UMASS TOX Blog

Hepatitis A and the Opioid Crisis

As the opioid crisis continues, other health consequences of drug use are on the rise. Since 2016, hepatitis A has caused more than 230 deaths. As of August, 2019, there were 494 cases of hepatitis A in Massachusetts (and seven deaths) since the onset of the local outbreak…

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One Year with the Overdose Prevention Fund

This year’s International Overdose Awareness Day (August 31st) marks an important milestone for the UMass Memorial Division of Medical Toxicology – one year since the launch of the Overdose Prevention Fund. In an effort to express our appreciation for those who have already pledged their support to the…

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Loperamide: How An Anti-Diarrheal Causes Cardiac Arrest

WHAT IS LOPERAMIDE? Loperamide (known in the United States as the over-the-counter medication Imodium) was discovered  in 1969, and is used world-wide as an anti-diarrheal medications. Recently there have been a significant increase in cases of cardiac arrest associated with taking large doses of loperamide, either in attempt to…

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The Kim Jong Nam Assassination

Toxicology has been front and center in the media recently with the high-profile assassination of Kim Jong-nam ( the estranged half-brother of North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un, at the airport in Kuala Lumpur. Preliminary reports from the Malaysian government suggest that VX nerve agent was the murder…

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What is Sassafras?

Recently, we’ve had several adults report using Sassafras (or “Sass”) to get high at concerts and in social situations. In researching sassafras, this is what we learned. Like Sassafras… the plant? Sort of. Safrole (4-allyl-1,2-methylenedioxy-benzene) is a phenylpropene oil derived from sassafras plants (typically root bark and fruits)….

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Should Kratom Become a Schedule I Drug?

On August 31, 2016, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) temporarily placed mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine into Schedule I status, then withdrew the intent to schedule in favor of a public comment period until December 1, 2016. The status of Kratom remains undetermined. Mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine are the active alkaloids…

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