Kratom Abuse and Addiction - A Rising Legal Issue Kratom, better known as Mitragyna, is a tropical plant native to Southeast Asia. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine and cultural practices. However, in recent years it has gained popularity in the Western world as an alternative to opioid withdrawal management and even
In the news recently, a biomedical company announced that researchers are nearing human trials for vaccines to prevent fentanyl and heroin overdoses. Researchers say the vaccines could offer a lifeline to those struggling with opioid addiction or at risk of accidental overdose. However, before approval, it’s important to note that the development of a vaccine
Young people have been overdosing on fentanyl-tainted drugs much more frequently since the onset of the pandemic. In 2021 alone, 1500 young people under the age of 20 died from drug overdoses, with all those deaths involving fentanyl. Many of these youths wanted to buy drugs they believed to be far less potent, such as
The opioid epidemic continues to rage, despite the ebb and flow of the COVID-19 pandemic. There were more overdoses last year than ever before. Now, authorities tell people to watch out for a potent and deadly new class of opioids called ‘nitazenes.’ The drugs have been found in syringes collected by addiction research scientists throughout
For the past few years, there have been many communities on the internet touting Kratom, a substance that works similar to opioids, as a cure-all. People with opioid addiction in many online communities have switched to it to ease withdrawal symptoms and help with chronic pain. However, researchers have warned all along that Kratom can
In Philadelphia, the District Attorney’s Office has announced they will no longer prosecute people who possess buprenorphine, also known as Suboxone, illegitimately. What is Suboxone? Used as a drug that prevents withdrawal and overdoses, Buprenorphine is a drug used as Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). People with an opioid use disorder often take the drug, overseen by
California pharmacies don’t take back opioids, although FDA guidelines recommend that all pharmacies help their customers dispose of unused drugs properly. While many people are unaware that they can dispose of unused medications at pharmacies, sometimes the pharmacies don’t know procedures for disposal, either. It is doubtful that the problem is isolated to California alone.
In the United States, addiction to both opioids and methamphetamine is increasing, causing a lethal mix that causes users to be more likely to overdose. In 2011, the number of people addicted to both substances was reported to be 19% in 2011. In 2017, that number increased to 34%. The increase of dual addictions was
Across the US, hundreds of attorneys representing cities, counties, states and small towns, have filed lawsuits against opioid makers (such as Perdue Pharma) and distributors (including such everyday names as Walgreens. All of these lawsuits point blame at the various players for helping escalate the opioid addiction epidemic and seek monetary compensation. Now, attorneys have
Recently released emails from a trial in Connecticut show that Purdue Pharma, the manufacturers of the highly addictive painkiller Oxycontin, blamed patients for their addiction. The documents were released by the Connecticut State Attorney’s Office in the face of ongoing litigation against the pharmaceutical company. “Abusers aren’t victims; they are victimizers,” a 2001 email from
