Substance Abuse

U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett announces $2 million for drug-related overdose prevention programs.

Health

Austin receives $2 million in federal funding for drug overdose prevention efforts

Haya Panjwani

Travis County saw a spike in the number of overdose deaths last year. The money will be used to help raise awareness about overdoses.

Marijuana plants for the adult recreational market are seen in a greenhouse at Hepworth Farms in Milton, N.Y., Friday, July 15, 2022.

Health

Young adults are using marijuana and hallucinogens at the highest rates on record

Ayana Archie

The National Institutes of Health annually surveys substance abuse among young adults in its Monitoring the Future study.

Travis County advocates called on officials to expand access to Naloxone, a drug that counteracts the effects of opioid overdoses.

Health

Travis County Saw A Surge In Overdoses In 2020. Advocates Hope The County Takes Steps To Stop Deaths.

Andrew Weber

The Austin area saw a nearly 40% increase in fatal overdoses during the pandemic.

Firefighters and paramedics with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department in Maryland wear enhanced PPE, during the coronavirus pandemic, as they transport a patient after responding to a call for a cardiac arrest as a result of a drug overdose on May 6, 2020.

Health

Hospital Emergency Rooms Struggle With Overdose Spike During Pandemic

Brian Mann

The CDC says hospitals saw a lot more emergency cases involving drug overdoses, as well as mental health crises and suicide attempts. Many emergency departments weren't ready.

Health

WilCo's 'Mental Health First Responders' Rise To The Challenge As Calls Double During The Pandemic

Allyson Ortegon

The Williamson County Mobile Outreach Team does everything from responding to overdoses, connecting people with counselors, or just finding the best care that doesn’t involve a hospital or jail.

Austin

Austin Recovery Says It Can't Afford To Keep Addiction Treatment Centers Open Because Of COVID-19

Andrew Weber

Austin Recovery, a nonprofit that's provided substance abuse treatment in Central Texas since 1967, says it's closing its doors because of the…

Texas

Sensing Opportunity, Lawyers Descend On Counties Hard-Hit By Opioid Crisis

Michael Marks

From Texas Standard.President Donald Trump has declared the opioid epidemic a public health emergency. The Texas Department of State Health Services says…

Texas

House Committee Set To Study Opioid Addiction In Texas

Jill Ament

From Texas Standard:Texas House Speaker Joe Straus recently formed a new committee to study the problem of opioid addiction in Texas. The Select Committee…

Life & Arts

From Daddyless to Destiny: Finding Freedom

John L. Hanson Jr.

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. speaks with Tunette Powell, motivational speaker, author, education consultant and…