The Rock Bottom Myth
How a misunderstood theory about addiction harms drug users and drug policy. Everyone is familiar with the concept. We see it in movies, books, and on stage. Someone’s life spirals downward until they are struck with a lightning bolt of clarity and begin to…
Opioid Roundtable with DA Clarke
A diverse group of Bronx community leaders gathered with DA Clarke to discuss issues surrounding the opioid crisis and public health.Our CEO and Founder Joyce Rivera was part of an Opioid Roundtable event with Bronx DA Darcel Clarke held at Metropolitan College. The...
HIV and the Bronx: What We’ve Learned
Reflecting on 30 years of working with the HIV population in the Bronx, we look at the challenges facing that community and the future of HIV/AIDS.
3 Reasons Why Drug Courts Won’t Help the Bronx
In 2017, the Bronx suffered the highest rate and number of deaths from drug overdoses of all the New York City boroughs. Last year, the city opened drug courts in the Bronx in an attempt to combat the opioid crisis. While it is true that drug courts represent a different approach than the traditional model, many of the most harmful trademarks of how our justice system treats drug users are preserved. Let’s take a look into what drug courts are, how they work, and why they will not help.
Drug Policy Doublethink
Whether or not one supports the disease model of addiction, it seems remarkable that the government is admitting in no uncertain terms that they are criminalizing the very people they claim are ill.
Why Narcan Should Be In Every Household
The prohibition of opioids in the United States has been raging for almost a century. The Anti-Heroin Act of 1924 began the criminalization of importing and possessing opioids. Now, after countless people have been imprisoned and an immeasurable amount of money and resources have spent, we are in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Each year, the number of fatal opioid overdoses rises, with the CDC’s estimates for 2017 reaching a record 72,000 deaths. Let us be very clear: these are preventable deaths. Through legislative change and the implementation of proven harm reduction strategies, we have the option to adopt a drug policy based on compassion and evidence-based results rather than on punishment and propaganda.
Make Syringe Access a Google Business Category
Google has a long list of business categories, but syringe access locations are missing. Changing this will help save lives, reduce the spread of HIV, and improve public health.
Safe Injection Facilities: The Next Step in Harm Reduction
Why is the United States ignoring one of the most effective strategies against the Opioid Crisis?