Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Special Courts for Veterans Languish

    Veterans treatment courts were developed in 2008 as a way for veterans to receive mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment rather than face incarceration. Created to address the mental health concerns that can lead to drug abuse and other issues, the courts have not seen the successes that were originally anticipated. Due to little demand, inconvenient locations, and mixed results, experts are calling into question the existence of such specialized courts.

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  • To tackle addiction, the French look beyond drugs to care for the person

    Designated harm reduction centers can reduce overdoses and infections among those suffering from addiction. Facilities that operate as safe spaces can also offer resources such as treatment or housing, such as at the Planterose DropIn Center in Bordeaux and the SOS SleepIn Center in Paris. The strategy of helping addicts first use safely, and then rebuild social connections, has helped France to reduce its rate of HIV infection.

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  • A Cry For Baby Cuddlers In San Antonio As Opioid Crisis Deepens

    As the rates of infants born with opioid addictions rises, volunteer baby cuddlers are helping to fill the gap in overwhelmed neonatal units in Texas. Although there are still not enough hands to go around for the amount of babies being admitted, those that are able to receive an assigned baby cuddler are not just receiving comfort but are also able to ween off their addiction at a quicker rate.

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  • The streets weren't safe for drug users. So these countries created spaces for them.

    Despite hesitance and not complete buy-in, European countries are seeing signs of success from implementing drug consumption rooms. While the United States has been hesitant to adopt this tactic as a solution for fear of normalization of drug use, countries with these facilities are reporting less “injection-related litter in public spaces,” increased public awareness, less stigma, and fewer overdoses.

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  • Blunting Addiction's Impact

    Millions of Americans are addicted to and hundreds of thousands have died from opioids, but learning what hasn't worked in treating the epidemic is providing a path forward to creating solutions that do have impact. From making medication-assisted treatment more accessible and less stigmatized to expanding Medicaid coverage and implementing harm reduction strategies, states across the U.S. are piloting new initiatives based off the knowledge gained from assessing the limitations of previous approaches.

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  • Switzerland fights heroin with heroin

    Drug-assisted treatment has reduced rates of new substance abuse cases and HIV infections in Switzerland. With the implementation of an innovative drug policy program in 1994, Swiss doctors began to treat those suffering with chronic substance abuse with heroin-assisted treatment (HAT). The program benefitted from positive results in early trials and has encouraged the implementation of similar programs in other countries.

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  • The Bond Project: Creating a safer drinking environment

    A collaborative effort between the University of Oregon Police Department, the university’s Office of the Dean of Students, and student-led The Bond Project is working to create a safer nightlife culture for students in the area. As a response to the dangers of the collegiate party scene – alcohol-induced fights, sexual harassment – the collaboration, led by The Bond Project, is providing training for bar staff and management to be better stewards of safety and community in the area.

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  • Switzerland couldn't stop drug users. So it started supporting them.

    By prioritizing treatment over law enforcement, Switzerland dramatically reduced its drug problem. In 1994, the country adopted a progressive policy to treat heroin addiction as a public health crisis, focusing on harm reduction, treatment, and prevention in addition to traditional law enforcement. The policy, which embraces medicated-assisted treatment and universal access to services, helped greatly reduce issues such as the incidence of HIV, drug overdoses, and deaths over the long-term.

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  • The drug that saved the people who overdosed in Chico

    To reduce deaths caused by overdosing, Chico police have begun carrying naloxone in their squad cars to administer on site, rather than waiting for paramedics to arrive. Although not all police departments have participated in this approach, there is a growing drive to make it the standard.

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  • Youth Empowerment

    Across New Hampshire, youth are leading the fight against substance abuse. Programs like Dover’s Youth-to-Youth, Stand Up Sachems, Youth Leadership Through Adventure, and the Making it Happen Coalition, are all youth-led, adult-supported initiatives that are empowering young adults to create and disseminate substance abuse awareness and prevention campaigns. Fundamental to each of these efforts effective communication and creating a sense of community as key to prevention.

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