Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Harm Reduction Policy : Biopower, Race & Stigma At The Heart Of The 'Opioid Crisis', Cole Charles Melby

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

Across the U.S., concerns regarding substance abuse, addiction, and treatment are coming to the forefront of public discourse, due to increased media coverage of the popularly dubbed ‘opioid crisis.’ As overdose rates increase, particularly in rural and suburban white communities, so have debates about the ethics and efficacy of harm reduction services. Through a review of existing literature and reflections on interviews from key informants at New York State Department of Health, grassroots harm reduction organizations, and a ‘mainstream’ addiction clinic, this thesis will critically examine the history of drug user stigmatization in the U.S. and how it has influenced …