An HRO intern walks into a bank…and finds legal marijuana.
What is the legal marijuana system like in Canada? Harm Reduction Ohio intern Christien Kelly accidentally found out. Kelly is a Toronto native and student at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. Read his report.
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The problem with marijuana in Ohio
Ohio’s heavily regulated and overly cumbersome medical marijuana regulatory system is ill-suited for legal marijuana (not to mention medical marijuana!). Here’s an explanation of why.
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Carfentanil unexpectedly returns to Ohio drug supply; overdose deaths surge
Carfentanil is back in Ohio and killing significant numbers of Ohioans again. The ultra-potent fentanyl analog was found in nearly 10% of illegal drugs in April, explaining the surge in overdose deaths in the last six months. Drug checking is needed immediately.
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Volunteers needed for statewide Narcan distribution effort
Harm Reduction Ohio needs your help. We are applying for an Ohio Department of Health grant to deliver Narcan to those most at risk of overdose death: people who use illegal drugs. If HRO gets the grant, we will need volunteers (and a few paid part-time workers) to reach these wonderful, unfairly stigmatized human beings in communities across Ohio.
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The myth of Ohio’s “drug use problem”
Ohioans use drugs at below average rates and have for many years. So why are overdose death rates the second highest in the country? Bad drug policies — not high drug use — are causing the overdose death epidemic.
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WARNING: Carfentanil is back in Ohio…and killing again
Carfentanil’s return coincides with an increase in overdose death in Ohio and ends a trend to lower death rates. The ultra-dangerous fentanyl analog appears to be most common in northeastern Ohio. Its frequency is still far lower than in peak in June 2017 when it was found in 9.8% of the drug supply.
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Christopher Hawkins named scientific advisor of Harm Reduction Ohio
Christopher Hawkins, a recently retired research chemist, has agreed to be Harm Reduction Ohio's new scientific advisor. Chris will analyze science for us on many issues, from infectious disease rates to drug checking. On Tuesday, Chris joined HRO's syringe program...
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Ohio overdose deaths may be rising again
Preliminary data points to worrisome trend statewide Too early to tell with certainty WARNING: Ohio appears to be in the middle of a significant surge in overdose death that began late last year. The increase reverses the sharp decline in death that occurred from July...
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Ohio, it’s time: “Free the naloxone!”
Ohio has unnecessary laws and regulations limiting naloxone access. These policies have likely contributed to Ohio’s high overdose death rate. It’s time to let properly trained laypersons hand out naloxone. Other states have done this — and it makes a big difference.
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How much fentanyl will kill you?
A lot less than you think.
Be careful. Be very, very careful.
Art by Hannah Weatherington
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Dennis Cauchon
President, Harm Reduction Ohio
Dennis is the founder of Harm Reduction Ohio. He created the 501(c)3 non-profit organization to advocate for drug policies that reduce overdose death, imprisonment and other drug war harms.
He is a former national reporter at USA TODAY and Knight Journalism Fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School. During his 35-year journalism career, he won various awards, including the Champion of Justice award and H.L. Mencken Award for Investigative Journalism for work on the drug war.
“I believe all people, including drug users, should be treated peacefully and with respect,” he says.
Dennis is the father of two boys and lives in Granville, Ohio.