DRUGS

As xylazine spreads across New England, New Hampshire health workers say the state could do more to warn people about its risks.

Few patients who might benefit from medications to treat an addiction to opioids receive them. Treatment programs may be inconvenient or may not have openings. One possible remedy is having pharmacists help out. A pilot program finds pharmacy-based treatment can be effective and safe.

Xylazine, a veterinary pain reliever and sedative that is not considered to be safe for humans, began being significantly detected in toxicology screens in Massachusetts in 2022.

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey's office said most of the settlement funds must be used for opioid use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services.

Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced CVS and Walgreens will pay more than $10 billion nationwide to fight the opioid epidemic, with Connecticut receiving $127 million.

State officials announced Friday that licensed hybrid retailers may begin selling cannabis products to all adults 21 and older starting on Jan. 10, 2023.

The CDC’s updated opioid prescribing guidelines include naloxone for patients on long-term opioid medication, and non-opioid pain medication for non-chronic pain.

Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl, sold via social media sites, are killing young people. Here's how parents, advocates and social media companies are trying to tackle the problem.

The State Education Resource Center plans to develop custom solutions for schools to prevent students from developing substance use disorder.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Massachusetts already has a system for clearing past marijuana convictions. But critics argue the expungement process is difficult for people to navigate, and a governor's pardon would be more efficient.