Sheila Vakharia PhD

Many people and politicians are still promoting the "gateway theory" of marijuana use when the most recent data actually is supporting that marijuana may actually be an "exit drug" for ppl addicted to opioids, benzos and others. #ScienceMarch #marchforScience

Alcohol and tobacco are the most widely used drugs in the US and take many times more lives than opioid overdose has. Both could benefit from #harmreduction and substitution treatments. #ScienceMarch #marchforScience

Case in point- decades of international research has already taught us that "Safe Consumption Saves Lives" and yet elected officials across the country are wringing their hands asking for more. #ScienceMarch #MarchforSciencehttps://twitter.com/womanofmanysins/status/981927664981331968 …

How can we track the "overdose epidemic" if we don't have access to real data? Did you know that many counties in NYS and the nation at large have coroners and not medical examiners? This impacts quality of drug poisoning data and stats. #ScienceMarch #MarchforScience

As a former #SocialWork professor myself, students in MOST health professions still don't receive substantial content on substance use and/or treatment. How do we expect them to know what to do when they get to work? #ScienceMarch #MarchforScience

Studies of treatment providers show that too many still reluctant to support the use of Medication Assisted Treatments. When was the last time our state-based Credentialed Alcohol Counselor textbooks and exams were updated? #ScienceMarch #MarchforScience

Abstinence from all drugs as the primary outcome criterion for most ppl in traditional treatment minimizes the benefits of incremental and gradual changes. #HarmReduction outcomes matter and should be measured. #ScienceMarch #MarchforScience

Psychedelic drugs also impacted by criminalization- research suggests they may be promising treatments for PTSD, depression, substance use disorders, and other conditions. Prohibition holds back progress and health. #ScienceMarch #MarchForScience

Research shows people of color use drugs at lower/comparable rates to whites yet they are most likely to spend time behind bars for possession. Decriminalization and regulation won't make police less racist, but could be part of larger reforms. #ScienceMarch #MarchForScience

Did you know that the MOST effective form of non-pharmaceutical treatment for substance use disorders is Contingency Management? Well, you're not alone. That's because evidence doesn't always dictate what we do in treatment. #ScienceMarch #MarchforScience

Let's lift federal regulations on marijuana so that it can be easily regulated on the state level for medicinal and/or recreational use. Federal regulations are also a huge barrier to research. #ScienceMarch #MarchforScience

If we really want to save lives, we would also make naloxone readily available with no need for third-party prescriptions. It's safer than Advil and yet you still need to ask the pharmacist behind the counter. #ScienceMarch #MarchForScience

We need Supervised Consumption Spaces for all drug types and routes of administration- for those who inject, smoke, snort, take pills. Safe spaces destigmatize users and bring them out of the shadows. Increase access and support. #ScienceMarch #MarchforScience

We need methadone and buprenorphine access in our jails, not just naltrexone. We need to loosen restrictions on bupe prescribing. We need methadone vans in every community! When will we get Heroin-Assisted Treatment? #ScienceMarch #MarchForScience

We need to decriminalize drug paraphernelia and distribute safer smoking and injecting equipment, we need everyone to be able to check their drugs for adulterants, people shouldn't be confronted in the name of "treatment" #MarchforScience #ScienceMarch

We need science and evidence to guide our #drugpolicy and treatment approaches- this means access to Opioid Substitution Treatments, decriminalization of personal possession, #harmreduction approaches, and others. #marchforscience #ScienceMarch

Are you a #harmreduction supporter or #drugpolicy reformer? You should consider joining @DrugPolicyNerds by marching in the #ScienceMarch on April 14th. If in NYC- let's meet at 11am outside of NYU School of #SocialWork