WEATHER ALERT
‘Game changer’: Vaccine developed at University of Houston to end fentanyl overdoses headed for human clinical trials
Read full article: ‘Game changer’: Vaccine developed at University of Houston to end fentanyl overdoses headed for human clinical trialsA vaccine that was developed at the University of Houston to prevent fentanyl deaths has been licensed by a new medical startup and will head for human clinical trials, according the the university.
Texas revamps Narcan distribution following delays, unpredictable supply
Read full article: Texas revamps Narcan distribution following delays, unpredictable supplyTexas has tapped more than $45 million in federal funds to get the overdose-reversing drug into the hands of law enforcement, members of the public. But the program has been plagued by supply issues, delays and lack of communication.
Even Narcan can’t save victims: What you should know about growing threat of ‘zombie drug’
Read full article: Even Narcan can’t save victims: What you should know about growing threat of ‘zombie drug’The United States Drug Enforcement Administration released a public safety alert to warn Americans of a growing threat of a deadly drug called Xylazine, a combination of fentanyl mixed with xylazine.
Are pharmacy medications safe and secure? Understand the vetting process of distributing pharmaceuticals
Read full article: Are pharmacy medications safe and secure? Understand the vetting process of distributing pharmaceuticalsWhile a majority of overdoses are from illicit drugs, a concern among many is knowing the medications you receive from pharmacies are safe and secure.
Texas now requires your kids’ school to have Narcan: Here’s how it works
Read full article: Texas now requires your kids’ school to have Narcan: Here’s how it worksIt’s the drug that could save your child’s life – Narcan. It’s Texas law for all schools to have it on campus, but what does that space look like?
Houston pharmacist, clinic owner sentenced for illegally distributing thousands of opioid pills in $6M pill mill scheme
Read full article: Houston pharmacist, clinic owner sentenced for illegally distributing thousands of opioid pills in $6M pill mill schemeA Houston pharmacist and clinic owner were sentenced Wednesday for their roles in a $6 million pill mill scheme, the United States Department of Justice announced.
Cleveland ISD to address rise in drug use in schools, community during town hall meetings
Read full article: Cleveland ISD to address rise in drug use in schools, community during town hall meetingsThe Cleveland Independent School District will host town hall meetings throughout the month of October regarding drug use in its schools and community, according to a release.
Houston pharmacist convicted for conspiring to unlawfully dispense over 100,000 opioid pills from ‘pill-mill’
Read full article: Houston pharmacist convicted for conspiring to unlawfully dispense over 100,000 opioid pills from ‘pill-mill’A federal jury has convicted a Houston pharmacist for her role in a “pill-mill” pharmacy that unlawfully dispensed over 100,000 opioid pills in exchange for cash, the United States Department of Justice said.
Motivated by grieving parents, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has made fentanyl crisis a priority
Read full article: Motivated by grieving parents, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn has made fentanyl crisis a priorityThe Republican from Texas has combined attention to border issues with efforts to address deadly overdoses, including ideas that are opposed by some in his party, such as decriminalizing test strips.
Texans in Congress lead bipartisan efforts to allow fentanyl test strips
Read full article: Texans in Congress lead bipartisan efforts to allow fentanyl test stripsThe legislation comes after a bill to decriminalize the test strips passed the Texas House but died in the Senate despite support from Gov. Greg Abbott.
Texas A&M suspends professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in lecture
Read full article: Texas A&M suspends professor accused of criticizing Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in lectureThe professor, an expert on the opioids crisis, was placed on paid administrative leave and investigated, raising questions about the extent of political interference in higher education, particularly in health-related matters.
Protesters decry stalled fentanyl test strip bill; Texas House passes get-tough criminal penalties
Read full article: Protesters decry stalled fentanyl test strip bill; Texas House passes get-tough criminal penaltiesStuck in committee, the test-strip legislation has support from Gov. Greg Abbott and bipartisan lawmakers, who see it as a way to save lives.
Houston DEA head says fentanyl is the ‘biggest threat we’ve ever seen’
Read full article: Houston DEA head says fentanyl is the ‘biggest threat we’ve ever seen’Millions of counterfeit pills are being sold on the black market with more than half laced with fentanyl, according to the DEA. In 2022, the Houston office of the DEA seized enough fatal doses of fentanyl to kill every single person in the greater Houston area. This is in addition to the 674,000 counterfeit pills seized by the office last year.
Attorney General Ken Paxton secures $168M for Texas in opioid agreement with Walmart
Read full article: Attorney General Ken Paxton secures $168M for Texas in opioid agreement with WalmartOn Thursday, Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a planned $3.1 billion settlement with Walmart, with over $168 million designated for Texas, for Walmart’s role in the nationwide opioid epidemic.
International Overdose Awareness Day: 4 mothers to hold annual awareness event in honor of loved ones
Read full article: International Overdose Awareness Day: 4 mothers to hold annual awareness event in honor of loved onesAugust 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day, a time for the world to come together to put an end to overdoses and pay tribute to the lives lost.
Texas doctor convicted after criminally prescribing more than 1.3 million doses of opioids, feds say
Read full article: Texas doctor convicted after criminally prescribing more than 1.3 million doses of opioids, feds sayA federal jury convicted a Houston-area physician for unlawfully prescribing more than 1.3 million doses of opioids, the Department of Justice announced.
Watch live: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces $290M statewide opioid settlement agreement with Johnson & Johnson
Read full article: Watch live: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces $290M statewide opioid settlement agreement with Johnson & JohnsonTexas Attorney General Paxton will discuss an opioid settlement on Tuesday at Houston Recovery Center.
AP source: Feds sue Walmart, accuse retailer of fueling opioid crisis
Read full article: AP source: Feds sue Walmart, accuse retailer of fueling opioid crisisThe Justice Department is suing Walmart, alleging the company unlawfully dispensed controlled substances through its pharmacies, helping to fuel the opioid crisis in America, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The civil complaint being filed Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020 points to the role Walmarts pharmacies may have played in the crisis by filling opioid prescriptions and by unlawfully distributing controlled substances to the pharmacies during the height of the opioid crisis, the person said. (AP Photo/Cedar Attanasio)WASHINGTON – The Justice Department sued Walmart on Tuesday, accusing it of fueling the nation’s opioid crisis by pressuring its pharmacies to fill even potentially suspicious prescriptions for the powerful painkillers. The civil complaint filed points to the role Walmart’s pharmacies may have played in the crisis by filling opioid prescriptions and Walmart's own responsibility for the allegedly illegal distribution of controlled substances to the pharmacies at the height of the opioid crisis. The suit said that only later did Walmart allow pharmacists to do blanket refusals for these suspect practices.
Ex-Rice football player pleads guilty in opioid death
Read full article: Ex-Rice football player pleads guilty in opioid deathHOUSTON – A former Rice University football player pleaded guilty to selling the drugs that a player fatally overdosed on in 2018. Stuart Mouchantaf, 26, admitted Thursday to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute, causing death, and possession with the intent to distribute, causing death, The Beaumont Enterprise reported. As part of Mouchantaf's plea agreement, prosecutors dropped a third charge related to distributing a controlled substance on a university campus. Federal prosecutors say that Mouchantaf supplied his former teammate with five pills, two of which he took before he died. Mouchantaf has been out on a $100,000 unsecured bond since his arrest on the federal charges in June.