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Are fentanyl test strips the answer to stopping more deadly overdoses

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

This article is part of the WTOP series, “Facing Down Fentanyl: Teens Confront Drug Danger.”This May 10, 2018 photo shows an arrangement of fentanyl test strips in New York. Sales of fentanyl test strips have exploded as a growing number of overdose-prevention programs hand them out to people who use illicit drugs. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)In the fight against fentanyl, harm reduction for those who use the drug is also an important part of the equation, experts say. Harm reduction puts a focus on reducing some safety and health issues that come with illegal drug use.One tool to make sure people using illicit drugs are not unknowingly consuming fentanyl is by providing fentanyl test strips, or FTS. The test strips allow someone to test a pill for the presence of fentanyl.The strips are becoming more available as states begin removing them from lists of known “drug paraphernalia.”In Maryland and Virginia, the test strips are legal, and in D.C. they have been decriminalized.One Bethesda...

Schmitt leads Giants against the Diamondbacks following 4-hit performance

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

San Francisco Giants (17-20, fourth in the NL West) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (20-18, second in the NL West)Phoenix; Friday, 9:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Ross Stripling (0-2, 6.66 ERA, 1.52 WHIP, 22 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Ryne Nelson (1-2, 6.00 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 22 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -118, Diamondbacks -102; over/under is 9 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants take on the Arizona Diamondbacks after Casey Schmitt’s four-hit game on Thursday.Arizona is 20-18 overall and 11-10 in home games. Diamondbacks hitters have a collective .330 on-base percentage, the third-ranked percentage in the NL.San Francisco has a 7-10 record in road games and a 17-20 record overall. The Giants are 7-17 in games when they have given up at least one home run.Friday’s game is the second meeting between these teams this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Christian Walker has nine home runs, nine walks and 28 RBI while hitting .275 for the Diamondbacks. Domini...

Review: Amazon series ‘The Power’ drops season finale in electrifying mosaic of literal ‘girl power’

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley reviews 'The Power' on Amazon Prime Video $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); In 2016, readers were riveted by Naomi Alderman’s bestselling sci-fi novel “The Power.”Now, it’s a captivating TV drama that wraps up its first season this Friday on Amazon Prime Video.The series is set in our world but with one important sci-fi twist. On a seemingly ordinary day, young wo...

Dodgers host the Padres to begin 3-game series

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

San Diego Padres (19-19, third in the NL West) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (23-15, first in the NL West)Los Angeles; Friday, 10:10 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Padres: Blake Snell (1-5, 5.14 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 39 strikeouts); Dodgers: Dustin May (4-1, 2.68 ERA, .94 WHIP, 29 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Dodgers -144, Padres +123; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres to open a three-game series.Los Angeles has a 12-6 record at home and a 23-15 record overall. The Dodgers have a 16-3 record in games when they record at least eight hits.San Diego has gone 9-8 on the road and 19-19 overall. The Padres are 15-2 in games when they scored at least five runs.The matchup Friday is the fourth time these teams match up this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Freddie Freeman has six home runs, 18 walks and 17 RBI while hitting .296 for the Dodgers. Will Smith is 12-for-36 with three doubles, three home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 games.Xander Bogaerts...

Marlins begin 3-game series with the Reds

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (16-21, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Miami Marlins (19-19, second in the NL East)Miami; Friday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Graham Ashcraft (2-1, 3.82 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 30 strikeouts); Marlins: Eury Perez (0-0)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -145, Reds +123; over/under is 7 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Miami Marlins host the Cincinnati Reds on Friday to open a three-game series.Miami is 10-9 in home games and 19-19 overall. The Marlins have the 10th-ranked team ERA in the NL at 4.58.Cincinnati has a 16-21 record overall and a 4-12 record in road games. The Reds have the ninth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .245.The matchup Friday is the first meeting this season between the two teams.TOP PERFORMERS: Jorge Soler leads the Marlins with 18 extra base hits (nine doubles and nine home runs). Jesus Sanchez is 14-for-35 with seven doubles, two home runs and nine RBI over the last 10 games.TJ Friedl has five doubles, three triples, three home runs and 18...

Nationals host the Mets, try to extend home win streak

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

New York Mets (18-20, fourth in the NL East) vs. Washington Nationals (16-21, fifth in the NL East)Washington; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Tylor Megill (3-2, 4.33 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 27 strikeouts); Nationals: MacKenzie Gore (3-2, 3.65 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 48 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Mets -131, Nationals +111; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals host the New York Mets trying to continue a three-game home winning streak.Washington has gone 6-12 in home games and 16-21 overall. The Nationals have the fifth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .259.New York is 11-12 in road games and 18-20 overall. The Mets have gone 10-19 in games when they have allowed at least one home run.Friday’s game is the fourth time these teams meet this season.TOP PERFORMERS: Joey Meneses has a .288 batting average to lead the Nationals, and has seven doubles and two home runs. Luis Garcia is 14-for-40 with a home run and three RBI over the past 10 game...

Phillies bring 3-game win streak into matchup with the Rockies

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (18-19, third in the NL East) vs. Colorado Rockies (16-22, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Friday, 8:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Taijuan Walker (3-2, 5.97 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, 35 strikeouts); Rockies: Austin Gomber (3-4, 6.75 ERA, 1.59 WHIP, 22 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Phillies -147, Rockies +126; over/under is 11 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Philadelphia Phillies will attempt to prolong a three-game win streak with a victory over the Colorado Rockies.Colorado has a 7-9 record at home and a 16-22 record overall. The Rockies are 12-1 in games when they did not give up a home run.Philadelphia is 7-12 on the road and 18-19 overall. The Phillies have the eighth-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .323.Friday’s game is the fifth time these teams meet this season. The Phillies are up 3-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Elias Diaz has six doubles, three home runs and 18 RBI for the Rockies. Ezequiel Tovar is 10-for-37 with four doubl...

Physical altercation involving staff member prompts investigation at Mattapan school

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

An investigation got underway Thursday after a physical altercation involving a staff member at a school in Mattapan, school officials said. In a letter sent to parents about the incident, Mattahunt Elementary School Principal Walter Henderson said multiple students witnessed when a staff member had a “verbal and physical altercation” in the school’s cafeteria Thursday afternoon.“School staff contacted BPS Safety Services to provide assistance,” Henderson said. “School leadership will investigate this incident, and if necessary, will take all appropriate actions.”Henderson said students who watched the incident unfold later had an opportunity to voice their concerns and ask questions.“The Mattahunt School, alongside the entire Boston Public Schools, is committed to fostering environments where all students feel safe, respected, and academically challenged,” Henderson continued. “While personnel matters are confidential, please know that all Boston Public Schools staff is held t...

Guregian: Patriots schedule is a doozy no matter which way you slice it

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

FOXBORO – Let’s face it, even though we now know the Patriots schedule, and which order they’re going to play each opponent, it doesn’t change the outlook all that much.Whether they start with the Philadelphia Eagles on Tom Brady night, and close out the regular season with the New York Jets, the degree of difficulty hasn’t changed.The schedule, which includes at least four primetime games, remains a doozy.It was going to be tough no matter which way the games wound up falling. The order is one thing. But the star power under center is another with two-time Super Bowl winner Patrick Mahomes, Philadelphia’s budding star Jalen Hurts, and New York’s Aaron Rodgers included in the mix.Case in point, even sporting a top 10 defense, the Patriots have struggled against the elite quarterbacks in recent years. By extension, they haven’t fared particularly well against the NFL’s high-powered offenses.In 2023, they have to face a boatload of the NFL’s top QBs...

The Orioles’ defense hasn’t been what it was in 2022. They believe that’s starting to change.

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 14:43:02 GMT

The 2022 Orioles were a winning team because of their defense. The 2023 Orioles, so far, have won in spite of their defense.A year after ranking in the top 10 in several defensive metrics, Baltimore ranks in the bottom 10 in many of them through their first 37 games of this season.Those numbers, however, have been improving in recent weeks, and it’s not just the spreadsheets that suggest the Orioles’ defense is finding its footing. Manager Brandon Hyde and some of the club’s most important defenders believe they’re turning a corner after a rough start.“I feel like we’re getting our feet up under us,” infielder Gunnar Henderson said. “We’re starting to see it come around and we’re seeing us making the plays that you see us normally make.”The Orioles (24-13) ended April with a minus-12 figure, according to FanGraphs, for defensive runs saved, which rates individual players as above or below average on defense. Nine game...