Brian King

In Pennsylvania, local governments will decide which substance use programs to fund in their communities. Jeff Fusco/The Conversation U.S.

November 7, 2025

Pennsylvania counties face tough choices on spending $2B opioid settlement funds

Halie Kampman, Penn State; Brian King, Penn State; Glenn Sterner, University of Kentucky; Kristina P. Brant, Penn State, and Maya Weinberg, Penn State

Local governments have a lot of freedom on how to spend the funds, but there’s also confusion and a feeling of moral responsibility to spend wisely after so many lives have been lost.

Pills are one of the more common ways of ingesting opioids. AP Photo/Keith Srakocic

March 21, 2023

Increases in opioid overdoses in Pennsylvania varied by county during the COVID‑19 pandemic

Brian King, Penn State; Andrea Rishworth, University of Toronto; Louisa M. Holmes, Penn State, and Ruchi Patel, Penn State

Pennsylvania has long had one of the highest death rates from drug overdose in the US. But new studies suggest counties throughout the state have different rates of opioid deaths.

Pandemic-driven isolation and job loss have been especially hard for people recovering from opioid addiction to bear. SK Howard/iStock via Getty

June 14, 2021

Opioid overdoses spiked during the COVID‑19 pandemic, data from Pennsylvania show

Brian King, Penn State; Andrea Rishworth, McMaster University, and Ruchi Patel, Penn State

The start of one new public health crisis didn’t mean the end of another.

South African women trying to soak up stagnant water during the drought in January 2016. Denis Farrell/AP

January 10, 2017

How bucking climate change accord would hinder fight against HIV/AIDS

Brian King, Penn State

Climate change imperils food supply in many parts of the world, including South Africa, which has shown major gains in treating HIV/AIDS. Climate change could mean even less food – and more disease.

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