Mapping a moral panic: News media narratives and medical expertise in public debates on safer supply, diversion, and youth drug use in Canada

International Journal of Drug Policy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 127, P. 104423 - 104423

Published: April 19, 2024

The ongoing overdose and drug toxicity crisis in North America has contributed momentum to the emergence of safer supply prescribing programs Canada as a means providing an alternative highly volatile unregulated supply. implementation scale-up have been met with vocal reaction on part news media commentators, conservative politicians, recovery industry representatives, some prominent addiction medicine physicians. This largely converged around several narratives, based unsubstantiated claims anecdotal evidence, alleging that are generating "new opioid epidemic", reflecting emerging alignment among key institutional political actors. Employing situational analysis method, drawing policy studies social science scholarship moral panics, this essay examines coverage from January July 2023, bringing into dialogue other existing empirical sources (e.g. Coroner's reports, program evaluations, debates experts medical journals). We employ eight previously established criteria delineating panics critically appraise public regarding supply, diverted medication, increased youth initiation use overdose. In detailing panic we trace historic continuities earlier scares Canadian history mobilized tools racialized poverty governance, well previous backlashes towards healthcare interventions for people who drugs (PWUD). assesses entrepreneurs against current landscape use, diversion, youth, notes role played by expertise identifies what convergence these narratives materialize PWUD access, broader responses such activate.

Language: Английский

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Harm Reduction Perspectives of the Opioid Epidemic from Kansans, for Kansas: A Thematic Analysis

Journal of Prevention & Intervention in the Community, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 32

Published: April 7, 2025

Substantial increases in drug overdose deaths, the prevailing lack of access to care for substance use disorder, and adverse effects stigma criminalization underlie need comprehensive evidence-based strategies that improve health, safety, well-being people who drugs. Harm reduction has emerged as a promising approach mitigation substance-related harms. However, many harm remain illegal especially Kansas. Eleven stakeholders, including law enforcement/criminal justice officials, state legislators, health professionals were interviewed explore their perspectives on gather recommendations Using reflexive thematic analysis, we developed three themes first research question (stigma, alternatives criminalization, authentic conversations relationships) six second (roadmap more reduction, barriers facilitators connection behavioral reform, social determinants protection public safety).

Language: Английский

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Police responses to vulnerable populations: tracking the evolution from “zero-policing” to “co-responding”

Policing An International Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47(4), P. 595 - 616

Published: April 12, 2024

Purpose The paper examines the historical shifts in policing strategies towards individuals with SMI and vulnerable populations, highlighting development of co-response models, introducing concept “untethered” co-response. Design/methodology/approach This conducts a review literature to trace evolution police responses serious mental illness (SMI) populations. It categorizes four generations approaches—zero-policing, over-policing, crisis intervention co-response—and introduces fifth generation, model exemplified by Project SCOPE Philadelphia. Findings identifies patterns response individuals, emphasizing challenges consequences associated over-policing. outlines from teams models as an innovative approach. Research limitations/implications research acknowledges evaluating effectiveness due variations implementation limited standardized models. emphasizes need for more rigorous research, including randomized controlled trials, substantiate claims about these Practical implications suggests that model, SCOPE, has potential positively impact criminal justice social service outcomes encourages ongoing policy evaluative inform evidence-based practice mitigate collateral harms responses. Social Given rising interactions between health issues, exacerbated COVID-19 pandemic, highlights urgency innovative, non-policing-driven persons. Originality/value contributes proposing generation persons, presenting practical example.

Language: Английский

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“What I should be doing is harm reduction, if I'm doing my job right”: Engagement with harm reduction principles among prosecutors enacting drug policy reform in the United States

International Journal of Drug Policy, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 131, P. 104541 - 104541

Published: July 26, 2024

Language: Английский

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Prosecuting Overdose: Manslaughter Charges Against People Who Use, Share, and Sell Drugs in Canada

Canadian Journal of Law and Society / Revue Canadienne Droit et Société, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 23

Published: Dec. 20, 2024

Abstract This study examines the recent proliferation of manslaughter charges and subsequent prosecutions brought against people who have shared, sold, or provided drugs that led to overdose death in Canada. It presents a documentary analysis news media coverage, court decisions, Access-to-Information Freedom-of-Information requests materials from criminal legal institutions. The finds vast majority those face are engaged lowest tiers drug trade, themselves use drugs, often intimately known deceased. Messaging by police, prosecutors courts mobilize crisis as rationale for these prosecutions, positioning them form redress impacted communities. phenomenon illustrates how punitive responses deepened alongside retreat law other circumstances, contradicting claims therapeutic turn Canadian policies.

Language: Английский

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“Wanna cry this out real quick?”: an examination of secondary traumatic stress risk and resilience among post-overdose outreach staff in Massachusetts

Harm Reduction Journal, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 21(1)

Published: March 19, 2024

Language: Английский

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