Filter | harm reduction journalism
@filtermag.bsky.social
Coverage of drug use, drug policy and human rights from a dedicated nonprofit. Sign up for our newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/3wkzdcv8
"There is an obvious need to invest in lifers. As the only people who have to stay in the system, they're the only ones with any real reason to make it better, and the long-timers are the only ones who know how anything works."
Three Lifers on Why Prisons Need Re-Entry Support for the Prisoners Who Aren't Coming Home
As the only people who have to stay in the system, lifers the only ones with any real reason to make it better. Or who know how anything works.
filtermag.org
"Would MOTAA 2.0 unlock access for everyone who needs it?" asks @helenredmond.bsky.social. "The answer is no. Nothing in the updated bill addresses the fundamental problems in the 2023 version."
MOTAA 2.0 Is Not Real Methadone Reform
Despite vague language about more non-clinic prescribers, the updated bill does not address fundamental problems in the original version.
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"This time the annual-ish behavioral health survey is framed as a five-year trend report covering 2021 to 2025, which somewhat compounds the preexisting barriers to gleaning anything useful from it."
SAMHSA Reframes National Drug Use Survey, Leaves Fentanyl Problem Intact
The survey covers mental illness, substance use, treatment and recovery for respondents ages 12 and up.
filtermag.org
Officials acknowledge that Oregon State Penitentiary, built in Salem in 1866, is "well beyond its useful life."
Oregon Will Close Its Oldest Prison by Building Two, One for "Geriatric" Care
Officials acknowledge that Oregon State Penitentiary, built in Salem in 1866, is "well beyond its useful life."
filtermag.org
"Would MOTAA 2.0 unlock access for everyone who needs it?" asks @helenredmond.bsky.social. "The answer is no. Nothing in the updated bill addresses the fundamental problems in the 2023 version."
MOTAA 2.0 Is Not Real Methadone Reform
Despite vague language about more non-clinic prescribers, the updated bill does not address fundamental problems in the original version.
filtermag.org
Officials acknowledge that Oregon State Penitentiary, built in Salem in 1866, is "well beyond its useful life."
Oregon Will Close Its Oldest Prison by Building Two, One for "Geriatric" Care
Officials acknowledge that Oregon State Penitentiary, built in Salem in 1866, is "well beyond its useful life."
filtermag.org
"If the sponsors' logic bore out, fentanyl pills would be the size of three grains of table salt. It's also not clear how the Act relates to cases linked to overdose; it would effectively target possession and low-level distribution."
No One's Really Expecting the "Fentanyl Dealers Act" to Make Sense - Filter
GOP representatives have introduced legislation that would amend the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by drastically lowering the number of ...
filtermag.org
"Everyone in prison needs to hustle to survive. But something remarkable is that all of these services—letter-writing support, crochet club, personal training, eldercare crowdfunding—are being offered for free."
The Communities We've Built in Prison - Filter
The informal, prisoner-led writing club at South Central Correctional Facility in Tennessee has a dozen or so members. Earlier in ...
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The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced "Tyler's Law" in a unanimous 46-0 vote. Companion legislation was approved in January—but amended to remove references to marijuana and other drugs besides fentanyl.
House Advances Bill Scrutinizing How Hospitals Test Patients for Fentanyl - Filter
A congressional committee has approved a bill to require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to study how prevalent ...
filtermag.org
The government launched a 12-week public consultation seeking “views on proposals for vapes and nicotine products,” such as limiting colors of vaping devices to white, black or gray, and heated tobacco products to a “drab brown color.” By @kiransidhu41.bsky.social:
Plain Packaging and “Drab” Colors: The UK’s Latest Anti-Vape Plan
Government plans to make vapes less visible and attractive completely ignore the likely impact on smoking rates, advocates tell Filter.
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Research shows program initiations by First Nations Peoples grew nearly fivefold from 2019 to 2023. “If safer supply only focuses on the prescription, it misses the full context of people’s lives," coauthor Ashley Smoke told Filter.
How Ontario's Safer Supply Programs Impacted First Nations Peoples - Filter
In late 2024, Ontario had the most safer supply programs of any province in Canada. Then the provincial government banned ...
filtermag.org
“We are a continent torn by violence … [in part] because with crops like cocaine or cannabis, you really need territorial land.” Plant-based drugs have dominated in South America but that's changing, new research illustrates. Sydney Sauer reports:
South America’s Drug Supply Is Rapidly Becoming More Synthetic
On a continent plagued by drug-war violence, plant-based drugs have dominated. That's changing, research shows. Can harm reduction keep up?
filtermag.org
“We are a continent torn by violence … [in part] because with crops like cocaine or cannabis, you really need territorial land.” Plant-based drugs have dominated in South America but that's changing, new research illustrates. Sydney Sauer reports:
South America’s Drug Supply Is Rapidly Becoming More Synthetic
On a continent plagued by drug-war violence, plant-based drugs have dominated. That's changing, research shows. Can harm reduction keep up?
filtermag.org
"Some states are represented by a single county; others by up to nine counties. There’s no standardization in how many sampling sites each county included, or whether multiple sites were spread out versus concentrated in one area."
White House Shares First Data From Wastewater Drug-Testing Project - Filter
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has published its first report on wastewater-based drug testing, something that wasn’t ...
filtermag.org
"That’s a lot of steps to puff on a vape. Compare that to how fast and easy it is for anyone—of any age—to pick up & smoke a cigarette." @helenredmond.bsky.social reports on what led to the FDA's first flavor authorizations—and the age-gating tech that came with it:
The Glas Ceiling: Gold, Sapphire and Vaping Surveillance
Recent FDA authorization for fruit-flavored vapes was a victory for harm reduction, but only happened with problematic age-gating tech.
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"Some states are represented by a single county; others by up to nine counties. There’s no standardization in how many sampling sites each county included, or whether multiple sites were spread out versus concentrated in one area."
White House Shares First Data From Wastewater Drug-Testing Project - Filter
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) has published its first report on wastewater-based drug testing, something that wasn’t ...
filtermag.org
"That’s a lot of steps to puff on a vape. Compare that to how fast and easy it is for anyone—of any age—to pick up & smoke a cigarette." @helenredmond.bsky.social reports on what led to the FDA's first flavor authorizations—and the age-gating tech that came with it:
The Glas Ceiling: Gold, Sapphire and Vaping Surveillance
Recent FDA authorization for fruit-flavored vapes was a victory for harm reduction, but only happened with problematic age-gating tech.
filtermag.org
In the confirmation process for the permanent role, acting AG Todd Blanche dodged a senator's question on full rescheduling, saying only that he'll "give the matter careful consideration after conferring with all relevant stakeholders, including DEA personnel.” Tom Angell reports:
Trump AG Pick Dodges Question on Full Marijuana Rescheduling
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche gave a non-answer when asked by a senator as part of his confirmation process for the permanent role.
filtermag.org
🧵 #TobaccoHarmReduction is often overlooked in services & programs, despite the overlap in people who smoke or have smoked & people who use drugs. This piece in @filtermag.bsky.social, in which NHRC is referenced, names the importance of integrating more resources for... bit.ly/THRInServices
Growing Calls to Integrate Tobacco Harm Reduction Into Drug Services
“We can't talk about harm reduction without tobacco harm reduction,” says one service provider. The need among people who use drugs is acute.
bit.ly
"Data from the controversial center's first two-and-a-half months show Black residents are already being the most disproportionately detained."
New Public Dashboard for SF’s “Law Enforcement-Led” RESET Center - Filter
San Francisco’s controversial Rapid Enforcement, Support, Evaluation, and Triage (RESET) Center has a new public dashboard, the first data from ...
filtermag.org
In the confirmation process for the permanent role, acting AG Todd Blanche dodged a senator's question on full rescheduling, saying only that he'll "give the matter careful consideration after conferring with all relevant stakeholders, including DEA personnel.” Tom Angell reports:
Trump AG Pick Dodges Question on Full Marijuana Rescheduling
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche gave a non-answer when asked by a senator as part of his confirmation process for the permanent role.
filtermag.org
"Data from the controversial center's first two-and-a-half months show Black residents are already being the most disproportionately detained."
New Public Dashboard for SF’s “Law Enforcement-Led” RESET Center - Filter
San Francisco’s controversial Rapid Enforcement, Support, Evaluation, and Triage (RESET) Center has a new public dashboard, the first data from ...
filtermag.org
"Arizona appears to be separating onto its own trajectory, with the increase slowing down even as it speeds up in neighboring states."
Overdose Data Show Two Paths Within Western Corridor of Rising Deaths
Arizona appears to be separating onto its own trajectory, with the increase slowing down even as it speeds up in neighboring states.
filtermag.org
The recent surge is expected to continue. It's unsurprising that more people—especially women—are using pouches to quit smoking, reports @kiransidhu41.bsky.social. But some are switching to pouches from vapes, and the reasons for this are more complex:
What’s Behind the UK’s Migration to Nicotine Pouches?
It's unsurprising that many people are using them to quit smoking. But some are switching from vapes, and the reasons for this are complex.
filtermag.org
"Arizona appears to be separating onto its own trajectory, with the increase slowing down even as it speeds up in neighboring states."
Overdose Data Show Two Paths Within Western Corridor of Rising Deaths
Arizona appears to be separating onto its own trajectory, with the increase slowing down even as it speeds up in neighboring states.
filtermag.org
The recent surge is expected to continue. It's unsurprising that more people—especially women—are using pouches to quit smoking, reports @kiransidhu41.bsky.social. But some are switching to pouches from vapes, and the reasons for this are more complex:
What’s Behind the UK’s Migration to Nicotine Pouches?
It's unsurprising that many people are using them to quit smoking. But some are switching from vapes, and the reasons for this are complex.
filtermag.org
"Corrections departments may tout a zero-tolerance approach, but the understaffing crisis ensures that wardens and gang leaders have never been closer."
Lockdowns Are a Dangerous Way for Prisons to Respond to Gang Violence
Corrections departments may tout a zero-tolerance approach, but understaffing means that wardens and gang leaders have never been closer.
filtermag.org
“Cannabis is used in every community, regardless of local rules,” said the director of California's Department of Cannabis Control; while localities can ban businesses, "they cannot eliminate consumer demand." Tom Angell reports:
In CA, 97 Percent of Seized Marijuana Is From Counties That Ban Growing
The head of the state's Department of Cannabis Control said that while localities can ban operators, “they cannot eliminate consumer demand.”
filtermag.org
"Imagine if a judge or legislator remained anonymous. [Government officials and employees] with ... power over people's lives cannot hide their identity."
Filter | harm reduction journalism@filtermag.bsky.social · 3w ago"The kind of policing that occurs in coercive, authoritarian regimes." As states react to ICE violence by passing laws requiring agents to show their faces, the Trump administration is suing, with New York the latest. Tana Ganeva reports:
"Corrections departments may tout a zero-tolerance approach, but the understaffing crisis ensures that wardens and gang leaders have never been closer."
Lockdowns Are a Dangerous Way for Prisons to Respond to Gang Violence
Corrections departments may tout a zero-tolerance approach, but understaffing means that wardens and gang leaders have never been closer.
filtermag.org