Dogwood Daily: Many Virginia pharmacies refuse to dispense lifesaving opioid antidote despite permission

Welcome to today’s edition of the Dogwood Daily. We’ve got a round-up of all of today’s Virginia news coming right up. And if you’re a fan, please forward to three friends who need to know what’s going on in the Commonwealth and tell them to subscribe here. 

But First…

How does a Festival of Cheese sound? Great, right? How about an outdoor movie screening? Or, if you’re feeling civically engaged, what about a congressional town hall? If any of those strike your fancy, check out our upcoming events calendar. No matter where you live in Virginia, we’ve got you covered.

5 Things you need to know today

1. Trump threatens another tariff on China – President Trump said on Thursday that he would impose a 10% tariff on an additional $300 billion worth of Chinese imports next month, escalating his trade war that has already devastated farmers across the country, including those in Virginia. The Trump administration has made billions of dollars in payments to help farmers weather the storm, but most of that money has gone to the biggest and most successful farms; a recent analysis found that the top 20% of payment recipients in Virginia received $62,327 each, while the bottom 80% received an average of just $6,477. – The New York Times / The Dogwood
   
   
2. Meth arrests and overdoses spike in Virginia – Methamphetamine arrests and overdose deaths are surging in Virginia, according to data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The first three months of 2019 saw 47 deaths from meth overdoses in Virginia, making it the deadliest quarter in over a decade. The office is projecting that there will be 160 meth-related deaths in 2019, up from 127 last year. There’s also been an increase in meth-related arrests, which jumped from 2,500 in 2017 to 3,500 in 2018. – The Virginia Mercury
   
   
3. 1 in 5 Virginia pharmacies is refusing to dispense lifesaving opioid antidote despite state’s permission – About 20% of Virginia pharmacies refuse to dispense naloxone without a doctor’s note, even though Virginia’s top health official issued a “standing order” in 2016 which allows pharmacies to distribute the lifesaving opioid antidote. The “standing order” means that anyone should be able to walk into a pharmacy without a doctor’s note and get a dose, but reporters at the Daily Press and The Virginian-Pilot found many pharmacists were confused or unaware of the standing order. – The Virginian-Pilot
   
   
4. Negotiations over $1.5 billion Richmond Coliseum redevelopment deal are complete, Mayor says – Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney announced on Thursday that he has completed negotiations over a $1.5 billion deal to redevelop the Richmond Coliseum and the surrounding area. The redevelopment plan also includes a new GRTC transit center, office space, a Hyatt hotel and 2,500 new units of housing. The proposal now goes to the City Council for approval, and faces at least one other hurdle: Local activist Paul Goldman is pushing for a ballot referendum that would redirect the incremental tax revenues that are financing Stoney’s plan towards schools, instead. – WCVE News
   
   
5. Northern Virginia could get federal aid after July flood damage – After devastating floods caused at least $14 million in damage in Fairfax County, the county is now optimistic that a federal disaster declaration will be approved. Arlington County is awaiting a disaster designation based on damage assessments, and such a designation would allow homeowners and businesses in Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax County to apply for low-interest federal loans to help pay for repairs. Fairfax County Emergency Management Coordinator Seamus Mooney expects the designation to be approved within the next two weeks. – WTOP

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