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Drug court – giving families a chance to break the cycle of opioid use

Fred R Conrad

October 23, 2017 |

The Guardian |

Photojournalism |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Abingdon, Virginia

In Washington County, Virginia, a drug court modeled after the federal drug court model is offering opioid addicts a chance to follow a strict program intended to help keep them sober as an alternative to incarceration. Participants are required to maintain full-time employment, subjected to random drug tests, attend mandatory therapy groups, and abide by a curfew. The program is helping addicts maintain sobriety throughout the duration of their enrollment in drug court instead of sending them to prison where they are less likely to have access to these types of addiction services.

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Should health agencies in the Mahoning Valley give needles to addicts?

Tim Rudell

October 22, 2017 |

The Vindicator |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Youngstown, Ohio

As the opioid crisis continues to impact all areas of the United States, local governments are starting to try solutions they previously had dismissed. In Ohio, this means implementing needle exchange programs with the aim of reducing the spread of communicable diseases.

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Can Providing Addicts With Needles Help Curb The Opioid Crisis and the Costly Epidemic to Follow?

Tim Rudell

October 13, 2017 |

WKSU |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Mahoning, Ohio

In Mahoning County, Ohio, a needle exchange program helps prevent addicts from contracting communicable diseases that might create further barriers to sobriety. The needle exchange also creates an interface for addicts to interact with resources that can help them achieve and maintain recovery from addiction.

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Former drug users work on the front lines of the opioid crisis in Rhode Island

William Brangham Frank Carlson Mike Fritz

October 06, 2017 |

PBS NewsHour |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Anchor Recovery is a government-funded program that hires former opioid users to reach out to addicts. They’re called “recovery coaches.” The idea is to use their former experiences with addiction as a source of connection with opioid addicts. So far, the program has helped an estimated 400 people get treatment. “I have been in this room. I have been in your position. I know exactly how you feel at this moment.”

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Putting needles to numbers: How they're tracking the heroin epidemic in Summit County

Tara Molina

October 05, 2017 |

WEWS-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Akron, Ohio

The existence of an opioid abuse crisis is widely acknowledged, however there is a lack of efficient methodologies to collect, analyze, and disseminate data related to the crisis. The Summit County public health department uses EpiCenter—software created for epidemiologists—to collect data on hospitalizations, overdoses, and calls to emergency services and analyze opioid abuse data in the same way as the flu or other diseases. The data is published online and allows for policy makers to better understand where to allocate resources as well as providing insight to county residents on the extent of opioid abus

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Dentists take bite out of opioid epidemic

Zane Sparling

October 03, 2017 |

The Gresham Outlook |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Dentists in Multnomah County, Oregon are helping to prevent "doctor shopping", where addicts attempt to get prescriptions from multiple providers. They are doing this by checking a national database that lists all of a patient's current prescriptions, and not prescribing refills on opiate prescriptions without a follow-up visit. This effort has drastically reduced the number of overall prescriptions written, and replaced those drugs with ibuprofen and tylenol, which are both proven to be more effective in relieving acute pain.

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Opioid crisis puts Ohio jails at the center of burden and opportunity

Rachel Dissell

October 01, 2017 |

Cleveland.com (The Plain Dealer) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

As jails in Ohio struggle with the skyrocketing numbers of people addicted to opioids, they are increasingly becoming the state's primary detox centers. This article explores how several counties are addressing the issue by connecting inmates to jobs, training and housing to cut down on overdose deaths and reduce recidivism. Medicaid has also made it easier to get inmates health insurance coverage, which gives them access to treatment and medications upon release.

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Syracuse doctor puts ER on front line of opioid epidemic

James T. Mulder

September 26, 2017 |

syracuse.com |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Syracuse, New York

Dr. Ross Sullivan, an ER doctor at Upstate University Hospital is trained in addiction treatment and has created a program in the emergency room to get overdose patients Suboxone while they wait to be admitted into inpatient treatment. Most doctors are unable to prescribe Suboxone for more than 72 hours, and most rehab facilities don't have room to admit new patients within that time frame. This solution allows patients seeking treatment for opioid addiction to access the care they need while they wait for more extensive treatment.

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Courts That Save Opioid Victims' Family Life

Amelia Schonbek

September 26, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dunkirk, New York

The rampant opioid epidemic tearing through communities across the United States is exacerbated by a rigid court system that fails to address individual needs and a severe lack of comprehensive treatment options, even for those who want to get clean. Family Treatment Court, like the one in Chautauqua County, N.Y., provides parents who are addicts an innovative intervention program that includes a broad range of custom-tailored services to permanently quit their drug use and keep their families together.

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How to Win a War on Drugs

Nicholas Kristof

September 22, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Portugal, Lisbon

By addressing drug addiction as a medical—rather than criminal—issue, Portugal has been able to reduce drug use as well as deaths caused by drugs. Strategies implemented include decriminalization, increased access to treatment, changes in prescribing patterns related to opioids, and ‘dissuasion’ courts.

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