You’ve probably heard of the opioid overdose reversal drug called Narcan, but did you know its manufacturer was based overseas? Now, the owner of Narcan will not only be stateside, but it will be right here in Maryland. In August, a Gaithersburg, Maryland pharmaceutical company named Emergent Biosolutions acquired Adapt Pharma, the Dublin, Ireland-based maker of Narcan. Let’s take a further look as to what that means for Maryland and the entire U.S., and then rewind a bit to explain what Narcan does and how to administer it. More on the Narcan Acquisition by Maryland’s Emergent Biosolutions ..read more

Heroin. Alluring and dangerous. This white (or sometimes brown) powder, usually melted by heat and injected intravenously, is used by more than 17 million people worldwide. The narcotic heroin is made from morphine, which is derived from the flowering opium poppy plant. In America, nearly 80 percent of heroin addicts start out by taking prescription painkillers like Vicodin and Oxycontin. Given the current opioid epidemic plaguing the U.S., it’s no wonder more and more people are wisely seeking out heroin addiction treatment centers. Dangers of Heroin Use and Why Recovery Is Challenging Hero ..read more

Recovery from Opiate Addiction: Detox Is the First Step There are almost 2 million Americans struggling with opioid addictions. You are not just one in a sea of faces, however; you are an individual with unique needs and addiction treatment requirements. It is possible to break the cycle of opioid addiction. It starts with medically assisted opioid detox, and then moves on to custom-tailored rehabilitation. Here’s your guide on what to expect during these processes. First Step: Medically Assisted Detox Medically assisted treatment, or MAT, is absolutely critical for successful opioid detox ..read more

Many families in Massachusetts have felt the disastrous effects of the ongoing opioid crisis facing the nation. While every state has unique drug abuse issues, the problems facing Massachusetts seem to be getting worse, not better. Widespread drug dealing, easy access to heroin and a rash of fentanyl-laced heroin seizures have perpetuated the drug overdose problem in the state, leaving lawmakers struggling to find solutions. Massive Drug-Dealing Problem in Massachusetts The drug problem in Massachusetts is multifaceted. The demand for opioids and heroin is extremely high across the state, so ..read more

In Maryland and across the United States, health professionals and police are dealing with an uptick in the number of overdose cases due to carfentanil, a synthetic opioid some dealers are lacing into the heroin they sell to addicts. Already linked with several fatalities in Maryland counties, police expect more carfentanil deaths to be forthcoming. State Officials Express Concern About Carfentanil Deaths Both the health care industry and the police are issuing special alerts about the threat that carfentanil deaths pose to the community. Responding to warnings from clinicians who have ..read more

Drug use is increasing nationwide. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the number of people reporting drug use in the past month increased from 8.3% to 9.4% – with some 24.6 million people reporting the use of an illicit drug. Substance abuse is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths each year. In 2008, drug overdoses surpassed motor vehicle accidents and firearms to become the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the nation’s largest public health agency, 56,000 people died of overdoses in 201 ..read more

One part of Maryland’s economy is booming, and it’s not the tourism industry. It’s the illicit drug market. Drug-trafficking organizations have found a niche in the Old Line State’s black market for selling heroin – namely in Baltimore. The city has a long history of an illicit drug sub-economy, but the skyrocketing rate of heroin use in recent years has brought this issue to the forefront. Experts estimate that heroin traffickers make about $27 billion per year around the nation. Baltimore makes up at least $165 million of these profits – likely much more when calculations add money from occ ..read more

Abuse of heroin and opioid pharmaceuticals is an epidemic in states across the U.S., and Maryland is no exception. Drugs prescribed to help manage pain and treat illness are becoming a public health concern. Late last month, federal and state officials joined others across the country in observing Heroin and Opioid Awareness Week and highlighting ways our state is combating the crisis. A Campaign To Raise Awareness U.S. Attorney Rod Rosenstein joined Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh last week to declare the week of September 19 as Heroin and Opioid Awareness Week. The event offered ..read more

More Americans than ever are turning to the use of drugs and alcohol. Statistics from 2013 revealed that 24.6 million citizens 12 or older had used an illicit drug in the previous month. These growing numbers are more than a little worrisome, and Maryland’s drug and alcohol related deaths are being affected just as much as the rest of the country. The addiction to alcohol and other substances, it seems, has become an epidemic. Many people don’t realize just how costly America’s drug and alcohol problem has become. For prescription drug abuse alone, it’s estimated that the United States loses ..read more

According to Annapolis police, their city is now the heroin capital of the region. In 2014 alone, over 100 people overdosed on heroin or opiates in Anne Arundel County. The overdoses killed at least 22 of their victims, and according to Sheriff Mike Evans, Annapolis was the source of the drugs in all cases. While several alleged dealers have been arrested, heroin and opiate problems persist in Annapolis, surrounding counties, and all of Maryland. Who Are The Buyers And Dealers? Annapolis police say many heroin and opiate buyers abused prescription painkillers before graduating to harder drugs ..read more