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Blue city fentanyl-related deaths spiked to all-time highs last year

Seattle and King County recorded all-time high fentanyl-related overdose deaths in 2023, data from the Seattle and King County Public Health agency show.

California county votes to make loneliness a public health emergency, blaming pandemic

Loneliness has been declared a public health emergency in San Mateo County, which is located in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, as voted by the board on Jan. 30.

Crisis in the Northwest: Portland police get new help tackling fentanyl crisis

Faced with an explosion of fentanyl in Portland, Oregon's governor sent in state troopers to help local law enforcement track and bust dealers. Ó£ÌÒÊÓƵ Digital rode along with Portland police to see how the partnership is going.

California considers psychedelic therapy bill after Gov. Newsom vetoes hallucinogen decriminalization

CA Gov. Newsom vetoed a bill to decriminalize certain hallucinogens, but a new bill has arisen to legalize psychedelic therapy, which would come with comprehensive safeguards.

South Dakota man faces murder charge after crashing into officer during police chase

Joseph Gene Hoek's downward spiral of drug use, violent threats, and mental health deterioration led to his arrest for murder after running down a chief deputy in a police chase.

Kansas City Chiefs fans deaths: Drugs in men's systems show 'there's more to the story,' family says

The family of David Harrington, one of three Kansas City men found frozen and dead on Jan. 9, said drugs found in their son's system don't give them closure in his death.

Virginia doctor convicted of opioid distribution for prescribing 500K doses given new trial

Virginia doctor Joel Smithers has been granted a new trial for prescribing more than 500K doses of addictive opioids due to an instructional error in his original trial.

Health care or housing? More states are using Medicaid funds to help the homeless

Medicaid is intended to offer government assistance to low-income earners for health expenses — but in at least 20 states, some funds go to social services, including housing for the homeless.

South Dakota bills criminalizing AI child porn, xylazine, head to Noem's desk

Bills criminalizing the animal sedative xylazine, as well as artificial intelligence-generated child sexual abuse imagery, have cleared the South Dakota Legislature.

San Francisco mayor pushes addiction screening for welfare recipients, new technology for police

San Francisco Mayor London Breed is pushing a proposition to require an addiction screening for single welfare recipients, and another one to reduce police paperwork.