Search Results for keywords:"opioid crisis"

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has submitted a proposal for the Needle Exchange Utilization Survey (NEXUS) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This survey aims to gather data on drug use, prevention behaviors, and infectious disease consequences in areas affected by the opioid crisis, focusing on urban and non-urban regions. The public has an additional 30 days to comment on the proposal. The CDC plans to use the data to improve prevention efforts and policymaking, especially in response to rising HIV and Hepatitis C cases linked to drug use.

The Department of Health and Human Services has announced changes to the drug testing panels used in Federal workplace testing programs. The revised panels now include fentanyl and its metabolite norfentanyl, reflecting changes in drug use patterns and safety concerns, particularly related to the opioid crisis. Although there was a proposal to remove MDMA and MDA from the tests due to their low detection rates, this has been postponed for further study. These updates aim to improve the accuracy and relevance of drug tests, balancing scientific evidence, and public input to maintain workplace safety.

The President issued Executive Order 14228, amending a previous order (Executive Order 14195) to increase tariffs on products from China from 10% to 20%. This decision was made because the Chinese government has not taken adequate steps to address the inflow of synthetic opioids, like fentanyl, which poses a threat to U.S. national security and economy. The order underscores that it is consistent with applicable law and does not confer any new rights enforceable at law.