Content categorized as Addiction

Illicit activities provoke bench removal and National Park Service renovations

On Aug. 20, benches adjacent to and across from New York Avenue Presbyterian Church were removed due to illicit activities.

Real Science

Real science   I feel like a ghetto lab rat  Real science   My favorite teacher had a bad habit   Real science   She was a victim of… Read more »

After 14 years of not being heard, this formerly homeless veteran is a board-certified counselor trained to help others

Xavier Justice shares his road to recovery from addiction with the help of Veterans on the Rise’s flexible program.

Synthetic drug alert activated on Oct 11 after a series of ‘K2’ overdoses

‘K2’ or synthetic marijuana is ravaging D.C. with a series of overdoses.

Opioid crisis surges in DC region

The Association of American Medical Colleges convened a panel of doctors and other medical experts to discuss the recent dramatic increase in opioid-related deaths in DC.

Tricked! Synthetic Drugs

Vendor Marcus McCall shares a personal testimony about his experience struggling with K2.

Good things are coming for these scholarship recipients as they recover from substance use disorder or mental illness

The scholarship from Woodley House will support all five awardees as they complete the certification program or pursue internships and jobs to put their credentials to use.

Experts say housing is the first step on the road to recovery from substance abuse

Housing and substance abuse experts said having housing before attempting to seek treatment for individuals who are struggling with substance abuse increases the likelihood of success.

When our justice system takes a life

Street Sense Media Executive Director Brian Carome alleges the DC behavioral health system, including its mental health court, has failed under the purview of Mayor Muriel Bowser.

DC ranks third in drug overdose deaths in America, DC Council discusses plans to prevent more

Mayor Muriel Bowser has proposed a strategic plan to reduce the deaths.

My misery is desperate for my ministry

As a child, Reginald Denny had one household responsibility: clean up after the adults ate, drank and played cards. Denny’s chore paved the way for a battle with alcohol addiction.

This Christmas, a man celebrates the 10th anniversary of reuniting with his family 

Jeffery McNeil’s story of what led him to being homeless, and how he dealt with it.

K2 overdoses spiked for a second time this year

D.C. government, nonprofit organizations and citizens are responding to the most recent spike in synthetic drug overdoses.

A homeless community cook-out

At the “People’s Barbecue” in Baltimore City in August, local nonprofits offered resources to attendees.

Department of Behavioral Health trains people in recovery for careers helping their peers

The D.C. Department of Behavioral Health offers training sessions for individuals who suffer from substance abuse and other mental illness to become mental health peer counselors.

Fatal batch of synthetic drugs sickens community

While it is most common among youth nationwide, synthetic cannabinoid overdoses are plaguing poor adults in the nation’s capital.

Pilot project will bring high-tech health service to homeless patients

Behavioral health specialist Richard Bebout is piloting a comprehensive high-tech project to provide care services to homeless patients with a complicated physical or mental health history.

Obituary: Matthew Joseph Farkas

Matthew Farkas, a resident at 801 East men’s shelter for several years, died on May 11 at the age of 36. It was exactly one month before his birthday. 

Community launches locally organized recovery rally

May 12 marked the inaugural “Walk 4 Recovery,” organized by D.C. residents to celebrate recovery from substance abuse and bring hope to those struggling with it.

Trip to WAMU

After our visit to WAMU with Tyrone Turner, a visual editor and photojournalist, l visited the opioid memorial in President’s Park. Tyrone’s story on glue addiction in Brazilian young children and his story about the death of an opioid-addicted child make one realize how we are all susceptible to opioid addiction.