The hottest Drug policy Substack posts right now

The US market lets you buy huge quantities of OTC ibuprofen, whereas UK rules limit NSAID pack sizes and how much you can buy at once.
The UK sells low-dose codeine combination products over the counter, giving people legal, mild opioid access that is not available OTC in the US.
Mixing or megadosing those combination pills is dangerous because of paracetamol and ibuprofen toxicity, and some people attempt risky methods like cold-water extraction to isolate codeine.

Limit how often drugs can be advertised to help patients make better choices. It’s important to make sure medicine is about health, not just selling products.
Open up information about COVID-19 and vaccine safety to the public. This means sharing everything from lab investigations to side effects so people can trust what they’re getting.
Make healthcare more affordable by promoting cheaper generic options and limiting hospital executive pay. This can help more people access the care they need without high costs.

Many readers want direct questions asked at the White House, highlighting a desire for transparency.
The author is attempting to secure a press pass to the White House to ask questions that not everyone is touching on.
There's interest in exploring personal stories and issues, like drug addiction, rather than just standard policy questions.

Policing in America has become very militarized, often lacking proper training and accountability. Many officers are poorly trained and some act with bias or aggression.
The increase of video evidence from smartphones and body cameras is pushing for accountability in police actions. Public scrutiny is growing, and each police incident is likely to lead to protests and demands for change.
To reduce police violence, America needs to focus on better training for officers, civilian oversight, and treating drug issues as health problems rather than criminal ones. There are examples in other countries that could provide a better model.

Marijuana decriminalization and legalization in the US have been positive for freedom, but public consumption may trigger a backlash.
Recent focus on public drug use threatens the progress made in drug reform policies, sparking concerns and potential reversal of gains.
Efforts are needed to balance drug legalization with regulations on public drug use to avoid a resurgence of anti-drug sentiments and policies.

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Governments should provide drug safety information because it can save lives. When they treat users as criminals, it creates a lack of important information.
A project called the Drug Users Bible provides harm reduction information for drug users. This resource has been made available for free and has already been widely downloaded.
Everyone can help by sharing safety information and resources within their communities. If officials won't help, we can step up and support each other.

The situation at the US-Mexico border is not just about immigration but largely driven by drug cartels that control the flow of migrants and drugs between the two countries. These cartels are exploiting the system for profit.
Many people crossing the border as asylum seekers are actually just trying to bypass immigration laws, which is causing strain on US border officials. The asylum system is being manipulated by some migrants who are helped by these cartels.
A serious approach is needed from both the U.S. and Mexico to tackle the drug problem and illegal migration. This includes changing laws, treating addiction as a health issue, and reinforcing law enforcement efforts against cartels.

Lethal injection has serious problems and risks, despite court decisions claiming it to be humane when it goes as planned.
Pharmaceutical companies have played a role in influencing the availability of drugs for lethal injections.
States have enacted shield laws to protect the anonymity of those involved in lethal injections, raising concerns about transparency and accountability.

Ephenidine is a dissociative drug that has not been linked to any deaths or serious health issues. It has not been used or detected in the UK since 2017.
The UK government has banned ephenidine despite the lack of evidence showing it poses a public health risk. This was mainly done to look tough on drugs in the media.
Banning drugs with no medical use seems like a way for the government to make a statement, even when there's no real danger associated with them.

Many journalists today are more focused on following the agenda set by their paymasters instead of reporting the truth. This can lead to misleading stories, especially about drugs.
Education is key in reporting on drugs. Journalists should provide accurate information on drug safety and avoid using stigmatizing language.
It's important for readers to be skeptical of mainstream media about drug issues. Journalists often have a narrative to follow that's not always trustworthy.