The Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with nearly 4,000 law enforcement partners across the country, will host the 29 th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day this Saturday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. At nearly 4,000 collection sites throughout the United States, DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day encourages Americans to safely and…
A new substance trend is raising red flags: “Feel Free,” a beverage containing kratom, a plant with opioid-like effects, is being sold in small blue bottles at gas stations, vape shops, and online. Marketed as an alcohol alternative or “wellness tonic,” this product can pose serious risks to health and safety. What’s Going On What…
The DEA’s newly released 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment reveals a deeply concerning trend: veterinary medications are increasingly being misused in the illicit drug supply. The animal tranquilizer xylazine—often called “tranq”—continues to be the most common additive found in fentanyl powder. Even more alarming, a newer veterinary sedative, medetomidine, is now appearing in street fentanyl…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is calling on manufacturers of nicotine pouches to adopt child-resistant packaging, following a concerning rise in accidental poisonings among young children. What the FDA Found What FDA Is Recommending Why This Matters Many nicotine pouch products have bright colors, fruity flavors, or packaging that could appeal to children, making…
A new and extremely dangerous class of synthetic opioids, nicknamed “Frankenstein Opioids,” has been seized in all 50 states, alarming health experts and law enforcement across the country. What Are Frankenstein Opioids? Frankenstein opioids, also known as nitazenes, were first developed in the 1950s as potential pain relievers but were never approved for medical use.…
The Maryland Department of Health has released the Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology (DOSE) Annual Report for 2023, analyzing suspected non-fatal overdose trends across the state. Using emergency medical services (EMS) and emergency department (ED) data, the report provides an important look at overdose patterns. While non-fatal suspected overdose rates statewide decreased by 15% in…
HC DrugFree is pleased to share a new educational flyer from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), developed in partnership with CADCA: “Fentanyl: What You Need to Know.” This simple, easy-to-read resource highlights the urgent dangers of fentanyl and provides families and communities with facts that can save lives. Why This Matters The flyer…
Quitting vaping is tough. Nicotine withdrawal can lead to heightened stress, irritability, and anxiety. This makes support from friends and family more important than ever to help someone stay positive and focused. Practical Ways to Help Supporting someone through their quit-vaping journey takes empathy, patience, and the right tools. Your encouragement, combined with trusted resources…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced major changes to the safety labeling of opioid pain medications to better inform patients and health care providers about the risks of these drugs. Key Labeling Updates: Why This Matters These changes are designed to help patients, families, and prescribers make better-informed decisions and to improve…
While fentanyl continues to dominate headlines, a far more deadly class of synthetic opioids called nitazenes is quietly infiltrating the drug supply across the Americas, according to experts monitoring overdose trends. What Are Nitazenes? Nitazenes were first developed in the 1950s but were never approved for medical use because of their extreme potency. Today, they…
