Charles McClure, M.D., FHM
Addiction Medicine Physician ChristianaCare
- Wilmington DE
Charles McClure, M.D, FHM, is a board-certified addiction medicine/family practice physician at ChristianaCare.
Biography
Areas of Expertise
Education
Thomas Jefferson University
M.D.
Medicine
1997
Villanova University
BSG
Science
1989
Multimedia
Links and Image Galleries
Media Appearances
An Inside Look at Opioid Addiction in Delaware
Delaware Today print
2023-09-29
Charles McClure, M.D., an addiction specialist at ChristianaCare, says the overwhelming majority of patients he screens for xylazine test positive for the substance.
“For humans, it’s very toxic. It causes horrible wounds and can cause overdoses that don’t respond well to Narcan,” he explains. The BHC has awarded a number of grants to fund wound care for people who inject xylazine, including $390,000 to Brandywine Counseling.
Xylazine costs less than fentanyl, produces a longer high and can be legally purchased since it is approved for use on animals, all of which have made it increasingly popular among drug traffickers.
Because xylazine is not an opioid, naloxone doesn’t reverse its effects on a person who has overdosed. For years, advocates and healthcare providers have worked to increase awareness and distribution of naloxone among first responders, educators, social workers and people who use illicit drugs. Now xylazine is thwarting this powerful lifesaving tool.
