From meth manufacturing to yoghurt production, The Yoghurt Mafia shares their story of how their boredom, innovativeness, and craving for better food in prison, enabled them to utilize the limited resources they had to turn yoghurt into a prison trading community. Wal and Dylan’s project allowed them to find joy and achieve something in a place meant to strip away a person’s character. A narrative of inspiration and transformation. 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