Older Black men account for a growing share of Milwaukee drug deaths as fentanyl creeps into cocaine supplies, catching a generation unaware. By Edgar Mendez and Devin Blake Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service In many ways, Hamid Abd-Al-Jabbar’s life story involved redemption. A victim of abuse who was exposed to alcohol and drugs while growing up […]
White House Observes International Overdose Awareness Day
By Karen Stokes On Wednesday, the White House observed International Overdose Awareness Day and hosted families who have lost a loved one to overdose and advocates from across the country. Overdose Awareness Day is an annual event that takes place on August 31st. This day serves as a global event to raise awareness about overdose […]
SPECIAL REPORT: As Overdose Deaths Rise, Drug-Related Arrests Decline by 67% in Milwaukee
By Edgar Mendez This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org. Despite a record-breaking rise in drug overdose deaths in Milwaukee County over the past several years, the number of drug-related arrests in the city has declined. Data […]
‘They die so quickly’: Fentanyl killing 1,000+ people in Wisconsin each year
Many teenagers dying from the drug aren’t addicted, says one mother who lost her son to fentanyl. ‘They’re taking pills to make themselves feel better.’ By Max Stapleton and Grace Friedman Wisconsin Watch Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our investigative stories and Friday news roundup. Clarification: This story has […]
How to Use Narcan to Save a Life During a Drug Overdose
Narcan blocks opioids from binding to receptors in the brain, quickly reversing the effects of an overdose.
Wisconsin Sees a Sharp Rise in Deaths of Residents in Their 20s, 30s and 40s
By Edgar Mendez This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org. More young people are dying in the state, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum, a nonpartisan, independent policy research organization. The study, which […]
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Fentanyl: The New Jack-Of-All-Trades
Legislatively Speaking By Senator Lena C. Taylor Drug abuse is not new. From morphine to molly, there have been any number of medical and illicit substances that have commanded our attention. We’ve been given a front row seat to observe the devastating impact they have had on our community. Just when you think you’ve seen […]
‘These Deaths Only Tell Part of the Story’: County Leaders Sign Opioid Settlement Agreement
By Ana Martinez-Ortiz Over 500 people in Milwaukee County have died from opioid overdoses this year, and there are still a few days left to go. “Here are the facts,” Margaret Daun, the Milwaukee County corporation counsel, said during a press conference. “In 2002, Milwaukee County recorded 83 related to opioid abuse. This year, we […]
City Struggles to Find Solutions to Slow the High Pace of Drug Overdose Deaths
By Edgar Mendez Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org. Rafael Mercado works on the front lines of the city’s battle against drug overdoses. And he’s not happy with what he’s seeing. “This […]
‘And now he’s gone’: Event Remembers Those Who Lost Their Battle with Opioid Addiction
By Edgar Mendez Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org. UW-Milwaukee student Zachary Jones, 26, still remembers the call he got from his friend, Nate, last spring. “He said: ‘I’m gonna make this […]