Opioid addiction

Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services provides instructions on administering naloxone to combat opioid overdose.

With overdose deaths on the rise, experts point to fentanyl

Through the first six months of 2021, nearly 800 Missourians died from opioid overdose; well over half the total number of deaths in 2020. Law enforcement and public health experts say the synthetic opioid fentanyl is largely to blame.

Construction workers have the highest death rate due to opioid overdose of any occupation in the U.S., according to a federal report.

Government, Politics & Issues

$450 Million Opioid Settlement Doesn't Mean Missouri 'Won The Lottery,' Says SLU Professor

Lara Hamdan

St. Louis University sociology professor Elizabeth Chiarello outlines ways the state should spend the $450 million it will receive from a lawsuit against manufacturers and distributors of addictive opioid painkillers.

An analysis from Washington University finds a large share of construction workers in Missouri, southern Illinois and Kansas are being diagnosed with chronic muscle and joint injuries each year, and many are prescribed opioid painkillers. "It’s a very severe problem, that starts with the back injuries, the shoulder and wrist injuries,” said Len Toenjes, president of the Associated General Contractors of Missouri.

Health, Science & Environment

Missouri Construction Workers Face Frequent Injuries, Often Prescribed Opioids

Shahla Farzan

A large share of construction workers in Missouri, southern Illinois and Kansas are being diagnosed with muscle and joint injuries each year, according to a large analysis of union health care data from Washington University, and many are prescribed opioid painkillers.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt spoke in Rolla with rural health care providers about opioid addiction 02-21-2020

Government, Politics & Issues

Missouri Attorney General Says Opioid Settlement Money Would Include Rural Areas

Jonathan Ahl

ROLLA — If Missouri receives money from its lawsuits against opioid manufacturers, rural health care providers want to make sure they get some of those…

Washington University's Clinic for Acceptance, Recovery and Empowerment (CARE) is one of two clinics in St. Louis that provides care for pregnant women facing the challenges of an opioid use disorder.

Health, Science & Environment

Wash U’s Pregnancy CARE Clinic Sees Increase In Polysubstance Abuse

Emily Woodbury

Washington University’s Clinic for Acceptance, Recovery and Empowerment treats women who become pregnant while dealing with an opioid use disorder. It…

Missourians buying health insurance on the federal exchange likely won't see the sky-high rate increases that have becoming common in recent years in 2019. But experts say the marketplace's woes are far from over.

Health, Science & Environment

No Quick Fix: Missouri Finds Managing Pain Without Opioids Isn’t Fast Or Easy

Missouri began offering chiropractic care, acupuncture, physical therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy for Medicaid patients in April, the latest state…

On State Street in Granite City, there have been 11 crime-free housing violations for different tenants at the apartment complex over five years, from 2014 to 2018, more repeats than any other rental property. Eight of the violations requiring an eviction

Government, Politics & Issues

Granite City Renters Face Eviction Over Drug Overdose 911 Calls During Opioid Epidemic

Editor's note: This story was originally published in the Belleville News-Democrat.GRANITE CITY — A 27-year-old man called 911 to send an ambulance to his…

St. Louis County Council established its own prescription drug monitoring program in 2016 to fill the void left by the absence of an official statewide program. Seventy-five jurisdictions across the state now participate in the program.

Health, Science & Environment

St. Louis County Drug Monitoring Program Continues To Grow Across Missouri

Shahla Farzan

Public health officials in St. Louis are expanding their efforts to reduce opioid addiction statewide.The St. Louis County Department of Public Health…

Health, Science & Environment

Drug Use Likely Behind Steep Rise In ER Visits For St. Louis County Inmates

Sarah Fentem

The Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton is sending twice as many inmates to the hospital for medical emergencies as it did in previous years,…

Health, Science & Environment

Federal Grant Funds Mizzou Internships To Treat Addiction In Underserved Areas

Sarah Fentem

Doctoral students in psychology at the University of Missouri will be able to learn how to better treat and prevent addiction thanks to a $1.2 million…