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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Seattle first responder reunites with man he saved from heroin overdose
"I told myself I was going to die a heroin addict," Zachary Oehrke's fate changed forever at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on November 2.
"I told myself I was going to die a heroin addict," Zachary Oehrke's fate changed forever at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on November 2.
Recovering homeless addicts in Everett giving 'The Hand Up' to others still on the street
This week Snohomish County announced a new approach: treat the opioid crisis there like a natural disaster.
This week Snohomish County announced a new approach: treat the opioid crisis there like a natural disaster.
Seattle budget includes money for safe-injection sites
SEATTLE -- The Seattle City Council has passed a 2018 budget that includes $1.3 million to create what could be the nation's first authorized safe-injection site for drug users.Our news partner The Seattle Times reports that the $5.6 billion budget approved Monday also increases city spending on programs that address homelessness to $63 million, a nearly 40 percent jump over four years ago.King County is considering two supervised sites where people can use heroin and other drugs under the care of trained staff that can treat an overdose if necessary.
SEATTLE -- The Seattle City Council has passed a 2018 budget that includes $1.3 million to create what could be the nation's first authorized safe-injection site for drug users.Our news partner The Seattle Times reports that the $5.6 billion budget approved Monday also increases city spending on programs that address homelessness to $63 million, a nearly 40 percent jump over four years ago.King County is considering two supervised sites where people can use heroin and other drugs under the care of trained staff that can treat an overdose if necessary.
Snohomish County announces plan to combat opioid crisis
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. -- As the opioid problem continues to grow across the nation, Snohomish County leaders are working to try and confront the issue.On Monday, public health, law enforcement and emergency officials announced they plan to partially activate the Emergency Coordination Center to support the efforts in dealing with the growing problem.Snohomish County leaders have been collaborating with partners and stakeholders over the last few months to develop a coordinated strategy necessary to address the opioid crisis.Officials said they plan to collect data about what various agencies are seeing so they can get a better idea of what works and what doesn’t work.Snohomish County Executive David Somers said the problem is something he’s dealt with first hand.“My brother struggled throughout his life.
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. -- As the opioid problem continues to grow across the nation, Snohomish County leaders are working to try and confront the issue.On Monday, public health, law enforcement and emergency officials announced they plan to partially activate the Emergency Coordination Center to support the efforts in dealing with the growing problem.Snohomish County leaders have been collaborating with partners and stakeholders over the last few months to develop a coordinated strategy necessary to address the opioid crisis.Officials said they plan to collect data about what various agencies are seeing so they can get a better idea of what works and what doesn’t work.Snohomish County Executive David Somers said the problem is something he’s dealt with first hand.“My brother struggled throughout his life.
FDA warns that popular botanical substance could have same effects as opioids
OLYMPIA , Wash. -- A consumer alert says a dietary supplement growing in popularity is now linked to deaths.U.S. Marshals, at the request of the FDA, have begun seizing a plant-based substance called kratom.Right now the product is not regulated, and the FDA says kratom could have the same effects as opioids.
OLYMPIA , Wash. -- A consumer alert says a dietary supplement growing in popularity is now linked to deaths.U.S. Marshals, at the request of the FDA, have begun seizing a plant-based substance called kratom.Right now the product is not regulated, and the FDA says kratom could have the same effects as opioids.
Elderly woman likely died after cleaning up son’s drug overdose
A 69-year-old Pennsylvania woman likely died as a result of making contact with drug paraphernalia while cleaning up after her own son's overdose
A 69-year-old Pennsylvania woman likely died as a result of making contact with drug paraphernalia while cleaning up after her own son's overdose
Troopers seize 4.8 pounds of fentanyl during Missouri traffic stop
State troopers in Missouri seized 4.8 pounds of pure fentanyl during a traffic stop earlier this month on Interstate 55 in New Madrid County.
State troopers in Missouri seized 4.8 pounds of pure fentanyl during a traffic stop earlier this month on Interstate 55 in New Madrid County.
Drugstore pain pills as effective as opioids in ER patients
CHICAGO -- Emergency rooms are where many patients are first introduced to powerful opioid painkillers, but what if doctors offered over-the-counter pills instead?
CHICAGO -- Emergency rooms are where many patients are first introduced to powerful opioid painkillers, but what if doctors offered over-the-counter pills instead?
Opioid epidemic brings new safety concerns this Halloween
As parents get ready to take their kids trick-or-treating for Halloween, new dangers around the opioid epidemic in Western Washington like needles on the streets and stickers laced with drugs serve as a reminder to parents to check what kids collect in their Halloween candy bags.
As parents get ready to take their kids trick-or-treating for Halloween, new dangers around the opioid epidemic in Western Washington like needles on the streets and stickers laced with drugs serve as a reminder to parents to check what kids collect in their Halloween candy bags.
Seattle program collects 32,000 hypodermic needles
A collection program in Seattle brought in more than 32,000 hypodermic needles in its first 15 months.
A collection program in Seattle brought in more than 32,000 hypodermic needles in its first 15 months.