US Edition
Pierce County Extends Opioid Detox Program as Overdoses Remain Leading Cause of Accidental Death
- Funds from Washington’s recent opioid settlements are being used under the direction of Ryan Mello, Pierce County Executive, to double the length of the county’s sole detoxification program from five to ten days, aiming to enhance recovery success.
- This extension responds to the limited insurance coverage that allows only five nights of detox despite fentanyl's extreme potency; last year, overdoses reached 423 deaths in Pierce County, making them the foremost cause of accidental fatalities, exceeding those from car crashes.
- The Metropolitan Development Council, which operates the detox program, doubled its capacity to 32 beds last year and served over 2,000 residents, while officials emphasize that longer detox stays help make recovery efforts more effective.
- Pierce County is projected to obtain nearly nine times the detox funding it had last year through opioid settlement money, and Mello emphasizes that extending detox stays to around 10 days increases the likelihood of lasting recovery.
- This investment aims to reduce repeated overdoses and improve long-term recovery by providing necessary time for detox, reflecting a strong commitment to combating the persistent opioid crisis in Pierce County.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Bangor starts planning how to spend $3.4M in opioid settlement funds
A Bangor committee held its first meeting Wednesday to evaluate how to spend the $3.4 million the city has started to receive as part of national opioid settlements. “I know that there’s a lot of feeling this money has been sitting,” said committee member Lisa Williams, who is the clinical director of residential services at Wellspring Treatment Center and is in long-term recovery from addiction. “My hope is that we can try and come up with some…
Arizona Mirror
Herald/Review MediaHarm reduction saved my life. So why isn’t Arizona doing more of it?
Nasal Narcan, used to reverse an overdose, stock a harm reduction vending machine in Milwaukee. Photo by Isiah Holmes | Wisconsin ExaminerI’ve buried more people than I can count. That includes my best friend, who died of a fentanyl overdose after years of doing everything “right.” She followed the rules. She even worked in treatment. But when she relapsed, there was no room for error — and no one to catch her. I know what that freefall feels li…
Denver Post
Colorado will give $3 million grant to boost local naloxone supply as new data show drop in overdose deaths
Colorado will give $3 million in opioid settlement funds to organizations to buy the overdose reversal drug naloxone, Attorney General Phil Weiser said Tuesday. New CDC data show declining deaths.
Colorado will give $3 million grant to boost local naloxone supply as new data show ...
Colorado will use $3 million from the state’s opioid settlement fund to provide the overdose-reversal drug naloxone to local organizations, Attorney General Phil Weiser announced Tuesday. The new grant comes as Colorado saw more than 300 fewer people die from drug overdoses in 2024, marking a 15.6% drop from 2023’s total, according to preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control
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