It’s no secret that prisons monitor inmate communications, but Caits Meissner argues the public doesn’t know how extensive it can get. She recalls the anxiety she felt when PEN America’s handbook was released, fearful of the repercussions writers would face for penning about prison life. One writer who had won a PEN America contest had been removed from his job on the prison mental health board after he exposed the trouble brewing within. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
