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Philly’s opioid crisis

As the opioid epidemic continues to intensify in the Philadelphia area, the debate over what steps should be taken, and by whom, is hotly contested. Will Harrisburg allow Philly to open an overdose prevention site? Does city government’s backing of one show a racist dichotomy? We’ll cover all this and more as the region battles the crisis.

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Last Updated: Nov. 01, 2018 · 12:50 p.m.

Philly’s health commissioner goes national with an op-ed in defense of supervised injection sites

Safehouse argues in court that shutting down its proposed injection sites would violate the Religious Freedom Act — because the founders are driven by a ‘moral and religious imperative to save lives’

Philly’s opioid lawsuit against Big Pharma is moving very slowly — and lawyers say the Delco courthouse is to blame

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About 1 in 5 incarcerated people in Philly have opioid use disorder, with 400 getting treatment daily. After a snag, the prison’s bupe program is open again.

By the numbers: clearing the Kensington encampments

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Rendering from Penn study identifying possible Safehouse locations within different City Council districts

Where will Safehouse open a supervised injection site? Study tags potential locations

The nonprofit says a 2019 launch remains the plan.

Philly’s medication-assisted treatment program for addiction is only 3/4 full — so the city launched a marketing campaign to get the word out

State officials say the opioid crisis in PA may be ‘starting to wane’ — but they’re tracking a rise in cocaine and meth

Recovery advocates are running a social media campaign to ask the DOJ to drop its civil suit against Safehouse

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The Safehouse supervised injection site is considering potential locations in Harrowgate — and some residents are not pleased

A weaving at the Kensington Storefront, inspired by Philly's addiction epidemic

A Drexel-made smartphone app to reduce overdose deaths in Philly

Unity Philly alerts Narcan carriers when there's an active OD nearby.

PPD and city workers will break down whatever is left of the Emerald Street bridge camp today and try to place anyone still living there into a shelter or treatment program

Study finds correlation between Big Pharma marketing and overdose deaths

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New Philly mandate: Fight opioid crisis with medication-assisted treatment

By next January, all 80 city-contracted recovery programs must offer it.

Many of the overdose victims in South Philly are construction workers or manual laborers. They’re often reluctant to look for treatment because of the stigma

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Philly paramedics treated more overdoses last year — but used less Narcan

With so many people carrying the overdose antidote, first responders are no longer the first to save lives.

Frankford residents are worried about inheriting Kensington’s problems as the city pushes cleanup efforts

Would a border wall curb the opioid crisis in Philly? Not a chance, experts say.

Drexel alum Jeanette Bowles will be the executive director of Safehouse, Philly’s (and the country’s) first supervised injection site

Prison officials are spending $5.7 million on body scanners to curb drug smuggling — and accidental overdoses