opioid epidemic

CARSON CITY — Nevada health officials will use a federal grant recently awarded to the state’s Medicaid program to grow Substance Use Disorder services.

Heading into Thursday, August 29, 2019 and we're ready and due for the upcoming three-day holiday weekend ahead. Looking around the Carson City area for Thursday there's art showings, a Muscle Powered hike, a Partnership Carson City training and lunch and then a vigil to recognize and prevent opioid overdose and more.

The public is invited to a candlelight vigil Thursday at Bob McFadden Plaza in honor of International Overdose Awareness Day.

“The opioid epidemic is so huge, even in a town of our size,” said Samantha Szoyka, the youth program and outreach coordinator for Partnership Carson City. “As a community, we are starting to talk about it, but people still don’t know what resources are available to them or how they can connect with those resources.”

The vigil, which begins at 7 p.m., will feature a guest speaker and booths distributing information.

MINDEN, Nev. — Partnership Douglas County teamed up with the University of Nevada, Reno’s Center for the Application of Substance Abuse Technologies to offer a free community naloxone training at Partnership Douglas County’s office in Minden.

“The defendants created an unprecedented public health crisis for their own profit, and the deaths of thousands of Nevadans is on their hands. Their blatant disregard for human life shocks the conscience.”

The fourth “Don’t Punish Pain Nationwide Rally” will be held on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. Please join us at our “Nevada Don’t Punish Pain Rally” for the chronically ill community, at the Nevada State Legislature in Carson City, from noon to 2 p.m.

CARSON CITY — Terry Kerns, substance abuse and law enforcement coordinator with the Nevada Office of the Attorney General, spoke at Carson High School on Thursday morning to more than 300 freshmen about the opioid crisis facing Nevada and the science of addiction. She will offer the same presentation again tomorrow to the remaining 300 freshmen on the same topics.

Dear Friends, happy spring time! While our newest season officially arrived March 20th, it seems just now I am starting to believe winter is finally losing its grip and giving way to the kinder, gentler, days of spring. With each day, I see a little more of the renewal of life we have come to associate with this time of year.

CARSON CITY — A 62-year-old Douglas County woman was sentenced by Second Judicial District Court Judge James Todd Russell to 30-96 months in prison, and ordered to pay full restitution of more than $264,000 in a case that involved stealing money from her elderly father.

CARSON CITY — In an ongoing effort to address substance use prevention and treatment in the Silver State, Gov. Brian Sandoval has launched a campaign to help Nevadans recovering from addiction and help employers looking to provide a workplace that supports recovery.

On International Overdose Awareness Day, Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced Friday that USDA has formalized an innovative agreement in which a nonprofit organization will purchase homes from the Department and convert them to transitional housing for people recovering from opioid misuse.

A new display in front of the capitol in Carson City is designed to bring awareness to the opioid crisis across Nevada and the nation.

Carson City is in the midst of the NEA’s Big Read, with True Grit by Charles Portis at the designated book. Julie Buntin’s tome, ‘Marlena: A Novel,’ is the chosen Nevada Reads book, and Nevada Humanities has brought the author here for a discussion and reading. Find Ms. Buntin at the Nevada State Library and Archives at lunchtime or hear her thoughts at the Minden Library this evening. Keep an eye to the skies if you’re interested in today’s Muscle Powered hikes; they will walk on the indoor track at the Multi-purpose Athletic Center if it’s rainy.

You're invited to a public book club discussion about the opioid epidemic with insights obtained from Marlena: A Novel, the 2018 pick for Nevada Reads.

“Nevada Humanities is thrilled to welcome this young author of the enthralling novel Marlena to Nevada. Julie Buntin puts a human face on America’s opioid epidemic through the struggles and escapades of her character Marlena,” said Christina Barr, Executive Director of Nevada Humanities.

Haven't read the book? No worries! We'll discuss ideas, themes, and aim for understanding.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018
12 -1 pm

Nevada Humanities will welcome author Julie Buntin at a series of events throughout Northern Nevada during the month of May. Ms. Buntin is the author of Marlena: A Novel, the 2018 pick for Nevada Reads — a statewide, public book club. Nevada Reads invites Nevadans to read selected works of literature and to come together in their communities to share the ideas and perceptions inspired by the book club selections.

CARSON CITY — In a report released this week, the National Safety Council notes Nevada has enacted comprehensive policies and practices to eliminate opioid overdoses and prevent prescription drug abuse. The publication titled Prescription Nation, provides state rankings based on the implementation of six key actions identified as model policy and practice in addressing the opioid epidemic.

The Life Change Center in Carson City and Sparks are among three community provider organizations picked to receive the Opioid State Targeted Response Treatment and Recover Center grant, the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services announced this week.

The Nevada Division of Child and Family Services is holding a foster parent information night on Wednesday, March 7 at Fremont Elementary School from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

There are not enough foster families in Carson City to meet the need, forcing children to be displaced into other communities — possibly causing further trauma. Information meetings this Wednesday and in March will address the shortage and ways to recruit families wanting to help.

The Division of Child and Family Services is holding a foster parent information night Wednesday Feb. 7, at Carson Middle School from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

CARSON CITY — Gov. Brian Sandoval and the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services announced an important reminder Friday that the provisions of Assembly Bill 474, the Controlled Substance Abuse Prevention Act, will go into effect January 1, 2018.

Deaths from opiate drugs have reached epidemic levels, according to data released by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, with lethal overdoses quadrupling nationwide since 1999.

The Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health will receive $1.2 million in federal money in addition to the already $8.24 million it received earlier this year to assist in Nevada’s battle against the opioid epidemic, Gov. Brian Sandoval said Thursday.

CARSON CITY — Governor Brian Sandoval announced Thursday that Nevada will receive a $5,663,328 grant to combat opioid addiction. The funding, which is the first of two rounds provided for the 21st Century Cures Act, will be provided through the State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis Grants administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.