Jun 25 Two GOP senators wanted $45 billion in health care bill to battle opioid crisis. They got $2 billion By Lev Facher, STAT The health care bill unveiled by Senate Republicans on Thursday includes funding to help tackle the nation’s opioid crisis — but dramatically less than the amount sought by two GOP senators and recovery advocates. Continue reading
Jun 16 WATCH: Trump's opioid commission launches new look at health crisis By Laura Santhanam https://youtu.be/dzg-WhYGSe4 New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he never felt uncomfortable telling people about his mother's lung cancer after she smoked cigarettes for decades. But he wonders if he would have been as open if she instead consumed heroin instead… Continue reading
May 06 How Virginia dramatically expanded treatment options for addiction (and skirted federal law) By Andrew Joseph, STAT A new type of “waiver” from federal rules has dramatically expanded options for Medicaid beneficiaries, and could help other states serve those in need. Continue reading
Apr 23 Nurse licensing laws block treatment for opioid addiction By Christine Vestal, Stateline Congress has paved the way to letting nurse practitioners and physician assistants prescribe anti-addiction medication. But laws in many states stand in the way. Continue reading
Mar 29 Here's what Trump's new executive order means for opioid addiction By Laura Santhanam New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will lead a commission designed to combat opioid addiction, part of Trump's plan to fight the crisis. Continue reading
Mar 13 As marijuana becomes legal, doctors worry about teen addiction By Christine Vestal, Stateline As marijuana legalization sweeps the nation, physicians and public health officials are sounding alarms about its potentially harmful effects on young people. Continue reading
Feb 28 In the war on heroin, Baltimore drug programs face an uncertain future By Laura Santhanam In 2015, Baltimore wrote a city-wide prescription for a heroin antidote. Two years later, as the city tries to expand access to addiction treatment, will the White House support its mission?… Continue reading
Feb 15 Another West Virginia town sues drug wholesalers By Jessica Yarvin and Associated Press A southern West Virginia town in the state’s poorest county has joined other communities in seeking to recoup the costs of dealing with opioid abuse. Continue reading
Jan 21 A 'civil war' over painkillers rips apart the medical community By Bob Tedeschi, STAT As doctors and regulators restrict access to opioid treatments, many patients who genuinely need drugs to manage their pain say they are being left behind. Continue reading
Nov 24 Watch 7:19 Surgeon general's report calls for response to addiction crisis By PBS News Hour U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is warning Americans of the prevalence of substance abuse and the risks of not addressing it. His new report describes the lethal impact and widespread scope of addiction. William Brangham speaks with Murthy for more… Continue watching