policing

Drug Paraphernalia Laws: The “Swiss Army Knife” of the Drug War

On June 7, 2018 Jessica* was sitting behind a church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, when two police officers walked by.…

April 4, 2019

Let’s Address Four Common Myths About Harm Reduction

The US has historically been resistant to supporting harm reduction programs for people who use drugs. While some object to…

April 3, 2019

Now the CDC Seems to Be Pushing Fentanyl Myths in Its New Video

On March 27, the Centers for Disease Control, in collaboration with the Fredericksburg, Virginia Police and Fire Departments, released this video (above)…

April 2, 2019

“Patently False” Fentanyl Myth Peddled by Vermont Police Chief

On March 15, Brett Flansburg, a Vermont state trooper, collapsed in the parking lot of a police barracks after transporting…

March 25, 2019

Latest National Police Association Revelations Support Our Suspicions

In January 2019, Filter published a report about an organization called the National Police Association, which had recently filed an…

March 19, 2019

Investigation: Where Are Naloxone Confiscations Happening the Most?

[The map above shows naloxone providers' reports of whether naloxone confiscations from local clients are: Not a Problem (white); A…

March 6, 2019

A Ban on Smoking and Vaping in Cars With Minors Will Have Racist Consequences

On a main city street in Auckland, New Zealand last month, two women staged a protest against police inaction over…

March 5, 2019

Mississippi’s Warring Prosecutors Leave the Door Open to Hope

Two incredibly powerful prosecutors, sworn enemies, live in the same small Southern capital of Jackson, Mississippi—a state which has a…

March 4, 2019

Portugal’s Decriminalization of Drug Use, Explained

In 2001, Portugal was experiencing an opioid-involved overdose crisis, similar to the one gripping the United States. The country used…

February 28, 2019

How a Paraplegic Drug User Became a Victim of Involuntary Commitment

Barely a day passes on my beat without my meeting someone with a harrowing story about the impact of zero-tolerance…

February 27, 2019