Filter | harm reduction journalism

We are very sorry to announce that Filter is shutting down this week, after eight years of publishing. It's a sad moment for those of us who have cared about the publication, writes EIC Will Godfrey. But we have much to be grateful for:

"Overdose is rarely physically harmful. The supply is consistent. The supply is pure. It's cheap. It’s pretty. It’s invisible. It’s gay. It's trans. It’s working class. It’s health care. It has a withdrawal process, kind of, but nothing gastrointestinal. Like it or not, meth is the people’s drug."

"Emerging evidence suggests violence perpetrated against women who use and inject drugs may be worse than previously expected," writes Samantha Colledge-Frisby, describing her own research. Yet anti-violence policies reflect "the invisibilization of women who use drugs."

"The media industry has become somewhat aware that you can't overdose from touching fentanyl, while continuing to propagate other drug war myths every day."

"If something’s not stagnant, there is hope: Change requires movement," writes @kiransidhu41.bsky.social. "THR advocates have faced derision, ostracization and slander. They have made things happen all the same."

"If something’s not stagnant, there is hope: Change requires movement," writes @kiransidhu41.bsky.social. "THR advocates have faced derision, ostracization and slander. They have made things happen all the same."

"There is an obvious need to invest in lifers. As the only people who have to stay in the system, they're the only ones with any real reason to make it better, and the long-timers are the only ones who know how anything works."

"Dueling coalitions of police, military veterans and industry groups are pushing Congress in different directions on whether the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products should move forward as scheduled or be delayed," reports Tom Angell:

"Senators McCormick and Fetterman introduced the Workforce Recovery and Resilience Act on August 5, following companion legislation introduced in the House earlier this year."

"Dueling coalitions of police, military veterans and industry groups are pushing Congress in different directions on whether the planned federal recriminalization of hemp THC products should move forward as scheduled or be delayed," reports Tom Angell:

"There is an obvious need to invest in lifers. As the only people who have to stay in the system, they're the only ones with any real reason to make it better, and the long-timers are the only ones who know how anything works."

"Would MOTAA 2.0 unlock access for everyone who needs it?" asks @helenredmond.bsky.social. "The answer is no. Nothing in the updated bill addresses the fundamental problems in the 2023 version."

"This time the annual-ish behavioral health survey is framed as a five-year trend report covering 2021 to 2025, which somewhat compounds the preexisting barriers to gleaning anything useful from it."

Officials acknowledge that Oregon State Penitentiary, built in Salem in 1866, is "well beyond its useful life."

"Would MOTAA 2.0 unlock access for everyone who needs it?" asks @helenredmond.bsky.social. "The answer is no. Nothing in the updated bill addresses the fundamental problems in the 2023 version."

Officials acknowledge that Oregon State Penitentiary, built in Salem in 1866, is "well beyond its useful life."

"If the sponsors' logic bore out, fentanyl pills would be the size of three grains of table salt. It's also not clear how the Act relates to cases linked to overdose; it would effectively target possession and low-level distribution."

"Everyone in prison needs to hustle to survive. But something remarkable is that all of these services—letter-writing support, crochet club, personal training, eldercare crowdfunding—are being offered for free."

The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced "Tyler's Law" in a unanimous 46-0 vote. Companion legislation was approved in January—but amended to remove references to marijuana and other drugs besides fentanyl.

The government launched a 12-week public consultation seeking “views on proposals for vapes and nicotine products,” such as limiting colors of vaping devices to white, black or gray, and heated tobacco products to a “drab brown color.” By @kiransidhu41.bsky.social:

Research shows program initiations by First Nations Peoples grew nearly fivefold from 2019 to 2023. “If safer supply only focuses on the prescription, it misses the full context of people’s lives," coauthor Ashley Smoke told Filter.

“We are a continent torn by violence … [in part] because with crops like cocaine or cannabis, you really need territorial land.” Plant-based drugs have dominated in South America but that's changing, new research illustrates. Sydney Sauer reports:

“We are a continent torn by violence … [in part] because with crops like cocaine or cannabis, you really need territorial land.” Plant-based drugs have dominated in South America but that's changing, new research illustrates. Sydney Sauer reports:

"Some states are represented by a single county; others by up to nine counties. There’s no standardization in how many sampling sites each county included, or whether multiple sites were spread out versus concentrated in one area."

"That’s a lot of steps to puff on a vape. Compare that to how fast and easy it is for anyone—of any age—to pick up & smoke a cigarette." @helenredmond.bsky.social reports on what led to the FDA's first flavor authorizations—and the age-gating tech that came with it:

"Some states are represented by a single county; others by up to nine counties. There’s no standardization in how many sampling sites each county included, or whether multiple sites were spread out versus concentrated in one area."

"That’s a lot of steps to puff on a vape. Compare that to how fast and easy it is for anyone—of any age—to pick up & smoke a cigarette." @helenredmond.bsky.social reports on what led to the FDA's first flavor authorizations—and the age-gating tech that came with it:

In the confirmation process for the permanent role, acting AG Todd Blanche dodged a senator's question on full rescheduling, saying only that he'll "give the matter careful consideration after conferring with all relevant stakeholders, including DEA personnel.” Tom Angell reports:

🧵 #TobaccoHarmReduction is often overlooked in services & programs, despite the overlap in people who smoke or have smoked & people who use drugs. This piece in @filtermag.bsky.social, in which NHRC is referenced, names the importance of integrating more resources for... bit.ly/THRInServices

"Data from the controversial center's first two-and-a-half months show Black residents are already being the most disproportionately detained."

In the confirmation process for the permanent role, acting AG Todd Blanche dodged a senator's question on full rescheduling, saying only that he'll "give the matter careful consideration after conferring with all relevant stakeholders, including DEA personnel.” Tom Angell reports:

"Data from the controversial center's first two-and-a-half months show Black residents are already being the most disproportionately detained."

"Arizona appears to be separating onto its own trajectory, with the increase slowing down even as it speeds up in neighboring states."

The recent surge is expected to continue. It's unsurprising that more people—especially women—are using pouches to quit smoking, reports @kiransidhu41.bsky.social. But some are switching to pouches from vapes, and the reasons for this are more complex:

"Arizona appears to be separating onto its own trajectory, with the increase slowing down even as it speeds up in neighboring states."

The recent surge is expected to continue. It's unsurprising that more people—especially women—are using pouches to quit smoking, reports @kiransidhu41.bsky.social. But some are switching to pouches from vapes, and the reasons for this are more complex:

"Corrections departments may tout a zero-tolerance approach, but the understaffing crisis ensures that wardens and gang leaders have never been closer."

“Cannabis is used in every community, regardless of local rules,” said the director of California's Department of Cannabis Control; while localities can ban businesses, "they cannot eliminate consumer demand." Tom Angell reports:

"Imagine if a judge or legislator remained anonymous. [Government officials and employees] with ... power over people's lives cannot hide their identity."

"Corrections departments may tout a zero-tolerance approach, but the understaffing crisis ensures that wardens and gang leaders have never been closer."

“Cannabis is used in every community, regardless of local rules,” said the director of California's Department of Cannabis Control; while localities can ban businesses, "they cannot eliminate consumer demand." Tom Angell reports:

"The agency has also unveiled final clinical guidance for psychedelic therapies, and begun coordinating with the VA in anticipation of the first approvals."

"The kind of policing that occurs in coercive, authoritarian regimes." As states react to ICE violence by passing laws requiring agents to show their faces, the Trump administration is suing, with New York the latest. Tana Ganeva reports:

"The agency has also unveiled final clinical guidance for psychedelic therapies, and begun coordinating with the VA in anticipation of the first approvals."

"The kind of policing that occurs in coercive, authoritarian regimes." As states react to ICE violence by passing laws requiring agents to show their faces, the Trump administration is suing, with New York the latest. Tana Ganeva reports:

"The trial kicked off July 13 in King County Superior Court, where it’s expected to continue through early September."

“They have not considered the unintended consequences," says one expert, including "increased smoking rates across the age spectrum." Ireland's government appears more determined than ever to make tobacco harm reduction harder, reports @kiransidhu41.bsky.social:

"The trial kicked off July 13 in King County Superior Court, where it’s expected to continue through early September."

“They have not considered the unintended consequences," says one expert, including "increased smoking rates across the age spectrum." Ireland's government appears more determined than ever to make tobacco harm reduction harder, reports @kiransidhu41.bsky.social: