Web” Drug Vendors

The Justice Department announced it has charged more than 35 people with selling drugs on the “dark web.” The New York Times reports this is the first time federal prosecutors have targeted sellers of illegal goods rather than operators of illicit online marketplaces.

June 14, 2018

Law Enforcement Officials Aggressively Prosecute Crimes Involving Fentanyl

Law enforcement officials at the state and federal level are aggressively prosecuting fentanyl-related crimes, The Washington Post reports.

June 7, 2018

Featured News: Young Adults Willing to Test Drugs for Presence of Fentanyl: Study

Most young adults who use illicit drugs are willing to test them for the presence of fentanyl by using a rapid test strip, a study presented at the recent American Society of Addiction Medicine annual meeting suggests.

June 7, 2018

One-Fifth of Deaths Among Young American Adults Are Related to Opioids

One-fifth of deaths among young American adults are related to opioids, according to a new study.

May 24, 2018

Postal Service Struggles to Catch Fentanyl Delivered by Mail

The U.S. Postal Service is struggling to catch packages of fentanyl delivered from overseas by mail, NPR reports.

May 17, 2018

Featured News: Methadone Appears Safe and Effective in Treating Fentanyl Addiction: Study

Methadone appears safe and effective in treating people who use fentanyl, suggests a study presented at the recent annual meeting of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

May 3, 2018

Fentanyl Now Most Common Drug Involved in Fatal Overdoses

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have overtaken prescription opioids as the most common drug involved in fatal drug overdoses in the United States, according to a new report.

April 12, 2018

Deaths Involving Heroin and Fentanyl Spike as Prescription Opioid Deaths Decline

Overdose deaths involving heroin and fentanyl are spiking, while deaths due to prescription opioids are declining, new research concludes.

April 5, 2018

Nerve Pain Medication Gabapentin Linked With Increasing Overdose Deaths

Public health officials say the nerve pain medication gabapentin is being found in an increasing number of overdose deaths, according to CBS News.

March 29, 2018

Cocaine Laced With Fentanyl Causing Growing Number of Deaths

A growing number of drug overdose deaths are due to cocaine laced with fentanyl, NPR reports.

March 15, 2018

White House Considers Allowing Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty for Drug Dealers

The Trump Administration is considering allowing prosecutors to seek the death penalty for drug dealers, The Washington Post reports.

February 1, 2018

Illicit Fentanyl Use Linked to Cases of Amnesia

More than a dozen people who used fentanyl, either alone or in combination with stimulants, have suffered severe memory loss, researchers from West Virginia University report.

Where Families Find Answers on Substance Use | Partnership for Drug-Free Kids

Latest Drug & Alcohol News: Fentanyl

China Agrees to Designate Fentanyl as a Controlled Substance

Drug Overdose Deaths Reach 70,000 in U.S., Setting New Record

Prescription Drugs Including Opioids Responsible for Most Overdose Deaths

Crack Cocaine Increasingly Laced With Fentanyl

Fatal Doses of Fentanyl Increasingly Found in Counterfeit Medications

Senate Votes 99-1 to Approve Package of Bills Aimed at Combating Opioid Crisis

Bill to Stop Flow of Fentanyl Through Postal Service Expected to Pass in Senate

Justice Department Targets Doctors and Drug Dealers in Crackdown on Opioids

Drug Overdoses Killed 72,000 Americans Last Year: CDC

FDA Did Not Stop Off-Label Prescribing for Fast-Acting Fentanyl Drugs

Attorney General Announces Fentanyl Crackdown in 10 Areas

Featured News: Rapid Response to Fentanyl Overdose is Critical

More Than Half of Opioid Overdose Deaths Caused by Synthetic Drugs

Justice Department Targets “Dark Web” Drug Vendors

Law Enforcement Officials Aggressively Prosecute Crimes Involving Fentanyl

Featured News: Young Adults Willing to Test Drugs for Presence of Fentanyl: Study

One-Fifth of Deaths Among Young American Adults Are Related to Opioids

Postal Service Struggles to Catch Fentanyl Delivered by Mail

Featured News: Methadone Appears Safe and Effective in Treating Fentanyl Addiction: Study

Fentanyl Now Most Common Drug Involved in Fatal Overdoses

Deaths Involving Heroin and Fentanyl Spike as Prescription Opioid Deaths Decline

Nerve Pain Medication Gabapentin Linked With Increasing Overdose Deaths

Cocaine Laced With Fentanyl Causing Growing Number of Deaths

White House Considers Allowing Prosecutors to Seek Death Penalty for Drug Dealers

Illicit Fentanyl Use Linked to Cases of Amnesia