The Columbian

Clinical supervisor Kami McKinzey-Bartelmie, left, gives a presentation for families during an XChange Recovery Community Educatin and Support Night. “Change doesn’t happen overnight,” she said, but it can and does happen.

XChange Recovery’s message to families of those struggling with addiction: ‘There is hope’

April 25, 2024, 3:18pm Clark County Health

Becky Berhardt vividly remembers bawling on the phone years ago as she spoke with her son, who was struggling with homelessness and addiction. Read story

The Clark County Courthouse (The Columbian files)

Vancouver man who blinded girlfriend in 2021 attack found not guilty by reason of insanity

April 24, 2024, 11:46am Clark County News

A judge found a Vancouver man who trapped his girlfriend in his apartment and blinded her not guilty by reason of insanity Friday. Read story

Camp Mariposa is designed for children affected by substance use addiction from a family member, and camp centers around prevention and mentoring.

Lifeline Connections’ Camp Mariposa helps children affected by substance use

April 19, 2024, 6:07am Clark County Health

The butterfly symbolizes transformation and embarking on a new phase of life. Read story

Graffiti covers the walls of a jail cell at the Clark County Jail.

As fentanyl use increases, Clark County Jail grapples with opioid withdrawals

April 17, 2024, 6:06am Clark County Health

As fentanyl use increases, the Clark County Jail is grappling with more people experiencing withdrawal from drug use while in custody. Read story

Paul Hunter has wounds on his leg consistent with those caused by xylazine, a veterinary tranquilizer. The presence of xylazine in Clark County’s drug supply has almost doubled since November, according to Columbia River Mental Health.

‘Tranq’-laced fentanyl nearly doubles in Clark County and expert says it will only get worse

April 12, 2024, 6:05am Clark County Health

Paul Hunter’s legs are rotting. The wounds along his calves, skin and ankles are eating away at his freckled flesh. Every time he takes his socks off, the wounds rip open again. Read story

State to fund new youth mental health center at former Daybreak facility in Brush Prairie

April 4, 2024, 7:09pm Clark County Health

Plans are in the works to house a new 54-bed recovery and mental health center for youth at the former Daybreak Youth Services facility in Brush Prairie. Read story

Brent McCarthy, left, and Marissa Matthews, right, play on the Vancouver Waterfront pier with their son Xavier, 2, on Sept. 10, 2020. The family evacuated their Salem, Ore., home to escape the smoke and fire risk. "It's a good idea to start preparing for bad wildfires, and poor air quality, and be happy if it doesn't happen," said Uri Papish, Southwest Clean Air Agency executive director.

How do wildfires affect mental health? A new UW study examines the connection

April 4, 2024, 2:26pm Health

Checking air quality and staying indoors when smoke inundates Washington has become second nature during Washington’s wildfire season in recent years. But new research highlights how wildfires can affect a less visible aspect of well-being: mental health. Read story

Tagged Articles:Mental health