Latest news with #Methadone
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Cause of death released for Redwood City inmate Kyle Harrison
(KRON) — A Redwood City street racer died in jail earlier this year shortly after he was sentenced for his role in causing a crash that left twin girls orphaned. On Monday, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office released Kyle V. Harrison's cause of death. The county coroner's office determined that Harrison died on March 15 at Maple Street Correctional Facility in Redwood City 'due to toxic effects of three medications,' the sheriff's office wrote. The coroner concluded that the 25-year-old inmate's manner of death was an 'accident' and found Harrison died due to toxic effects of Methadone, Amitriptyline, and Gabapentin. Harrison previously pleaded no contest to engaging in a speed contest and felony vehicular manslaughter for the deaths of Grace Spiridon, and her husband, Gregory Ammen. The couple's 7-year-old daughters 'miraculously' survived the crash on El Camino Real, prosecutors said. In February, Harrison was sentenced to serve eight years in state prison. Court records show that Harrison was slated to be transported from the county jail to a state prison facility in May, but he died in jail before he was transferred. Investigators did not say why Harrison was taking Methadone, a medication typically used to treat opioid use disorder. Amitriptyline is an antidepressant medication. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsive medication that's also used to treat certain types of neural pain. The street race happened on Nov. 4, 2022 in Redwood City. Harrison raced his BMW against a teenager, Cesar Salto Morales, who was driving a Mercedes Benz on El Camino Real. Morales' Mercedes slammed into a Chevrolet Bolt with Spiridon, Ammen, and their two young daughters inside. The parents were killed on impact, while their daughters survived in the backseat. The family was less than 10 minutes away from their San Carlos home. Prosecutors said Harrison fled the scene, and a witness recorded his BMW's license plate number with her cellphone as he was driving away. Police found and arrested Harrison weeks later. After his in-custody death, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office and San Mateo County Coroner's Office conducted independent investigations into Harrison's cause and manner of death. The DA's investigation is still underway. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
As New York sees historic decrease in drug-related deaths, concerns rise on possible federal cuts
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – New York is seeing a historic decrease in reported drug overdose deaths. With threats of looming cuts at the federal level by President Trump's administration, local leaders that specialize in drug recovery and treatment services are sharing their concerns. Recent reporting from the CDC shows New York saw a 32 percent decrease in drug-related deaths in 2024 compared to previous rates in 2023. According to the CDC, approximately 77 percent of those deaths involved an opioid, such as heroin or fentanyl. 'I think we don't really know all the reasons why we see this dramatic decrease. We do know there have been several programs that have taken up more traction. Some of that is the overdose prevention education that the Rochester community and the country have invested in as well as the Naloxone distribution. It's also education around safer opioid prescribing practices, and access to medication like Buprenorphine and Methadone,' said Dr. Sarah Bolduc, chief medical officer for Trillium Health. During the COVID-19 pandemic, drug overdose deaths surged to record levels. With the recent decline comes concern surrounding the uncertainty for continued supports from the federal government. Leaders with Rochester-based Trillium Health and Common Ground Health both say it could put programs backed by those federal dollars in jeopardy nationwide. 'There will be no treatment services available for people who want to get into treatment. There will be no funds to continue the prevention education piece of this, which is very important in our communities. We must keep doing the work until we're told we can't do it anymore,' said Jackie Dozier, director of community health and well-being for Common Ground Health. As both local agencies continue to work to meet the needs of the community, leaders say they are bracing for any possible changes in the future. 'I think we will continue to see more deaths and see less of a decline if we have less programming and support economically for this programming in the community. We believe it's correlated. We know that things like Naloxone work, and having more ready-access and people carrying it just so they can potentially help somebody that's potentially struggling on the street, I think that's very important and all of that takes funds,' said Dr. Bolduc. Last week, hundreds of national researchers and health care providers issued a letter to Congress warning about the 'dire consequences' budget cuts would present for substance use and mental health programs in the U.S., specifically in overdose prevention. More information from New York State on the CDC's latest report can be found here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Mint
18-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Spotify's fake podcasts advertising prescription drugs sales online: How the issue surfaced and what we know so far
A CNN investigation has exposed a troubling loophole on Spotify, revealing that dozens of podcasts masquerading as legitimate shows were actually promoting illegal online pharmacies. These fake podcasts, found through searches like 'Adderall' and 'Xanax,' often featured generic or AI-generated voices pushing prescription drugs like Oxycodone, Vicodin, Methadone, and Ambien — frequently advertising 'FDA-approved delivery without prescription,' which is illegal under US law. Some podcast titles left little to the imagination — 'My Adderall Store,' 'Order Xanax 2 mg Online Big Deal On Christmas Season,' and ' — with links in episode descriptions pointing to questionable pharmacy websites. CNN's review found at least seven drug-pushing podcasts in the first 100 results when searching for 'Adderall,' and as many as 20 in the first 60 when searching 'Xanax.' These pages had existed for months in some cases and were easily discoverable on Spotify's platform. Even after the issue was flagged, CNN was able to find new fake podcasts cropping up. In some cases, shows like 'Adderall 10 mg blue pills' disappeared only after CNN engaged with them — suggesting reactive rather than proactive enforcement. After CNN said it provided Spotify with a list of 26 offending podcasts that were live as of a Thursday afternoon, the company acted within hours to remove them. However, new ones were spotted on the platform the very next morning. 'We are constantly working to detect and remove violating content across our service,' a Spotify spokesperson told CNN, acknowledging that the removed podcasts violated their rules, which ban illegal and spam content. Spotify allows open podcast publishing but enforces rules that prohibit hate speech, sexually explicit content, illegal material, and spam. Its creator guidelines also forbid content made solely to promote a product or service — particularly when such content leads users to harmful or unlawful services. The company claims to use both automated tools and human moderators to identify rule violations. Despite those efforts, online safety experts argue Spotify's current systems are insufficient. The situation has sparked fresh concerns about the role of tech platforms in preventing illicit drug sales — especially as AI tools make it easier to mass-produce spammy or dangerous content. Advocates and parents have called for stricter safeguards, citing recent teen overdose deaths from pills purchased online.
Mint
18-05-2025
- Mint
Spotify removes fake podcast pages promoting online prescription drug sales: Report
Spotify has begun removing numerous fake podcast pages that promoted the illegal sale of prescription drugs, including Adderall and Oxycodone, after a news outlet's investigation flagged the content. The podcasts, masquerading as legitimate health or comedy shows, as per CNN investigative report, directed users to questionable online pharmacies — many of which claimed to sell highly addictive medications without requiring a prescription, a violation of US law. The news outlet reported that a search for 'Adderall' on Spotify turned up podcasts titled 'My Adderall Store' and others with similarly explicit names. These pages often included links to websites that purportedly offered Adderall, Vicodin, Methadone, Ambien, and more — often with no prescription needed. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Comprehensive Healthcare Expands Same-Day Access to Include Substance Use Treatment
Community members across the Lower Yakima Valley will now receive an assessment on the day they need care YAKIMA, Wash., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Comprehensive Healthcare today announced a significant step forward in advancing substance use treatment in the Greater Columbia Region of Central Washington by offering same-day access to substance use disorder (SUD) assessments. This impactful initiative eliminates the need for intake assessment appointments, significantly reducing wait times and ensuring immediate support for community members seeking help. Like communities across the country, the Yakima Valley has seen drastic increases in substance use challenges, and as is often the case, access to care remains a critical barrier. As of last month, individuals seeking help with substance abuse in Yakima, Kittitas, Benton, Franklin and Walla Walla counties can walk into any open Comprehensive Healthcare outpatient location, receive an intake assessment on the spot and be quickly referred to one of the organization's SUD services tailored to meet their ongoing needs. 'Based on decades of delivering behavioral health care in our region, we understand the importance of meeting community members' needs when they are ready, and that's especially important among those seeking treatment for substance use disorders,' said Jodi Daly, Ph.D., CEO of Comprehensive Healthcare. 'By offering same-day assessments for SUD treatment, we're able to be there for people in that moment, and through our full spectrum of services and established resource network, we can then connect them to care that will help them navigate their journey to recovery.' Community members coming in for same-day access to SUD treatment will participate in an assessment with a substance use disorder professional (SUDP), who will evaluate their needs and determine the most appropriate course for treatment. Once the assessment is complete, individuals can be immediately referred within Comprehensive Healthcare to receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT), such as Suboxone or Methadone. In addition to prescribing MAT, the team at Comprehensive Healthcare will connect clients to services based on their level of need and treatment goals. A leader in SUD treatment, Comprehensive Healthcare offers a wide range of care options, from intensive outpatient to outpatient treatment and group counseling, to more specialized programs designed to support individuals at every stage of recovery. Some of those programs include: Sub-Acute Detox Facility: Provides community members a secure and supportive environment to safely detox. The facility, located in Yakima, accepts self-referrals, as well as referrals from family, friends, and other local first responders and medical providers. It's open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) and Mobile Medication Unit (MMU): Delivers support to community members who need help with opioid addiction through two main services: prescribing and managing medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), such as Methadone or Suboxone, and substance use disorder treatment. Hub and Spoke: Designed to expand access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT) by leveraging the strengths of Comprehensive Healthcare as the central 'hub' alongside a network of smaller, community-based 'spokes.' This collaborative approach ensures that individuals struggling with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive comprehensive, integrated care, including medication management, counseling, and essential support services. 'Over the last several years, we have bolstered our SUD treatment programs to better support community members in need, and now, we've achieved another milestone in that effort by providing same-day access for assessments,' said Jon Schlenske, Division Chief of Substance Use Disorder Treatment. 'At Comprehensive Healthcare, our goal is to be a strong, accessible resource for adults, youth and families facing SUD and mental health challenges. We're proud of our team's unwavering dedication to fulfilling that role.' The rollout of same-day access to SUD assessments is part of Comprehensive Healthcare's ongoing efforts as a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) grant recipient. Same-day access is a core principle of CCBHCs, designed to reduce delays in care and prevent no-shows, ultimately enhancing client outcomes. Comprehensive Healthcare began offering same-day access to mental health assessments in 2023, eliminating the need for appointments and adopting a walk-in format. In the year following its implementation, the organization completed more than 3,000 same-day assessments, a 17% increase. 'There are many benefits to CCBHCs, including improving same-day access to care and expanding services based on community needs, and we're proud to be realizing those benefits at Comprehensive Healthcare,' said Daly. 'This model holds great promise for the future of behavioral healthcare in our state, and we're seeing positive outcomes here in Central Washington from our current work as a grant recipient. CCBHCs provide the supportive foundation that ensures we're able to be there for those who need us, when they need us, with the right care.' Walk-in hours for same-day SUD assessments are Monday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, visit About Comprehensive Healthcare: As one of largest behavioral health organizations in the state of Washington, Comprehensive Healthcare serves clients in the Greater Columbia Region. Comprehensive Healthcare is a Joint Commission accredited organization, providing compassionate, individualized behavioral healthcare since 1972. As a non-profit organization, Comprehensive Healthcare is dedicated to delivering high quality, evidence-based services to individuals, families and organizations. To learn more, visit Comprehensive Healthcare's website at Media Contacts: Cassidy Brown Comprehensive Healthcare (509) 317-2876 McKenzie Morgan mckenzie@ in to access your portfolio
