High Wire
Why Trump Probably Won't Crack Down on Pot
The same dense, diffuse media environment that propelled the self-proclaimed groper to victory makes it tough for old-school drug panics to take over America—even if Attorney General Jeff Sessions hates weed.
The Feds Are About to Stick It to Pain Patients in a Big Way
Doctors are already getting spooked out of prescribing painkillers, and new rules could make life in some of America's struggling communities even worse.
Why Every Generation Freaks Out About a New Drug
The cycle of outrage Americans have over whatever drug is fashionable hasn't gotten us any closer to figuring out why people abuse narcotics.
Why Heroin Users Aren't As Afraid of Deadly Fentanyl As They Should Be
Decades of misinformation from the war on drugs have left hardcore users cynical about a very real danger.
You Can Rely on Drugs Without Being an Addict
It may seem like a trivial or academic distinction, but addiction is not dependence, and dependence is not necessarily a problem.
Shrooms Could Make Cancer Patients Less Terrified of Death
Psilocybin can help cancer patients cope with depression and anxiety, according to two new studies. But will President Trump fund research in what could be a revolutionary development in psychiatry?
How Much of a Disaster Will Trump's Drug Policies Be?
The trend of slow but real progress away from absolute criminalization of drugs in America is in serious trouble.
How Marijuana Won the Election
Weed did well at the polls, but the national picture is a murky one as Donald Trump—not necessarily a traditional drug warrior but very much a law-and-order guy—makes his way to the White House.
Why We Shouldn't Charge Drug Dealers for Their Clients' Deaths
Prosecuting dealers for what clients do with their drugs could actually make the heroin crisis worse.
The DEA Is About to Make Life Even More Dangerous for Heroin Users
The feds are set to make Kratom, a popular herbal painkiller used as an alternative to heroin and Oxy, schedule I. This is very bad for America's addicts and others who use opioids.
Reducing the Painkiller Supply Could Make America's Opioid Problem Even Deadlier
We know from a century of prohibition that cutting down the supply of a desired drug tends to encourage stronger, shadier alternatives.
Why Is the US Supporting the Brutal, Deadly Assault on Drug Users in the Philippines?
Hundreds of people have been shot dead in the street under the mere suspicion of using drugs. And for some reason, the US is sending more money to the government for law enforcement.