New provisional data released this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that drug overdose deaths declined in 14 states during the 12-month period that ended July 2017, a potentially hopeful sign that policies aimed at curbing the death toll may be working.
Alcohol & Substance Abuse
Juneau man pleads guilty to drug distribution
According to the plea agreement, the defendant admitted that he and the former Bergmann Hotel manager sold about 27 grams of methamphetamine in June to another person.
Hoonah man charged with shipping opioid tramadol across Alaska
A Hoonah man faces criminal charges after police seized more than 9,000 synthetic opioid pills from packages that he was allegedly receiving and shipping across Alaska and the U.S.
Alaska troopers say fentanyl big concern for authorities
Alaska authorities say the synthetic opioid fentanyl is an escalating problem in the remote state, and it’s leading to a significant increase in deaths.
Drugmakers spent millions promoting opioids to patient groups, Senate report says
The report released by Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill says the cozy relationship between pain advocacy groups and pharmaceutical companies may have played a key role in the opioid crisis.
Trump says he will focus on opioid law enforcement, not treatment
Opioids are a public health emergency, the president says, but he hasn’t acted on the White House opioid commission’s recommendations to expand treatment.