Santa Muerte (“Holy Death”) is a controversial religious figure — beloved by millions in her cult, but condemned by the rest of the world as the motivation for violence and ritual sacrifice. Although most of her devotees are workers, many criminals call her their patroness. Daniel Arizmendi López, notorious for kidnap-for-ransom schemes involving severed ears, was one such devotee, going as far as to bring a figure of Santa Muerte with him to his cell after he was arrested. 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
