The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the most influential forces in international health policy formation due to the billions of dollars of funding and aid it disburses yearly. But because of this, they wield a considerable amount of power. This article claims that is particularly difficult to find researchers that are willing to criticise the foundation or their research due to the scale of its funding. Because of this, the foundation is free to keep its decision making and data production methods hidden, potentially hampering future research. 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
