Alaina Jaster, PhD

@jasteralaina.bsky.social

PhD in PharmTox. Head of Communications at Xylo Bio. Drug policy + harm reduction 🤘Education & Consulting via https://www.psychedelicbrainscience.com Opinions do not reflect those of my employer.

The fact that VP JD Vance and Richard Grenell went to Romania—on behalf of the Trump Administration— to advocate for Andrew and Tristan Tate, who by all accounts, were rapists running a coercive sex ring, then permitted them to come to Florida, should be a crazy, crazy scandal.

"Not one of the people that is demonstrating looks like a normal person. Not one looks normal. They’re all deformed in some way – in their appearance, in their dress, in their mannerism... This so much deeper than issues about taxation and regulation... It’s about normal, healthy, ordered living."

Colette Delawalla, PhD@cdelawalla.bsky.social · 3w ago

Good morning. This is fascism. This is the US Govt creating thought crimes. It’s not about who they are arresting today, it’s about how this vague and threatening pursuit will be used against dissenters. ✨EVERY✨ fascist govt to date, has taken this step. www.state.gov/releases/off...

Have you experienced harms to your research and scientific career at the hands of onerous, ambiguous or ridiculous government regulations? Has drug scheduling hurt your research? Use our new tool to share (option to be anon) your story to make real change at the federal policy level!

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🧠 I think a lot of people are surprised when I say that I hate high impact publishing. I encountered a particularly poignant example today while reviewing a paper of why this style of publishing sucks: 🧵

Leaving academia was a little scary, but I’ve been able to keep the supportive community and good parts. Conferences and writing is something I’ve always loved and I’m just very grateful to be able to continue without the added stress academic life brings. Cant wait for what’s on the horizon!!

It's not every day your FIRST academic publication lands a @forbes.com FEATURE! Absolutely WILD. 🤯 Thank you to Dr. Gassam Asare for interviewing @emmarackstraw.bsky.social and I about our new study where we show why Black supervisors matter in the workplace and beyond. #blacksky #econsky #news

A New Harvard Study Makes A Powerful Case For Black Supervisors

New research reveals that when a Black supervisor is watching, it can shift workplace bias and change how Black workers are seen at work.

forbes.com

I helped write this response from SSDP to the Dear Colleague letters by SAMHSA last month. People who use drugs deserve more. Every pause in care carries risk and every barrier to harm reduction/treatment could be the difference of life or death. Give it a read here: ssdp.org/blog/samhsa-...

SAMHSA “Dear Colleague” Letters: Policy Shift Threatens Evidence-Based Drug Policy - SSDP

This blog post is a collaborative effort written by members of SSDP’s Science Policy and Harm Reduction Committees. For years, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) ha...

ssdp.org

I'm almost sure if the new rules are enacted, Vought will blanket terminate all grants issued pre-2025. The new rules stated all grants must align with presidential priorities, and they can terminate grants any time. You can see it from a mile away. Submit a comment against it!

Chenxin Li, PhD@chenxinli2.bsky.social · 2mo ago

www.regulations.gov/document/OMB... Everyday I go and check if they are posting more comments. 4.6k comments posted now.

Had a wonderful time giving the keynote talk at the MUSC Beyond the Lab event this past week! So many great questions and discussion around using your science skills for comms and policy change. If you’re interested in having a workshop or seminar around these themes - please reach out to book!

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Things that help calm the nervous system, quickly: - Box breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4, repeat) - Immerse your face in cold water (activates mammalian dive reflex) - Humming (stimulates vagus nerve) - Exercise (anything helps, outside even better) - Impeachment and removal

When you’ve moved from the “rally stage” of civil disobedience to the “creation of community system that will still be here when deliberate collective action happens” stage Catch me resisting by fostering intergenerational community, growing my own food, and challenging prohibition daily.