Moving past abstinence-only entails SUD treatment providers being able to measure recovery in a holistic, person-centered way. But of 90 patient-outcomes questionnaires studied, just two were explicitly developed with input from people with lived experience, reports Sydney Sauer:

"The Federal Communications Commission is moving right along in its bid to cut off prison communication from both sides, by decreasing access to contraband phones as well as regulated ones."

Moving past abstinence-only entails SUD treatment providers being able to measure recovery in a holistic, person-centered way. But of 90 patient-outcomes questionnaires studied, just two were explicitly developed with input from people with lived experience, reports Sydney Sauer:

"They couldn’t even bring themselves to pardon two turkeys. One was just there so they could make a point. There were also jokes about senators needing to stay on the Board’s good side. Incarceration is a punchline."

“We can’t turn our back on a potential solution.” Despite the "ugly spectacle" of attacks on tobacco harm reduction at the global tobacco control COP11, policy damage was largely averted, reports @kiransidhu41.bsky.social —thanks to some national delegations refusing to toe the WHO line:

Attorneys general for 18 states and the District of Columbia, as well as the governors of KY and PA, allege that the changes “essentially guarantee that tens of thousands of formerly homeless individuals and families will be evicted.”

“We can’t turn our back on a potential solution.” Despite the "ugly spectacle" of attacks on tobacco harm reduction at the global tobacco control COP11, policy damage was largely averted, reports @kiransidhu41.bsky.social —thanks to some national delegations refusing to toe the WHO line:

"They couldn’t even bring themselves to pardon two turkeys. One was just there so they could make a point. There were also jokes about senators needing to stay on the Board’s good side. Incarceration is a punchline."

Attorneys general for 18 states and the District of Columbia, as well as the governors of KY and PA, allege that the changes “essentially guarantee that tens of thousands of formerly homeless individuals and families will be evicted.”

“They weren’t stopping the overdoses … It’s a red-light emergency,” co-founder Jeremy Kalicum told the BC Supreme Court yesterday. DULF lawyer set out 3 points behind the constitutional challenge that could throw out convictions against the compassion club operators, reports @godfrey.bsky.social:

At least 83 people have now been killed in boat strikes; the US designates so-called "Cartel de los Soles" as terror group, and continues its military build-up. "Once you’ve established such a force, the clock starts to tick,” an expert warns @tganeva.bsky.social:

More than a year after the Assembly Health Committee first took up and amended the legislation, the panel has reconvened and reported out favorably. By @kylejaeger.bsky.social:

"Appearing for the first time since 2019, these reports use National Survey on Drug Use and Health data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and continue SAMHSA's tradition of organizing that data in kind of weird ways."

“They weren’t stopping the overdoses … It’s a red-light emergency,” co-founder Jeremy Kalicum told the BC Supreme Court yesterday. DULF lawyer set out 3 points behind the constitutional challenge that could throw out convictions against the compassion club operators, reports @godfrey.bsky.social:

At least 83 people have now been killed in boat strikes; the US designates so-called "Cartel de los Soles" as terror group, and continues its military build-up. "Once you’ve established such a force, the clock starts to tick,” an expert warns @tganeva.bsky.social:

More than a year after the Assembly Health Committee first took up and amended the legislation, the panel has reconvened and reported out favorably. By @kylejaeger.bsky.social:

"Appearing for the first time since 2019, these reports use National Survey on Drug Use and Health data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and continue SAMHSA's tradition of organizing that data in kind of weird ways."

Some jails may use the funds to provide Sublocade, the monthly injectable version of buprenorphine, in addition to Vivitrol. The larger issue of MOUD funds going unspent has been a recurring theme in correctional settings.

The conference was full of "promises of evolution toward harm reduction," reports @helenredmond.bsky.social. "The vibe in the methadone industry has palpably shifted ... But don’t be fooled."

Any sentencing below the mandatory minimums would come with three years’ probation, and a prison sentence of at least three-and-a-half years if probation conditions are not met.

"People with COPD do not deserve lectures. They deserve care. Many have lived with poverty, workplace hazards, air pollution, limited health care access, or genetic vulnerabilities. ... Stigma drives people away from health care, delays diagnosis, undermines quit attempts, and deepens suffering."

Some jails may use the funds to provide Sublocade, the monthly injectable version of buprenorphine, in addition to Vivitrol. The larger issue of MOUD funds going unspent has been a recurring theme in correctional settings.

The conference was full of "promises of evolution toward harm reduction," reports @helenredmond.bsky.social. "The vibe in the methadone industry has palpably shifted ... But don’t be fooled."

Any sentencing below the mandatory minimums would come with three years’ probation, and a prison sentence of at least three-and-a-half years if probation conditions are not met.

Advocates condemn "regressive" bill that would recriminalize certain activities, like possession of marijuana from an unauthorized source; eliminate anti-discrimination protections for people legally using it; & restrict hemp sales. Kyle Jaeger reports:

"Drugs are not forbidden because they are dangerous, they are dangerous because they are forbidden,” said Peter Krykant, who "hit the global harm reduction scene with a bang," running an unauthorized overdose prevention site from a van in Glasgow. People who knew and worked with him pay tribute:

In recent years the Georgia Department of Corrections has restricted or removed access to boots, jacket liners, thermal underwear, long-sleeved shirts, raincoats, knit hats and having a second blanket.

In recent years the Georgia Department of Corrections has restricted or removed access to boots, jacket liners, thermal underwear, long-sleeved shirts, raincoats, knit hats and having a second blanket.

"Drugs are not forbidden because they are dangerous, they are dangerous because they are forbidden,” said Peter Krykant, who "hit the global harm reduction scene with a bang," running an unauthorized overdose prevention site from a van in Glasgow. People who knew and worked with him pay tribute:

"On the way home, he began to cry. The ER had made him feel like he deserved what was happening to him." It's #WorldCOPDDay, writes @skipscorner.bsky.social. "But this year, something cruelly ironic is unfolding at the same time." "The lives of people who smoke are worth more than a lecture."

🧵Far too often, Native/Indigenous communities' needs are left behind & overlooked. As this @filtermag.bsky.social piece points out, the gap in #overdose death rates between white & Native/Indigenous people is large around the country. To change this, we must examine bit.ly/NativeOverdoseDisparities

"Though I don’t condone this, there was a time when if a prisoner laid a hand on an officer they’d beat the hell out of him. Now, a gang-affiliated prisoner can smack an officer in broad daylight and be back before the end of the day."

Stigma by Association Is Driving Workers Out of Harm Reduction filtermag.org/stigma-by-as...

"On the way home, he began to cry. The ER had made him feel like he deserved what was happening to him." It's #WorldCOPDDay, writes @skipscorner.bsky.social. "But this year, something cruelly ironic is unfolding at the same time." "The lives of people who smoke are worth more than a lecture."

"Though I don’t condone this, there was a time when if a prisoner laid a hand on an officer they’d beat the hell out of him. Now, a gang-affiliated prisoner can smack an officer in broad daylight and be back before the end of the day."

"The most common mistake I’ve seen over the years is telling people it’s important to use sterile water. It’s not. We figure that even if giving people this advice isn’t entirely necessary, it at least can't be wrong. But it is."

"The strategy, as many have reflected, appears to be that if you can’t win the argument, try to discredit the messenger," writes @kiransidhu41.bsky.social. "It’s little wonder, then, that in the runup to COP11, such attacks seem to have escalated."

"The most common mistake I’ve seen over the years is telling people it’s important to use sterile water. It’s not. We figure that even if giving people this advice isn’t entirely necessary, it at least can't be wrong. But it is."

Stigma against people who use drugs is so strong, it can impact workers providing us with crucial services. Time to end PWUD stigma.

“Workers who reported experiencing more of this stigma by association had poorer workplace wellbeing, greater levels of burnout and stronger intentions to leave.” This isn't just a workforce issue, reports Brooke Nolan, but a public health threat:

TH104 is intended for military and first responders to self-administer. The FDA will accept the application without new clinical trials, since the developer already did a TH104 trial for chronic itchiness from an autoimmune disease.

“Workers who reported experiencing more of this stigma by association had poorer workplace wellbeing, greater levels of burnout and stronger intentions to leave.” This isn't just a workforce issue, reports Brooke Nolan, but a public health threat:

TH104 is intended for military and first responders to self-administer. The FDA will accept the application without new clinical trials, since the developer already did a TH104 trial for chronic itchiness from an autoimmune disease.

Tucked inside this week's appropriations package is a section to recriminalize hemp products containing THC. With a year before it takes effect, advocates hope to "remediate the worst of it,” reports Kyle Jaeger:

Community groups with small budgets are receiving just a fraction of New York's opioid settlement dollars, reports @tganeva.bsky.social. "It is critical that [the funds] are protected from filling budget gaps created by federal funding cuts," notes new @drugpolicy.org report:

Tucked inside this week's appropriations package is a section to recriminalize hemp products containing THC. With a year before it takes effect, advocates hope to "remediate the worst of it,” reports Kyle Jaeger:

Community groups with small budgets are receiving just a fraction of New York's opioid settlement dollars, reports @tganeva.bsky.social. "It is critical that [the funds] are protected from filling budget gaps created by federal funding cuts," notes new @drugpolicy.org report:

"Fentanyl test strips should be accessible to everyone, but syringe program participants arguably get the least use out of them. They should be aimed at people who aren’t considered 'drug users'—but who do use drugs."

"Some did state that nicotine causes cancer." Deeply unhappy with colleagues' misrepresentations, an Australian medical professional organized education sessions. Given health authorities' views, she spoke with @kiransidhu41.bsky.social on condition of anonymity: