Addiction news covering opioids, alcohol, treatment access, harm reduction, overdose trends, and recovery policy.
Law enforcement sources indicate actress Hayden Panettiere died after taking a single oxycodone pill laced with fentanyl at her Greenville, South Carolina residence. The DEA is focusing on incriminating text messages between Panettiere and her alleged dealer Brian Hickerson as part of the investigation into her death.
Attorney General Todd Blanche has pledged to charge drug dealers who sell fentanyl-laced pills as murderers, citing the recent death of actress Hayden Panettiere. Blanche stated that proving a dealer sold a lethal pill to a victim constitutes a federal crime punishable by prison, marking a significant escalation in the legal response to the opioid crisis.
Health officials report at least 55 deaths linked to cychlorphine, a potent synthetic opioid, across the United States since 2025. San Francisco and Tennessee have seen significant fatalities, prompting warnings that this new class of drugs may signal a fresh wave of the opioid crisis.
The Seattle Times reports on the emergence of cychlorphine, a novel synthetic opioid, following the death of a San Francisco teenager. The article details how this new drug evaded standard fentanyl tests and prompted health officials to issue warnings about its lethal potency.
R. Eric Thomas advises a reader on managing a friend who remains behaviorally problematic despite achieving sobriety from long-term addiction. The columnist suggests that while sobriety is a milestone, true recovery requires behavioral change, recommending the reader set clear boundaries without assuming responsibility for the friend's rehabilitation.
The article highlights research by Professor Ju Lee Oei and others into the long-term effects of methadone exposure on infants. It argues that while neonatal treatment has improved, significant gaps remain in understanding developmental issues like attention deficits, necessitating collaborative efforts between scientists and those with lived experience to improve outcomes.
The advice column suggests that while sobriety is a significant milestone, it does not immediately resolve behavioral issues stemming from long-term addiction. It advises setting personal boundaries with recovering individuals rather than forcing intervention, emphasizing that recovery is a gradual process requiring individual accountability.
Dr. Drew Pinsky suggests that Hayden Panettiere may have hidden a drug relapse prior to her suspected death from a fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill. The DEA is investigating her longtime Los Angeles drug dealer rather than her partner Brian Hickerson, who has not been charged with any crime.
The New York Post argues that a Penn State fraternity cocaine bust reveals a broader trend of stimulant use among young people in rural America. The commentary cites officials noting a shift from opiates to stimulants like methamphetamine and synthetic drugs, suggesting the incident reflects a wider public health crisis on college campuses.
The article argues that Quaaludes are experiencing a resurgence in underground drug markets, driven by renewed interest following their depiction in The Wolf of Wall Street. It notes that the film's portrayal of the drug's effects has inspired new demand and production among users seeking similar euphoric states.