Fact Sheets

June 6, 2023 | Fact Sheets, Novel Psychoactive Substances, Substance Misuse, Synthetic Drugs

The Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association is monitoring the emergence of novel psychoactive substances appearing on the illicit drug market in the United States. The term “novel” does not denote a new, never-before-seen substance but rather a substance that is newly available in the drug market. This fact sheet examines isotonitazene, a synthetic opioid, recently classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act, that is 500 times more potent than morphine. Experts believe that isotonitazene is mixed into other drugs to make the combined product more potent and profitable for the dealer. Law enforcement reports encountering isotonitazene both in powder form, which appears yellow, brown, or off-white in color, and also as counterfeit pills. Based on the most recent data available as of June 2021, there have been more than 250 reported fatalities in the U.S. involving isotonitazene....

January 6, 2023 | Controlled Substances, Fact Sheets, Fentanyl, Kratom, Marijuana, Methamphetamine, Novel Psychoactive Substances, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Stimulants, Substance Misuse, Synthetic Drugs

Millions of people throughout the world use social media platforms (or “apps”) that provide an easy avenue to reach a large number of people. Legitimate businesses are not the only ones to use social media apps as a marketing tool. In recent years, drug dealers have turned to such apps to solicit buyers and arrange sales. This fact sheet examines the growing use of social media, by drug suppliers, to surreptitiously advertise to a wide audience, by using apps that offer encrypted or disappearing messages....

December 7, 2022 | Controlled Substances, Criminal Justice, Fact Sheets, Opioids, Substance Misuse, Treatments

Withdrawal syndrome occurs in individuals who have developed physiological dependence on a substance and who discontinue or reduce their use of that substance. Individuals who use drugs or alcohol prior to incarceration may experience the onset of withdrawal syndrome while in a correctional setting, leading to illness or death. This fact sheet provides an overview on the management of withdrawal symptoms of individuals in the corrections system....

November 1, 2022 | Controlled Substances, Fact Sheets, Fetal and Infant Health, Maternal Health, Opioids, Substance Misuse, Treatments

There are a number of expert recommendations regarding how to identify, work with, and treat pregnant and postpartum women with SUD to ensure the best outcomes for both parent and child. There are also legal requirements regarding notification to state child welfare agencies of infants born affected by prenatal substance exposure or experiencing withdrawal and the creation of family care plans (also known as plans of safe care). This fact sheet provides readers with an overview of those recommendations and requirements....

October 5, 2022 | Controlled Substances, Fact Sheets, Opioids

Kratom is an herb that is derived from a leafy Southeast Asian tree, known formally as Mitragyna speciosa. It contains two psychoactive compounds, mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which can produce a pharmacological response that is similar to that produced by morphine. Federal regulators and kratom organizations are at odds about the potential dangers (or lack thereof) of kratom and how kratom should be regulated. In addition to federal regulatory battles, some state and local governments have implemented regulatory controls on kratom. ...

September 1, 2022 | Fact Sheets, Novel Psychoactive Substances, Opioids, Public Safety, Stimulants, Substance Misuse, Synthetic Drugs

The Legislative Analysis and Public Policy Association is monitoring the emergence of novel psychoactive substances appearing on the illicit drug market in the United States. The term “novel” does not denote a new, never-before-seen substance but rather a substance that is newly available in the drug market. This fact sheet,  examines pyro, a relatively new high potency synthetic opioid increasing in prevalence in the U.S. Pyro belongs to an opioid subclass of NPS called 2-benezylbenzimidazoles, or nitazenes, and is structurally similar to etonitazene, a synthetic opioid that is nationally and internationally controlled. N-pyrrolidino etonitazene is not described or mentioned in any medical literature or patents, meaning that it is a truly “novel” NPS and likely developed independently from the pharmaceutical industry. Researchers believe that N-pyrrolidino etonitazene is coming to the U.S. via purchases on the dark web and is likely being produced in China. N-pyrrolidino etonitazene can be found in powder form or pressed into pills to resemble other substances. Studies estimate that N-pyrrolidino etonitazene is over 800 times more potent than morphine and 20-40 times more potent than fentanyl. Like other opioids, N-pyrrolidino etonitazene use can potentially cause fatal respiratory depression in the person ingesting the drug. However, because...

July 14, 2022 | Alcohol, Controlled Substances, Fact Sheets, Harm Reduction, Opioids, Prescription Drugs, Public Health, Recovery, Substance Misuse, Treatments

Recovery residences provide a sober, safe, and healthy living environment that promotes recovery from alcohol and other drug use and associated problems. These residences are commonly referred to by a number of names, including sober living houses, sober living environments, and recovery homes, and their primary purpose is to provide a home-like environment for individuals in recovery from substance use disorder to help sustain that recovery....

April 14, 2022 | Fact Sheets, First Responders, Harm Reduction, Naloxone, Opioid Antagonists, Opioids, Public Health, Public Safety, Sharps/Syringes

Naloxone is an emergency opioid antagonist that works by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. Specifically, naloxone prevents decreased breathing which typically happens when someone overdoses on an opioid and must be given when someone shows the first sign of an overdose. Naloxone access laws delineate how someone may legally access naloxone in a particular state or jurisdiction. This includes which individuals can prescribe, dispense, or administer naloxone and what forms of civil or criminal immunity are provided, if any, for the use of the opioid reversal drug. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have some form of naloxone access law. This fact sheet provides readers with an overview of what naloxone is and a brief overview of naloxone access law across the United States....