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In the News...

AP EXPLAINS: The tentative Purdue deal on the opioid crisis
Some questions and answers about Purdue Pharma, the negotiations and their importance to the multi-district litigation in Cleveland:… MORE

What a Purdue Pharma bankruptcy means for the Sackler family
By SARAH SKIDMORE SELL, GEOFF MULVIHILL and ADAM GELLER, The Associated Press Purdue Pharma could be heading for bankruptcy but the extent to which it would affect the Sackler family fortunes remains unclear. The company, which makes OxyContin and other drugs, this week reached a tentative agreement with thousands of local governments and more than…… MORE

Chaotic talks show challenge of reaching opioid settlement
By Thursday, half of the nation’s state attorneys general said they would reject a tentative deal crafted by the other half, and many criticized the terms as grossly insufficient.… MORE

Tentative opioids settlement falls short of nationwide deal
By GEOFF MULVIHILL and DAVE COLLINS, The Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A tentative settlement announced Wednesday over the role Purdue Pharma played in the nation’s opioid addiction crisis falls short of the far-reaching national settlement the OxyContin maker had been seeking for months, with litigation sure to continue against the company and the…… MORE

Trump administration announcing nearly $2B in opioid grants
The Trump administration is awarding nearly $2 billion in grants to states and local governments to help fight the opioid crisis.… MORE

Judge: Drugmakers, others can face trial over opioids crisis
A federal judge overseeing litigation related to the nation’s opioid epidemic ruled Tuesday that lawsuits targeting Purdue Pharma and other drug companies can move to trial even as the OxyContin maker tries to reach a settlement.… MORE

Some states, towns skeptical over proposed opioid settlement
An offer from OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family to settle some 2,000 lawsuits over their contribution to the national opioid crisis is receiving growing pushback from state and local officials who say the proposed deal doesn’t include enough money or accountability.… MORE

Cities now see more overdose deaths than rural areas
By MIKE STOBBE, The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. drug overdose deaths, which have been concentrated in Appalachia and other rural areas for more than a dozen years, are back to being most common in big cities again, according to a government report issued Friday. The report by the Centers for Disease Control…… MORE

Governor signs 3 bills to combat opioid overdoses and deaths
As part of the state budget, signed Friday, Rhode Island is also creating a $5 million annual fee on opioid manufacturers to pay for addiction prevention and treatment programs.… MORE

Rhode Island rejects medical pot use for opioid addiction
The Rhode Island Department of Health has rejected a request to make opioid dependency a qualifying condition for the state’s medical marijuana program.… MORE

New HOPE initiative announced to fight opioid overdoses
PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (AP) – Rhode Island State Police are launching a new program to help combat the opioid epidemic. The new HOPE initiative, which stands for Heroin-Opioid Prevention Effort, involves law enforcement working with clinicians to identify people at risk of overdosing and finding them resources to help toward recovery. Eighty state and local police…… MORE
Frequently Asked Questions
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BHLink.org is the primary site for Rhode Islanders looking for support. In addition to the website, you can call 401-414-LINK or visit their 24-hour, 7 day a week triage center at 975 Waterman Avenue in East Providence.
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BH Link is a welcoming space designed to meet the needs of those who visit. For a virtual tour, view the video below.
Virtual Tour of BH Link from BH Link Communications on Vimeo.
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For expert information on mental health and substance use disorder services, visit:
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For information on opioid addiction, peer recovery services, and treatment options like medication-assisted treatment (MAT), go to:
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For tool kits and other resources designed to advance behavioral health: