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Kratom, a tropical botanical product that produces stimulant effects at low doses and opioid-like effects at higher doses, has become a central focus of public health discussions due to its potential for physical dependence and adverse health events. While Nevada initially pioneered a harm-reduction model through the 2019 Kratom Consumer Protection Act to regulate adult sales, product labeling, and purity, rising health concerns over high-potency extracts have led state regulators and the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy to evaluate classifying kratom as a Schedule I controlled substance. A total statewide ban would criminalize possession and sale, highlighting a ongoing public health debate between proponents of prohibition who seek to eliminate unregulated, high-risk products and harm-reduction advocates who warn that a ban could push individuals relying on kratom for pain or recovery back toward far more dangerous illicit substances.
The Nevada Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) team has released October updates, including new monthly surveillance reports and upcoming office hours for partners interested in overdose data.
The TMCC Counseling Center and Wake Up Nevada marked the completion of a new community partnership with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 21 at Truckee Meadows Community College's Dandini campus. The event celebrated the installation of a free naloxone (Narcan) access box near the campus's RTC bus waiting area, making the overdose-reversal medication free and anonymous for students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community.
This September, in recognition of National Recovery Month, we're highlighting organizations across Nevada that support people and families affected by substance use and recovery. First up: Shine A Light Foundation in Southern Nevada.
Shine A Light Foundation serves individuals experiencing homelessness and substance use disorder throughout Southern Nevada, with a particular focus on individuals living in the flood channels, tunnels, encampments, and other areas not traditionally reached by services.
The Nevada Overdose Data to Action (OD2A) team has released September updates, including new monthly surveillance reports and upcoming office hours for partners interested in overdose data.
Overdose Awareness Month and International Overdose Awareness Day (observed annually on August 31) serve as pivotal moments to educate the public, dismantle pervasive social stigma, and highlight life-saving interventions that can turn the tide of this epidemic.