Fentanyl test strips are a big deal in the fight against opioid overdoses. These cheap, easy-to-use tools can spot fentanyl and its cousins in drugs. They're part of a broader effort to reduce harm, alongside things like naloxone kits. But what do the folks in charge of keeping the peace think about all this? In one county, 13 police chiefs were asked about decrimin...
In Australia, there's a growing worry about a new type of drug. These are called novel synthetic opioids or NSOs. They are man-made and very strong. They are causing a lot of trouble in North America. People are dying from them. This has raised alarms in Australia. The concern is that these drugs might become a big problem down under. So, experts wanted to figure out...
Bodybuilders are known for pushing boundaries, especially when it comes to enhancing their physiques. Recently, they have been experimenting with GLP-1 medicines. These drugs, like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, were originally designed to manage diabetes. However, they have gained attention for their weight loss benefits. This has led to a rise in off-label use, meani...
When it comes to tackling substance use, there's a big gap in understanding how religion and spirituality fit in. This gap is surprising, given how much these factors influence people's lives. It is crucial to look at how faith and belief systems can support harm reduction efforts. Harm reduction is all about minimizing the negative effects of substance us...
The fight against opioid overdoses is seeing a glimmer of hope. After years of climbing numbers, deaths from opioid overdoses are finally dropping in the United States. This shift is partly due to the growing presence of harm reduction services. These services aim to minimize the negative effects of drug use. However, their impact is limited by poor implementation. ...
In the world of tobacco, Philip Morris International (PMI) has been quietly supporting educational courses for healthcare professionals. These courses, disguised as independent, focus on harm reduction, suggesting smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes as safer alternatives to traditional smoking. But is this altruistic, or just a clever marketing strategy? The US Famil...
For the past 25 years, France has been monitoring HIV and hepatitis B and C among drug users through the ANRS-Coquelicot survey. This unique experiment, conducted in cities across the country, has recruited participants from various services like drug treatment centers and harm reduction facilities. The survey uses a clever mix of methods, including Time Location Sam...
Even though Iran has strict rules against making, selling, or drinking alcohol, a secret market has been thriving. Many people are getting seriously hurt or even dying because these secret drink makers often don't follow safety rules. A group of researchers decided to find out why this black market is growing and suggest ways to make it safer. They looked at document...
You might not think your local bar has much to do with opioid deaths. But in New Hampshire, researchers found a surprising connection. Places with more bars and restaurants, where people can drink alcohol on the spot, also had higher rates of opioid overdose deaths. Isn't that weird? It gets even more interesting. Areas with more stores that sell alcohol to take home...