Latest news with #Lucci
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Two Young Men Die from Street Drug That's 43 Times Stronger than Fentanyl. It's Taking Hold in the U.S.
Experts are warning about nitazenes — synthetic opioids with different, deadly strains — that can be hidden in other drugsNEED TO KNOW A synthetic opioid that's 43 times stronger than fentanyl and 250 times stronger than heroin has caused hundreds of deaths in the U.K., and has now spread to the U.S. Nitazenes are behind the deaths of two young men in Texas, who took pills that were laced with the potent drug Their mothers are speaking out to raise awareness and warn others about the deadly substanceExperts are warning about a dangerous drug hitting the streets that's up to 43 times stronger than fentanyl and 250 times stronger than heroin — that's already killed two young men in Texas. Nitazenes are synthetic opioids that are produced in China and, like fentanyl, can be found mixed in drugs like heroin and pills. The Wall Street Journal reports the drug is so potent, even trace amounts can be fatal — and it's already caused at least 400 deaths in the U.K. But now the drug is stateside: The families of two young Texas men who died from taking pills laced with the drugs are speaking out. In January, Lucci Reyes-McCallister, 22, died near Houston after taking a pill that he thought was Xanax, his mother, Grey McCallister, told the New York Post, explaining that her son's pill was laced with a form of nitazene. Three months later, in April, a friend of Lucci's, 21-year-old Hunter Clement, died after taking what he believed to be a Percocet. His mother, Ruthi Clement, told the Post she found her son face-down in his bed, his skin purple. Two doses of Narcan didn't work to revive her son. Narcan — the branded name for naloxone — is an emergency medication intended to reverse the effects of a narcotic overdose. But nitazenes are so potent that Narcan isn't as effective as it is against a heroin overdose, for example. The reason for the influx of fentanyl, and now nitazenes, is that it's easier to smuggle in smaller, but more potent drugs, U.K. National Crime Agency Deputy Director Charles Yates told the WSJ. 'They buy potent nitazenes cheaply and mix them with bulking agents such as caffeine and paracetamol to strengthen the product being sold and make significant profits,' Yates told the outlet. Although it's commonly mixed into pills and powders, a man in Sydney was arrested on Aug. 5 for selling vapes that were "supercharged" with the drug, The Guardian reports. There are 17 different strains circulating in the U.S., the Drug Enforcement Agency reports in the 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment. The drug is so new that it's not part of routine testing, the WSJ says, but research from 2022 found 93 deaths that were attributable to strains of nitazenes. N-pyrrolidino etonitazenes are the most potent, up to 43 times stronger than fentanyl, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission says. N-pyrrolidino protonitazenes — the type that killed Lucci — is 25 times the strength of fentanyl. Lucci's death, his mother told the Post, 'was the first time I'd ever heard of [nitazene].' Hunter's mother shared that she's speaking out because, 'Sometimes I get mad because I couldn't save my own son. I do want to save other people, even if it's just one person in honor of him.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Read the original article on People Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
6 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Little-known synthetic opioid nitazene is up to 43 times more deadly than fentanyl, resistant to Narcan and killing young Americans
A pair of Texas friends died less than three months apart after ingesting pills laced with a dangerous new synthetic opioid, and now their mothers are begging US officials to sound the alarm on the little-known drug up to 43 times more lethal than fentanyl. The young men both died this year after swallowing different pills secretly tainted with the deadly, often Narcan-resistant opioids known as nitazenes, which have begun seeping into the US at an alarming rate. Lucci Reyes-McCallister, 22, died January 26 near Houston, Texas, after taking a pill labeled as Xanax that was actually laced with N-Pyrrolidino Protonitazene, an emerging form of nitazene. Advertisement 4 Lucci is seen baking with his mother. Youtube / City of League City TX The particular strain of the new synthetic narcotic that killed Lucci is 25 times more lethal than fentanyl, but other nitazenes are between five and 43 times stronger, depending on the type, according to the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission. The stronger the strain, the more resistant the nitazene is to the overdose antidote Narcan, as seen in Lucci's case. Advertisement 'It was the first time I'd ever heard of it,' Lucci's heartbroken mother, Grey McCallister, told The Post of nitazene. 'It took them seven rounds of Narcan to try to revive him,' she said. But Lucci never came to. 4 Lucci died in January after he took a nitazene-laced counterfeit pill. Crowder Funeral Home Advertisement Nearly six months after his death, Grey received a call from another mother in the area who revealed her son also died of the same form of nitazene. It was Lucci's friend, Hunter Clement, 21. Hunter died on April 10 after taking a nitazene-laced pill branded to look like a Percocet. A few weeks after his death, Ruthi came across a news article about the dangers of nitazenes. Advertisement 'I told my husband, 'I feel like that could be what Hunter died from,'' she recalled. Nitazenes are produced in clandestine Chinese labs and may have made their way to the cartels in Mexico using 'their existing relationships' with 'suppliers' in China, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. The drug was developed over 60 years ago as an alternative to morphine, but was never approved for medical use because of its high risk of overdose. Authorities in Europe have already seen several overdoses from the synthetic narcotic and the devastating poison is now starting to hit US shores more. Last January, a Florida man confessed to distributing protonitazene that he received in the mail from labs in China, according to the IRS. Customs officers at JFK are seeing the drug coming through the airport 'at least a few times a week in quantities ranging from just a few grams to upwards of a pound or more,' Andrew Renna, Assistant Port Director for Cargo Operations at the airport, said in May. And it's all part of China's 'ongoing attack against America,' former acting DEA administrator Derek Maltz told The Post. 'As America is just now really starting to talk about fentanyl, we have now seen all these other substances that are popping up everywhere, and they're coming out of these labs in China,' Maltz said. Medical examiners in Houston and the surrounding Harris County have already seen four cases of nitazene-related overdose deaths, according to the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences. Advertisement 4 Hunter Clement pictured in a photo posted to his obituary. Dignity Memorial Hunter's mother, Ruthi Clement, fought through tears as she recalled finding her son that fateful night with his face down in his bed and his body cold and purple. She quickly started giving Hunter chest compressions and two doses of Narcan, but it wasn't enough to save him. 'Sometimes I get mad because I couldn't save my own son, but I do want to save other people, even if it's just one person in honor of him,' Ruthi told The Post. Traditional drug tests don't look for nitazenes since US authorities are just now learning of their existence, the two grieving mothers said. Advertisement 4 A DEA instructor holds a bag of isotonitazene pills. DEA Nitazenes are not in the standard toxicology tests used by Harris County medical examiners and the screenings are only ordered 'if there is suspected nitazene use and there is no other toxicology to explain the death,' the office said. The mothers are now warning America's youth in the hopes of saving lives. 'They could think something is clean or rather safe when it's actually pressed for something that's 20 to 40 times stronger, more deadly than fentanyl,' Grey said. Advertisement 'It just really lit a fire under me. There was no way Lucci was going to die in vain,' she added. Maltz urged the feds to run educational programs and social media awareness campaigns to meet kids on platforms 'where they are.' 'You have to educate these kids, you have to have mandatory education. The social media influencers, the athletes, the role models to speak out on social media sites with these video reels to educate the kids. That's where they are, they're not watching the news,' Maltz said.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Understanding the Signs, Changing the Stats: A Heart & Stroke Campaign Featuring Susan Lucci
NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Heart disease and stroke remain the leading causes of death worldwide, yet they are often manageable with the right knowledge and care. That's why Mediaplanet is proud to launch the "Heart & Stroke" campaign — a dedicated effort to inform, support, and empower patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Through expert perspectives, prevention strategies, and the latest in diagnostics and treatment, this campaign encourages proactive, informed decision-making at every stage of the cardiovascular journey. This campaign provides critical resources for those diagnosed with or at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke, including expert guidance on lifestyle changes, innovative treatments, and recovery support. It also aims to support clinicians and caregivers with up-to-date research and tools to improve patient outcomes across all stages of care. Cover story Susan Lucci brings a deeply personal and urgent perspective to the campaign. Best known for her iconic role on All My Children, the Emmy-winning actress shares her powerful story of survival after experiencing two near-fatal heart blockages. In a candid conversation, Lucci reflects on the subtle symptoms she initially dismissed, the emergency procedure that saved her life, and the lessons she learned about family history, self-advocacy, and making herself a priority. Since her diagnosis, Lucci has become a passionate advocate for heart health — especially among women, who often ignore warning signs or delay seeking care. By sharing her journey, she hopes to inspire others to "put themselves on their to-do list," trust their instincts, and take proactive steps to protect their hearts before it's too late. The print component of "Heart & Stroke" is distributed in today's edition of USA Today. The digital component is distributed nationally, through a vast social media strategy, and across a network of top news sites and partner outlets. To explore the digital version of the campaign, visit: This campaign was made possible with the support of Susan Lucci, Obesity Medicine Association, American Society of Preventive Cardiology (ASPC), American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, Diabetes Research Institute, Dr. Nicole Harkin and features paid content from Abbott, MicroTransponder and the National Mango Board. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mediaplanet Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Understanding the Signs, Changing the Stats: A Heart & Stroke Campaign Featuring Susan Lucci
NEW YORK, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Heart disease and stroke remain the leading causes of death worldwide, yet they are often manageable with the right knowledge and care. That's why Mediaplanet is proud to launch the "Heart & Stroke" campaign — a dedicated effort to inform, support, and empower patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals. Through expert perspectives, prevention strategies, and the latest in diagnostics and treatment, this campaign encourages proactive, informed decision-making at every stage of the cardiovascular journey. This campaign provides critical resources for those diagnosed with or at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and stroke, including expert guidance on lifestyle changes, innovative treatments, and recovery support. It also aims to support clinicians and caregivers with up-to-date research and tools to improve patient outcomes across all stages of care. Cover story Susan Lucci brings a deeply personal and urgent perspective to the campaign. Best known for her iconic role on All My Children, the Emmy-winning actress shares her powerful story of survival after experiencing two near-fatal heart blockages. In a candid conversation, Lucci reflects on the subtle symptoms she initially dismissed, the emergency procedure that saved her life, and the lessons she learned about family history, self-advocacy, and making herself a priority. Since her diagnosis, Lucci has become a passionate advocate for heart health — especially among women, who often ignore warning signs or delay seeking care. By sharing her journey, she hopes to inspire others to "put themselves on their to-do list," trust their instincts, and take proactive steps to protect their hearts before it's too late. The print component of "Heart & Stroke" is distributed in today's edition of USA Today. The digital component is distributed nationally, through a vast social media strategy, and across a network of top news sites and partner outlets. To explore the digital version of the campaign, visit: This campaign was made possible with the support of Susan Lucci, Obesity Medicine Association, American Society of Preventive Cardiology (ASPC), American Society of Echocardiography (ASE), National Forum for Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, Diabetes Research Institute, Dr. Nicole Harkin and features paid content from Abbott, MicroTransponder and the National Mango Board. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Mediaplanet Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dem governor ripped as 'total disgrace' after vetoing bill limiting Chinese land ownership near military bases
Arizona Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who is up for reelection this year, garnered backlash Tuesday after vetoing a bill aimed at preventing China from buying up land next to strategic assets, such as military bases. Arizona state Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp said the "politically motivated veto" was "utterly insane," blaming Hobbs for being "an obstructionist against safeguarding our citizens from threats." However, Hobbs said the bill, S.B. 1109, was "ineffective at counter-espionage" and did not "directly protect" American military assets in the state. Texas Pushes Back Against Foreign Land Grab With 'Strongest Bill In The Nation' Against China, Iran, Russia Chinese investment in land near military bases has become an increasing concern for national security hawks. Shamp, in her efforts to get the now-vetoed bill passed, cited recent Chinese attempts to lease buildings alongside Arizona's Luke Air Force Base, where the military trains fighter pilots. "Governor Hobbs's veto of SB 1109 hangs an 'Open for the CCP' sign on Arizona's front door, allowing Communist China to buy up American land near critical assets like Luke Air Force Base, Palo Verde nuclear power plant, and Taiwan Semiconductor's growing fabrication footprint," said Michael Lucci, the CEO and founder of State Armor Action, a conservative group with a mission to develop and enact state-level solutions to global security threats. Read On The Fox News App "Allowing Communist China to buy up land near our critical assets is a national security risk, plain and simple, and Governor Hobbs is substantively and completely wrong when she says that SB 1109 'is ineffective at counter-espionage and does not directly protect our military assets,'" Lucci added. Lucci pointed to Ukraine's recent drone attacks that destroyed significant numbers of Russian military aircraft, noting that "proximity produces peril in asymmetric warfare." After Ukraine's Surprise Drone Assault On Russia, New Attention Drawn To Sensitive Sites Stateside S.B. 1109, which can still pass if the Arizona legislature overrides Hobbs' veto, would have prohibited the People's Republic of China from having a 30%, or more, stake in Arizona property. Hobbs, in her defense of the veto, added that in addition to being ineffective at countering Chinese espionage efforts, the bill lacked "clear implementation criteria," which opened the door for "arbitrary enforcement." However, the bill went through a bipartisan amendment process in an effort to assuage those concerns that the legislation might lead to discrimination in land sales, according to local outlet the AZ Mirror. The initial version of the bill banned certain people and entities deemed to be national security threats from buying up land in Arizona, but following subsequent amendments the bill only sought to ban Chinese government-linked entities and its subsidiaries. In addition to Arizona, other states have proposed or passed legislation aimed at curtailing Chinese land grabs in the United States. Congress has also taken steps in an effort to effectuate change through national policy. As of March 17, according to the China-focused nonprofit Committee of 100, 27 states are currently considering 84 bills aimed at restricting foreign property ownership in some way, while Congress is currently considering seven separate bills addressing the issue. So far, the committee indicated, 22 states have passed bills restricting foreign property ownership, 17 of which were passed into law in article source: Dem governor ripped as 'total disgrace' after vetoing bill limiting Chinese land ownership near military bases
