Report: Level of fentanyl in Prince's system was exceedingly high
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A toxicology report from Prince's autopsy, obtained Monday by The Associated Press, shows he had what multiple experts called an "exceedingly high" concentration of fentanyl in his body when he died.Prince was 57 when he was found alone and unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate on April 21, 2016.
Some Pierce County leaders pushing to ban safe injection sites
There is no dispute that more Americans are dying from opioid overdoses. But there is a lot of dispute on how to stop the crisis.
Death penalty for drug traffickers part of Trump opioid plan
President Donald Trump's plan to combat opioid drug addiction calls for stiffer penalties for drug traffickers, including the death penalty where it's appropriate under the current law.
Snohomish County permanently bans heroin-injection sites
EVERETT, Wash. -- A Washington county unanimously passed legislation that would permanently ban supervised heroin-injection sites.The Daily Herald reports Snohomish County Councilman Nate Nehring proposed the restriction to keep any government-monitored injection sites, where federal nurses look on as users inject the drug, from popping up.Officials in King County and Seattle are considering opening a couple of sites based on similar models already in use in dozens of locations around the world in hopes of lowering overdose deaths and preventing the spread of diseases.Snohomish County Council Chairwoman Stephanie Wright says there are no current proposals to establish any similar sites in the county.
School bus drivers learning to identify kids abusing opioids
School bus drivers are now learning how to spot if your child, or the kid sitting next to them, might be abusing opioids.
'To be a mother, I would have to take pills': Meet a woman who defies stereotypes of addiction
Her name is Melissa McGee. She is a mother, a daughter, a sister and a friend. And she is also a recovering addict.
Coalition meets in Pierce County to plan battle against opioid crisis
TACOMA, Wash. – Law enforcement, health care and elected leaders converged in Tacoma Friday to focus on a plan to battle the opioid crisis in our region.Together they’re trying to identify strategies to curb new addictions and end the stigma for addicts who might be searching for help.But there are also other groups already on the street trying to make an impact where it’s needed most.This coming summer marks the 30th year for the Tacoma Needle Exchange.“No matter what, there is no barrier,” said outreach worker Sean Hemmerle. “You will get help here.”The blue minivan Hemmerle works out of, sitting in the parking lot at the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, offers a way for drug users to swap dirty needles for clean ones.
Tacoma Fire hands out Narcan kits to opioid addicts
TACOMA, Wash. – The opioid epidemic is hitting Washington state hard.
Pierce County sues big pharma over opioid prescriptions, alleges 'deceptive practices'
TACOMA, Wash. -- Pierce County will move forward with a lawsuit against "Big Pharma," alleging the manufacturers of pain pills are to blame for the opioid crisis that is sweeping Washington.The county alleges that companies like Purdue Pharma engaged in deceptive marketing practices by convincing doctors, who in turn convinced patients, that pills like oxycodone were not addictive.Mark Lindquist, the county's prosecutor, told Q13 News This Morning that a suit would be filed in federal court Thursday.
Clallam County sues drugmakers over opioid crisis
Clallam County is joining more than 200 other litigants in suing opioid makers and wholesale distributors for damages over prescription opioids.
Skagit County sues drugmakers over opioid crisis
Mount Vernon, Burlington and Sedro Woolley joined the county in filing a federal lawsuit in Seattle Friday against Purdue Pharma, Endo and Janssen, three of the primary manufacturers of prescription painkillers.
Manager allegedly had open sores while making pizza, using heroin with boyfriend at Little Caesars
SHELBYVILLE, Ind. – A former manager of an Indiana Little Caesars and her boyfriend are accused of buying and using heroin at the restaurant, according to WXIN.The police department began investigating after an anonymous source reported that the former pizzeria employee, Sasha Fletcher, had been preparing food with open sores on her body and had hepatitis C.Police arrested Fletcher, and her boyfriend, Joshua Parson, after investigating the business in the 800 block of Harrison St.
Ohio school board member given four doses of Narcan after overdosing in front seat of SUV
Police say an Akron Public Schools board member was given four doses of Narcan after being found unconscious from an apparent overdose in the front seat of an SUV Thursday night.
Tom Petty died of accidental drug overdose, his family says
SEATTLE – Rock star Tom Petty died of an accidental drug overdose last year, his family said Friday.In a post on the official Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ Facebook page, Dana and Adria Petty - his wife and daughter - said they’d met with the medical examiner Friday morning and learned the news.The day Petty died, he learned an already-injured hip had been exacerbated and became broken – likely as a result of the extended tour he’d just finished.“It is our feeling that the pain was simply unbearable and was the cause for his over use of medication,” the post reads.According to TMZ, Petty died of "multi-system organ failure" caused by "mixed drug toxicity." Petty was using “a variety of medications” including a Fentanyl patch.During an examination October 3, 2017, the medical examiner found fentanyl, oxycodone, temazepam, alprazolam, citalopram, acetylfentanyl and despropionyl fentanyl.Petty was also suffering from coronary artery atherosclerosis and emphysema.“As a family, we recognize this report may spark a further discussion on the opioid crisis and we feel that it is a healthy and necessary discussion and we hope in some way this report can save lives,” the post reads. “Many people who overdose begin with a legitimate injury or simply do not understand the potency and deadly nature of these medications.”
Snohomish County employs new fight against opioid epidemic
EVERETT, Wash. -- If the Legislature approves half a million dollars, Snohomish County would get a first of its kind 'diversion center' in the battle against the opioid epidemic.“I feel hopeful in here for other addicts,” said one former addict.It's not every day former addicts get to talk with the governor directly.On Thursday, Gov.
Inslee wants to spend millions to fight opioid epidemic
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- It’s a fight against an epidemic that is killing more people than car accidents.Gov.
Woman accidentally leaves backpack full of heroin outside school, police say
A Pennsylvania woman faces drug charges after accidentally leaving a backpack containing four "bricks" of heroin outside a school, police say.
Key player in oxycodone distribution ring gets 7 years
A key player in a prescription forgery ring that distributed hundreds of thousands of oxycodone pills has been sentenced to seven years in prison.
Ring leader in opioid trafficking scheme sentenced in Tacoma
TACOMA, Wash. -- A Tacoma man accused of leading an opioid trafficking ring that brought pills from Los Angeles to Western Washington has been sentenced to five years in prison.The News Tribune reports 48-year-old Lionel Lee Hampton Jr., was sentenced Monday by Judge Benjamin Settle.Hampton pleaded guilty earlier this year in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to commit money laundering.Investigators stopped Hampton and several other people in 2010 and 2011 and found they were carrying prescription pills.The federal Drug Enforcement Agency started investigating Hampton and found he regularly made short trips to Los Angeles, determining he was an intermediary between suppliers in California and redistributors in Western Washington.They arrested Hampton and others in the ring in July 2016.Hampton told law enforcement he moved about 10,000 pills a month.
Baby overdoses on dad’s heroin while sleeping in bed with him, police say
A 1-year-old girl overdosed on heroin belonging to her dad while sleeping in his bed in their New York City home, prosecutors said.