R Street’s Harm-Reduction program aims for integrated harm reduction with tobacco, opioid and sexual behavior as central elements. We believe that “abstinence only” approaches to risky behaviors will not work on a population-wide basis. As such, we emphasize harm-reduction approaches that accept that harmful behavior may continue even as we seek to mitigate – if not eliminate – the harms involved.
The Issue
Publications
, The Hill
America has promising new law in fight against national opioid crisis
Carrie Wade
As opioid-related deaths continue to increase, one would be hard-pressed to find a community or person that has not been affected in some way by the continuing crisis. And as the epidemic rages on,…
Applying harm reduction to smoking
Carrie Wade
Abstinence approaches work exceedingly well on an individual level but continue to fail when applied to populations. We can see this in several areas: teen pregnancy; continued drug use regardless of…
, Townhall
Voter Warning: Regressive Tobacco Taxes Do More Harm Than Good
Media Coverage
From Townhall:
Most problematic is the backward nature of the proposal funding Medicaid while taxing e-cigarettes, which can alleviate Medicaid spending. The R Street Institute found that Medicaid…
Less harm, less tax? Legislature to study new tobacco products
Media Coverage
From the Free Lance-Star:
The joint subcommittee heard a presentation from Carrie L. Wade, a drug abuse researcher who is director of harm-reduction policy at the R Street Institute, which bills…
FDA Commissioner Wants to Have It Both Ways on Vaping
Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has rightly set out to get more people — particularly teens — to quit smoking cigarettes. However, recent FDA activity strongly…
The Canadian model for the opioid crisis
Media Coverage
From the Washington Examiner:
Nicolas John for the R Street Institute: By discarding the prescription requirement for naloxone, the Canadian government has helped break down the powerful stigma…
In the twilight of the legislative session, Gov. Charlie Baker, R-Mass., signed into law an additional measure aimed at combating the opioid crisis in the Bay State. While well-intentioned,…
September 24, 2018
Office of the Surgeon General
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Ave., SW
Humphrey Bldg. Suite 701H
Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Dr….
NEW JERSEY SHOULD ELIMINATE ITS DRACONIAN VAPING TAX
Media Coverage
From the Heartland Institute:
A 2017 Policy Study by the R Street Institute analyzed a smaller number of Medicaid recipients switching from combustible cigarettes to e-cigarettes. Associate Fellow…
Anti-vaping vote a set back for poz health
Damon L. Jacobs
On Tuesday, June 5th, San Francisco voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition E, which is intended to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products for adults over the age of 21.
Included in this…