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How Europe's heroin capital solved its overdose crisis

Chris Brown

April 25, 2017 |

CBC |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Portugal

After Portugal decriminalized personal possession and use of all drugs and replaced law enforcement responses with healthcare and harm-reduction practices, the country's heroin abuse rates and overdose deaths shrank significantly. A network of 40 publicly funded drug treatment centers, outreach teams making daily contact with people addicted to heroin, and an aggressive methadone delivery system are key components of the healthcare approach. Canada stands in contrast, with a severe fentanyl problem eased only some by local, spotty attempts at harm reduction.

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The California Doctors Who Found a Way to Quit Overprescribing Opioids

Sam Quinones

March 08, 2017 |

Kaiser Health News |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

In 2009 Kaiser Permanente doctors, alarmed by the rising rate of opioids being prescribed to patients, decided to develop a set of strategies and lower painkiller prescriptions. The most difficult one, is talking to patients about the dangers of opiods. He “developed what he calls The Difficult Pain Conversation—and he presented his approach to many other doctors.” So far, its had an effect. Prescriptions dropped from “from 2,500 a month to almost zero.”

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Vermont's Radical Experiment to Break the Addiction Cycle

Scott Calvert Jennifer Levitz

December 23, 2016 |

Wall Street Journal |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Rutland, Vermont

A pre-charge program in Vermont offers low-level, non-violent drug offending criminals the opportunity to abide by a personalized contract of recovery to avoid criminal charges. Program participants are often required to seek treatment for drug addiction, maintain employment, and engage in behaviors that will improve their quality of life. This program gives addicts a chance to rebuild their lives and frees up resources within the criminal justice system to be used on higher profile crimes.

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Heroin scourge: ‘Not a thing being done about it'

Pat Beall

November 17, 2016 |

Palm Beach Post |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, West Palm Beach, Florida

The 'Heroin Epidemic' has taken many lives due to overdosing and HIV. Establishing needle exchange locations, demanding that public officials carry Narcan (a drug that reverses overdoses), treating addicts whether or not they have insurance, and collecting data are all actions that together can significantly lessen the effects of Heroin on communities.

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A tale of 3 cities: LA and NYC outpace Chicago in curbing violence

Jeremy Gorner Annie Sweeney

September 18, 2016 |

Chicago Tribune |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Adjusting some of the strategies police adopted in New York and Los Angeles can help Chicago reduce it homicide rates which is one of the highest in the country. Some strategies which can be adopted in Chicago are to improve the relationships police have with the community and to increase police presence.

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Seattle's Potential Solution for Heroin Epidemic: Places for Legal Drug Use

Jonah Engel Bromwich

August 25, 2016 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

In Seattle, a heroin epidemic is provoking solutions that go beyond the cities needle exchange program. While controversial, a new proposal recommends safe drug-usage zones for those engaging in drug use.

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A community curbs pain pill abuse, but heroin addiction grows

Paige Blankenbuehler

August 08, 2016 |

High Country News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Alamosa, Colorado

The over-prescription of pain medicine has been a problem in southwest Colorado. Collective efforts of health care providers to standardize opioid prescriptions, clinics to expand recovery programs, and law enforcement to encourage addicts to enter rehab rather than prison, have reduced over-prescriptions of pain medications. However, they also could be unintentionally causing a rise in heroin use.

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Roanoke initiative shifts from arresting addicts to helping them

Amy Friedenberger

July 21, 2016 |

The Roanoke Times |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Roanoke, Virginia

In one year, the drug overdoses in Roanoke, VA have taken 12 lives and another 76 have overdosed but survived. The police department developed a new program called the Roanoke Valley Hope Initiative, designed to provide rehabilitation without arrest for those who seek it. The program simulates the successful national effort to help drug abusers instead of incarcerating them.

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Vancouver Prescriptions for Addicts Gain Attention as Heroin and Opioid Use Rises

Dan Levin

April 21, 2016 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Canada, Vancouver, British Columbia

North America is suffering an epidemic of illicit heroin use and fatal overdoses of legal painkillers which fill up courts, jails and hospitals. In Vancouver, Crosstown Clinic is a heroin maintenance clinic that is keeping addicts out of jail and emergency rooms by injecting them the active ingredient in heroin 3 times a day.

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A Hunger to Live: The Struggle to Interrupt the Cycle of Violence

Donna Ladd

April 20, 2016 |

Jackson Free Press |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Jackson, Mississippi

After going to prison themselves, John Knight of Jackson and Shanduke McPhatter of Brooklyn are living straight and determined to make changes. They work as "violence interrupters" in their neighborhoods, using an approach called "Cure Violence," developed by Dr. Gary Slutkin. They mentor other young, at-risk men and encourage them towards graduating high school, community service, staying away from drugs, and pursuing honest work.

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