Alcohol & Substance Abuse

Alaska had 146 opioid overdose deaths last year, the most ever reported.

The recidivism rate for people convicted of drug and alcohol crimes and sent to jail is normally about 50%. The Fairbanks therapeutic courts report a rate of 5% to 7%.

Buprenorphine typically requires an in-person visit for a prescription because it is categorized as a controlled substance. It works to block withdrawal symptoms but doesn’t get users high like heroin or fentanyl do.

Chisholm’s illegal prescriptions “significantly contributed” to the accidental deaths of five patients, who are listed in the document only by their initials, according to the plea agreement.

One change is that now there is no time limit on treatment.

The CCFR fire chief said the program that provides general care and follow-up care in the field is one of the most exciting programs he’s seen after almost 30 years in fire service.

Authorities arrested 27-year-old woman from Prince of Wales Island who allegedly brought the drugs in on an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle.

Inspectors found 2.4 ounces of blue “M30” pills that contained fentanyl hidden in a vacuum-sealed bag inside the motor housing of an Oster blender.

Although Rainforest Recovery Center will limit the number of patients for now, providers say the need in and outside the community is growing. 

When the pandemic began, Rainforest sent patients home and turned the clinic into an overflow site in case the hospital ran out of room.