Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Blunting Addiction's Impact

    Millions of Americans are addicted to and hundreds of thousands have died from opioids, but learning what hasn't worked in treating the epidemic is providing a path forward to creating solutions that do have impact. From making medication-assisted treatment more accessible and less stigmatized to expanding Medicaid coverage and implementing harm reduction strategies, states across the U.S. are piloting new initiatives based off the knowledge gained from assessing the limitations of previous approaches.

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  • Evolution of Ambulance Services

    Across New Hampshire, eight different emergency programs are being piloted that creatively use ambulance services to bolster community health care. In a state that has witnessed the need for mental health services and responses to the opioid epidemic, emergency medical services are often on the frontlines. Recognizing this opportunity, programs like Safe Station, which provides those with substance abuse issues a space to seek help, are being developed.

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  • The drug that saved the people who overdosed in Chico

    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.

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  • How Vancouver is saving addicts' lives

    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.

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  • BA boy and his 'Bigs:' Not just friends, they're family

    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.

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  • For One Rural Community, Fighting Addiction Started With Recruiting The Right Doctor

    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.

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  • School-Based Counselors Help Kids Cope With Fallout From Drug Addiction

    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.”

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  • The for-profit company that turned around Maine's failing addiction treatment initiative

    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.

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  • Rhode Island Prisons Push To Get Inmates The Best Treatment For Opioid Addiction

    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."

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  • This Chemical Is So Hot It Destroys Nerve Fibers—in a Good Way

    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.

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