The opioid crisis, on the front lines

With nearly four opioid-related deaths per week, Washington, D.C. is facing its greatest public health emergency since the crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s. I know this to be true because I lived through it as a narcotics detective with the Metropolitan Police Department. I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating effects that a drug crisis can have on our city. But this round of the epidemic is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

From New England to the Pacific Northwest, communities across the nation are searching for solutions. Policymakers are racing to pass new legislation. Community health centers are introducing new programs. Schools and churches are investing in tools that can support those in need.