Summit kicks off to tackle illicit opioid market

Summit kicks off to tackle illicit opioid market

SEATTLE – How can police, doctors and lawmakers make a dent in our state’s growing opioid epidemic?That’s the goal of a two-day summit being hosted at the University of Washington where hundreds of key stakeholders met on Thursday.While some are claiming small successes in the fight against harmful drugs, others said there is still much more work to be done.“When are the cartels arriving in America?

2-Day summit to fight state opioid epidemic

2-Day summit to fight state opioid epidemic

Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson is hosting a 2-day summit starting Thursday morning to tackle the ongoing opioid epidemic in the state."Opioids are devastating Washington families and communities, and overwhelming our safety nets," said Ferguson. "This summit will bring together key stakeholders to identify next steps and solutions to this epidemic."Ferguson will be joined by other prosecutors, law enforcement, and doctors to discuss the issue and share programs and ideas that have worked in other parts of the country.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington is the only Western state that is saw a statistically significant increase in drug overdose death rates between 2014 and 2015.The summit will also focus on reducing the supply of illegal opioids in Washington state.The summit is being held at the University of Washington.

As cost of lifesaving drug jumps, can lawmakers intervene?

As cost of lifesaving drug jumps, can lawmakers intervene?

SEATTLE -- When the Epipen price hike made headlines, Congress demanded a hearing with pharmaceutical company Mylan to figure out why the costs soared.Now, some lawmakers are demanding answers from ‘Big Pharma’ about the cost of naloxone, the opioid overdose antidote- sometimes called by one of its brand names, NARCAN.There are five manufacturers who make naloxone.

Recovering addict tells of triumph, credits lifesaving drug with opportunity

Recovering addict tells of triumph, credits lifesaving drug with opportunity

SEATTLE -- Michael Polgar grew up in Edmonds and loved life.But early on, his parents’ relationship woes had an immediate effect.“There was a custody battle between my mother, my father that caused some anxiety, a little anger,” said Polgar, a recovering addict.Michael tells Q13 News he rebelled as a teen and in ninth grade he began hanging out with the wrong crowd.

Two men sentenced to prison for delivering fatal dose of heroin

Two men sentenced to prison for delivering fatal dose of heroin

SEATTLE -- Two men who were involved in the delivery of a fatal dose of heroin to a young member of the Quileute Tribe were each sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.U.S. Attorney Annette Hayes says Hugh Brown and Edward Foster, along with co-defendant Casey Marie Ward, sold heroin to Felisha Jackson in 2015.Moments after the sale, she was found unresponsive and died a few days later.Social media records reveal that Ward had reached out to Jackson, asking if she knew anyone interested in buying drugs.

Heroin dealer who delivered fatal dose gets prison time

Heroin dealer who delivered fatal dose gets prison time

SEATTLE (AP) — A 28-year-old woman who sold a fatal dose of heroin to another woman in 2015 has been sentenced to over three years in prison.The U.S. Justice Department said in a news release that Casey Marie Ward was sentenced Monday in the death of 28-year-old Felisha Jackson.

Amid opioid crisis, heroin dealers playing 'Russian roulette'

Amid opioid crisis, heroin dealers playing 'Russian roulette'

SEATTLE -- When a man named Ian Digre was found dead of a heroin overdose in Marysville, police there started to build a case against his dealer – not only for selling him the drugs, but for his death.Such cases, brought under the state’s “controlled substance homicide” law, are incredibly rare, because they’re hard to prove.Ian’s case would be no different.

Heroin Task Force recommends safe-consumption sites for drug addicts

Heroin Task Force recommends safe-consumption sites for drug addicts

SEATTLE -- Taxpayers in Seattle could be asked to pay for a place where addicts would be allowed to use heroin.A 32-member heroin task force is about to unveil a new plan to tackle the heroin epidemic that some call a crisis in our region.The task force said addicts must have a safer place for people to use drugs rather than inside a public bathroom or a homeless camp.“You have to meet people where they are,” said Skip Riley of Seattle who supported the plan. “They’re not going to stop so you have to make it as safe as possible for them.”The heroin task force, formed in March by Murray and King County Executive Dow Constantine, recently voted in favor of supervised spaces where addicts can get clean syringes and anti-overdose medication in addition to addiction treatment services.But safe-consumption sites aren’t new; the task force has been taking notes from existing facilities in Canada and Europe.Plus, the People’s Harm Reduction Alliance organization is working on setting up their own safe-spaces for addicts.“No one wants people to use drugs in alleys.

Initiative proposed to ban drug safe-injection sites in King County

Initiative proposed to ban drug safe-injection sites in King County

SEATTLE (AP) — A member of the Bothell City Council on Thursday announced an initiative to ban safe-injection sites in King County for heroin and other drugs.The Seattle Times reports the proposed initiative requires signatures from 47,443 valid King County voters to qualify for the November ballot.The initiative's chief sponsor, Bothell City Council member Joshua Freed said public-consumption sites for heroin and other drugs are not the appropriate response and would enable users.Freed says he'd prefer an emphasis on discouraging doctors from prescribing opiates, expanding treatment access, and making sure police officers and firefighters are equipped with the overdose-reducing drug naloxone.

Health Officials: Dangerous drug linked to increasing overdose deaths

Health Officials: Dangerous drug linked to increasing overdose deaths

SEATTLE – Local health officials on Wednesday warned the public about a drug that can kill users in a matter of seconds.The drug is called fentanyl and experts said it’s 50 times stronger than heroin, and it’s already on the streets of Western Washington.On Wednesday, health officials from various city and state agencies said the drug is partially to blame for roughly 10% of all opioid overdose deaths in our state.“We don’t know if this is a canary in a coal mine of something bigger coming,” said Caleb Banta-Green, principal research scientist at the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute and an affiliate associate professor at the University of Washington's School of Public Health.

'Gray death' is the latest opioid street mix causing worry

'Gray death' is the latest opioid street mix causing worry

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — It's being called "gray death" — a new and dangerous opioid combo that underscores the ever-changing nature of the U.S. addiction crisis.Investigators who nicknamed the street mixture have detected it or recorded overdoses blamed on it in Alabama, Georgia and Ohio.

'She stole my heroin': Man arrested after calling 911 to request K-9 unit's help

'She stole my heroin': Man arrested after calling 911 to request K-9 unit's help

BATH TOWNSHIP, Ohio -- An Ohio man was arrested after calling police for help getting back his stolen goods, which turned out to be heroin, authorities said.WEWS-TV obtained a recording of the 911 call, which Bath Township Police Chief Mike McNeely called "one of the most bizarre" he's heard in 41 years on the job.Police say 20-year-old Joseph Murphy told the dispatcher his girlfriend stole his heroin, and that he needed a police dog.

Poll: Marijuana safer than opioids, but moms shouldn't use

Poll: Marijuana safer than opioids, but moms shouldn't use

DENVER -- Americans think it's safer to use marijuana than opioids to relieve pain, but they were less comfortable with children and pregnant women using pot to treat medical conditions, according to a new Yahoo/Marist poll released Monday.Two-thirds of the respondents in the telephone survey said opioid drugs such as Vicodin or OxyContin are "riskier" to use than pot, even when the pain pills are prescribed by a doctor.Only one in five said marijuana was riskier than opioids.