What is buprenorphine? A Q&A about King County’s new bup hotline

An illustration of a phone with a provider inside, holding out a prescription.

Thanks to a new 24/7 ‘bup’ prescribing hotline, it’s easier than ever for people in King County to get started on medication to treat opioid use disorder. In partnership with the UW Department of Emergency Medicine, King County recently launched a telemedicine program that will provide on-demand access to a buprenorphine prescription, also known as “bup”.

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They Don’t See the Crash: Jesse’s Long COVID Story

A Black man with a neatly trimmed beard wearing a baseball jersey squints his eyes in pain. His hand is held to his head. In the street scene behind him, a car is honking, a dog is barking, and a child is crying.

Jesse was a long-time teacher at Garfield High, writer and activist when his life was upended by new ailments after he had a COVID infection. His story is the second in a series of comics about what it’s like to have long COVID.

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How Healthy is King County? Continuing COVID-19 Impacts and Areas to Watch

A Black man smiles while unloading a box of produce from a van. A white woman behind him reaches for a box of produce.

What has been the impact of the pandemic and climate change on the health of people in King County? What trends are we seeing in injuries, substance use, food security, mental health, and hospitalizations? Our Community Health Needs Assessment dug into these issues to identify areas of progress and where improvement is still needed.

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