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September 18, 2013
5-day Forecast Tulsa World  
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13 killed in Washington shooting rampage

A defense contractor employee went on a shooting rampage Monday inside a building at the heavily secured Washington Navy Yard, spraying bullets in the hallways and firing from a balcony onto office workers in an atrium below, authorities and witnesses said. Thirteen people were killed, including the gunman.

 
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OSU will investigate claims made in Sports Illustrated series

Citing a strong appetite for its "Dirty Game" series on Oklahoma State football, Sports Illustrated released the fifth and final chapter a day earlier than originally announced.

 
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BNSF to invest $125 million in state projects

BNSF Railway Co. announced Monday it is spending $125 million to expand and improve its system in Oklahoma. Projects will include a new bypass connection at the Cherokee rail yard in west Tulsa and extending a siding area on the carrier's tracks near Mannford.

 
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Shooting At Navy Yard

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Albums of autumn: 22 new and upcoming music releases to get excited about

As summer fades, so do the songs and sounds of summer. But that gives way to a fall music bonanza.

 
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CONTINUING COVERAGE TOPICS

CONTINUING COVERAGE

State of Addiction

Overview: Addiction costs Oklahoma and its residents an estimated $7.2 billion a year.

That’s more than state government’s budget of $6.7 billion. That’s roughly $1,900 for every man, woman and child in the state. Enough to create about 273,000 median-wage jobs. Enough to build nine skyscrapers like Oklahoma City’s Devon tower.

It’s not just a matter of money. The abuse of street and prescription drugs, alcohol, tobacco and other addictive substances exacts a terrible toll on people’s health, well-being and quality of life.

“The bottom line is, we’re witnessing this crisis, this silent cancer that is just growing.” said Darrell Weaver, director of the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control.

The problem is spreading through every stratum of society: poor, middle-class, wealthy; rural, urban and suburban.

Government, churches and private ventures offer a variety of treatment and recovery programs, but evidence indicates they are inadequate and overloaded.

Last year, the federal government said Oklahoma had the nation’s highest percentage of adolescents and adults who abused prescription drugs over a 12-month period—about 8 percent, or nearly 240,000 people. -- Jaclyn Cosgrove, Oklahoma Watch
HEADLINES

Vote to legalize alcohol on S.D.’s Pine Ridge Indian reservation passes   8/15/2013

American Indians on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota have voted to legalize alcohol so the tribe can use the profits for education and treatment.
Cracking addiction: Moving to a new phase, away from friends

Cracking addiction: Moving to a new phase, away from friends   5/17/2012

Late Friday and Saturday nights are the toughest shifts at Waffle House, when the hordes of party people flood in to sober up, and Dacia Wallace sometimes runs into junkies, pimps and working girls she used to know.

Paying for private treatment often difficult   3/18/2012

Private treatment programs for substance abuse have the potential to be more successful than their state-run counterparts, but some say there's a massive obstacle sitting in the way.
Treatment helps addict regain life

Treatment helps addict regain life   3/18/2012

About six months ago, Lindsey Arias packed all her belongings into a bag to camp out at the 12&12 Inc. front office until she got help.
Treatment troubles

Treatment troubles   3/18/2012

Recent slashes in publicly funded treatment centers meant that few beds were available when Lindsey Arias finally worked up the courage to seek help for her addiction.
State of Addiction, Day 6: Most felony charges stem from drug or alcohol abuse, review shows

State of Addiction, Day 6: Most felony charges stem from drug or alcohol abuse, review shows   3/17/2012

Of all felonies filed in Tulsa and Oklahoma counties on a single day chosen at random, six out of 10 were linked to drugs or alcohol..
State of Addiction: Recovering Tulsa addict praises Drug Court

State of Addiction: Recovering Tulsa addict praises Drug Court   3/14/2012

A second chance at Drug Court saved Marsha Patton's life.

State of Addiction: Faith communities working with addicts   3/14/2012

A colorful banner outside Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond doesn't promote a new sermon series or a children's program, but instead elevates the needs of the addict.
Oklahoma agency seeks more funding to help addicts

Oklahoma agency seeks more funding to help addicts   3/13/2012

Terri White's wish list for her agency is contained in an ambitious 10-point budget request that would cost the state an additional $144 million if everything were to be filled.
Businesses seek ways to combat drug abuse

Businesses seek ways to combat drug abuse   3/13/2012

The numbers are staggering: Drug abuse is estimated to cost employers $276 billion a year, and three-fourths, or 76 percent, of people with a drug or alcohol problem are employed.
State of Addiction: Former addict now helping others

State of Addiction: Former addict now helping others   3/12/2012

Days into detox, Sue Henson didn't think she was an addict.
State of Addiction: Genes play a role, but aren't sole factor

State of Addiction: Genes play a role, but aren't sole factor   3/12/2012

Genes play an important role in whether a person becomes addicted to drugs or alcohol, experts say, but they don't guarantee anything.
State of Addiction: Recovery can be a lifelong battle

State of Addiction: Recovery can be a lifelong battle   3/12/2012

Forrest Coin had been drinking and drugging for decades before deciding to give it up a few months ago.
Prescription-drug overdoses are major killer in Oklahoma

Prescription-drug overdoses are major killer in Oklahoma   3/11/2012

Sherri Carwithin was lying on the hardwood floor of her south Oklahoma City home when police found her body, clad in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. Perched on her chest was her small dog, Patches, who growled at the arriving officers.
Police stay busy fighting drug crimes

Police stay busy fighting drug crimes   3/11/2012

A group of teenagers engages in a spirited pick-up basketball game at one end of an apartment complex. A mother tries to corral her playful children after an afternoon walk. They don't want to go inside; there is daylight to burn.

A look at some of the Oklahomans who died from painkiller overdoses   3/11/2012

A sampling of fatal prescription drug overdoses investigated by state medical examiners illustrates the danger of combining opioid painkillers with other narcotics or alcohol. The case studies, culled from data compiled over a four-week period in 2010, include:
Sunday: Prescription problem is a growing part of drug scourge

Sunday: Prescription problem is a growing part of drug scourge   3/10/2012

Drug overdoses now kill more Oklahomans than motor vehicle accidents, an average of two per day.
Addiction costs state more than annual budget

Addiction costs state more than annual budget   3/10/2012

Addiction costs Oklahoma and its residents an estimated $7.2 billion a year.
INTERACTIVE GRAPHICS
Primary drug of choice in Oklahoma


National usage of drugs and alcohol
ABOUT THIS SERIES
The project reporting on addiction seeks to undercover reasons leading to Oklahoma’s top ranking in prescription drug abuse and high use of other substances, current efforts to address the problem and possible solutions.

March 18: Find out in Sunday’s Tulsa World what treatment options are available in the public and private sectors.

The Tulsa World is a media partner with Oklahoma Watch, an independent, nonprofit, investigative and in-depth reporting team that collaborates with other news organizations and higher education to produce journalism in the public interest.

Oklahoma Watch's first project is looking into why Oklahoma sends more women to prison than any other state on a per capita basis.

Learn more about Oklahoma Watch.
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