Were you part of the rollerblading craze of the ’90s? Although more than 20 million Americans were skaters, that number dwindled to a mere 1.7 million in 2015. Why did it die down? Aside from being a difficult and discouraging sport for newcomers, it might be due to the demographic shift in skaters; more and more middle-aged people are taking up the sport, apparently making it ‘uncool’ to the younger generation.
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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
