Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction
The national opioid epidemic began with widespread addiction to, and misuse of prescription painkillers. More recently, illegal drugs such as heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl are responsible for a majority of fatal overdoses. As well, a growing number of states are legalizing marijuana, still considered an illicit drug at the federal level, for medical and adult recreational use. Law and policy can help or hinder harm reduction and overdose prevention measures.
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Resources
Characteristics of Statewide Naloxone Distribution Mechanisms
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Cannabis Legalization: Critical Policy Issues Impacting the Health of Children
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Harm Reduction Laws in the United States
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Harm Reduction Laws in the United States – 2024 Update
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Critical Public Health Issues in Cannabis Legalization
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State Non-Fatal Overdose Reporting Requirements
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Naloxone Insurance Coverage Mandates
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Evidence for Fentanyl Test Strips
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Removal of the “X-Waiver” Requirement
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Critical Public Health Law and Policy Issues in 2021: The Year in Review
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Law and Policy Pathways to Addressing the Epidemic of Drug-Related Harm
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Cross-Sector Approach to Removing Legal and Policy Barriers to Opioid Agonist Treatment
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Spotlight
To Address Overdose, The U.S. Should Ramp Up Proven Interventions at Home, Not Performative Attacks Abroad.
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Paying People to Refrain from Drug Use Works. Recent Policy Changes Have Eased the Legal Barriers to this Promising Practice.
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Drug Checking is Effective: More States Should Stop Criminalizing It
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