Tag

Drug Crisis

All articles tagged with #drug crisis

health26 days ago•16 min saved

Fiji Declares National HIV Emergency Amid Meth-Driven Surge

Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after a dramatic spike in infections, with one in 60 adults now living with the virus. The surge, driven largely by a methamphetamine crisis and injecting drug use, has led to 2,060 new diagnoses in 2025, a 16-fold increase from 2019. Health officials are expanding testing, treatment, and needle-syringe programs to address the crisis, which UNAIDS calls one of the sharpest global increases in new infections.

via AP News|

#drug-crisis #fiji #health

world26 days ago•5 min saved

Fiji Declares National Emergency as Meth Crisis Drives HIV Infections to 16x 2019 Levels

Fiji has declared a national emergency in response to a rapid surge in HIV cases, with 2025 diagnoses reaching 2,060, a 16-fold increase over 2019. The outbreak, which affects one in 60 adults, is driven by a methamphetamine crisis and injecting drug use. Health officials plan to expand testing, treatment, and harm reduction programs to address the crisis.

via The New York Times|

#drug-crisis #fiji #hiv

health27 days ago•168 min saved

Fiji declares HIV emergency as meth crisis drives infection rates to 1 in 60 adults

Fiji has declared a national HIV emergency after infection rates surged to 1 in 60 adults, driven largely by a methamphetamine trafficking crisis and needle sharing. While global HIV cases have fallen, Fiji faces a sharp rise, with only 22% of infected individuals currently on treatment. The government is expanding testing and introducing needle exchange programs to combat the outbreak.

via CNN|

#drug-crisis #fiji #health

world10 months ago•2 min saved

Trump designates fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction in drug war escalation

President Trump signed an executive order designating illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, aiming to enhance efforts against drug trafficking and production, citing its lethal impact and potential for weaponization, with increased military and legal measures.

via CBS News|

#drug-crisis #executive-order #fentanyl

health1 year ago•4 min saved

Alarming 9,000% Rise in Fentanyl Overdoses Among Seniors Reveals Hidden Crisis

Fentanyl-related overdoses among adults 65 and older have surged by 9,000% over eight years, with a significant rise in deaths involving stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamines, highlighting a hidden crisis in the aging population that requires increased awareness and targeted prevention strategies.

via ScienceDaily|

#drug-crisis #fentanyl #health

health1 year ago•4 min saved

Staten Island Officials Alert on Rising Drug Crisis and Elephant Sedative Threats

Experts warn that drug traffickers are increasingly mixing potent veterinary sedatives like carfentanil, which is 100 times stronger than fentanyl, with opioids, significantly raising the risk of overdose and death, with substances like xylazine and medetomidine also contributing to the danger.

via SILive.com|

#carfentanil #drug-crisis #fentanyl

local-news1 year ago

Street Vigilantes Use Narcan to Combat Drug Overdoses

Street vigilantes, frustrated with drug users, are using Narcan as a weapon to combat drug-related issues in their communities.

via The San Francisco Standard|

#drug-crisis #drug-users #local-news

health1 year ago•7 min saved

Baltimore Faces Surge in Overdoses and Violence

Baltimore experienced a severe mass overdose event linked to dangerous drug testers, prompting a rapid city and community response that included hospitalizations, emergency services, and harm reduction efforts, highlighting the ongoing opioid crisis and the need for expanded prevention strategies.

via The Baltimore Banner|

#baltimore #drug-crisis #harm-reduction

health1 year ago•3 min saved

Speedballing's Role in a New Drug Crisis

Speedballing, the dangerous practice of combining stimulants like cocaine or methamphetamine with opioids such as heroin or fentanyl, has become a major public health crisis in the U.S., leading to a significant rise in overdose deaths due to the lethal interactions and contaminated drug supply. Addressing this issue requires increased awareness, better access to treatment, and harm reduction strategies like fentanyl test strips and naloxone distribution.

via Gizmodo|

#drug-crisis #fentanyl #health

politics1 year ago•2 min saved

Daniel Lurie Wins San Francisco Mayoral Race, Defeating Incumbent London Breed

Incumbent San Francisco Mayor London Breed has conceded the mayoral race to challenger Daniel Lurie, who campaigned on addressing the city's homelessness, crime, and drug overdose issues. Lurie, a first-time candidate and founder of an anti-poverty nonprofit, emphasized the need for accountability and change, proposing measures like building shelter beds and tiny homes, increasing police foot patrols, and clearing open-air drug markets. Breed, acknowledging the election outcome, pledged a smooth transition and expressed gratitude for her time in office.

via Fox News|

#drug-crisis #homelessness #london-breed

social-issues2 years ago•8 min saved

"Fentanyl Crisis Grips Northwest Rural Areas, Overwhelms Emergency Services"

The drug and homelessness crises in Oregon have impacted rural areas, with Yamhill County being particularly affected. Fentanyl use has surged, leading to overdoses and a lack of addiction treatment services in rural communities. While Portland's economic success is seen as beneficial for the entire state, rural areas feel neglected and left out of the conversation. Lawmakers are considering re-criminalizing drug possession and addressing public drug use, with hopes that policies will benefit the entire state, not just urban areas.

via Fox News|

#drug-crisis #fentanyl #homelessness

crime-drug-trafficking2 years ago•4 min saved

"Mexican Drug Cartels' Infiltration of America's Last Great Place"

Mexican drug cartels have targeted Montana, particularly indigenous communities, flooding the state with super potent meth and deadly fentanyl. The drug crisis has hit Montana's Indian reservations hard, with high rates of addiction and limited law enforcement. Cartel associates have targeted single women on reservations and used their homes as bases of operations. The reservations, sovereign nations with restricted local law enforcement, suffer from a lack of resources and accountability, creating a "Wild, Wild West" situation.

via NBC News|

#crime-drug-trafficking #drug-crisis #indigenous-communities

health2 years ago•2 min saved

"Ukrainian Troops Urged to Use Cannabis Instead of Opioids Amid US Drug Crisis"

A Ukrainian doctor suggests that the country's soldiers should be prescribed cannabis instead of opioids to avoid a drug crisis similar to that of the US. Ukraine, which previously had one of the world's highest rates of opioid use, recently legalized medicinal marijuana to treat PTSD and cancer related to the war. The doctor believes that prescribing medical cannabis instead of opioids could be an ideal treatment for certain patients, citing the side-effects of opioids and the potential benefits of cannabis.

via Business Insider|

#cannabis #drug-crisis #health

health-and-policy2 years ago•2 min saved

"San Francisco's Ongoing Battle with Drug Overdoses: A Timeline and Five Considerations"

San Francisco is grappling with a severe drug crisis, with record-high overdose deaths and widespread public drug use. The city's overdose death rate has more than doubled the national average, partly due to the rise of fentanyl and policy changes such as Prop 47, which reduced drug possession to a misdemeanor. While some advocate for emulating Portugal's successful decriminalization approach, liberal cities like San Francisco have struggled to replicate its results, highlighting the challenges in addressing the city's drug crisis.

via The New York Times|

#decriminalization #drug-crisis #health-and-policy

city-governance2 years ago•3 min saved

"Philadelphia City Council Proposes Business Curfew to Combat Open-Air Drug Market"

Philadelphia City Council is considering a bill that would impose curfews on some businesses in the Kensington neighborhood's open-air drug market, requiring them to close between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. due to the area's rampant addiction and crime issues. The proposal is part of ongoing efforts to address the drug crisis in Kensington, which has gained international attention for its extreme public drug use and high crime rates. The bill is part of a larger legislative package aimed at tackling illegal drug activity and quality-of-life nuisances in the area.

via Fox News|

#city-council #city-governance #drug-crisis