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Addiction

Apr 19, 2025

Don’t ban overdose prevention centers

While Arizonans continue to suffer amid a crisis of drug abuse and overdose, state lawmakers are working to snuff out a promising, cost-effective tool that has saved countless lives and […]

medical profession, Hobbs, legislation
Mar 22, 2025

Evidence shows that OPCs are a key tool to reduce overdose deaths. Arizona lawmakers shouldn’t ban them.

Last month, the Arizona legislature proposed HB 2798 to prohibit local governments from developing overdose prevention centers, or OPCs, an effective and mainstream strategy that reduces fatal overdoses, links people […]

A young man reflects in despair in this photo illustration. A bill for Arizona’s version of Casey’s Law, which allows for court-ordered treatment of drug and alcohol addiction, passed the Senate March 6.
Mar 7, 2024

Lawmakers seek common ground on mental health bill

Arizona's version of Casey's Law got Senate approval today, drawing bipartisan efforts to revise the language to align with the state's substance abuse treatment plan.  

Medicaid scam, Mayes, Nygren
Aug 9, 2023

Thousands helped, thousands more may still be in need after Medicaid scams

A state hotline has helped thousands of victims in the two months since state officials uncovered a string of fraudulent Medicaid-funded addiction care facilities in Arizona, but the exact scale of the problem is still unknown.

Feb 7, 2022

Romley blasts Adel, morale at Maricopa County Attorney’s Office

A mentor and predecessor of Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel says her office is in turmoil as questions about her ability to deal with her sobriety issues mount.  Former county […]

Dec 10, 2021

Babies in recovery as opioid crisis continues

Pregnant with her second child, Clarissa Collins was at her methadone clinic when a woman walked in with a box of doughnuts and a baby doll. 

May 6, 2020

Social distancing, isolation is not part of road to recovery from addiction

Americans have experienced a crash course on the dangerous and frightening nature of a pandemic. But what of the thousands of Americans who have been fighting another epidemic for years, one even deadlier than COVID-19? And what happens when these two epidemics – opioid addiction and coronavirus – collide?

Dec 16, 2019

We need sweeping action to curb opioid crisis

I never set out to become an addict. Like so many people, my path of addiction began with a legal prescription for pain medication after I injured my knee. Every year, an estimated 3 million patients are prescribed post-surgical opioids and become dependent. More than 80% of heroin users trace their addiction to a legal prescription, including me.

Jul 31, 2019

Attorney General seeks U.S. Supreme Court intervention in opioid maker lawsuits

Attorney General Mark Brnovich is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the family that owns a major opioid manufacturer from "looting'' company assets.

Jun 14, 2019

State Medicaid agency approves more treatment options for opioid addiction

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System Director Jami Snyder approved new treatment options for opioid patients using Medicaid Thursday, after the Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee recommended the changes last month.

May 21, 2019

Arizona has opportunity to widen range of opioid addiction treatment

It’s too late for my brother, but there’s still time for countless other AHCCCS enrollees struggling with opioid addiction. They deserve the best possible chance of recovery. And their physicians are owed the broadest possible arsenal of medications to fight this battle.

A client of Phoenix Mission Rescue who works at Mission Possible Cafe prepares a meal on November 8. (Photo by Ellen O'Brien/Arizona Capitol Times)
Nov 13, 2017

New Capitol area restaurant on mission to rescue

The new Mission Possible Cafe is owned and operated by Phoenix Rescue Mission, which is using the restaurant to give clients who are transitioning from addiction or homelessness essential job experience in food service.

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