Radio Atlantic No Easy Fix | 2. Tolerance
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Aug 7, 2025 Ethan Brooks, a reporter for The Atlantic, dives deep into the complexities of addiction and recovery in San Francisco. He discusses the city's innovative harm reduction strategies, such as needle exchanges, which have evolved from radical ideas to accepted practices. The conversation explores the challenges posed by opioid addiction, shifting public perceptions, and creative campaigns addressing fentanyl risks. Brooks highlights the critical intersection of personal rights and social justice in the fight against addiction, revealing the stark realities faced by those like Evan in their path to recovery.
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Evan's Downward Spiral
- Evan's life fell apart from fentanyl addiction despite having a stable job and family before.
- After losing everything, the addiction worsened, showing that rock bottom doesn't guarantee recovery.
Harm Reduction's Broad Spectrum
- Harm reduction covers safe supplies, Narcan, and supervised drug use to keep users alive.
- It's a broad, often misunderstood approach central to saving lives despite controversy.
Underground Needle Exchange Started
- In 1988, volunteers created an underground needle exchange despite legal risks to fight HIV spread.
- Police tolerated it, allowing tens of thousands of contaminated needles to be removed by 1992.