A brain circuit linking pain and breathing may offer a path to prevent opioid deaths Opioids can kill because they reduce breathing along with pain. Now brain scientists have made a discovery that could lead to potent pain drugs that don't affect breathing. Jon Hamilton
A cautionary tale of teen fentanyl abuse prompts advice for parents and friends 'They were telling her, essentially, to hold the line, to cut off their son, and she didn't.' Anna Boiko-Weyrauch Play AudioListen 7 mins
A Seattle teen quit smoking fentanyl. Every morning he thanks God he’s alive “I spent a lot of time thinking that I was the cool guy,” he says, sitting on his parents’ couch in northwest Seattle. “But now I go get a shot in my butt every month and I go to AA, you know what I mean? It's humbling.” Anna Boiko-Weyrauch Play AudioListen 8 mins
Fentanyl is a great drug for cartels. But those blue pills are killing King County Fentanyl pills are often called blues, and they’re on sale everywhere. It’s just gotten so easy to make and smuggle fentanyl that it’s flooding the illegal drug market in this area – and killing people – more than ever. Anna Boiko-Weyrauch Play AudioListen 6 mins
New York City allows the nation's 1st supervised consumption sites for illegal drugs Mayor Bill DeBlasio says these "overdose prevention centers" will reduce drug overdoses in New York City. Similar efforts in other U.S. cities face legal challenges. Brian Mann
Washington AG takes opioid distributors to court. Lawyer who tracks settlements weighs the risks ‘As a Seattleite and new Washingtonian, I was secretly proud. I like Bob Ferguson for coming out with his arms swinging.’ Kim Malcolm Play AudioListen 7 mins
A California court says drug companies aren't liable for the state's opioid crisis In a ruling issued late Monday, state superior court Judge Peter J. Wilson found the companies, including Johnson & Johnson, aren't "legally liable" for the opioid crisis. Brian Mann
The Cherokee Nation Has Agreed To A $75 Million Settlement With Opioid Distributors Cherokee Nation officials say their community has been disproportionately harmed by the opioid crisis. The drug companies denied any wrongdoing. Brian Mann
Black Opioid Overdose Deaths Are Increasing Faster Than Whites, Study Finds Black communities face a growing share of overdoses, but addiction treatment resources and attention are still focused on white communities. Marisa Peñaloza
As Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy Nears Approval, Family Members Write About The Human Toll The Purdue Pharma bankruptcy process has focused on financial compensation to creditors, but court records include heartrending personal letters from families ravaged by Oxycontin. Brian Mann Play AudioListen 6 mins
