Criminal Justice

A coalition of nearly 100 civil rights and criminal justice reform groups is protesting a Biden administration proposal that would potentially stiffen prison sentences for certain synthetic opioids, warning that it will exacerbate racial disparities already in the system.

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) – A public health alert was issued Monday by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner due to a surge in overdose deaths.

Three in 4 overdose deaths are caused by the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.

CLEVELAND, OH – Ahead of opening his own behavioral health and substance abuse facility in Cleveland Heights, MetroHealth President and CEO Akram Boutros criticized the county’s current efforts to combat the opioid crisis and asked Cuyahoga County Council for $20 million over the next two years to do better.

At just 34-years-old, Kyle Overmyer was the youngest sheriff in Ohio. The stress of the job combined with physical pain led him down a dangerous path of addiction.

CLEVELAND (WJW) – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration calls it a public safety alert as agents crack down on synthetic drugs that are killing Americans by the tens of thousands.

CLEVELAND — Cleveland police responded to numerous overdoses over the course of 48 hours this weekend, according to a weekend report released by the Cleveland Police Department.

Cops have collapsed after touching fentanyl, but experts say you can't overdose from skin contact. Police officers may be experiencing a disorder that converts stress into physical symptoms. Misinformation is swirling about the risk of fentanyl exposure on the job for police officers.