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This is a popular narrative: the overdose crisis took a humanistic, "public health" approach
This narrative is almost completely false, if you define "public health" as being driven by evidence, compassion and focus on prevention
What actually took place looks very different
https://twitter.com/ASlavitt/status/1253526326788730881
This narrative is almost completely false, if you define "public health" as being driven by evidence, compassion and focus on prevention
What actually took place looks very different
https://twitter.com/ASlavitt/status/1253526326788730881
"We can't arrest our way out of this problem" became a mantra of overdose crisis response. Leaders from all sectors, incl CJ, readily served it up, highlighting contrast with hyper-punitive and racist drug crises of the past (e.g. crack)
Theory vs reality https://twitter.com/TheCrimeReport/status/722451379793616897?s=20
Theory vs reality https://twitter.com/TheCrimeReport/status/722451379793616897?s=20
Harsh penalties were core policy response to overdose, inc "drug-induced homicide" laws, whereby accidental drug ODs refashioned into murder
These laws surged quickly across the US, negating the "we can't arrest our way out" rhetoric https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/1189597109399379968?s=20
These laws surged quickly across the US, negating the "we can't arrest our way out" rhetoric https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/1189597109399379968?s=20
While public was hearing "we can't arrest our way out of this crisis," we were doing exactly that
Prosecutions surged. Most ppl charged were friends, family like @MorganGodvin
Ppl of color disproportionately affected
In other words, rhetoric ≠reality
https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/1196923312812675072?s=20
Prosecutions surged. Most ppl charged were friends, family like @MorganGodvin
Ppl of color disproportionately affected
In other words, rhetoric ≠reality
https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/1196923312812675072?s=20
It wasn't just drug-induced homicide. Criminal legal system didn't skip a beat criminalizing substance use. Drug arrests over the course of OD crisis did not see a decline, even as more states legalized cannabis
Of course, arrest, incarceration drive ODs https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/1114347812592865282?s=20
Of course, arrest, incarceration drive ODs https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/1114347812592865282?s=20
Public health surveillance is crucial to addressing public health challenges, but surveillance that evolved in response to the overdose crisis took a distinctly punitive turn in the form of prescription drug monitoring programs
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3175299 https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/915342868939554816?s=20
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3175299 https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/915342868939554816?s=20
Would be unfair to single out criminal legal system, when public health/health care doubled down on punitive, disciplinarian measures in addressing ODs instead of proven treatment and harm reduction
Eg: took till 2016-17 to see major scale-up in naloxone https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/973077646530764802?s=20
Eg: took till 2016-17 to see major scale-up in naloxone https://twitter.com/LeoBeletsky/status/973077646530764802?s=20
