The Senate may vote on its version of the budget on Saturday. Then the two houses will work to resolve the differences.
Alcohol & Substance Abuse
An Addict, Now Clean, Discusses Needle Exchanges And ‘Hope After Heroin’
At the height of her addiction to heroin, Tracey Helton Mitchell lived in an alley and sold her body. Now she works as an addiction specialist helping others. Her new memoir is The Big Fix.
Overdose antidote bill is one of few minority-sponsored bills that passes
Anchorage Democratic Sen. Johnny Ellis sponsored the bill. This made it unusual, since few bills sponsored by members of the minority party ever come up for votes.
Senate considers requiring prescription database checks to combat opioid abuse
The sponsors want to make sure patients aren’t going from doctor to doctor seeking pills.
Sobering center considered as an alternative to prison in Fairbanks
Recent deaths in Alaska prisons have underscored problems with jailing severely intoxicated individuals, pointing to the need for an alternative approach. Bethel operates a sobering center, where care and treatment are the focus, and a similar facility is being explored as an option in Fairbanks.
Public pushes back against House’s proposed budget cuts
The Republican-led majority released a budget proposal this week that included $145 million more in cuts than Governor Bill Walker’s budget.