Opioids

Government

Natural gas, opioids and DUIs: Highlights from week 3 of Washington's legislative session

Preventing more deaths on Washington roads and responding to the opioid crisis were top of mind for many in Olympia this week, with lawmakers about a third of the way through the year's legislative session.

King County's hotel shelters help address one crisis while potentially hiding another

Seattle and King County have been experimenting with using hotel rooms to house people rather than directing them to crowded homeless shelters. But some service providers fear the hotel rooms could be hiding another crisis: drug overdoses.

Health

UW researcher says there's a simple way to help people addicted to fentanyl

Addiction researchers say the FDA should revisit their prescribing guidelines for buprenorphine, one of the main medications that can help people addicted to fentanyl or other opioids by reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

Health

We don't know enough about fentanyl

Washington state topped a list you do not want to be on last week: We are tied for the fastest increase in overdose deaths in the country. Deaths are up across the US, mostly due to the very deadly fentanyl. But there’s more going on than just a new opioid. National Public Radio Addiction correspondent Brian Mann explains who is being impacted here, and what might help.