The decriminalization of hard drugs in Oregon, initiated by Measure 110 in 2020, has been a topic of intense debate. While the measure aimed to reduce the harms associated with drug use by shifting the focus from criminalization to treatment, its implementation has faced significant challenges and criticisms. Background of [...]
So, there I was, staring at the ceiling of yet another rehab center, wondering if this time would be any different. Spoiler alert: it was. But let’s rewind a bit, shall we? My journey with fentanyl started like most bad decisions – with a “why not?” and a sprinkle of [...]
Ah, the ever-evolving landscape of drug policy! Let’s dive into this, shall we? 🌿 British Columbia—a province known for its stunning landscapes, friendly folks, and, well, occasionally quirky decisions—has been on a rollercoaster ride when it comes to drug decriminalization. Buckle up! Here’s the scoop: BC had initially taken a [...]
The opioid crisis has been a persistent and devastating public health issue for years, but the emergence of fentanyl has significantly intensified the situation. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine, has become a leading cause of overdose deaths. The COVID-19 pandemic has [...]
by Jason Smith Part I: The Come Up It’s not every day a drug kingpin makes Forbes magazine’s “Most Powerful People” list. But thanks to power generated by total domination of illegal narcotic sales, that’s exactly where Joaquín “Chapo” Guzman found himself in 2013, when Forbes ranked him the 67th [...]
People are dying. We are in the midst of the third drug epidemic in the last 50 years and the second one involving opioids. And although its victims have at least garnered enough attention to push lawmakers towards many radical approaches to drug policy reform, the reaction to the contemporary [...]
Heroin is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me. Heroin is holding the person I used to be hostage. I used to laugh more. I used to be more light-hearted and whimsical. I used to smile in more than just pictures. I try to remember the moment my world [...]
How did I find the he needed a drug detoxification? 5:30 am…. phone rings. Inmate call prompt :” I Got burns on my face. She put her cigarette out on my face, and hit the median. ” 2 days earlier he is standing in my living room ” I need [...]
So you have seen the “Basketball Diaries” or “Trainspotting” and you think you know what it is like to be an addict. You don’t. While both of those movies are great movies and do touch on some very real aspects of being a heroin addict, they do not encompass all [...]
Madison, WI –– In the sordid, voyeuristic, details to emerge from the viral picture of the overdosed parents with the child in the back seat, I hear echoes from my own recent life, now marred by psychic wounds that have barely begun to heal. Of the many terrible things my [...]
