What we all can do to reduce stigma around substance use disorder

October 27, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

A new public campaign, called “Don’t Count Us Out,” has launched across King County. The campaign aims to reduce stigma against people living with and recovering from substance use disorder.

International Overdose Awareness Day: Taking Action to Save Lives

August 30, 2022.Reading time 8 minutes.

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. Every year, this serves as a time to remember our fellow community members who have died of or survived an overdose and raise awareness of ways to prevent future overdoses. This year, King County is working with community partners to expand the use of naloxone (also known as Narcan) – a powerful and very safe tool that can save the life of someone experiencing an opioid overdose – and educate the community about available treatments for opioid use disorder.

It’s safe to give help: Questions and answers about secondhand fentanyl exposure

April 5, 2022.Reading time 9 minutes.

As the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl has spread across King County and the rest of the nation, it has become unfortunately common to encounter a person who may be experiencing an opioid overdose. Some people may have questions about what to do in that situation – how to give help, and whether it’s safe to […]

The value of medications for opioid use disorder

March 4, 2022.Reading time 7 minutes.

Written by Troy Seibert, Public Health – Seattle & King County, Overdose Prevention and Response As we confront an alarming rise in overdose deaths, King County is working to expand access to a proven, life-saving intervention. Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD), specifically buprenorphine, lowers risk of death by about 50%. These medications, along with, […]

Talking with teens about fentanyl

December 2, 2021.Reading time 12 minutes.

With the first months of school now behind us and young people more used to re-engaging with their peers, it’s a good time to have an open and honest conversation with our kids about fentanyl.

How a new federal rule change may make access to treatment for opioid use disorder easier

May 17, 2021.Reading time 9 minutes.

On April 27, the Department of Health and Human Services announced new regulatory changes for prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD). We sat down with Brad Finegood, Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Strategic Advisor on Behavioral Health, to learn more about the new rule change and how it may impact treatment access in our community.