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Wheatland Union High School to host Narcan, fentanyl education program
Wheatland Union High School will host a fentanyl education program on Nov. 16 to teach parents and community members about the effects of prescription drug use as well as ways to save someone from an overdose. Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, is a life-saving medication that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. The school’s “One Pill Can Kill” program will teach attendants how to administer the medication along with other ways to help someone experiencing an overdose.
Attendants will also receive free packages of Narcan at the end of the presentation, officials said. The program will feature guest speakers from the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Use and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The coalition is a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization dedicated to preventing prescription drug and opioid abuse and overdose deaths. The Drug Enforcement Administration was established by the U.S Department of Justice to prevent, detect, and investigate the diversion of controlled substances.
Stanford-Lancet Report on Opioid Crisis Calls For Immediate Action, Sweeping Reforms
Since 1999, more than 600,000 people in the United States and Canada have died of an opioid overdose. The pandemic has pushed the crisis to disturbing new heights.
The focus on who misuses drugs can be misunderstood and in fact, the rising tide of addiction and overdose deaths can be found everywhere. KPIX 5 has spoken to grieving families from Silicon Valley to the wine country, Marin to Hillsborough, and the Tri-Valley. No one is spared. Go to story.
According to a new CDC report, the U.S. has set a record for overdose deaths during the COVID pandemic. Nationally, there has been a 30% increase, while the state of California experienced a 45% increase. The tragedy of the situation is not just seen on city streets but also in suburbs, like in Contra Costa County. April Rovero from the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse (NCAPDA) talks about how the pandemic has impacted youths and the larger Contra Costa community and the stigma that prevents people suffering from substance use disorder from seeking help. Go to story.
After Her Son’s Overdose Death, This Therapist is Educating Parents on Drug-Related Emojis
Dr. Laura Berman, a relationship therapist is warning parents o
f the dangers of social media in connection to her son’s overdose death. Berman’s son, Sammy, connected with a drug dealer on Snapchat and was sold Xanax or Percocet laced with fentanyl. He overdosed in his room while sheltering at home during the pandemic. Now, Dr. Laura Berman has taken to social media to educate parents on how teenagers use emojis to talk to one another about drugs. Read more.
