(Statewide) These are stories of the people affected by Pennsylvania’s opioid crisis. They are strong, caring, brave individuals who are part of the fabric of the communities across our state. Opioid addiction does not define them or their lives, and they are proof that people do recover with treatment to lead full and productive lives - just like anyone else. By giving their voices and stories a platform, we can help others see that it’s time to replace outdated stigma with support, encouragement, and understanding...(lifeunitesus.com)

(Statewide) Pennsylvania will receive $1.07 billion as part of a $26 billion national settlement with three pharmaceutical distributors, and counties should see the first round of payments to address the opioid crisis by early summer...(PA Capital-Star)

(Luzerne) April is Alcohol Awareness Month and area leaders are speaking out...(PA HomePage)

(Statewide) The Pennsylvania Senate on Wednesday approved a bill to safeguard banks and insurers against being penalized by state regulators for working with state-legal medical marijuana businesses...(Marijuana Moment)

(Statewide) One day after New Jersey cleared the way for its first legal recreational-weed sales, possibly before the end of April, a Pennsylvania Republican state senator held a hearing Tuesday on what panelists described as the perils for children and youth of adult-use pot legalization....(Philadelphia Inquirer)

(Statewide) The Wolf administration is preparing to enforce its long-awaited licensing system for addiction recovery homes, which have operated with limited oversight for years. But with only two months before a major deadline, only a few dozen houses have submitted applications for a license, raising concerns that not enough operators will get on board with a reform meant to provide greater support for people struggling with addiction...(Spotlight PA)

(Statewide) Pennsylvania medical cannabis patients currently have access to tinctures, pills, oils, topicals, and dry leaf to vaporize. A new bill will soon be introduced by state Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, to possibly expand those options and allow patients to purchase medical cannabis edibles...(TribLive)

(Statewide) Children are a budding concern as Pennsylvania inches closer to the legalization of adult-use cannabis than it’s ever been before...(CBS21 News)

(National) Pfizer and other drugmakers are facing calls from Congress to make their opioid reversal drugs available over the counter, a move lawmakers claim will reduce stigmas around addiction and drug-related deaths....(Bloomberg Government)