Reclusive Canadian audiophile, poetic naturalist, veteran drug policy reform activist, library cataloguer, programmer and webmaster. Born to be mild. https://elrod.ca/matt/ https://www.chess.com/member/melrod42 https://lichess.org/@/Grasshopper62https://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mjrqluv6zs2z"The emergence of dangerous synthetic drugs like fentanyl has nothing to do with progressivism or harm reduction." https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/18/opinion/san-francisco-addiction-homeless.html18 Apr 2026 15:22 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjrqluv6zs2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mjplmjsmrc2t"This pattern is by now familiar. Subjective diagnostic criteria and financial incentives that reward diagnosis have repeatedly produced policy responses that were disproportionate, costly, and harmful. The social media addiction debate is following the same trajectory." https://www.cato.org/blog/case-against-social-media-addiction17 Apr 2026 18:48 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjplmjsmrc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mjkpgp47ns2e https://youtu.be/9T2NGAC5cJs?si=BDD5HU3YICVQdf5815 Apr 2026 20:13 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjkpgp47ns2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mj5qhqkzak2i"Although B.C. aimed to follow Portugal’s lead, the effort ultimately failed, primarily because the two contexts are fundamentally different, explained researchers Karen Urbanoski and Bernie Pauly of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research." https://theprogress.com/2026/04/10/uvic-researchers-discuss-why-b-c-couldnt-replicate-portugals-drug-strategy/10 Apr 2026 16:27 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj5qhqkzak2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mj4eoxmp5k2j"In moments like this, it can be tempting to retreat into simpler explanations or harder punishments – to believe that compassion has been tried and failed." https://trailtimes.ca/2026/04/09/letter-10-years-into-toxic-drug-crisis-b-c-must-not-harden-its-heart/10 Apr 2026 03:23 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mj4eoxmp5k2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3miylsscqnk2e https://insightcrime.org/investigations/did-us-military-strikes-impact-caribbean-drug-trafficking/08 Apr 2026 15:20 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3miylsscqnk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3miyjd7gxic2h"Although numerous countries and jurisdictions around the world have made positive steps, 152 countries criminalise drug use, and in doing so their outdated legislation based on ideology rather than evidence reinforces drug harms at enormous public health and human costs." https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhiv/article/PIIS2352-3018(26)00057-3/fulltext08 Apr 2026 14:36 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3miyjd7gxic2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mhlpkean2k2d"Public health experts say the impact will be much more far-reaching. They expect to see more public drug use as people move to parks, alleyways and bathroom stalls; overdoses and deaths putting a greater strain on hospitals, EMS and other first responders." https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/what-happens-to-torontos-supervised-consumption-sites-now-that-funding-is-gone-heres-what-we-know/article_369f64a6-5918-4916-a7bf-b20964da41b9.html21 Mar 2026 18:57 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhlpkean2k2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mgutrzwjcc2l"Conclusions: The adoption of RCLs in US states, beyond only MCLs, may help to reduce the size of illegal cannabis markets, or there may be shifting law enforcement seizure priorities in those states." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095539592600069112 Mar 2026 16:42 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgutrzwjcc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mgd7dbjpqc2o"Ward is critical of the provincial government for framing the crisis as an “addiction” problem. If the problem is framed this way, then it can be “solved” by offering treatment, she said. But it’s not that simple, Ward said." https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/03/05/Mass-Death-This-Scale-Incomprehensible/05 Mar 2026 16:21 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgd7dbjpqc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mg3xc7jllk27"What I have learned is that involuntary treatment for adults with substance use disorders is necessary in extreme cases, but it does not outperform voluntary care and raises serious concerns about patient safety." https://theconversation.com/what-decades-of-research-reveal-about-involuntary-substance-use-treatment-and-why-evidence-points-elsewhere-26884102 Mar 2026 19:08 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg3xc7jllk27https://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mfcj2koxd22t https://www.marijuanamoment.net/what-the-new-york-times-got-wrong-and-right-about-marijuana-legalization-op-ed/20 Feb 2026 16:17 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mfcj2koxd22thttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3meu3otcyes2w https://verafiles.org/articles/overhaul-global-approach-to-drugs-says-international-advocacy-group14 Feb 2026 22:40 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3meu3otcyes2whttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3meh2len45k2k"If the measure of success is whether life became safer and less punitive for people who use drugs, British Columbia’s decriminalization pilot was a clear win. But the B.C. government doesn’t seem to think so." https://breachmedia.ca/decriminalization-worked-b-c-killed-it-anyway/09 Feb 2026 18:16 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3meh2len45k2khttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3meffsr3jsk2i https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/undoctored/new-international-report-warns-global-drug-policies-are-failing09 Feb 2026 02:31 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3meffsr3jsk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3me7ewy42oc2t"Every SSDP member who purchased a ticket to attend the 2026 SAM Good Drug Policy Summit — including scientists, mental health professionals, and policy experts — was denied registration." https://ssdp.org/blog/breaking-scientists-and-policy-experts-barred-from-good-drug-policy-summit-in-washington-d-c/06 Feb 2026 17:00 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3me7ewy42oc2thttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mdywstkprc2c https://vicnews.com/2026/02/03/criminalizing-homelessness-the-flip-side-of-victorias-encampment-cleanups/04 Feb 2026 03:31 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdywstkprc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mdyvgb4f5k2d"The only people, frankly, benefiting from the current model are organized crime and some of these private residential treatment centres who are charging exorbitant amounts ..." https://thetyee.ca/News/2026/02/03/BC-Drug-Response-Former-Coroner/04 Feb 2026 03:06 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdyvgb4f5k2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mdmaxxowmc2c"This analysis of drug harms in Canada found that alcohol causes the most harm overall, with a cumulative weighted score of 79. It was followed by tobacco (45), nonprescription opioids (33), cocaine (19), methamphetamine (19), and cannabis (15)." [contains quote post or other embedded content]30 Jan 2026 02:28 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdmaxxowmc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mdgn2kywh22c"“Recovery-oriented” and “compassionate intervention” may appear to be desirable approaches on the surface, but these policies ignore the needs of communities, create barriers to care and limit the ability of adults to make their own decisions about their health." https://policyoptions.irpp.org/2026/01/drug-crisis-ideology/27 Jan 2026 20:49 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdgn2kywh22chttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mde37u2x4k2h"Participants in a SOS program experienced significant reductions in non-fatal overdose during the 6 months following program initiation." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095539592500420726 Jan 2026 20:24 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mde37u2x4k2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mdbcsy73r22z"[People who inject drugs] in states with recreational cannabis laws were less likely to use opioids daily. Cannabis legalization may potentially reduce opioid-related harms." https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S037687162600021925 Jan 2026 18:02 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mdbcsy73r22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mczqlwqjx22t"We need to have an adult conversation about drugs, beginning with the observation that mind-altering substances, like opium, peyote and alcohol have been used for thousands of years and will continue to be used by some no matter how hard we wish it were otherwise." https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/01/22/a-conversation-on-drug-policy-is-overdue22 Jan 2026 17:47 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mczqlwqjx22thttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mczmt3x2dk2g"A new study published in the International Journal of Drug Policy followed 100 SOS participants in southwestern Ontario and found an extreme reduction in overdose risk." https://filtermag.org/canada-safe-supply-study/22 Jan 2026 16:40 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mczmt3x2dk2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mcs4yq74a22mOne lesson to learn is that most drug consumers aren't homeless and don't need treatment. Treatment isn't an alternative to harm reduction. https://globalnews.ca/video/11618949/lessons-from-sidney-mcintyre-starkos-toxic-drug-overdose-at-university-of-victoria19 Jan 2026 17:08 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcs4yq74a22mhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mckzfaxqrk2b"... join us for an in-depth conversation to explore how Lapointe’s perspective on the unregulated drug crisis evolved in her role, the tension between evidence-informed expert recommendations and government policy choices ..." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-G-MkJFjodI16 Jan 2026 21:15 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mckzfaxqrk2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/mattelrod.bsky.social/post/3mcfk73qouk22"Host Maria Kestane speaks to Dimitra Panagiotoglou, the Canada Research Chair in the Economics of Harm Reduction and associate professor at McGill, to discuss her recent study on the relationship between crime associated with supervised consumption sites ..." https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/how-is-canada-solving-its-opioid-crisis-10-years-later/id1399721065?i=100074511182514 Jan 2026 17:00 +0000at://did:plc:3k2barv5av7k6fcetzaplazk/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcfk73qouk22