The Houston Forensic Science Center has—for the first time—identified fentanyl in XTC tablets, a significant, potentially deadly, health risk, especially to youth purchasing what they believe to be a “party” drug but instead a toxic opioid.
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A former coroner’s analyst in San Francisco has been charged with stealing methamphetamine collected at death scene investigations, authorities said last week.
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Researchers found that opioid users who participate in a 12-step abstinence program and recently stopped using drugs refused to take home naloxone, even if having it on hand might save lives.
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Researchers have integrated two independent, validated drug-testing techniques—mass spectrometry and Raman spectroscopy—onto a single platform prototype for fast and accurate analysis of seized substances.
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We don't intentionally neglect our self-care, but multitasking becomes a routine that can lead to burnout among forensic scientists. Stress has become normalized for the forensic science community, and it's compromising the mental and physical health of women who have a difficult time saying no.
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While investigators found that trends in heroin, cocaine and fentanyl seizures were not affected by the pandemic, provisional overdose death data show that the increased drug mortality seen in 2019 rose further through the first half of 2020.
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It was determined the arrestee had busted up several bags of white powder that were previously hidden on her person.
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Needle-exchange programs in cities can provide vital information about intravenous (IV) drug use, as well as more comprehensive opioid monitoring and real-time surveillance of emerging trends and novel psychoactive substances (NPS), according to the preliminary results of such a program in D.C.
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Police in Oregon can no longer arrest someone for possession of small amounts of heroin, methamphetamine, LSD, oxycodone and other drugs as a ballot measure that decriminalized them took effect on Monday.
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Philadelphia has a “zombie drug” problem, and experts are concerned it is going to start rapidly spreading to other parts of the U.S.—just as the drug infiltrated the City of Brotherly Love from Puerto Rico about 5 years ago.
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