Umme Hoque

Umme is a journalist and editor who has written about human rights, politics, education and climate, with an interest in the impact of social and public policies on disenfranchised communities. She was formerly Filter‘s editorial fellow. She also works as an organizer and advocate, working to build a future with education, housing and health care for all. Umme lives in New Mexico.

What Could Austin’s Basic Income Pilot Mean for People Who Use Drugs?

Austin, Texas, is known for music festivals, a booming tech industry and progressive politics in a conservative state. By 2022,…

September 9, 2021

Biden’s Extension of Title 42 Subjects Refugees to More Drug-War Violence

Since President Biden took office, there have been at least 6,356 attacks against people whom the US had expelled to…

August 25, 2021

There’s Finally an Accurate Drug-Checking Kit for Ketamine

Ketamine has long been a popular club drug, but try to buy it these days and there's a not-insignificant chance…

August 24, 2021

Rural Counties Awarded $78 Million through Opioid Response Program

The federal government has allocated more than $80 million to combat the opioid-involved overdose crisis and support public health in…

August 16, 2021

Abusive “Rehab” and Other Harms of Sri Lanka’s Militarized Drug War

In Sri Lanka, 2 grams of heroin can get you the death penalty. People incarcerated on drug charges are regularly…

August 9, 2021

Will Missouri’s Opioid Settlement Payout Mean Much for Harm Reduction?

At least 1,921 Missourians died of opioid-involved overdose in 2020, an increase of almost 20 percent from the year before.…

August 4, 2021

Homeless New Yorkers Fight for Their Rights as Hotel Evictions Continue

Winston Tokuhisa first became homeless in 2006, at the age of 20. Since then, he’s been on and off the…

July 28, 2021

Texas State-Run HIV Meds Program Survives Funding Crisis, But Uncertainty Remains

After months of keeping participants in the dark, a Texas state-run program that covers the cost of lifesaving HIV medication for…

July 16, 2021

West Virginia Syringe Access in Peril as Court Denies Injunction

A bill that could destroy syringe service programs in West Virginia is set to take effect despite a legal challenge.…

July 16, 2021

Melbourne Advocates Fight Backlash to New Safe Consumption Site Plan

Controversy is escalating in Melbourne, Australia, over the location of what would be the city's second safe consumption site (SCS).…

July 9, 2021