IFLScience, one of Facebook’s biggest science advocacy page recently headlined a study that “New Study Finds Marijuana Safer Than Alcohol Or Tobacco” [1]. While this is a catchy title, the paper only partially supports the statement. In this edition of Dose of Science we are going to take a close look at the original research article [1] to examine whether weed is really safer than alcohol.
Drug Consumption Rooms
First Drug Consumption Room Pilot Program launched in Slovenia
Unlike other countries from the former Yugoslavia, Slovenia is experimenting with drug policy in order to improve the public health response to drug use. After almost two decades of advocacy and preparatory legal work, a drug consumption room (DCR) pilot project was launched in Ljubljana, in 2015, by the local NGO, 'Stigma'.
Where Do Poles Inject? – The “Room for Change” Campaign in Poland
Public discussion of harm reduction in Poland – especially the country’s attitude to injecting drug users – is stuck in the 1990s. Read what needs to be done, in terms of the realities described by Polish drug policy experts, to save lives and lower the costs of treating users.
Decriminalisation Is Not Rocket Science – The UN Must Endorse It!
Criminalising people who use drugs doesn’t work, and it harms our society. We congratulate the UN drug agency for having prepared a paper which supports decriminalisation – and we encourage the agency to endorse their own report. Watch our video, to find out more about how the UN paper on decriminalisation was suppressed, and how it was received at the international harm reduction conference!
The Hazy Dawn of the Harm Reduction Decade
The Drugreporter video team attended and filmed the International Harm Reduction Conference to learn about the new trends in harm reduction. Please watch our short video and read our article highlighting these trends!
Why Have the Serbian Media Become Interested in Drug Consumption Rooms?
Well-targeted advocacy, hand-in-hand with a bit of hype, recently caused Serbian media to give extensive coverage to the idea of opening safe injecting rooms in the country. Part of the ‘Room for Change’ campaign in Serbia – read our local partner’s report!
Harm Reduction: Stuck in the Transit Zone
Our new movie provides an insight into the state of harm reduction in Eastern Europe: A struggle for survival in a time of economic austerity.
Advocating for Drug Consumption Rooms in Portugal
Read about the great example of how the civil sphere of Portugal is joining forces to convince the authorities and public service providers to take harm reduction related to drug use seriously.
French Senate Gives Green Light to Drug Consumption Rooms
After a heated debate, Senators have decided to approve an experimental project to provide a safer environment for drug users, in order to prevent death and disease.
Life After the Closure of the Needle Exchange in Budapest
Last year, Drugreporter gave a detailed account of the attack on harm reduction in Budapest, which resulted in the closure of the two largest needle and syringe programs. This year, we have produced a movie, based on interviews with key professionals and drug users, about what has changed on the streets of the District 8 of Budapest since then. Watch our video with English subtitles!
