Drugs Archives

07.17.2019 a group of balloons in the sky

Health Equity

When a Pill Isn’t Best for What Ails You

De-implementing potentially harmful or rarely needed medical practices, devices, and medications benefits all of us, our families, and our communities.

Guest Authors Christine W. Hartmann, Megan McCullough

11.07.2018 Heroin, a lighter, and a straw on tinfoil

Undercounting Heroin

Heroin lasts in the human body for just a few minutes before being converted into morphine and other compounds. This complicates the task of a medical examiner trying to identify the substance that caused an overdose death.

Guest Authors Joshua M. Sharfstein, Isabelle Horon

03.12.2018 a pregnant woman holding her belly

Chemical Endangerment Laws Hurt Pregnant Women

Laws originally meant to prevent exposure of children to drug-related environments such as meth labs are being expanded to criminalize substance use during pregnancy.

Guest Authors Katrina Hui, Cara Angelotta, Carl Erik Fisher

11.09.2017 Policeman with a car at a DUI checkpoint at sunset

Does Undocumented Immigration Increase Drug and Alcohol Problems?

The debate on the supposed connection has far outpaced the research in this area.

Guest Author Michael T. Light

10.04.2017 a busy street with cars and people

Injection Drug Use in Ghana

People living with addiction in the United States are increasingly visible, as are the challenges they face. In Ghana, they are still living in the shadows.

Editor Jennifer Beard

07.12.2017 A brick wall with the word addiction written in chalk

We Can Do Better

In the debate on the value of SIFs in the United States, questioning their value must be part of the discussion. Are SIFs enabling drug users, or simply giving up hope on them?

Guest Author Brianne Fitzgerald

05.16.2017 black and white photo of a women's hands in handcuffs

Women and the War on Drugs

Heavy-handed mandatory minimum policies for drug offenses disproportionately target women of low socioeconomic status who are minimally involved with these crimes as the wives, acquaintances, and girlfriends of men using or selling drugs.

Guest Author Aldina Mesic

02.16.2017 A pill broken in half on a black background

The ACA and Drug Cost Nonadherence

Many people with both private and government health coverage still find themselves struggling to pay for the medicine they need.

Fellow Jonathan Gang

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