Opioids

Iowa is expected to receive about $174 million in opioid settlement funds over the next 18 years.

State departments of health across the region have taken some action and issued advisories as the synthetic drug-involved overdose death toll has risen in recent years.

People with substance use disorders often encounter biases in the medical community.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Tuesday that increases penalties for crimes related to dealing fentanyl and other drugs.

New proposals at the Statehouse are aimed at addressing the opioid crisis, including boosting sentences for fentanyl-related crimes and making an overdose reversal medication more widely available. Lawmakers and Iowans impacted by the epidemic discuss the implications.

Studies tell us many healthcare professionals hold negative attitudes toward patients with substance use disorders, and these attitudes can result in patients receiving suboptimal care. On this episode of River to River — how hospitals are working to reduce stigma for people with addiction.

Federal and state authorities are encouraging more rural health care professionals to become certified to prescribe medications containing buprenorphine for patients battling opioid addiction.

Nearly every state has laws that limit access to opioid treatment programs, according to a new report from the Pew Charitable Trusts.

The Iowa Attorney General's Office has launched a new website to connect Iowans with help for opioid addiction.

Newsbuzz is a roundup of some of the top headlines of the week, including major opioid settlements in the state and a look at Iowa's new Supreme Court Justice.