opiates - NewBostonPost

Maura Healey

Opioid battle takes a new direction thanks to local police

BOSTON – As opioids are killing Massachusetts residents at an alarming rate, the state's top leaders like Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, have encouraged local law enforcement agencies to pick up their efforts against drug abuse. Several agencies have taken the fight beyond

Opioid

Prince died of opioid overdose, tests reportedly show

CHICAGO (AP) — Tests show that Prince died of an opioid overdose, a law-enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday. The 57-year-old singer was found dead April 21 at his Minneapolis-area estate.

opioids

First implant to control opiate addiction wins FDA approval

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal health officials on Thursday approved an innovative new option for Americans struggling with addiction to heroin and painkillers: a drug-oozing implant that curbs craving and withdrawal symptoms for six months at a time. The first-of-a-kind device, Probuphine, arrives as communities across the U.S. grapple with a

addiction

Prince battled painkiller addiction, help sought too late

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prince's representatives arranged for the musician to meet a California doctor to help him kick an addiction to painkillers shortly before his death, according to a newspaper report published Wednesday. Prince's representatives called Dr. Howard Kornfeld on April 20, the day before the musician

Massachusetts

Bill targeting opioid abuse heads to governor’s desk

BOSTON – Massachusetts will become the first state in the nation to allow partial fills of painkiller prescriptions, patients will be empowered to direct physicians not to prescribe them with potentially addictive synthetic opiates, and screening of middle and high school students for signs of substance abuse and addiction will be

Massachusetts

Warren-Clark bill would permit partial filling for opioids

BOSTON — U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, both Massachusetts Democrats, introduced a bill in Congress on Wednesday that would allow for the partial filling of opioid prescriptions, a strategy being explored by state lawmakers to reduce the number addictive painkillers in circulation. The legislation would

Charlie Baker

Opioid limits won’t solve addiction crisis, Obama says

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Monday declined to endorse the boldest proposal from the nation's governors to tackle the heroin crisis: limiting the number of high-powered painkillers doctors can prescribe at a time. A recommendation to limit the number opioid painkillers that doctors can hand out gained

Massachusetts

Baker calls again for charter expansion, opioid abuse solution

BOSTON – Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker used his first State of the State speech to appeal for bipartisanship in solving ongoing challenges in agencies such as the MBTA and the Department of Children and Families, while reiterating a call for the expansion of charter schools. "Giving parents in underperforming districts