Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
@myharmreduction.bsky.social
Harm Reductionist. Drug Policy Reformer. Writer. Speaker. Lapsed Academic. Researcher-Advocate. Brown. She/Her/Dr.
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
“The media oftentimes relinquishes its role in public education and public awareness, instead fanning the flames of fear and hysteria that can lead to support for harsher penalties and more stigmatization,” says @myharmreduction.bsky.social.
objectivejournalism.org/2025/11/balt...
objectivejournalism.org/2025/11/balt...
Baltimore media outlets may be exacerbating overdose crisis
Experts say coverage in Baltimore has spread misinformation and steered a city struggling with the overdose crisis toward police crackdowns.
objectivejournalism.org
November 17, 2025 at 10:39 PM
“The media oftentimes relinquishes its role in public education and public awareness, instead fanning the flames of fear and hysteria that can lead to support for harsher penalties and more stigmatization,” says @myharmreduction.bsky.social.
objectivejournalism.org/2025/11/balt...
objectivejournalism.org/2025/11/balt...
The HUGEST congratulations to my friend, colleague, hero @nabarund.bsky.social for being awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for his incredible harm reduction work and research. #MacFellow www.macfound.org/fellows/clas...
Nabarun Dasgupta
Combining scientific studies with community engagement to reduce deaths and other harms from drug use.
www.macfound.org
October 8, 2025 at 6:41 PM
The HUGEST congratulations to my friend, colleague, hero @nabarund.bsky.social for being awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for his incredible harm reduction work and research. #MacFellow www.macfound.org/fellows/clas...
Hey Detroit! I will be doing a book talk on Tuesday, October 14th, alongside Kassandra Frederique and Valerie Kelley-Bonner. The event is 3-6 pm, and it is FREE. Simply register using the QR code on the flyer. Help spread the word!
October 8, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Hey Detroit! I will be doing a book talk on Tuesday, October 14th, alongside Kassandra Frederique and Valerie Kelley-Bonner. The event is 3-6 pm, and it is FREE. Simply register using the QR code on the flyer. Help spread the word!
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
SAVE THE DATE: Sept 25th 4:30-6pm EST
Join us for our September Drug Researchers' Roundtable with Drs. Cerda and Allen where they will discuss research on NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers and their impact on neighborhood conditions.
Register: bit.ly/Sep2025Roundtable
Join us for our September Drug Researchers' Roundtable with Drs. Cerda and Allen where they will discuss research on NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers and their impact on neighborhood conditions.
Register: bit.ly/Sep2025Roundtable
September 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
SAVE THE DATE: Sept 25th 4:30-6pm EST
Join us for our September Drug Researchers' Roundtable with Drs. Cerda and Allen where they will discuss research on NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers and their impact on neighborhood conditions.
Register: bit.ly/Sep2025Roundtable
Join us for our September Drug Researchers' Roundtable with Drs. Cerda and Allen where they will discuss research on NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers and their impact on neighborhood conditions.
Register: bit.ly/Sep2025Roundtable
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
“They say they want to protect Americans from drugs, but their policies don’t match these words,” says Hanna Sharif-Kazemi as the administration talks up more drug-war strikes.
A new tracker helps quantify the damage to people who use drugs of domestic cuts, reports @tganeva.bsky.social:
A new tracker helps quantify the damage to people who use drugs of domestic cuts, reports @tganeva.bsky.social:
Trump’s Deadly Drug War Is Also Waged Through Funding Cuts
While waging war in the Caribbean to "protect Americans," the administration is slashing lifesaving care for PWUD, as a new tracker details.
filtermag.org
September 8, 2025 at 3:37 PM
“They say they want to protect Americans from drugs, but their policies don’t match these words,” says Hanna Sharif-Kazemi as the administration talks up more drug-war strikes.
A new tracker helps quantify the damage to people who use drugs of domestic cuts, reports @tganeva.bsky.social:
A new tracker helps quantify the damage to people who use drugs of domestic cuts, reports @tganeva.bsky.social:
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
"Our existing system subjects hundreds of thousands of legally innocent people per year to the horrors of incarceration"
@bailproject.org on the importance (and effectiveness!) of ending cash bail for @nytopinion.nytimes.com👇
@bailproject.org on the importance (and effectiveness!) of ending cash bail for @nytopinion.nytimes.com👇
Opinion | One Concrete Way to Make the Justice System Fairer
www.nytimes.com
September 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
"Our existing system subjects hundreds of thousands of legally innocent people per year to the horrors of incarceration"
@bailproject.org on the importance (and effectiveness!) of ending cash bail for @nytopinion.nytimes.com👇
@bailproject.org on the importance (and effectiveness!) of ending cash bail for @nytopinion.nytimes.com👇
SAVE THE DATE: Sept 25th 4:30-6pm EST
Join us for our September Drug Researchers' Roundtable with Drs. Cerda and Allen where they will discuss research on NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers and their impact on neighborhood conditions.
Register: bit.ly/Sep2025Roundtable
Join us for our September Drug Researchers' Roundtable with Drs. Cerda and Allen where they will discuss research on NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers and their impact on neighborhood conditions.
Register: bit.ly/Sep2025Roundtable
September 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
SAVE THE DATE: Sept 25th 4:30-6pm EST
Join us for our September Drug Researchers' Roundtable with Drs. Cerda and Allen where they will discuss research on NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers and their impact on neighborhood conditions.
Register: bit.ly/Sep2025Roundtable
Join us for our September Drug Researchers' Roundtable with Drs. Cerda and Allen where they will discuss research on NYC's Overdose Prevention Centers and their impact on neighborhood conditions.
Register: bit.ly/Sep2025Roundtable
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
New episode with @myharmreduction.bsky.social all about the victims of bad drug policy we don't hear about and how to face the attacks on harm reduction. Find it on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, etc.
open.spotify.com/episode/2Lzx...
open.spotify.com/episode/2Lzx...
Spotify – Web Player
open.spotify.com
August 29, 2025 at 12:34 AM
New episode with @myharmreduction.bsky.social all about the victims of bad drug policy we don't hear about and how to face the attacks on harm reduction. Find it on iTunes, Spotify, YouTube, etc.
open.spotify.com/episode/2Lzx...
open.spotify.com/episode/2Lzx...
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
🚨🗞️ JOURNALISTS: As the criminalization of homelessness runs rampant in DC & across the country, it's more important than ever to rely on data to get the story right.
Here are some useful resources that can help you to fight through misinformation 🧵
Here are some useful resources that can help you to fight through misinformation 🧵
August 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM
🚨🗞️ JOURNALISTS: As the criminalization of homelessness runs rampant in DC & across the country, it's more important than ever to rely on data to get the story right.
Here are some useful resources that can help you to fight through misinformation 🧵
Here are some useful resources that can help you to fight through misinformation 🧵
DC will be the testing ground. Next up could be your city. Where do they go? No one knows. The point is to disappear people without addressing the root causes- most notably, our housing affordability crisis.
Donald Trump calls for “getting rid of people” experiencing homelessness in DC. With more Americans struggling to pay rent and remain housed, and homelessness surging, this disgusting person is only concerned with removing visible poverty from the streets and abusing those who need our help.
August 11, 2025 at 3:55 PM
DC will be the testing ground. Next up could be your city. Where do they go? No one knows. The point is to disappear people without addressing the root causes- most notably, our housing affordability crisis.
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
Hey fam, my new book, Read This When Things Fall Apart, comes out in three months. That means now is the critical window for preorders, which help get books on shelves, in libraries, and into the hands of the people who need them most. www.pilsencommunitybooks.com/item/vCQt68D...
August 4, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Hey fam, my new book, Read This When Things Fall Apart, comes out in three months. That means now is the critical window for preorders, which help get books on shelves, in libraries, and into the hands of the people who need them most. www.pilsencommunitybooks.com/item/vCQt68D...
What an insult to our harm reduction movement and elders who fought so hard for naloxone and fentanyl test strip access.
Check out the atrocious language in the latest letter from SAMHSA claiming these tools are "not harm reduction."
www.samhsa.gov/sites/defaul...
Check out the atrocious language in the latest letter from SAMHSA claiming these tools are "not harm reduction."
www.samhsa.gov/sites/defaul...
July 31, 2025 at 8:22 PM
What an insult to our harm reduction movement and elders who fought so hard for naloxone and fentanyl test strip access.
Check out the atrocious language in the latest letter from SAMHSA claiming these tools are "not harm reduction."
www.samhsa.gov/sites/defaul...
Check out the atrocious language in the latest letter from SAMHSA claiming these tools are "not harm reduction."
www.samhsa.gov/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
The wonderful @myharmreduction.bsky.social will be at Red Emma's next month to talk about her book, "The Harm Reduction Gap." It's an excellent read, and I highly recommend attending the event.
Details:
withfriends.co/event/264441...
Details:
withfriends.co/event/264441...
8/27 - Sheila Vakharia presents "The Harm Reduction Gap" w/ the Maryland Alliance for Sensible Drug Policy by Red Emma's
Get tickets and support Red Emma's by becoming a member
withfriends.co
July 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
The wonderful @myharmreduction.bsky.social will be at Red Emma's next month to talk about her book, "The Harm Reduction Gap." It's an excellent read, and I highly recommend attending the event.
Details:
withfriends.co/event/264441...
Details:
withfriends.co/event/264441...
SAVE THE DATE: August 27th at 7pm Baltimore
I'll be doing an in-person book talk and signing at Red Emma's. Register and bring a friend! I would love to see you there.
redemmas.org/events/sheil...
I'll be doing an in-person book talk and signing at Red Emma's. Register and bring a friend! I would love to see you there.
redemmas.org/events/sheil...
Sheila Vakharia presents "The Harm Reduction Gap" w/ the Maryland Alliance for Sensible Drug Policy
This long-awaited book teaches how harm reduction can be a safety net for people with substance use disorders that our current addiction treatment rejects, abandons, and leaves behind.
redemmas.org
July 22, 2025 at 9:15 PM
SAVE THE DATE: August 27th at 7pm Baltimore
I'll be doing an in-person book talk and signing at Red Emma's. Register and bring a friend! I would love to see you there.
redemmas.org/events/sheil...
I'll be doing an in-person book talk and signing at Red Emma's. Register and bring a friend! I would love to see you there.
redemmas.org/events/sheil...
This administration has prioritized punishment, penalties, tariffs, and border enforcement in the name of our loved ones who died of overdose.
All while gutting the very programs & strategies that are saving lives, and cutting the research for solutions.
www.npr.org/2025/07/16/n...
All while gutting the very programs & strategies that are saving lives, and cutting the research for solutions.
www.npr.org/2025/07/16/n...
Exclusive: Trump team withholds $140 million budgeted for fentanyl fight
Threats to $140 million in funds for public health departments battling fentanyl overdoses comes as some experts see the addiction safety net unraveling.
www.npr.org
July 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This administration has prioritized punishment, penalties, tariffs, and border enforcement in the name of our loved ones who died of overdose.
All while gutting the very programs & strategies that are saving lives, and cutting the research for solutions.
www.npr.org/2025/07/16/n...
All while gutting the very programs & strategies that are saving lives, and cutting the research for solutions.
www.npr.org/2025/07/16/n...
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
"An increasingly hostile political and legal environment appears to be directly translating into greater police interference with health services," write Liam Michaud & co-authors of their new study, for which Ontario service users and providers were interviewed:
Police in Ontario Increasingly Obstruct Harm Reduction Service Delivery
Police surveillance and interference block life-saving care as the province becomes more hostile to harm reduction, our study shows.
filtermag.org
July 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
"An increasingly hostile political and legal environment appears to be directly translating into greater police interference with health services," write Liam Michaud & co-authors of their new study, for which Ontario service users and providers were interviewed:
Appreciate this NYT coverage about Contingency Management, one of the most studied approaches to treating addiction- and one of our strongest tools to help people with stimulant use disorders.
Rewards, not punishment! www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/h...
Rewards, not punishment! www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/h...
Upended by Meth, Some Communities Are Paying Users to Quit
www.nytimes.com
July 16, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Appreciate this NYT coverage about Contingency Management, one of the most studied approaches to treating addiction- and one of our strongest tools to help people with stimulant use disorders.
Rewards, not punishment! www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/h...
Rewards, not punishment! www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/h...
People always ask me, "Sheila, but what about the kids?"
Now I can refer them to this great textbook.
Preorder your copy today!
It's by Amanda Reiman and Barry Lessin - "Harm Reduction Approaches with Adolescents who use Substances." www.amazon.com/Harm-Reducti...
Now I can refer them to this great textbook.
Preorder your copy today!
It's by Amanda Reiman and Barry Lessin - "Harm Reduction Approaches with Adolescents who use Substances." www.amazon.com/Harm-Reducti...
Harm Reduction Approaches with Adolescents Who Use Substances
Amazon.com: Harm Reduction Approaches with Adolescents Who Use Substances: 9781032940847: Reiman, Amanda, Lessin, Barry: Books
www.amazon.com
July 15, 2025 at 6:40 PM
People always ask me, "Sheila, but what about the kids?"
Now I can refer them to this great textbook.
Preorder your copy today!
It's by Amanda Reiman and Barry Lessin - "Harm Reduction Approaches with Adolescents who use Substances." www.amazon.com/Harm-Reducti...
Now I can refer them to this great textbook.
Preorder your copy today!
It's by Amanda Reiman and Barry Lessin - "Harm Reduction Approaches with Adolescents who use Substances." www.amazon.com/Harm-Reducti...
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
Seeing some posts referring to Kilmar Abrego Garcia as being "kept safe" in jail. No one is safe in jail, fam. Incarceration strips years off people's lives and manufactures premature death. It's very important to understand this, especially now.
June 30, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Seeing some posts referring to Kilmar Abrego Garcia as being "kept safe" in jail. No one is safe in jail, fam. Incarceration strips years off people's lives and manufactures premature death. It's very important to understand this, especially now.
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
"False positives for synthetic cannabinoids can be used to sanction prisoners and to fuel clicky headlines; accuracy doesn't matter unless the results would need to hold up in court. Which may explain why synthetic cannabinoids have awkwardly disappeared from federal sentencing data."
Feds Share Prison Contraband Data They May Not Have Thought Through
A new USSC report awkwardly doesn't include synthetic cannabinoids, despite the so-called epidemic of these substances pouring into prisons.
filtermag.org
June 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
"False positives for synthetic cannabinoids can be used to sanction prisoners and to fuel clicky headlines; accuracy doesn't matter unless the results would need to hold up in court. Which may explain why synthetic cannabinoids have awkwardly disappeared from federal sentencing data."
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
"Courts might give prison mail a three-day grace period, but they won't believe it took a month for your mail to make it to the post office."
Prisons Need Their Own Post Offices, Not That We'll Ever Get Them
Courts might give prison mail a three-day grace period, but they won't believe it took a month for your mail to make it to the post office.
filtermag.org
June 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
"Courts might give prison mail a three-day grace period, but they won't believe it took a month for your mail to make it to the post office."
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
My heart is with my Iranian friends and their families. May everyone live.
June 22, 2025 at 12:49 AM
My heart is with my Iranian friends and their families. May everyone live.
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
One of the cruelest, most unproductive disciplinary punishments prisons often turn to is taking away visitation
Here's the truth: Visitation has positive impacts for everyone – better health, reduced recidivism, and improvement in school. It should be a right, not a "privilege"
Here's the truth: Visitation has positive impacts for everyone – better health, reduced recidivism, and improvement in school. It should be a right, not a "privilege"
June 22, 2025 at 1:15 PM
One of the cruelest, most unproductive disciplinary punishments prisons often turn to is taking away visitation
Here's the truth: Visitation has positive impacts for everyone – better health, reduced recidivism, and improvement in school. It should be a right, not a "privilege"
Here's the truth: Visitation has positive impacts for everyone – better health, reduced recidivism, and improvement in school. It should be a right, not a "privilege"
I was anti-war in 2003 when I was 21 and had no social media. Even then, I knew there were no WMDs. This time is no different.
June 22, 2025 at 1:02 PM
I was anti-war in 2003 when I was 21 and had no social media. Even then, I knew there were no WMDs. This time is no different.
Reposted by Sheila Vakharia PhD MSW
More than 1 in 3 people in state prisons were first arrested before their 16th birthday. The criminalization of youth has life-altering consequences.
Shouldn't the US be investing in youth instead of locking them up?
Shouldn't the US be investing in youth instead of locking them up?
June 21, 2025 at 1:16 PM
More than 1 in 3 people in state prisons were first arrested before their 16th birthday. The criminalization of youth has life-altering consequences.
Shouldn't the US be investing in youth instead of locking them up?
Shouldn't the US be investing in youth instead of locking them up?