The White House recently released its National Drug Control Strategy. For the first time in history, harm reduction was included as a major pillar recognizing its crucial role in saving lives to curb the tragic overdose crisis.
Although it’s encouraging to see movement in the right direction, much of the drug war status quo continues including a major increase in funding for the Drug Enforcement Administration and other law enforcement agencies.
Criminalization and enforcement only exacerbate harm and overdose deaths. That’s why we must shift towards evidence-based public health solutions that save lives. Ultimately, Congress will decide how to fund the drug strategy: tell them to prioritize harm reduction and overdose prevention in the federal budget.