(Westmoreland)..."The realization in this program that (county) probation cares about my welfare ... working in constant unison with my counselors and case management was an integral part of me believing in myself. Moreover, it has given me the strength to ask others for help to feel better about myself," Patterson said...(TribLive)

(Beaver) In less than a week, Beaver County has witnessed a spike in overdoses; a total of 27 in the last five days, including three deaths...(CBS Local)

(York) Law enforcement officials say they are not seeing an increase in the use of synthetic marijuana in York County, despite a recent spate of overdoses in other parts of the state and across the country...(York Dispatch)

(Allegheny) Allegheny County needs more resources to battle the opioid epidemic gripping southwestern Pennsylvania, Human Services and Health department representatives said at a state legislative hearing Tuesday...(WESA)

(Berks)...Samuel Weir was among 22 heroin-related fatalities in Berks County in the first six months of 2016, a major increase in the rate of overdose deaths from 2015, when there were 27 during the entire year...(Reading Eagle)

(Statewide) After a year that saw overdose deaths spike nearly 25 percent in Pennsylvania, $2.5 million in grants to fight the opioid crisis were lopped from the state budget...(Morning Call)

(Westmoreland) With Westmoreland County on pace to break its drug overdose death record for the eighth consecutive year, a bipartisan legislative panel studying the state's opioid crisis will convene Wednesday to hear testimony...(TribLive)

(Perry)...Duncannon, Newport and Liverpool residents have found drug paraphernalia at local parks, including used syringes, needles and small baggies commonly used for heroin and other drugs...(PennLive)

(Statewide) Twin attempts to gain control of a worsening drug overdose crisis in Pennsylvania are unfolding, with a new set of legislative hearings scheduled to begin Monday and the Wolf administration continuing to roll out a new approach to coordinating drug treatment...(Reading Eagle)

(Elk) St. Marys City Police will now carry Narcan in patrol vehicles to be prepared for opioid overdoses. Most times, EMS arrives first to calls for overdoses, but in those instances when police are on the scene of an incident when someone starts to overdoses, carrying Narcan could save a life...(Bradford Era)

(Northeast) Drug overdose deaths in Northeast Pennsylvania are surging to record levels this year due to the emergence of the powerful opioid fentanyl, which is vastly stronger than heroin..(Times Tribune)

(Statewide) It's not easy finding a consensus on an issue, but Pennsylvania's certification program for recovery homes just might be the one...(York Dispatch)

(Dauphin) Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico had issued a public warning about a synthetic marijuana  being distributed in the Harrisburg area that is behind a surge of overdose cases...(Fox43)

(New Jersey) Gloucester County has recorded 49 drug overdose deaths so far this year, according to county officials. The total number of overdose deaths last year was 60...(NJ)

(Virginia) The office of Virginia's Attorney General Mark Herring has produced a documentary to help end what he calls an epidemic. He said 900 Virginians died last year from overdosing on heroin and prescription drugs...(WJHL)

(Wisconsin) Wisconsin doctors should prescribe opioids sparingly, tell patients they could become addicted and avoid the drugs as the first option to treat pain, according to new guidelines the state Medical Examining Board recently adopted to combat heroin use...(Insurance Journal) 

(Maryland) Nobody cares if heroin addicts live or die. That's the only explanation Carin Callan Miller can reach for the lack of action she perceives as Maryland and the country ineffectually battle a heroin epidemic...(Patch)

(National) Health insurance claims for people hooked on prescription painkillers and heroin skyrocketed as the number of Americans who fatally overdosed on those opioids hit record highs..(CNBC)

(California) Three people died after attending a rave this weekend in the Inland Empire, the latest in a series of deaths that have fueled debate about safety and the need for stricter regulations of such concerts...(Los Angeles Times)

(National)...As opioid abuse rages and its legacy of overdose deaths continues to climb, more bereaved families are responding by publicly exposing addiction as the demon...(Washington Post)

(Ohio) State and local law enforcement agencies are no longer testing drugs in the field due to the danger of officers becoming exposed to popular, potent drugs...(ABC5)

(Indiana) Opioid overdose 911 calls are on track to set a new record in Indianapolis this year. Overdoses from the drug fentanyl - the drug that killed Prince - are a disturbing new reality pushing the death rate higher...(WFYI)

(Nevada)...Nevada is no exception to this tragic trend, ranking among the top 15 states for lethal overdoses with 18.4 deaths per 100,000 residents. Clearly, the overuse and abuse of prescription drugs has evolved into a national epidemic and a public health emergency...(Vegas INC)