Integrating health care systems to support and care for people with substance use disorders  

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are complex conditions that continue to impact people from all walks of life. Like many communities across the nation, King County residents are seeing a rise in substance use disorders and overdoses, particularly with the tragic impacts of the fentanyl epidemic being felt across our communities.    This summer, DCHS published a…

King County launches new effort to prevent youth suicide, invites you to join

September is coming around the corner, and we are preparing for September Suicide Prevention Awareness Month.   King County DCHS partnered with Rescue Agency to develop a countywide Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign to help prevent youth suicide during Suicide Prevention Awareness Month in September, including a Suicide Prevention Week of Action that will take place September…

Substance use prevention and early intervention: Key steps to reduce harm and prevent use before it starts  

Substance use disorders continue to impact people from all walks of life. As the understanding and science of addiction evolves, so too does our understanding of ways to prevent substance use disorder and increase support for communities. As a follow up to the blog post on substance use disorder treatment, we are taking a closer…

Kent Isolation and Quarantine Site Will No Longer Serve Guests Next Week 

King County Department of Community and Human Services announces that the Kent Isolation and Quarantine (I&Q) site will no longer serve guests, starting Monday, June 13, 2022.  As of today, the building has stopped accepting referrals. With relatively stable COVID-19 hospitalization and death rates, King County made the decision to transition to a more traditional…

King County Awards Funding to 11 School Districts to Extend Critical Program Addressing Youth Mental Health

Washington youth are experiencing a mental health crisis. COVID-19 has exacerbated underlying issues felt by young people, including anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. Over the past two months, national experts and senior officials have sounded the alarm. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ‘issued a warning on teen mental health.' The United States…

New Cross System Data Analysis on Overdose Deaths in King County

DCHS Data Insights Series DCHS is excited to release the second analysis as part of the “DCHS Data Insights” series, highlighting how DCHS data directly informs programs, client outcomes, and the core components of some of our region's most pressing issues.  +++Nationally, the country is seeing a dramatic rise in overdose deaths due to opioids and stimulants.…