Those Troubling OD Statistics

In recent months, samples have been  found with as much as 20% fentanyl content. It’s easy to see how this could increase both the total number of overdoses, and the percentage of victims who did not survive.

“Fentanyl walking” is current slang for the law enforcement policy of allowing shipments of drugs to cross the border from Mexico into the US without interference. The rationale is that traffickers are encouraged to attempt larger and larger shipments to the US, in the mistaken belief that the authorities won’t intervene. This results in truly huge seizures, and more important arrests.

Yes, it’s controversial. The general public operates on the assumption that law enforcement attempts to interrupt every shipment of fentanyl, large and small, so as to prevent more unnecessary deaths on American streets. “That’s what my taxes are supposed to be paying for,” complained a citizen when interviewed. If they’re not, he wanted to know the reason.

He’s not alone. It’s especially an issue in New Mexico, where citizens recently discovered that vast quantities of the drug have been “walked“ into their home state, without their knowledge or approval..

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A Patch for Prevention?

I can imagine some users — not all, but more than a few — will make use of the patch to facilitate further unaccompanied fentanyl use, confident now that they won’t inadvertently overdose. And being surprised when they did.

A Patch for Prevention?

I can imagine some users — not all, but more than a few — will make use of the patch to facilitate further unaccompanied fentanyl use, confident now that they won’t inadvertently overdose. And being surprised when they did.

Those Troubling OD Statistics

In recent months, samples have been  found with as much as 20% fentanyl content. It’s easy to see how this could increase both the total number of overdoses, and the percentage of victims who did not survive.

An Inside Look at Drug Court

Even today, the estimated cost for keeping someone under drug court supervision is in the range of $2500 to $4000 a year. Compare that to estimates of  $20,000 to as high as $50,000 (in some expensive states), simply to maintain someone in a cell for the same period.

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Fentanyl Walking

I get the impression that the possibility of collateral damage from the practice — I’m talking about a rash of overdose fatalities in our communities–– was not a primary concern for those who planned this operation.

Fentanyl Walking

I get the impression that the possibility of collateral damage from the practice — I’m talking about a rash of overdose fatalities in our communities–– was not a primary concern for those who planned this operation.

What We Can Learn from Estonia

...the situation has improved, mostly because of renewed efforts on the demand side. Estonia adopted harm reduction strategies used effectively in other countries,  such as take-home naloxone; ready access to MAT; and efforts to destigmatize drug use and drug users.

The Storytellers

One young man explained that he avoided speaker meetings because the “drunkalogues” he heard triggered in him an awful craving for a drink.

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Rage-baited

From a counseling standpoint, it’s a time when we ought to be advising patients to restrict their social media activity, at the very least to selected forums and sites that support recovery goals

Is This Recovery?

...there are other folks out there like these— pretending to sobriety yet still secretly using, and hoping to avoid the sort of trouble that haunted them in the past.

Officers in the House

...with law enforcement agencies taking on vastly different roles, planning and practicing our response appears more important than in the past.

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A Novel Approach

...the author, who grew up in and around the region, chose to use its earnings to found Higher Ground, a home for recovering women.

A Novel Approach

...the author, who grew up in and around the region, chose to use its earnings to found Higher Ground, a home for recovering women.

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