Story Search Results

Advanced Search

There are so many ways to search the solutions journalism stories in this database. Explore our searchable fields:

Search Results

You searched for: -

There are 258 results for your search. View and Refine Your Search Terms

The drug that saved the people who overdosed in Chico

Soumya Karlamangla

January 20, 2019 |

Los Angeles Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chico, California

To reduce deaths caused by overdosing, Chico police have begun carrying naloxone in their squad cars to administer on site, rather than waiting for paramedics to arrive. Although not all police departments have participated in this approach, there is a growing drive to make it the standard.

Read More
Go to Original Story
How Vancouver is saving addicts' lives

Jeremy Cooke

January 08, 2019 |

BBC |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia

Rather than treat opioid users like criminals, Vancouver has deemed it a public health crisis. The city, especially its downtown east side, witnessed 1,500 deaths in just one year from opioid use. Its approach is unique and multi-pronged – making Narcan, an overdose antidote, available to everyone, opening safe injection sites, and having a police presence – without arrests – on blocks where using remains high.

Read More
Go to Original Story
BA boy and his 'Bigs:' Not just friends, they're family

Shawne K. Wickham

December 22, 2018 |

New Hampshire Union Leader |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Somersworth, New Hampshire

Big Brothers Big Sisters New Hampshire is helping children impacted by substance abuse in their families by offering services and supports through mentorship. The program has existed for more than 50 years and has recently seen a rise in kids looking for guidance in the wake of the opioid epidemic.

Read More
Go to Original Story
For One Rural Community, Fighting Addiction Started With Recruiting The Right Doctor

Bram Sable-Smith

December 09, 2018 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Madison

Rural communities need more than medication to deal with the opioid crisis; in one rural region of northern Wisconsin, a specialist doctor is able to prescribe Suboxone, but the programs he advocates for take a more comprehensive approach to addiction services. The initiative includes group sessions and one-on-one support to help rural residents get the care they need.

Read More
Go to Original Story
School-Based Counselors Help Kids Cope With Fallout From Drug Addiction

Rachel Gotbaum

December 05, 2018 |

NPR |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

In order to deal with the opioid crisis, schools in Massachusetts are hiring counselors to support teachers and their students. In Cape Cod alone, 17 schools hired outside counselors, while 50 schools throughout the state did the same. The schools that are offering these services reported improvements in academic performance. "Their day runs smoother. They can get out their anxiety while they're in school instead of bottling it up, and then go back to class and continue learning.”

Read More
Go to Original Story
The for-profit company that turned around Maine's failing addiction treatment initiative

Jackie Farwell

November 26, 2018 |

Bangor Daily News |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Maine

Groups Recover Together is a for-profit clinic in Maine that helps treat people addicted to opioids. It prescribes buprenorphine, provides weekly counseling, and serves around 600 people a week at 60 clinics in the country. Its retention rates are well above the national average.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Rhode Island Prisons Push To Get Inmates The Best Treatment For Opioid Addiction

Andrea Hsu Ari Shapiro

November 19, 2018 |

NPR |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Rhode Island

In order to reduce opioid related deaths, Rhode Island has taken a rare step among state prisons: offer medication and drug counseling to opioid addicts. The Rhode Island Department of Corrections gives small doses of either methadone, buprenorphine or naltrexone to inmates, as well as drug counseling. "I still have to fight the other drugs… But at least I have something to help with one of the ones that's brought me closer to death than anything else." Evidence show the program is working. There was "a significant drop in overdose deaths among people recently released from prison."

Read More
Go to Original Story
This Chemical Is So Hot It Destroys Nerve Fibers—in a Good Way

Matt Simon

November 14, 2018 |

Wired |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, San Diego, California

Doctors and researchers are working to use the burning chemical from a Moroccan plant to treat persistent pain. The chemical, RTX, is so potent that it kills certain pain receptors without completely numbing the affected area. Doctors are hopeful that new drugs could replace opioids and give patients real relief.

Read More
Go to Original Story
A Rural Community Decided To Treat Its Opioid Problem Like A Natural Disaster

Anna Boiko-Weyrauch

October 28, 2018 |

Finding Fixes |

Radio |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Washington

Snohomish County in Washington decided to respond to the opioid epidemic as they would to a natural disaster. They use a multi-agency strategy and bi-weekly meetings to tackle the epidemic one small step at a time. The police department is working to get people from homeless encampments into treatment, rather than arresting them. So far, they have helped hundreds of people into housing and treatment.

Read More
Go to Original Story
Can Harm Reduction Roll Back an Epidemic of Drug-Related Deaths and Disease?

Judith Lewis Mernit

October 22, 2018 |

Capital & Main |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Ukiah, California

Harm reduction is a quickly growing practices that aims to reduce drug-related deaths and the spread of disease often caused by dirty needles. Although public perception is still widely negative, the industry has seen success by using the act of offering clean needles as a first point of contact to offer other health and medical services.

Read More
Go to Original Story