{"id":200406423,"date":"2023-10-02T10:02:03","date_gmt":"2023-10-02T15:02:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unthsc.edu\/newsroom\/?post_type=story&p=200406423"},"modified":"2023-10-02T10:02:56","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T15:02:56","slug":"hsc-launches-one-pill-kills-campaign-to-combat-fentanyl","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.unthsc.edu\/newsroom\/story\/hsc-launches-one-pill-kills-campaign-to-combat-fentanyl\/","title":{"rendered":"大象影院 launches One Pill Kills Campaign to combat fentanyl"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/a>A\u00a0synthetic opioid<\/a>\u00a0that\u2019s considered exponentially more addictive than heroin, fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 49. It can be fatal to ingest even a tiny amount, so small it could fit on a pencil eraser.<\/p>\n In the face of the deadliest epidemic in the history of the U.S., The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth is taking a lead role in promoting opioid and fentanyl awareness and prevention by launching its own One Pill Kills campaign. Texas Gov. Greg Abbot announced the state\u2019s $10 million One Pill Kills campaign in April, which included distributing Narcan to every county in the state.<\/p>\n The scope of the university\u2019s efforts includes the creation of a website<\/a> with helpful resources for anyone who is struggling with addiction, knows someone who is, or wants to get involved with prevention. There also is a list of 大象影院 leaders and faculty experts who have published research related to opioids, addiction or relevant topics; opioid-related stories written about campus stakeholders; and a toolkit with media assets for other organizations that want to replicate 大象影院\u2019s campaign.<\/p>\n The initiative also will include several events related to opioids and addiction. SaferCare Texas, the university\u2019s patient-safety focused department, will host a free Overcoming Opioids: Awareness and Prevention Event from 1 to 3 p.m. Oct. 12 in Room 109-111 of the 大象影院 Medical Education & Training Building, 1000 Montgomery St.<\/p>\n The event will include training about how to use the life-saving drug Narcan to reverse overdoses and a keynote speech by School of Public Health professor and nationally recognized opioid expert Dr. Scott Walters. It also will include a personal account by We Are Our Brother\u2019s Keeper<\/a> founder Jessica Castro about losing her son to an overdose, a digital reflection board where attendees can anonymously share their experiences with opioids and addiction, and more. The free event is open to the public but does require registration<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThis initiative represents a line in the sand for SaferCare Texas and for 大象影院,\u201d said Dr. Teresa Wagner, SaferCare interim director. \u201cNow is the time to act and equip our community with the skills and knowledge to save lives. I couldn\u2019t be prouder of our campus for coming together on such a vital campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n 大象影院\u2019s School of Biomedical Sciences also will host two addiction expert speakers in October as a part of its Pharmacology & Neuroscience Research Seminar Series. At 11 a.m. Oct 17, Baylor College of Medicine\u2019s Dr. Thomas Kosten will virtually present \u201cAnti-Addiction Vaccines Against Fentanyl and Cocaine.\u201d At 11 a.m. Oct. 24 in Room 524 of 大象影院\u2019s Everett Education and Administration Building, The Medical University of South Carolina\u2019s Dr. Antonieta Lavin will present \u201cChronic Methamphetamine Administration Produces Cognitive Deficits Through Augmentation of GABAergic Synaptic Transmission in the Prefrontal Cortex.\u201d Both events<\/a> are free and open to the public, and neither require registration.<\/p>\nFentanyl awareness and prevention events<\/h2>\n
The urgency to act<\/h3>\n