stigma

The Lessons of My Near-Death Experience With Medetomidine

A misguided nurse coinciding with the arrival of medetomidine in the drug supply nearly proved fatal for me. It’s impossible…

January 21, 2026

What Should a Vape Shop Look Like?

I am allergic to dust, mold and pollen. My husband has COPD and sometimes struggles to breathe. So we took…

January 16, 2026

Robotic Methadone Tech Not the Answer to Clinics’ Culture of Cruelty

The methadone clinic cartel is increasingly turning to technology in order to stay in control and expand its reach. Opioid…

December 17, 2025

The Lives of People Who Use Nicotine Are Not an “Endgame”

Public health was never supposed to be a game. It’s a promise: to protect life, reduce suffering and honor every…

December 10, 2025

Stigma by Association Is Driving Workers Out of Harm Reduction

Everyone knows about the stigma faced by people who use drugs. What’s far less visible is the stigma experienced by…

November 14, 2025

In-Hospital Drug-Use Study Shows Lived Experience Key to Better Policies

Patients using nonprescribed drugs in the hospital is a common issue, and raises dilemmas. Health care workers have genuine concerns…

October 1, 2025

Stigma From Medical Providers Contributed to My Son’s Overdose

This year’s hit medical TV drama, The Pitt, is a worthy successor to those previous fan favorites, ER and Grey’s…

September 15, 2025

My Dad Quit Cigarettes in 1984. To Doctors, He Was Always a “Smoker.”

Last month, my father died. I miss him deeply, and I always will. He was nearly 84. Married for over…

July 15, 2025

“They Just Dropped Me”—When Drug-Related Stigma Replaces Pain Care

When Phillip lost motor control on one side of his body, I had only just met him. It was April…

July 14, 2025

Secret Shoppers Struggle to Buy Naloxone, Syringes at Texas Pharmacies

Since the Food and Drug Administration approved over-the-counter (OTC) naloxone in 2023, pharmacies nationwide have stocked their shelves with the…

March 25, 2025