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Street Drugs

All articles tagged with #street drugs

health3 days ago•5 min saved

Medetomidine fears rise as it infiltrates NC street drugs

North Carolina researchers warn that medetomidine, a veterinary sedative not approved for humans, is appearing in the state’s street drug supply and could worsen health risks. The substance—more potent and longer-acting than similar drugs—has been linked to dangerous withdrawal and severe cardiovascular effects if users stop abruptly. Many overdoses involve fentanyl, so opioid reversal medications may be needed. UNC’s Street Drug Analysis Lab has tracked its appearance since 2022, with Tarboro samples showing mixed contamination. Public health officials advocate education and the use of inexpensive test strips to detect medetomidine and slow its spread, noting NC has not yet reached the crisis levels seen in some other cities but is monitoring closely.

via WRAL|

#drug-testing-strips #health #medetomidine

public-health2 years ago•5 min saved

Animal Tranquilizer in Street Drugs Sparks Overdose Crisis in SF

U.S. drug gangs are mixing the potent sedative medetomidine into street drugs like fentanyl, causing a surge in overdoses and severe health complications. This new combination, which began causing mass overdoses in late April, is difficult to detect and treat, complicating medical responses. Public health officials are issuing warnings as the toxic drug supply grows more dangerous, with similar outbreaks reported in Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Toronto. Experts are urging better preparedness for emergency treatments and cautioning drug users about the heightened risks.

via NPR|

#medetomidine #overdoses #public-health

health2 years ago•3 min saved

"The Rise of Nitazenes: A New Wave of Street Drugs in the US"

Nitazenes, a potent class of synthetic opioids, have been linked to numerous overdose deaths in the US and Europe since 2019, with recent cases in Boulder County, Colorado. These psychoactive substances, not controlled by laws, are hundreds to thousands of times more potent than morphine and 10 to 40 times stronger than fentanyl. They first emerged as street drugs in 2019 and are often mixed with other substances, making them difficult to detect. Signs of overdose resemble classic opioids, and naloxone may be effective in reversing the effects, but larger doses may be needed.

via The Conversation Indonesia|

#health #naloxone #nitazenes

health2 years ago•3 min saved

The Rise of Nitazenes: A New Threat in the Opioid Crisis

Nitazenes, a class of opioids 20 times more potent than fentanyl, are now being found in street drugs, posing a significant risk of overdose. These drugs are highly contaminated and may not show up on standard urine screens or harm reduction test strips. The presence of nitazenes in street drugs complicates overdose reversal with Narcan, potentially requiring more doses to be effective. Additionally, the inclusion of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, in street drugs further complicates overdose reversal, as Nalaxone or Narcan may not be effective depending on the drug cocktail's composition.

via WGN TV Chicago|

#addiction #health #nitazenes

health2 years ago•1 min saved

Rising Tranq Overdoses: A Growing Concern for Teens and Babies

First responders in Albuquerque are encountering an increasing number of patients who do not respond to Narcan, a medication used to reverse opioid overdoses. This suggests the presence of a newer street drug called "tranq" in the local drug supply. The city continues to face issues with fentanyl and methamphetamines, making it crucial for crews to be prepared to handle polysubstance overdoses. AFR leaders recommend educating the public, keeping medications away from teenagers and babies, and having Narcan on hand in case of emergencies.

via KOB 4|

#health #narcan #overdoses

health3 years ago•7 min saved

U.S. lacks system to monitor lethal street drug Tranq

Xylazine, a deadly new threat to Americans who use street drugs, is being mixed into fentanyl, methamphetamines, and other street drugs. Public health and law enforcement agencies around the U.S. are scrambling to blunt the impact of xylazine, but the effort is complicated by the fact that no one's sure who's mixing the dangerous chemical into street drugs. The lack of accurate, real-time data about emerging drug threats angers people on the front lines of the overdose crisis, which killed 110,134 people in the U.S. last year alone.

via NPR|

#addiction #drug-threats #health