...Hospital's Serenity House saw a "very rapid" shift in patients admitted during the year, said Kristie Sellers, director of behavioral health. Serenity House, which tracks specific drugs patients have abused, saw a significant increase in heroin...

...Peninsula Hospital treat all demographics; no family is immune to substance abuse, said Dr. Kristie Sellers, director of behavioral health at the hospital. "We see folks with drug addictions who are in their 40s and 50s, people who are middle...

...Attention deficit disorder medications, such as Ritalin and Concerta, are abused as well, Kristie Sellers, director of behavioral health at Central Peninsula Hospital, said. Less common opioids -- psychoactive chemicals used to treat pain...

As the winter solstice approaches, so increases the chances residents might feel the onset of the winter blues. For many Alaska and Peninsula residents, feelings of hopelessness and despair give way to depression as the days get shorter, the air gets colder and winter drags on. Often, those feelings could be part of Seasonal Affective Disorder, said Dr. Kristie Sellers, director of Behavioral Health Services for Central Peninsula Hospital.

A small group of Soldotna High School students said they believe more teens drink alcohol than smoke marijuana. "More kids drink on a regular basis than smoke pot on a regular basis," said David Burger, senior. There was a brief moment of disagreement among the students, then senior Jared Lingafelt reiterated the group's statement. "A lot of students drink on the weekends at parties, and some people smoke during weekdays," he said. "What I mean is more people will go drink at those parties than choose to smoke (regularly)."

Central Peninsula Hospital announced Thursday the appointment of the hospital's new Chief Operating Officer. Matthew Dammeyer will step into his new role as COO on Feb. 13, CPH announced in a news release. The position was previously held by Chief Executive Officer Rick Davis.

Despite the efforts of local law enforcement, consumption of crystal methamphetamine continues to be a problem across the Peninsula, including the central Kenai and Soldotna areas. There has been a significant decrease in the number of labs producing the drug, but processed meth still remains in the area. Methamphetamine-related arrests on the Peninsula have remain consistent through the past three years, according to local authorities, and the increase of imported narcotics, such as meth and heroin, contribute to the consistency.

On a drizzly October afternoon, a man in his 50s walked into the small Tobacco Express and Accessories store wearing square glasses, a black baseball cap and dark jeans. He works in the oil industry and wanted something to help him unwind on a day off.

Despite the dark shadow of suicide continuing to loom over the state of Alaska like a menacing storm, the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council's annual report reveals a tiny ray of optimism shining through the clouds, especially for the Kenai Peninsula.

...the other way. "My body language shows them I'm a different person," she said. Matt Dammeyer is the director of behavioral health at Central Peninsula Hospital and director of the hospital's Serenity House Treatment Center. As the peninsula's...