drugs

Milwaukee public health officials had an idea for reducing deaths by drug overdoses. They bought vending machines and then stocked them with life-saving supplies — such as Narcan.

The Federal Drug Administration recently approved making this opioid overdose antidote more widely available. This could help many people throughout Wisconsin, especially here in Milwaukee County. Bill Keeton, Chief Advocacy Officer for Vivent Health speaks about how over-the-counter approval of NARCAN will help everyone in the state.

The medical examiner’s office hasn’t completed toxicology reports for all the deceased. But officials believe fentanyl-laced street drugs are the main culprit.

According to the CDC, addiction and substance abuse increased during the pandemic. A critical resource for recovery are sober living facilities. These spaces are structured communities that support recovering addicts, but the number of available spots hasn’t matched the growing need in southeast Wisconsin.

Milwaukee’s VA Medical Center is one of three Wisconsin facilities, and among 4,000 nationwide hosting the VA’s first-ever medication Take Back Day event on Saturday.

Free fentanyl test strips are now available at dozens of locations throughout Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition is working to address Milwaukee’s drug epidemic and on August 31, the coalition marked International Overdose Awareness Day. Dozens of people gathered in Humboldt Park to honor survivors and to remember the people who lost their lives to overdoses.

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee announced Monday that it installed 21 Narcan kits at its Milwaukee, Waukesha and Washington County campuses.

Filmmaker Jamie Boyle’s own family had addiction creep into their lives. Her documentary, Anonymous Sister, shows the before, during and after addiction — and the ramifications it sends throughout families, communities and the country.

Homicides in Milwaukee continue at roughly double the pace of last year at this time. On-site death investigators gather evidence at sites of homicides, suicides and accidents that may help bring closure to grieving friends and relatives, and the police.