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Pauline Bartolone

Pauline Bartolone is a freelance journalist. This story was reported with Felicia Mello in a joint production of Salon, NPRs Living on Earth and U.C. Berkeleys Graduate School of Journalism.

Nurse Kim Gates draws blood from Heidi Wyandt, 27, at the Altoona Center for Clinical Research in Altoona, Pa., on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, where Wyandt is helping test an experimental non-opioid pain medication for chronic back pain related to a work related injury she received in 2014. With about 2 million Americans hooked on opioid painkillers, researchers and drug companies are searching for less addictive drugs to treat pain. (AP Photo/Chris Post) (AP)

The other opioid crisis: Hospital shortages lead to patient pain, medical errors

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(<a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery-1109177p1.html'>GraCon Design</a> via <a href='http://www.shutterstock.com/'>Shutterstock</a>)

California to drug users: We’ll pay for you to test your dope

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(Getty/RapidEye)

Obscure vomiting illness linked to long-term pot use

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(AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)

Can we tax away the opioid crisis? First, we have to understand it

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When the water runs out

Pauline Bartolone