New Overdose Data Suggest Epidemic Outpacing Response

In the US, more people now die each year from drug overdoses than died at the peak of the AIDS epidemic, more than died during the entire Vietnam War. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 50 years of age, and the epidemic cost the US an estimated $117 billion in 2017 alone.  Here are some key findings from our report and my perspective on actions we need to take in order to see this epidemic come under control.

Read More

A behind the scenes look at buprenorphine ‘treatment on demand’

The Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Taskforce recently published a 2017 Year End Report alongside highlights of actions taken to address the growing opiate epidemic in our region. The highlights show that in the past year, 40 new access points for buprenorphine–one of the best treatments available for opiate use disorder–became available. Buprenorphine supports recovery and reduces the […]

Read More

Medical Examiner’s Report: What we learned from those we lost in 2016

Last year, 14,373 people died in King County. The King County Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) investigated those deaths that were sudden, unexpected or unnatural – 2,494* in total. But, the count of life lost is more than a number. By tracking and analyzing different manners of death as well as trends in homicides, traffic fatalities, […]

Read More

Dr. Duchin on Community Health Engagement Locations

Updated 3/8/2017 Recently, the King County Heroin and Prescription Opiate Addiction Task Force recommended a comprehensive set of strategies to address the growing opioid epidemic. In today’s PH Insider, Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer at Public Health and Task Force Co-Chair shares his thoughts about CHELs. Community Health Engagement Locations (or CHELs) are one of […]

Read More