The forgotten ghosts of the overdose crisis
In a recent speech, West Virginia councilman Joe Solomon spoke of Charleston leading the state in ‘ghosts’ – an apt description for those so often overlooked by lawmakers.
Jack's Latest Articles
Above a coffee shop, lives are being saved
Last year, Harm Reduction Ohio, located above a coffeehouse in Granville, distributed some 40,000 doses of naloxone. This year the group hopes to distribute more than 50,000 doses.
Where to go from here? The overdose crisis in Ohio, many years on
Our columnist wrestles with the emotional weight of reporting on the overdose crisis, and with finding a way forward in this grief.
How to Stay Safe: House Bill 230 won't address the overdose crisis
Ohio’s policymakers should take time to read ‘The New Jim Crow’ and move away from passing laws that establish harsher criminal penalties related to drugs.
New legislation should start difficult, necessary conversations
When Ohioans voted in favor of Issue 1 and Issue 2 on Tuesday, it signaled they don’t want politicians controlling their bodies. It should also be the start of a larger conversation.
The damaging persistence of the 'Painkiller' narrative
The Netflix series misses the more complex, nuanced story at the heart of the ongoing opioid crisis.
Wicked Clowns brings harm reduction to Gathering of the Juggalos
At this summer’s Gathering in Thornville, Ohio, Wicked Clowns Harm Reduction distributed more than 1,000 doses of naloxone and 2,000 testing strips.
A hymn of praise for the people fighting for the living
As we approach Overdose Awareness Day, our columnist offers up a paean to the harm reduction workers and healers whose work often goes unnoticed.
The overdose crisis won't end until the drug war does
Overdoses and the over-policing of Black and Brown people in this country are part of the same cycle, the same routine, the same war, the same unfortunate normal.
Spending ‘blood money’ in secret: OneOhio seeks political cover
The proposed budget would allow the foundation responsible for distributing a bulk of Ohio’s opioid settlement money to operate in darkness. Jamie Decker and others want to shine light on the process.