“This was a poor attempt at Extortion 101—make the mark think he’s done something wrong, something only his money can make right.” John J. Lennon’s work as a prison journalist has garnered him awe, envy, and in July of 2020, a threat on his life. After he had published an article on prison gambling, he was wrongly accused of causing the confiscation of contraband of one of his fellow inmates, who gave him two choices: pay up, or get shivved. An overall fascinating read.
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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
