Harm Reduction

For the first time in years, the U.S. is witnessing a sustained decline in overdose deaths. Federal data reveals a 14.5% drop in fatalities over 12 months ending June 2024, marking a significant shift after years of grim records. Experts attribute the change to a combination of expanded harm...

Despite claiming over 100,000 lives annually, the U.S. overdose crisis received minimal attention during the recent presidential campaign, which concluded with Donald Trump’s victory. This oversight comes as overdose deaths continue to rise among Black and Indigenous Americans, revealing a...

Harm reduction is an approach aimed at minimizing the negative health, social and legal consequences associated with both drug use and prohibitionist policies. Rather than insisting on abstinence, it acknowledges that some people will continue to use substances and therefore focuses on reducing...

As if adulterating drugs with fentanyl were not enough, an industrial chemical known as bis (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl) sebacate, or BTMPS, is now appearing in illicit fentanyl across the U.S. Originally used in plastics for UV protection, BTMPS has been detected in fentanyl samples marking...

An analysis by the Cato Institute, a U.S. think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., reveals how the federal legalization of cannabis could significantly transform the U.S. federal budget landscape.  Authored by Alex Brill, Brian J. Miller and Stan Veuger, the research presents a detailed...

At a time when illicit drugs are a leading cause of death among young adults, Transparency emerges as a ray of hope to mitigate the harms caused by drug prohibition and the not so successful abstinence-only approaches. The new harm reduction organization, evolving from the well-known Bunk Police,...

April 4, a sad day for the drug research and harm reduction advocate communities worldwide with news of Russell Newcombe’s passing.  A prominent figure in the field of harm reduction, the English psychologist and researcher played an active role in informing and advocating for harm reduction...

In a first for the U.S., a pilot program in rural Michigan is exploring the use of cannabis as a harm reduction tool. Researchers followed 10 clients who received free marijuana through a harm reduction organization, with promising results. Staff observed positive changes, like one client who...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published a study highlighting a concerning trend among American teenagers: the increasing role of stress and anxiety in driving substance use.  The report, covering data from 2014 to 2022, sheds light on the motivations behind...

With an increase in consumption and legalization of psychedelics, cannabis and other substances in certain places around the country, there’s a growing advocacy movement stressing the importance of educating consumers.  The nonprofit Drugs and Me has a new chatbot, an...

A devastating epidemic has made its way onto college campuses across the country, where students are carrying opioid overdose reversal drugs in their backpacks along with their textbooks and other belongings. Overdoses, particularly due to fentanyl, are increasing on college campuses....

Via El Planteo Dr. Peter Grinspoon is a general practitioner at Harvard University, writer, medical cannabis specialist, and lecturer. In 2016 he published the book “Free Refills: A Doctor Confronts His Addiction” which seeks to explain the vulnerability of healthcare personnel to...

Philadelphia nonprofit organization Safehouse is in a legal battle with the Department of Justice (DOJ) over the establishment of a safe drug consumption site. According to Marijuana Moment, despite widespread support from harm reduction advocates, federal opposition has halted progress. During the...

This article was originally published on Psychedelic Spotlight and appears here with permission. While going on a psychedelic trip can be fun and enlightening, there are certain things that could drastically change the tone of it. Practicing good harm reduction skills can prevent your trip from...

This article was originally published on Psychedelic Spotlight and appears here with permission. The underbelly that likely exists in many picture-perfect communities like ours is the subversive drug rings run by none other than our  kids. I kidd you not.   Hi there! I’m a...