Washington Free Beacon

Drugs

Drug Deaths Dip in 2018, CDC Says

Analysis: Slight overall decline masks increases in fentanyl, cocaine, meth deaths


The number of drug overdose deaths fell slightly in 2018, preliminary data released Wednesday indicate, causing government officials to claim that they are "beginning to win the fight against this crisis."

Prescription Limits May Increase Opioid Exposure

Paper assesses effectiveness of prescription length limits, monitoring systems


A paper released Monday found that a popular policy designed to combat opioid abuse may unintentionally expose more people to the highly addictive drugs. It looks at how two policies — initial prescription limits and must-access prescription drug monitoring programs — affect "opioid-naïve" individuals’ exposure to prescription painkillers.

Pompeo Monitoring Drug War in China, Latin America

Secretary of State reviews progress, challenges in drug war at Senate hearing


Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday that the United States is making progress in an increasingly global drug war, although Chinese drug gangs and the "Maduro mafia" are posing major barriers to success.