The Cost of Chaos: A Cracking Windshield on Substance Use in the US

In this November 30, 2021 photo, information forms are shown during the media tour of the supervised drug injection site OnPoint, in New York. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images)
In this November 30, 2021 photo, information forms are shown during the media tour of the supervised drug injection site OnPoint, in New York. (Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images)

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In a new article for Brookings, David Holtgrave and Program Director Regina LaBelle argue that America’s substance use response is flying blind, not because solutions don’t exist, but because our data systems are breaking down. Critical federal data sources on overdoses, drug trends, and prevalence have been paused, weakened, or discontinued, right when timely, reliable information is needed to save lives.

It’s a piece that comes at a critical time for federal drug policy, as millions of federal dollars are being redirected based on misinterpreted data according to yesterday’s HHS (US Department of Health and Human Services) announcement.

Professor LaBelle and Dr. Holtgrave break down the “cracked windshield” policy approach and potential solutions; read the full article now.