Light at the end of the tunnel: Support is critical for those in recovery
Getty Images When someone begins recovery from opioid addiction, they don’t immediately see a light at the end of the tunnel. Instead, they face overwhelming darkness from withdrawal symptoms like goosebumps, anxiety, nausea and vomiting as their body reacts to the absence of a substance it has grown dependent on. In those moments, hope feels…
Dr. Paws and Whiskers: An animated journey through opioid addiction and recovery
This frame-by-frame animation follows Whisker’s struggle with opioid addiction and path to recovery, guided by Dr. Paws. It also explores the science of dopamine and addiction, showing how the brain and behavior are affected. https://videopress.com/v/bGcMYCHZ?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&posterUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pleasantonweekly.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F12%2FScreenshot-2025-12-28-at-4.35.40-PM.png&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true This animation was produced as part of a program to educate youth and others about Alameda County’s opioid crisis, prevention…
Treatment for opioid abuse less expensive than default response of incarceration
Getty Images Opioid abuse not only produces social and human tragedy, but it also imposes massive financial burdens on society. When individuals fall into addiction, the costs ripple through healthcare systems, criminal justice, productivity, and public budgets. However, evidence shows that investing in prevention and treatment is not only more humane, but far cheaper in…
Teaching doctors to distrust: Medical education after the opioid panic
Getty Images Medical students are taught early in medical school that medicine is about listening. Listen to symptoms. Listen to stories. Listen to pain. But in the current opioid abuse crisis, many future doctors are learning something else alongside that lesson: listening to doubt. This skepticism is rarely taught outright. Instead, it seeps in through…
The cost of addiction
Getty Images Opioid misuse has become one of the most dangerous and widespread addictions in the United States. These drugs, often prescribed to treat pain, can quickly take control of a person’s life and impact families in ways that are hard to imagine. What often begins as a simple treatment for recovery can turn into…
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