Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Escalation To Elephant Tranquilizers Marks New Normal In Rampant Opioid Epidemic
The Washington Post: Elephant Tranquilizer Is The Latest Lethal Addition To The Heroin Epidemic
A substance used to tranquilize elephants that is 100 times more potent than the drug that killed Prince is hitting the Washington suburbs, adding the region to a growing list of communities nationwide reporting fatal overdoses linked to the exotic and toxic sedative. Three cases out of Anne Arundel and Frederick counties this month mark the first carfentanil-related fatalities in Maryland, alarming local health and law enforcement officials already in a state of emergency combating the opioid crisis. (Bui and Hermann, 4/26)
New Hampshire Public Radio: What Does It Mean To Have Carfentanil In New Hampshire?
On Tuesday, public health officials confirmed the first cases of overdose deaths from carfentanil in New Hampshire. Carfentanil is a synthetic opiod and much more potent than the painkiller fentanyl... Tim Pifer is Forensic Lab director with the New Hampshire State Police. He explains how it got here and what it means to now have carfentanil in the state. (Biello, 4/26)
In other news on the crisis —
The Baltimore Sun: DEA Raid On Baltimore Pain Clinic Prompts City Health Department To Issue Alert About Possible Increase In Overdoses
Health officials warned a network of medical providers throughout Baltimore this week of a possible increase in drug overdoses and withdrawals among local patients after a pain management clinic in North Baltimore was raided and closed by federal and local law enforcement, officials confirmed Wednesday. The Baltimore City Health Department heard Tuesday from local law enforcement officials that they had closed a health care provider's office, and health officials immediately began notifying hospital emergency rooms, emergency service providers, treatment centers and others. (Rector and Cohn, 4/26)
Cincinnati Enquirer: NKY Heroin Tally: ODs Soar To 6 A Day In 2017
Emergency staff in Northern Kentucky reversed an average of six overdoses a day at St. Elizabeth hospitals since the start of the year. That compares to about three reversals on an average day in 2015 and 2016, a 100 percent increase. (DeMio, 4/26)
