Justin Berk
@justinberk.bsky.social
Addiction medicine physician-researcher at Alpert Medical School at Brown University. Director, Center for Health and Justice Transformation
Reposted by Justin Berk
People who use drugs are human beings, therefore they have human rights.
We applaud the BC Human Rights Commissioner for sticking to the science and being an unequivocal champion for the rights of our patients.
bchumanrights.ca/resources/pu...
#bcpoli
We applaud the BC Human Rights Commissioner for sticking to the science and being an unequivocal champion for the rights of our patients.
bchumanrights.ca/resources/pu...
#bcpoli
A human rights-based approach to the toxic drug crisis | BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
The Commissioner’s position on the toxic drug crisis, calling for an evidence-based response that centers public health and compassion.
bchumanrights.ca
November 17, 2025 at 12:20 AM
People who use drugs are human beings, therefore they have human rights.
We applaud the BC Human Rights Commissioner for sticking to the science and being an unequivocal champion for the rights of our patients.
bchumanrights.ca/resources/pu...
#bcpoli
We applaud the BC Human Rights Commissioner for sticking to the science and being an unequivocal champion for the rights of our patients.
bchumanrights.ca/resources/pu...
#bcpoli
Reposted by Justin Berk
In Opinion | “Older people are much less likely to commit crime than the young. They are also much more expensive to lock up,” writes German Lopez, who argues that aging prisoners who are no longer a threat should be released instead of turning U.S. prisons into expensive retirement homes.
Opinion | How to Cut the Prison Population, Save Money and Make Us Safer
Prisoners are aging and getting more expensive to house, diverting funds from much better uses.
nyti.ms
September 8, 2025 at 9:40 PM
In Opinion | “Older people are much less likely to commit crime than the young. They are also much more expensive to lock up,” writes German Lopez, who argues that aging prisoners who are no longer a threat should be released instead of turning U.S. prisons into expensive retirement homes.
Reposted by Justin Berk
When politicians show up at your #ioad event… remind them that almost every policy approach to overdose has made it worse and that’s by design.
August 31, 2025 at 10:16 PM
When politicians show up at your #ioad event… remind them that almost every policy approach to overdose has made it worse and that’s by design.
Reposted by Justin Berk
The WHO now recommends injectable lenacapavir twice yearly for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
This is a big step toward expanding HIV prevention options globally, particularly among those who face challenges with daily adherence to other forms of PrEP, stigma, or access to health care.
This is a big step toward expanding HIV prevention options globally, particularly among those who face challenges with daily adherence to other forms of PrEP, stigma, or access to health care.
⚠️ 1.3 million people acquired HIV in 2024 alone, including thousands of adolescent girls and young women.
Today, in a landmark move towards HIV prevention, WHO recommends twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to protect people at risk of HIV.
🔗 bit.ly/4lWtzjA
Today, in a landmark move towards HIV prevention, WHO recommends twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to protect people at risk of HIV.
🔗 bit.ly/4lWtzjA
July 14, 2025 at 1:15 PM
The WHO now recommends injectable lenacapavir twice yearly for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
This is a big step toward expanding HIV prevention options globally, particularly among those who face challenges with daily adherence to other forms of PrEP, stigma, or access to health care.
This is a big step toward expanding HIV prevention options globally, particularly among those who face challenges with daily adherence to other forms of PrEP, stigma, or access to health care.
Reposted by Justin Berk
New from NEJM Catalyst: Since reopening its level 1 trauma center in 2018, leaders at University of Chicago Medicine have developed community-focused holistic approaches to care delivery through the Violence Recovery Program and the bedside Recovery Legal Care initiative. nej.md/44kTKKC
June 28, 2025 at 7:02 PM
New from NEJM Catalyst: Since reopening its level 1 trauma center in 2018, leaders at University of Chicago Medicine have developed community-focused holistic approaches to care delivery through the Violence Recovery Program and the bedside Recovery Legal Care initiative. nej.md/44kTKKC
Reposted by Justin Berk
Earlier, several NIH staffers told me that NIH awards that had been held are being issued now. Bunches of them.
Wonder if this report from the WaPo (gift link) has to do with it.
Wonder if this report from the WaPo (gift link) has to do with it.
DOGE loses control over government grants website, freeing up billions
The DOGE team’s loss of control is the latest sign of its declining influence following Elon Musk’s departure from Washington.
wapo.st
June 27, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Earlier, several NIH staffers told me that NIH awards that had been held are being issued now. Bunches of them.
Wonder if this report from the WaPo (gift link) has to do with it.
Wonder if this report from the WaPo (gift link) has to do with it.
Reposted by Justin Berk
“Here’s one of my takeaways…It’s OK not to know things. There’s no harm in saying, “I haven’t heard of that, tell me more.” That’s very different from willful ignorance. So your family did not grow up commemorating Juneteenth this article is for you.”
open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...
open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...
It's OK Not To Know Things
I’ll be the first to admit that I had never heard of Juneteenth until I taught summer school as a young educator.
open.substack.com
June 19, 2025 at 2:31 PM
“Here’s one of my takeaways…It’s OK not to know things. There’s no harm in saying, “I haven’t heard of that, tell me more.” That’s very different from willful ignorance. So your family did not grow up commemorating Juneteenth this article is for you.”
open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...
open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...
Reposted by Justin Berk
If someone had said, “Who cares how desert lizard venom works? Let’s not fund that research,” we never would have discovered semaglutide, a key component of drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, which have helped millions of Americans lose weight.
“Why Are We Funding This?”
Long-standing myths about “silly science” have contributed to the reckless slashing of government-supported research.
www.americanscientist.org
June 19, 2025 at 10:44 AM
If someone had said, “Who cares how desert lizard venom works? Let’s not fund that research,” we never would have discovered semaglutide, a key component of drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, which have helped millions of Americans lose weight.
Reposted by Justin Berk
Breaking news: Staff at the National Institutes of Health have issued a declaration calling on their director to depoliticize the agency and reverse spending cuts.
NIH staff and biomedical community sound alarm about agency politicization, funding slowdown
In test of NIH director’s support of dissent, NIH staff sign Bethesda Declaration urging reversal of grant cuts and freezes
scim.ag
June 9, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Breaking news: Staff at the National Institutes of Health have issued a declaration calling on their director to depoliticize the agency and reverse spending cuts.
Reposted by Justin Berk
In a new report, Sarah Stillman investigates deaths related to starvation, dehydration, and neglect in county jails across the U.S.—a crisis that at times has been covered up by private health companies and government officials.
nyer.cm/hMT7u9R
nyer.cm/hMT7u9R
April 14, 2025 at 6:14 PM
In a new report, Sarah Stillman investigates deaths related to starvation, dehydration, and neglect in county jails across the U.S.—a crisis that at times has been covered up by private health companies and government officials.
nyer.cm/hMT7u9R
nyer.cm/hMT7u9R
Reposted by Justin Berk
Reposted by Justin Berk
I don't think I've ever seen someone speak about children (in this case, specifically Autistic kids) with such disgust and such disdain.
April 17, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I don't think I've ever seen someone speak about children (in this case, specifically Autistic kids) with such disgust and such disdain.
Reposted by Justin Berk
I can't emphasize enough that the most important thing journalists can do right now is publish exactly this kind of article
April 16, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I can't emphasize enough that the most important thing journalists can do right now is publish exactly this kind of article
Reposted by Justin Berk
Circle up
April 15, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Circle up
Reposted by Justin Berk
One of the saddest fuckin things about RFK’s crusade is his framing of autism as something inarguably worse than being sickened or even dying from infections.
No, none of his mouth diarrhea is accurate. But what’s also terrible is him training the country to think SO LITTLE of autistic people.
No, none of his mouth diarrhea is accurate. But what’s also terrible is him training the country to think SO LITTLE of autistic people.
April 11, 2025 at 6:20 PM
One of the saddest fuckin things about RFK’s crusade is his framing of autism as something inarguably worse than being sickened or even dying from infections.
No, none of his mouth diarrhea is accurate. But what’s also terrible is him training the country to think SO LITTLE of autistic people.
No, none of his mouth diarrhea is accurate. But what’s also terrible is him training the country to think SO LITTLE of autistic people.
Reposted by Justin Berk
Just wrapped an amazing panel with @drugpolicy.org! There were a couple of questions about fentanyl in cannabis that we didn’t have time to get to, and I hope this reply reaches them -
1. Have things changed since I initially wrote about this in 2021?
Yes and no. 1/
filtermag.org/fentanyl-mar...
1. Have things changed since I initially wrote about this in 2021?
Yes and no. 1/
filtermag.org/fentanyl-mar...
The Pernicious Myth of Fentanyl-Laced Cannabis
Despite periodic media outcry, there's no evidence that this happens. Even if it did, the practicalities of ingestion would limit any danger.
filtermag.org
April 10, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Just wrapped an amazing panel with @drugpolicy.org! There were a couple of questions about fentanyl in cannabis that we didn’t have time to get to, and I hope this reply reaches them -
1. Have things changed since I initially wrote about this in 2021?
Yes and no. 1/
filtermag.org/fentanyl-mar...
1. Have things changed since I initially wrote about this in 2021?
Yes and no. 1/
filtermag.org/fentanyl-mar...
Reposted by Justin Berk
60 Minutes found no criminal record for 75% of the Venezuelan migrants the U.S. sent to a mega-prison in El Salvador. https://cbsn.ws/4lC4Vp5
April 7, 2025 at 1:29 AM
60 Minutes found no criminal record for 75% of the Venezuelan migrants the U.S. sent to a mega-prison in El Salvador. https://cbsn.ws/4lC4Vp5
Reposted by Justin Berk
My biggest frustration in terms of rising to this moment is: people obviously do not understand that there's a whole psyop strategy around DEMORALIZATION.
I do not necessarily think that every doomcryer is insincere, but to steal hope is still to hand our enemies weapons.
I do not necessarily think that every doomcryer is insincere, but to steal hope is still to hand our enemies weapons.
April 2, 2025 at 1:26 AM
My biggest frustration in terms of rising to this moment is: people obviously do not understand that there's a whole psyop strategy around DEMORALIZATION.
I do not necessarily think that every doomcryer is insincere, but to steal hope is still to hand our enemies weapons.
I do not necessarily think that every doomcryer is insincere, but to steal hope is still to hand our enemies weapons.
Reposted by Justin Berk
Full video of the panel on non-fatal overdose at @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social that I participated in last week. Definitely happy with how it went!
youtu.be/D8jSyTdf8qg
youtu.be/D8jSyTdf8qg
Developing a Better System of Care for Nonfatal Overdose | CMAP Nexus Series
YouTube video by Health Policy and Management - JHSPH
youtu.be
March 24, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Full video of the panel on non-fatal overdose at @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social that I participated in last week. Definitely happy with how it went!
youtu.be/D8jSyTdf8qg
youtu.be/D8jSyTdf8qg
Reposted by Justin Berk
Today I lost an NIH grant training clinicians to do research about intimate partner violence with perinatal women.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
March 22, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Today I lost an NIH grant training clinicians to do research about intimate partner violence with perinatal women.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
More women are murdered in the perinatal period than die of obstetric complications.
I didn't just lose a grant. We lost an entire cohort of people building careers to prevent that.
Amazing interview from @filtermag.bsky.social about the OPC in RI: filtermag.org/rhode-island...
Inside Rhode Island’s Pioneering Overdose Prevention Center
Filter sits down for an extensive interview with the co-director of the nation's first state-sanctioned OPC, which just began operations.
filtermag.org
March 5, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Amazing interview from @filtermag.bsky.social about the OPC in RI: filtermag.org/rhode-island...
Reposted by Justin Berk
This article summarises the current evidence around the protection provided by masks and respirators in healthcare and community settings, and how this evidence aligns with current policy
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
March 3, 2025 at 10:48 AM
This article summarises the current evidence around the protection provided by masks and respirators in healthcare and community settings, and how this evidence aligns with current policy
www.bmj.com/content/388/...
www.bmj.com/content/388/...