Overdose deaths are the go-to metric for how well drug policy is performing, but those on the ground know that harms from the drug war can include much more than the worst outcomes. As harm reduction policies get swept up in escalating authoritarian attacks on democracy, it’s becoming even more vital for those who value bodily autonomy to stand up for justice, backed up by rigorous science and data.

On this episode, Narcotica co-hosts Aaron Ferguson, Chris Moraff and Troy Farah speak with Sheila Vakharia, a harm reductionist, researcher, social worker and the Deputy Director of Research and Academic Engagement at the Drug Policy Alliance. She is author of “The Harm Reduction Gap,” which can be purchased here, along with other books in Narcotica’s reading library.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Nonfatal overdose data – DOSE dashboard

Matt Bonn’s webinar on brain injury after nonfatal overdose

Measure 110 research and resources:

• The nonpartisan research institute RTI hosted a one-day symposium in January 2024. The panels summarized all of the research on Measure 110, including the voices of people who use drugs and service providers. Recordings and slide decks were included.
• A dashboard of the Behavioral Health Resource Networks across the state of Oregon, including information about the various services made available, which services were provided, and to whom.
• DPA made some fact sheets:
  • Oregon’s Measure 110: What Really Happened
  • The False Promises of Oregon’s Recriminalization

If you liked this episode, here are others you might enjoy:
Episode 61: Undoing Drugs—Harm Reduction’s Early History with Maia Szalavitz
Episode 51: The Joy of Drug Use with Dr. Carl Hart
Episode 20: The Pitfalls of Mainstream Harm Reduction with Eliza Wheeler

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Producers: Christopher Moraff, Troy Farah, Aaron Ferguson
Music: Glass Boy / Nomad1
Intro voice: Jenny Schaye
Image: via Pixabay