Opioids

Fewer pregnant women and new mothers in Colorado are dying from accidental overdoses. And one possible reason is an over-the-counter medication that can stop the symptoms of an overdose. That’s according to a Colorado doctor whose unusual specialty is treating pregnant women who struggle with addiction.

The Rocky Mountain Poison Center in Denver keeps track of the substances that can sicken or kill us. It tracks prescription drug abuse – and helps hospitals treat venomous snake bites. Today on In The NoCo: A snapshot of the things that poison Coloradans, and how the trends have changed over the years.

Attorney General Phil Weiser announced Tuesday that money from Colorado's opioid settlement will go into a statewide fund to buy naloxone, also called Narcan, in bulk.

A new vending machine opened recently in Boulder. But instead of chips or sodas, this machine dispenses items like drug testing strips or condoms. Supporters hope the machine helps reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections and prevents drug overdoses. We’ll hear all about the idea behind ‘harm reduction' vending machines on today’s In The NoCo.

Some lawmakers want to protect those who report overdoses and provide 'safe use sites' for drug users. Others want to increase punishments for possession and distribution of controlled substances, especially fentanyl.

Boulder County used a sliver of its opioid settlement funds to expand its phone-hacking capabilities, tools local officials say are critical for combatting drug trafficking.

It's been a year since a local group launched what's called the Colorado Naloxone Project, an ambitious effort to combat the opioid overdose crisis that plagues our region, as well as much of the country. Naloxone is a safe drug used to counteract overdoses. And the project is designed to get naloxone into the hands of people most at risk for overdoses.Dr. Don Stader, chair of the Colorado Naloxone Project, joins KUNC's Yoselin Meza Miranda to discuss this effort.

New research in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that teens haven’t used more illegal drugs over the last decade. However, they are dying from drug overdoses at twice the rate.

Some advocated for the federal government to fully fund various Indigenous health services and others called for border policies that would stop the flow of drugs into these communities.

Deadly overdoses from the synthetic opioid fentanyl are a growing problem. The drug is useful for doctors, but now it’s showing up all over. There are ways to test for it, but in some cases, that’s illegal, too. The Mountain West News Bureau’s Madelyn Beck explains.