ROC Weekly News Bites

"Gas Station Heroin," House Full of Children Treated for Overdose, and "Prolonged Grief Disorder" Now Recognized by APA

Here is a recap of some of the top industry-related news stories of the week:

State health officials sounding alarm on “gas station heroin”

It’s been described as “gas station heroin” - a drug that people of all ages can legally buy at the local convenience store.

The Mississippi State Department of Health recently released a Health Action Network (HAN) Alert on tianeptine.

The drug, which is marketed to do everything from treat anxiety to help opioid addiction, is typically sold under names like ZaZa, Tianna, and Red Dawn.

Since July 2020, the Mississippi Poison Control Center has received 11 tianeptine exposure-related calls.

Four people were hospitalized as a result of their exposure to the substance, with 36% of victims reporting chest pain or hypertension and 18% reporting diarrhea or vomiting.

73% of those calling in told poison officials they purchased the drug at a local gas station, the HAN states.

The drug has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Dr. Daniel Edney, deputy state health officer, urged people to avoid the substance, saying it could be especially hard on those with a predisposition to addiction and those with a history of opioid abuse.

See the original article.

House full of children- all under age 8- rushed to hospital, treated for overdose

A house full of children under the age of eight in Hopewell, Virginia were rushed to the hospital and treated for an overdose.

Hopewell Police were called to a house where four children — ages one, two, three and four — were found unresponsive.

Three more kids were found in a different part of the apartment. These children were awake, but were lethargic.

At this time, investigators believe that a seven-year-old child gave the children his sleeping pills.

"They were left unsupervised for a short period of time and one of the kids that have prescription medication got into it and shared with the other children here," Lt. Cheyenne Casale with the Hopewell Police said.

Investigators said the pill bottle found didn't have a label on it. However, after questioning the seven-year-old and consulting with doctors, they were able to determine that sleeping pills are the focal point.

The adult who was supervising the children left to go to a corner store and returned to find the children in the condition they were in. This adult then called 911, according to police.

See the original article.

'Prolonged Grief Disorder' is now recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a real disorder, opening doors for more funding and research

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) now recognized “Prolonged Grief Disorder” as an official psychiatric ailment, a long sought after change.

America's most influential organization in the field released its latest edition of its Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), and added “Prolonged Grief Disorder” to its listing.

Experts have long called for “grief” to be considered an official disorder when people feel it for longer than usual six month period.

Now, with its official inclusion, researchers and medical professionals should have easier access to funds and resources to investigate the condition and its causes.

While the loss of a friend, family member, or other tragedies will obviously spur feelings of grief in someone, intense grief is not expected to last for more than six months.

See the original article.

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