Alex Kral
@alexkral.bsky.social
Epidemiologist studying substance use, criminal legal system, overdose, and infectious diseases. RTI International. San Francisco, CA
Reposted by Alex Kral
Some localities are addressing street homelessness with a new approach, which experts say can clear encampments while protecting the health of people who are forced to move.
Homeless Sweeps Can Be More Humane, Experts Say. It Isn’t Easy
Some localities are addressing street homelessness with a new approach, which experts say can clear encampments while protecting the health of people who are forced to move.
www.themarshallproject.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Some localities are addressing street homelessness with a new approach, which experts say can clear encampments while protecting the health of people who are forced to move.
Reposted by Alex Kral
Collaboration, conversation, and community — exactly what makes #AMERSA2025 so special.
November 13, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Collaboration, conversation, and community — exactly what makes #AMERSA2025 so special.
Reposted by Alex Kral
Our new article showing the immense problem of staff burnout and shortages among US SSPs. 58% and 43% of US SSPs reported staff burnout and shortages, respectively. Law enforcement harassment associated with burnout and shortages.
@alexkral.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@alexkral.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Prevalence and Predictors of Staff Burnout and Shortages among Syringe Services Programs in the United States, 2023
High levels of burnout have been a persistent experience of healthcare workers, which can have cascading impacts of staff turnover and shortages. We e…
www.sciencedirect.com
September 24, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Our new article showing the immense problem of staff burnout and shortages among US SSPs. 58% and 43% of US SSPs reported staff burnout and shortages, respectively. Law enforcement harassment associated with burnout and shortages.
@alexkral.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
@alexkral.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
What with all this newfound efficiency through technology, increasing unemployment, and more money in pockets of corporations’ leadership, seems like a SHORTER WORKWEEK and more PTO are in order!
September 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
What with all this newfound efficiency through technology, increasing unemployment, and more money in pockets of corporations’ leadership, seems like a SHORTER WORKWEEK and more PTO are in order!
Our new article led by @hopesmileymcd.bsky.social in IJDP on using crime data to evaluate drug policies like partial drug decriminalization in Oregon @barrotlambdin.bsky.social Pam Lattimore Ian Silver Mark Pope Sean Wire www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Drug decriminalization policy under the microscope in the United States: crime data considerations to inform future research
When voters passed the 2020 Ballot Measure 110 (M110), the U.S. State of Oregon changed course from a criminal legal system response to a health-cente…
www.sciencedirect.com
August 1, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Our new article led by @hopesmileymcd.bsky.social in IJDP on using crime data to evaluate drug policies like partial drug decriminalization in Oregon @barrotlambdin.bsky.social Pam Lattimore Ian Silver Mark Pope Sean Wire www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Governments at all levels make decisions based on medical examiner/coroner (MEC) data. A national study showed that these offices had an annual median budget of $68K. A thread - 1/4 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The impacts of governing agency: A comparison of resources in the patchwork of medicolegal death investigation systems
In the United States, medical examiners and coroners (MECs) fill critical roles within our public health and public safety systems. These professional…
www.sciencedirect.com
May 29, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Governments at all levels make decisions based on medical examiner/coroner (MEC) data. A national study showed that these offices had an annual median budget of $68K. A thread - 1/4 www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Alex Kral
Planning is well underway for another exciting AMERSA conference this year! Join us on Thursday, 11/13 for the opening session on Oregon's Measure 110 featuring insights from experts across disciplines. Conference registration opens in June. amersa.org/annual-confe... @alexkral.bsky.social
May 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Planning is well underway for another exciting AMERSA conference this year! Join us on Thursday, 11/13 for the opening session on Oregon's Measure 110 featuring insights from experts across disciplines. Conference registration opens in June. amersa.org/annual-confe... @alexkral.bsky.social
Reposted by Alex Kral
The bill’s introduction comes on the heels of the revelation that the Nevada Department of Corrections has a $53 million budget deficit.
Lombardo seeks to turn back time on criminal justice reforms • Nevada Current
Lombardo's bill is introduced on the heels of the revelation that the Nevada Department of Corrections has a $53 million budget deficit.
nevadacurrent.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
The bill’s introduction comes on the heels of the revelation that the Nevada Department of Corrections has a $53 million budget deficit.
Reposted by Alex Kral
Checkout this new manuscript at PLOS: dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour... by Erin Gould, Siddhi Ganesh, Anthony DiMario, Jimi Huh, Rachel Carmen Ceasar and @rnbluthenthal.bsky.social Shows how #fentanyl disrupts efforts among people who use drugs to support each other.
“You take care of people, people will take care of you”: Moral Economies and an Unpredictable Drug Market
Introduction Fentanyl is the leading cause of opioid-related overdose deaths in the United States. Given the exogenous market shock of fentanyl and subsequent transition in the illicit opioid supply, ...
dx.plos.org
April 2, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Checkout this new manuscript at PLOS: dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour... by Erin Gould, Siddhi Ganesh, Anthony DiMario, Jimi Huh, Rachel Carmen Ceasar and @rnbluthenthal.bsky.social Shows how #fentanyl disrupts efforts among people who use drugs to support each other.
Reposted by Alex Kral
Man Spends Afternoon Volunteering Opinions About The Homeless
theonion.com/man-spe...
theonion.com/man-spe...
March 31, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Man Spends Afternoon Volunteering Opinions About The Homeless
theonion.com/man-spe...
theonion.com/man-spe...
Reposted by Alex Kral
NEW for @sfchronicle.com: A study dropped today showing that in San Francisco, overdoses increase in areas where police have seized drugs. We're seeing this in real time: As law enforcement efforts have ramped up in recent months, fatal overdoses have risen. That's not a coincidence. (gift link)
S.F.’s response to drug dealing could lead to more overdoses
A new study suggests drug seizures lead to more overdoses. Should this change SF’s approach to the crisis on our streets?
www.sfchronicle.com
March 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
NEW for @sfchronicle.com: A study dropped today showing that in San Francisco, overdoses increase in areas where police have seized drugs. We're seeing this in real time: As law enforcement efforts have ramped up in recent months, fatal overdoses have risen. That's not a coincidence. (gift link)
At the National AIDS Memorial Grove this evening in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
March 19, 2025 at 2:02 AM
At the National AIDS Memorial Grove this evening in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Reposted by Alex Kral
New report shows that NIH grants fueled $95 billion in economic activity and 407,782 jobs in 2024.
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
NIH Grants Fueled $95 Billion In FY 2024 Economic Activity, Finds New Report
National Institutes of Health grants generated almost $95 billion in economic activity nationwide in FY 2024 according to a new report by United for Medical Research.
www.forbes.com
March 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
New report shows that NIH grants fueled $95 billion in economic activity and 407,782 jobs in 2024.
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
That's not to mention the countless lives that biomedical research has saved.
Show me a better investment than that.
www.forbes.com/sites/michae...
Reposted by Alex Kral
In fiscal year 2024, the report found, NIH awarded more than $36.9 billion to researchers, supporting more than 408,000 jobs and generating over $94.5 billion in new economic activity nationwide.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
NIH funding delivers exponential economic returns — Harvard Gazette
Report finds all 50 states reap gains in patient health, job creation, research resources, business development.
news.harvard.edu
March 12, 2025 at 11:49 PM
In fiscal year 2024, the report found, NIH awarded more than $36.9 billion to researchers, supporting more than 408,000 jobs and generating over $94.5 billion in new economic activity nationwide.
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
“We found a large gap in housing assistance for people who use drugs in Oregon” @estherchung.bsky.social @morgangodvin.bsky.social @barrotlambdin.bsky.social in BMC Pub Health pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39988688/
Housing assistance among people who are unstably housed and use drugs in Oregon: a cross-sectional study - PubMed
We found a large gap in housing assistance for people who use drugs in Oregon and identified several factors associated with obtaining housing assistance. Our findings can inform future interventions ...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
February 24, 2025 at 5:35 PM
“We found a large gap in housing assistance for people who use drugs in Oregon” @estherchung.bsky.social @morgangodvin.bsky.social @barrotlambdin.bsky.social in BMC Pub Health pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39988688/
Reposted by Alex Kral
If the drug war was succeeding, then drug seizures would be getting smaller and smaller until they disappeared entirely.
Instead the size and value of drug seizures always continues to grow. This is an obvious sign of complete failure.
Instead the size and value of drug seizures always continues to grow. This is an obvious sign of complete failure.
February 4, 2025 at 10:57 PM
If the drug war was succeeding, then drug seizures would be getting smaller and smaller until they disappeared entirely.
Instead the size and value of drug seizures always continues to grow. This is an obvious sign of complete failure.
Instead the size and value of drug seizures always continues to grow. This is an obvious sign of complete failure.
Providing safer smoking supplies is about engaging more people in needed health services
In 2022, 44% of syringe services programs (SSPs) distributed safer smoking supplies. SSPs distributing supplies had more participant encounters and naloxone distribution. Safer smoking supplies are a key tool to connect people who use drugs to life-saving services. https://buff.ly/4fYGPR5
January 29, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Providing safer smoking supplies is about engaging more people in needed health services
Reposted by Alex Kral
Our new study found 44% of syringe services programs (SSPs) distributed safer smoking supplies in 2022. SSPs distributing supplies had more participant encounters and naloxone distribution. Safer smoking supplies are a key tool to connect people who use drugs to life-saving services.
Association of safer smoking supply distribution with participant encounters and naloxone distribution from syringe services programs: Findings from the National Survey of Syringe Services Programs in...
In response to the recent and growing shift from injecting heroin to smoking fentanyl, an increasing number of syringe services programs (SSPs) in the…
www.sciencedirect.com
January 25, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Our new study found 44% of syringe services programs (SSPs) distributed safer smoking supplies in 2022. SSPs distributing supplies had more participant encounters and naloxone distribution. Safer smoking supplies are a key tool to connect people who use drugs to life-saving services.
Reposted by Alex Kral
As wildfires blaze in California, we're reminded of the incarcerated people who are deployed to fight them – an extremely dangerous job that pays just dollars per day.
January 8, 2025 at 4:15 PM
As wildfires blaze in California, we're reminded of the incarcerated people who are deployed to fight them – an extremely dangerous job that pays just dollars per day.
Emilia Perez is by far the best movie ever made about the drug war. And so much more.
January 4, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Emilia Perez is by far the best movie ever made about the drug war. And so much more.
Reposted by Alex Kral
Harm reduction doesn't encourage or enable drug use; banning syringes & naloxone & using jail to try to push treatment simply spreads infectious disease & death. how many times do we need to run this experiment to get it?
Public health workers in West Virginia struggle to contain an HIV outbreak while policymakers restricted syringe exchange programs.
Here's what you need to know. ⤵️ kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Here's what you need to know. ⤵️ kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Syringe Exchange Fears Hobble Fight Against West Virginia HIV Outbreak - KFF Health News
Health workers and researchers say an HIV outbreak in West Virginia that three years ago was called “the most concerning” in the U.S. continues to spread after state and local officials restricted syr...
kffhealthnews.org
January 3, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Harm reduction doesn't encourage or enable drug use; banning syringes & naloxone & using jail to try to push treatment simply spreads infectious disease & death. how many times do we need to run this experiment to get it?
Reposted by Alex Kral
Fantastic news out of Rhode Island. Opening their #OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITE!
Another tool in the toolbox, especially for those who are extremely marginalized or stigmatized. @reginalabelle.bsky.social
thepublicsradio.org/health/rhode...
Another tool in the toolbox, especially for those who are extremely marginalized or stigmatized. @reginalabelle.bsky.social
thepublicsradio.org/health/rhode...
Rhode Island opens first state-sanctioned overdose prevention center in the nation - TPR: The Public's Radio
Providence is now home to the country’s first state-sanctioned facility for people to use illegal drugs under medical supervision. The nonprofit Project Weber/RENEW on Tuesday held a ribbon-cutting to...
thepublicsradio.org
December 11, 2024 at 4:10 AM
Fantastic news out of Rhode Island. Opening their #OVERDOSE PREVENTION SITE!
Another tool in the toolbox, especially for those who are extremely marginalized or stigmatized. @reginalabelle.bsky.social
thepublicsradio.org/health/rhode...
Another tool in the toolbox, especially for those who are extremely marginalized or stigmatized. @reginalabelle.bsky.social
thepublicsradio.org/health/rhode...
Great article by Maia Szalavitz and contributions from Ricky Bluthenthal and others about why overdose deaths are slowing but not for black and Indigenous people.
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/02/o...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/02/o...
Opinion | Why Drug Overdose Deaths Are Dropping for Some, Rising for Others
Drug overdose deaths are finally declining. But it’s going to take work to keep this trend going.
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2024 at 3:24 PM
Great article by Maia Szalavitz and contributions from Ricky Bluthenthal and others about why overdose deaths are slowing but not for black and Indigenous people.
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/02/o...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/02/o...
Reposted by Alex Kral
A recently published study on Int J on Drug Policy from Sweden is a case-study of the faults of drug criminalisation. This is particularly damning for a country that has one of the highest rates of drug-related deaths.
Let's dig in 🔎
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Let's dig in 🔎
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
“It should be hard to be a drug abuser” An evaluation of the criminalization of drug use in Sweden
Drug use was criminalized in Sweden in 1988 with aim of reducing the number of consumers and drug-related risks and harms. Imprisonment was introduced…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 28, 2024 at 11:24 AM
A recently published study on Int J on Drug Policy from Sweden is a case-study of the faults of drug criminalisation. This is particularly damning for a country that has one of the highest rates of drug-related deaths.
Let's dig in 🔎
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Let's dig in 🔎
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Excellent piece by #NIDA Director Nora Volkow laying out the evidence for syringe services including overdose prevention sites.
nida.nih.gov/about-nida/n...
nida.nih.gov/about-nida/n...
Syringe services for people who inject drugs are enormously effective, but remain underused | National Institute on Drug Abuse
December 1 is World AIDS Day, an opportunity to underscore the solid science behind the efficacy of syringe services programs, an important harm-reduction measure.
nida.nih.gov
November 29, 2024 at 5:53 PM
Excellent piece by #NIDA Director Nora Volkow laying out the evidence for syringe services including overdose prevention sites.
nida.nih.gov/about-nida/n...
nida.nih.gov/about-nida/n...