How easy is it to tell if someone is being authentic? It turns out it’s rather difficult because it’s easier to fake authenticity than it is to be true to yourself. Imagine a person faking an illness. They would probably pretend to have every symptom of the disease to get medical practitioners to diagnose them with the disease at first glance. In contrast, a person who’s actually sick with the same disease will only have some of the symptoms, so they may look perfectly healthy to the average person. 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
